St. Joseph
Wobegon Trail signs honor Jacob Wetterling's values
Bicyclists, joggers, skaters and snowmobilers on a stretch of the Lake Wobegon Trail will now be reminded of traits that Jacob Wetterling valued.
Small blue signs listing 11 traits such as "Be fair" and "Be generous" now adorn mile markers from St. Joseph to a marker just west of the Schwinghammer Lake bridge.
Wetterling was 11 when he was abducted at gunpoint in October, 1989. Authorities recently found his remains after suspect Danny Heinrich admitted to assaulting and killing the boy. Wetterling's parents and a resource center in his name are promoting his valued traits as a way to honor his hope for the world.
A couple from rural Albany, Lisa and Dewey Klaphake, came up with the idea for the signs and paid for the materials. Lisa's employer, Sentra-Sota Sheet Metal Inc., donated the labor to make the signs. North Star Signs & Engraving donated the lettering.
pam louwagie
Minnesota
YMCA waives joiner's fee for state vets/families
Minnesota's YMCAs are waiving the joiner's fee for veterans and their families for the next 28 months.
The Minneapolis and St. Cloud Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems and the Minnesota Alliance of YMCAs recently signed a memorandum of understanding that drops the enrollment fee and also allows the VA to use space at YMCA facilities for outreach events.
The local outreach activities will depend on space availability at each YMCA. Activities could include job fairs, town hall meetings and events related to employment, homelessness and healthy lifestyle programming.
