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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Making a difference

Volunteers help our communities thrive

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Volunteers help communities not only survive, but also thrive.

That message came through loud and clear during the Governor’s Fishing Opener, where a virtual army of volunteers gave of their time and talents to ensure a successful event.

Volunteers played crucial roles throughout the weekend in dozens of ways.

Area fishing hosts shuttled the governor and his party as well as dozens of media folks about, providing a glimpse of the beauty of the region as well as a chance to reel in walleyes.

Countless others pitched in helping to organize and run a long list of related events over the weekend. Area guides gave fishing lessons to kids, and a total of 22 young people and staff from the local charter school played a big part themselves, preparing, serving, and cleaning up at last Friday’s community picnic.

The hospitality everyone provided during the weekend could pay big dividends in the future as the governor and others spread the word about the warm reception they received here, the beauty of the region and the spectacular fishing opportunities available in the Lake Vermilion area.

While it’s difficult to gauge how large an impact the Governor’s Opener will have on future business, turning the spotlight on Lake Vermilion for a weekend provided plenty of publicity for the region and volunteers deserve credit for their role in making that happen.

We were also reminded of the difference that individuals make in their communities this past week by the passing of longtime Orr City Clerk Louise Redmond.

Redmond went far beyond the demands of her job, and played a key role in a variety of positive developments in the city. As several testified, she was Orr’s No. 1 cheerleader, but she did more than just tout the city’s assets, she sought to improve them.

Redmond worked quietly behind the scenes on several projects. She was instrumental in getting Spectrum to build an assisted living center in Orr, so much so that Spectrum’s Jon Moncelli has talked about renaming the road to the center Louise Redmond Drive in her honor.

In addition, Redmond encouraged efforts to find a new use for the former Orr School. Wendy Purdy, who chairs the Orr Recreation and Resource Center that has taken on that task, said Redmond helped convince her to get involved with the project.

We could go on listing dozens of others who help enrich their communities through volunteer efforts. From the Cook Lions Club to the Ely Rotary, to Northwoods Friends of the Arts to the W.C. Heiam Medical Foundation, but the message is plain. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities. Their contributions improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors.