Wright/Cromwell News

The past week has been tough for many folks in the area. We endured hours of snowstorms, and then the power was out, for as long as 72 hours for some.

As for me, I lost electricity at 3 p.m. Thursday and it wasn’t restored until 8 p.m. Friday.

It’s amazing how creative you must become to cope with this situation. First off, thankfully, we have a woodstove in the basement with plenty of dry wood, so our house never went below 65 degrees. I also have a gas range, so I was able to light it with a match to heat food and make the all-important pot of coffee.

I’ve always had transistor radios and fresh batteries, so I was able to listen to the news, school closings and music. I did miss three days of subbing in Floodwood as they didn’t have school, but I was happy to be home safe and warm.

I’m so thankful my snow plow guy cleared the yard two times, so I’m able to get out of my driveway now. Finally, I’m hoping you all made out well and will keep warm now that the winter cold spell has started.

I was honored to be invited to attend the Pine Knot News Christmas party at the home of Pete and Tara Radosevich in Cloquet on Saturday evening. There were lots of folks from the paper and Pete’s campaign staff and volunteers. It is so great to meet so many wonderful folks and share the holidays together.

Our sympathies to the family of Laird Ralph Hansen, 93, of Cromwell, who passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 14 at his home. He was born on June 18, 1929, to Hans Peter and Ruth Hansen. He will be greatly missed by his family. Services were this week at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell.

Former Cromwell-Wright school teacher Rachel Eryn (Matuszak) Weizenegger, 56, of Duluth passed away under hospice care on Dec. 8 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A short contemporary service followed by a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Another former Cromwell-Wright teacher, Thomas James Ringhand Jr., 57, of Ironton died on Dec. 8, in Seattle from cardiac complications while attending his son Tucker’s appearance in the NCAA Men's Division II cross country championship. Tom married Tammy Meyer on Feb. 22, 1998 in Crosby, and is survived by his wife Tammy, five sons and five daughters. Mass of Christian burial was this week at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Crosby. Burial will be at the Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby.

There will be yoga on Mondays, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. Ann Markusen will let you know beyond that!

The Bethany Quilters will not meet in December, and will resume Jan. 17-18.

Christmas Eve services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem, and 5:30 p.m. at Bethany. Christmas Day combined worship will be held at 10 a.m. at Bethany.

According to a recent survey, around half of American children believe in Santa Claus. Around one-fifth of American adults do, too. And around three-fourths of Americans say they believe most of us have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas! And thanks for the cards thanking me for writing this column all year.

That’s all the news from The Edge of Wright.