A look back at 2011
Jan. 2
Pat Hill and Mary Lou Waldo retire from the Good Samaritan Center in Blackduck with a combined 52 years of service; Blackduck Ambulance Service receives new equipment.
Jan. 9
Maryann Hanson retires from Good Samaritan as administrator --Angel Normandin named new administrator; Blackduck Chamber of Commerce welcomes new business owners.
Jan. 16
Blackduck City Council gets to new member and mayor; Blackduck Development Corp. works to bring new business to Blackduck; Blackduck School Board is asked to make students feel safe in the elementary by fixing the roof.
Jan. 23
Mushers converge for White Oak Classic Dog Sled races; City of Northome begins the new year without a mayor.
Jan. 30
Betsy Hanks is found guilty of first-degree and second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole; Northome City Council holds public hearing on its infrastructure.
Feb. 6
Blackduck City Council approves Wayside Rest playground equipment; snow just keeps coming and city is running out of room to put it all; Aaron Nissen wins Patriotism contest.
Feb. 13
Kelliher City Council approves fire dept. officers and master fee schedules; Northome City Council holds special meeting on the city's proposed water/sewer project.
Feb. 20
New water meters are installed in Blackduck; Northome School District faces difficult decisions; Kelliher School Board holds reorganizational meeting; Blackduck School Board hears of new money troubles.
Feb. 27
Area veterans are honored at dinner at American Legion; Kelliher School Board holds meeting; Blackduck City Council hears information on new Lady Slipper Celebration.
March 6
Northome School Board approves various trips; Blackduck Development Corp. discusses marketing and loan funds; Blackduck Chamber of Commerce meets to discuss various projects in the works.
March 13
Marijuana plants confiscated in rural Blackduck; Blackduck City Council addresses Industrial Lane assessment concerns; area school students hear from one time volleyball star who lost arm in drunk driving accident.
March 20
Northome city clerk resigns; Northome Fire Dept. receives FEMA?grant for new truck; Blackduck School Board hears that lights and gas have wiped out the and savings the school had; Blackduck "lunch ladies" acknowledged.
March 27
Resource Center offers help to those in need in the Blackduck area; Northome School Board gives nod to council trips; Blackduck School Board told not to make cuts but to market the school.
April 3
Project Shop Local is new venture for Blackduck Chamber of Commerce; new signs go up at Blackduck Clinic; Chamber to utilize Internet technology.
April 10
Blackduck Council hears concerns on blighted property and Industrial Lane assessment; Blackduck businesses encouraged to host artist during Lady Slipper Celebration.
April 17
Spring flooding beats up county roads -- everything is underwater; Uncle Phil's Diner is back in Kelliher; marketing Blackduck School is team effort.
April 24
Speech students perform "outstanding" in state competition; Northome City Council receives update on water and sewer project and awards bid on patio project; City of Northome hires new city clerk.
May 1
Blackduck Lake is open for business; Mark Sparby resigns from Blackduck School Board; Northome School Board accepts principal's resignation; Blackduck Chamber discusses upcoming events.
May 8
Local resident Mindy Kleeb is subject of Lakeland Public Television story; update given on water service line coverage and Internet scams.
May 15
Student placement still an issue at Blackduck School; Industrial Lane project meeting draws crowd; the new outdoor room at The Pond is now open; Blackduck's Crazy Days and City-Wide Garage Sale is set for May 21.
May 22
Advisory Team Member Avonel Kjellberg is thanked for her service at the Blackduck Resource Center; Lady Slipper Celebration art winners announced; Hines Post Office to be changed.
May 29
New volunteer firefighter welcomed to Blackduck Fire Dept.; ara artist Don Houseman lands endorsement for art; Northome City Council approves library roof repairs.
June 5
Chamber After Hours get together is deemed great success; Northome School Board hires new principal; Memorial Day celebrated; area students graduate.
June 12
New playground equipment installed at Wayside Rest; Industrial Lane project tops Blackduck City Council meeting; Lady Slipper Celebration kicks off June 24.
June 19
Blackduck School Supt. Bob Doetsch to retire at end of school year; airport review heard by Northome City Council; Northome School Board approves agreements.
June 26
Kurt Cease honored by Lions Club with Helen Keller award; Blackduck City Council approves fire truck; Kelliher-Waskish Big Bog Festival set for July.
July 3
New fire suppression system to be used by Blackduck Fire Dept. made possible by generous donation; Tenstrike Post Office to be reviewed; first Lady Slipper Celebration deemed big hit.
July 10
Blackduck Chamber of Commerce hold monthly meeting; Kelliher School Board meets for regular meeting; Blackduck Ambulance gets new flowerbeds.
July 17
Minnesota government shut down won't affect area schools year; Big Bog Festival does well in spite of rain; bikers ride for fallen veterans.
July 24
Area school superintendents confused at the state's legislative impasse but relieved it's over; Blackduck Lions donate money to city for playground equipment; City of Blackduck receives good audit and accepts resignation of one of its members; Jim Schram Sr. to be honored at annual Woodcarver's Festival.
July 31
Mickey Guderian named as new Northome City Council member; Blackduck Summer Baseball celebrates 30 years; blood drive set for Aug. 3.
Aug. 7
Blackduck child care crisis brought to light as Bi-CAP closes day care center; Barbwire Clothing opens doors in old Nendick Hardware building; Koochiching County Fair set to begin; Schram dedication tops Woodcarver's Festival.
Aug. 14
Local EMS participate in disaster drill; Northome School Board sets school prices; Blackduck's Backwoods Bash is slated for Aug. 20; Tri-Sigma blood drive collects 72 units.
Aug. 21
Industrial Lane street project bids opened by Blackduck City Council; special meeting held by Blackduck Council; Koochiching County Fair draws large crowds with colorful exhibits and parade.
Aug. 28
Blackduck school policy review suggested; Kelliher City Council approves grant requests; big crowds enjoy a nice day at the Backwoods Bash; Kristie Slindee participates in Miss Teen Minnesota pageant.
Sept. 4
New sport hits the north country as Ranch Sorting catches on; Northome School Board holds meeting; Blackduck School business manager resigns.
Sept. 11
School is back in session; work begins on Industrial Lane street project; Kelliher Schools bids and is denied the ADSIS grant; Krabbenhofts purchase first wall brick at Blackduck School.
Sept. 18
Hines Post Office faces closure; Airport issues top Northome City Council meeting; Blackduck Chamber holds monthly meeting; Blackduck couple's garden makes new Minnesota Extension gardening calendar.
Sept. 25
Law enforcement issues top Blackduck City Council meeting; Blackduck School Board is divided on policy changes; Blackduck Evangelical Free Church marks growth with expansion project.
Oct. 2
Prizes being offered for great photos for area residents; Kelliher City Council members address alleged ordinance violations; Chiropractic Sport and Spinal Rehab of Bemidji opens clinic in Kelliher.
Oct. 9
Local band is headed for Nashville following fundraiser; preliminary engineering report reviewed by Kelliher City Council; incident reported at Blackduck School involving a threat made by a juvenile student.
Oct. 16
Local child gets his Make-A-Wish granted; Josh Ziegler named as new Blackduck School business manager; Kelliher School Board approves new bus route; bear seen at residence on Blackduck Lake Road.
Oct. 23
Northome City Council receives update on water project; Jim Gorman named as honorary captain during Lion Club Vision Awareness Week; Kelliher School Board adopts building bond.
Nov. 6
Promoting Blackduck is multi-faceted task taken on by Blackduck Development Corp.; area schools see positive results as new programs start; Blackduck photo contest gets underway.
Nov. 13
New auto body shop opens in Blackduck; 11 year old bags first buck on opening day; Blackduck Chamber of Commerce holds meeting; Blackduck Drama Dept. puts on Little Shop of Horrors.
Nov. 20
Blackduck Dental changes hands as Dr. Bengtson retires; new thrift store opens in hardware store building; Blackduck School Board Chairman Dale Compton injured in ATV-deer collision.
Nov. 27
Blackduck School Board receives an "F" from residents, staff; Northome City Council makes policy change; special meeting called for Blackduck City Council.
Dec. 4
Christmas decorations put up in time for the holiday season; locals donate to Blackduck Toys for Kids; donations accepted by Northome School Board; Blackduck City Council holds special meeting on Industrial Lane.
Dec. 11
Property tax changes top regular Blackduck City Council meeting; Kelliher City Council discusses blighted property issue; more donations received for Blackduck Toys for Kids.
Dec. 18
Blackduck King Koin Launderette has new owners once again; Kelliher Resource Center receives Touchstone Energy award; Kelliher School Board holds Truth in Taxation meeting.
Dec. 25
White Knights limo sells out to Five Star Limousine; Blackduck History Center plays host to Santa and Mrs. Clause while selling cookies by the pound.
