The Walsh County Record

Facts and figures were given at personnel meeting Tuesday
At a personnel meeting called for last night by Grafton Parks and Recreation (GPR) Director Bill Dahl, GPR employees discussed a recent salary offer presented to them the Park Board personnel committee.  Present were GPR employees Dahl, Tanna Aasand, Kurt Anderson, Kayla Eide and Dean Feltman, along with Park Board financial committee members Corey Burns, Scott Hills, Brad Burianek, Kerry Demars and Todd Storey.
Things got a bit contentious at times as the discussions took place.
Dahl mentioned that he called for this meeting so that staff could go over in more detail the amazing job and what had been done, along with their thoughts, as he thought at his evaluation meeting that he really was asked about 2012 only. (more…)

Committee gears up to raise $250,000
It was recently announced by Jack Maus and the Save our Strand (SOS) Committee that the Henriksen family has signed over the building to committee.
According to Maus, this was an instrumental step in hopefully achieving 501(c) status as a nonprofit.
Tom Henriksen, who is the third-generation owner of the Strand Theatre said it was a difficult decision but after consulting with his children and deliberating on the matter he came to the conclusion that it was in their best interest to turn over ownership of the building to the SoS Committee. Henriksen will retain the management and proceeds of the business through a lease agreement.
“For the sake of my grandfather and my dad, at least I know the building will be taken care of in the future and won’t be boarded up and a dilapidated building on main street,” he said.
The SoS Committee now is in full fundraising mode to raise money for digital motion picture projection. The motion picture industry is expected to be fully digital within the next year leaving many small town and independently owned movie theaters scrambling for funds to make the switch. It is estimated the cost to the Strand to make the switch in its two theaters to be in the neighborhood of $140,000.
Numerous fundraisers have been planned to reach SoS’s goal of $250,000 by August 2012.
One of the ways people can help immediately is to take part in the Choice Financial contest whereas the bank is ready to give $5,000 to one of eight charities.
Individuals will have to ‘like’ Choice Financial on Facebook and can then vote for their organization they want to win the grand prize. To vote for the Strand Twin Theatre, simply go to www.facebook.com/choicefinancial and vote.

Swimming pool, land bids advertised
The Grafton Parks and Recreation Board was informed at its monthly meeting Tuesday about a pair of grants that the administration had applied.
Office manager Tanna Aasand and director Bill Dahl have applied for a trail grant, which totals about $80,000 with $63,500 of that being grant funds and the rest matching funds.
It is the hope of the district to put together a cross country trail system, at its newly acquired property north of the Developmental Center. The trails would run along and through the woods next to the Park River. The grant would cover a groomer. (more…)

Fontaine sentences defendant to three years in state pen
The drug case involving Tary McCarthy took many twists and turns over the course of the last 12 months. Last Thursday in Northeast District Court with Judge Laurie Fontaine presiding he changed his plea to guilty on the charge of manufacturing of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.
McCarthy, 55, of Fordville was arrested the morning of Nov. 23, 2010. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance (marijuana) both are class A felonies. He was also charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. Each felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and or a $10,000 fine. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and or a $1,000 fine. (more…)

Squire Shop marks 41st anniversary
In the fall of 2009, Rita Amiot, owner and manager of the Squire Shop was named to the board of directors of the N.W. Buyers.
Founded in 1920, N.W. Buyers is a menswear buying group consisting of approximately 350 independent men’s stores located throughout the United States. The organization is owned by its member stores and operated solely for their benefit.
Although Amiot wasn’t the first woman appointed to the board, she was the first woman owner on it. Recently she was elected to a two year term as President of the N.W. Buyers Board of Directors. This is a first for the prestigious buyers group.
The board of directors has to approve any store that would like to become a member of the NW. Buyers Group.
According to Amiot, it’s advantageous for specialty stores to be members because there is direct communication with manufacturers and this helps them compete with the big box store. (more…)