Mahnomen Pioneer

03/28/2025

Regarding our issue dated March 27, 2025. We worked very hard on this issue. When it was sent down to be printed in Detroit Lakes, however, they didn't do so good a job of printing, especially on page 7. There are splotches of red ink on page 7 and adjoining papers on most of the copies that were sent back with me. I had no control over that. However, I realize that it upset some of our readers. There was an obituary for Renita Spider published on page 7, and there were red ink splotches on her obituary in most of the copies. Out of respect for her and her family, we will be reprinting her obituary in the issue dated April 3, 2025. There will not be a charge for the second printing. I couldn't control the print job, but I can control how I respond to this situation. Thank you to our readers for your understanding. Sue Kraft, editor.

03/28/2025

Waubun High School Junior High and Senior High put on an excellent concert on Thursday, March 27, and gave tribute to two great Waubun High School alumni, Russell Kent and Jim Johnston. Pictures and coverage will be in the April 3 issue of the Mahnomen Pioneer.

11/04/2024

This Candidate Questionnaire Response did not make it in the Mahnomen Pioneer for the October 31 issue, as I didn't find it on Monday. It apparently was lost due to email filters. I was asked by the candidate to post it on facebook.

WOWE ISD 435 School Board Candidate Questionnaire
Name: Katie Olson
Contact Info: [email protected]
Family: Husband Clint Olson and 3 Children- Leah 2023 WHS graduate, Chris 11th grade and John Olson 3rd grade.
Education: MSCTC Detroit Lakes and White Earth Tribal College- Early Childhood Ed.
Occupation/Work: Current position and past history:
Currently working for Indian Child Welfare, since 2015. Initially as the Foster Care Coordinator and currently as an adoption social worker. Prior to that I had ran the White Earth Child Care and Learning Center from 2004-2015

Community Involvement/Organizations: Ogema Ladies Auxiliary, Waubun Dollars for Scholars

Questions:
1. Please discuss briefly what you as a school board member would promote or support at School District #435 in three of the following subject areas. What type of improvements or changes would you like to see?
a) Student Education – I would like to see our school focus on getting our kids ready for the future, whether this is via college or joining the workforce or learning a trade. Other local schools are able to offer a wider variety of class options to their students and I’d like to see our kids have the same opportunities. In line with that, I would like to see parents included more on class registration in high school as well as keeping them in the loop on if their child is meeting all requirements to graduate.
b) Graduation Rates
c) Discipline - Behavior issues and discipline continue to be an issue within our schools. What training has been provided to staff? Are we meeting the kids where they are at? Many of our students are coming from homes that struggle with poverty and many have been or currently are in a foster care situation. I’d like to focus on methods that cater to those specific needs. I’d also like for our school to look deeper into offering mentoring via peers or adults.
d) Faculty and Staff – Quality education can’t happen without quality staff/teachers. What are we doing to ensure that our staff feels valued and supported? Do they have adequate prep time and classroom support? Do our educators have the opportunity for professional development? Also, how can our small community recruit teachers? I have a lot of questions and things to learn about!
e) Administration
f) Facilities
g) Budget

2. What type of a role would you play as a school board member? How active would you be? What are your strengths as a potential (or current) school board member? I feel that I can be a fair and open minded person. I am comfortable working as a team with others in order to make plans and decisions. I have always considered myself to be an advocate, so in that sense I would advocate for the needs of students, teachers and staff. I also know that I would be seen as a liaison between the school district and the community, getting feedback and addressing concerns from parents and guardians. My main role would be to ensure that the school district serves the best interests of its students and the community.

10/17/2024

Hello Everyone. Please check out our website online.

07/19/2024

Important Event August 11 at the Mahnomen County Airport. Fly-In Breakfast August 11. Mahnomen-Waubun Area Lions are serving breakfast and Raising Funds for an organization that honors our veterans.
Please make plans to attend. Enjoy a great breakfast and consider taking an airplane ride.

05/21/2024

The Mahnomen Pioneer and I, Sue Kraft, are currently featured in an article on an online news site called MinnPost. The article, "Working Tirelessly to Keep the Lights On and the News Flowing," is written by Ava Kian, a young reporter from the Twin Cities who kept pace with me on Monday, May 1. The article focuses on the challenges facing small rural newspapers in Minnesota. To view the article, search MinnPost, and click on it. There are also pictures in the article that feature several local people. Enjoy reading.

03/23/2024

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was in Mahnomen on Saturday, March 23, at the
White Earth Tribal and Community College. She visited with representatives of White Earth Tribe and the college. They discussed three important matters: a $5.5 million federal grant to build a safety overpass over the railroad in Mahnomen, co-management of the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, and the importance of education and preservation of the Ojibwe language and culture. Pictured here are Chairman Michael Fairbanks, Senator Amy Klobuchar and WETCC President Anna Sheppard touring the computer classroom. They also told Klobuchar about several grants the college has received to improve what they have to offer to students, both tribal and non tribal, and to the community. More on the website: mahnomenpioneer.com, and in this week's Mahnomen Pioneer issue, out on March 27, dated March 28.

11/08/2023

11/07/2023

Just Got this Info: It came in from Tina Starkey, but the newspaper had already gone to the press,

The Thunderbird Football team bus will be departing the MHS (gym) parking lot at 2:00pm on Friday! Would like to encourage those in the communities who are able to send the team off in style to honk, wave & cheer! So far White Earth Police, Ogema Fire Department and Mahnomen Health Center Ambulance will be leading them out of town. Please join in the fun!
They will travel north on Main Street to HWY 200, cross the tracks by the Burger Hut and head south on HWY 59 towards Waubun. It does not take long for the bus to make its way through town so be ready to send them off along this route around 2:00-2:05pm! A loop will be made through Waubun around 2:15-2:20 pm and then the team will travel south onto Ogema.
Let's show the team, coaches, and cheerleaders our support! As stated by Coach Clark after the last game we cannot take any win for granted. Go Thunderbirds!
(Please pass on to other in the community that would like to join in supporting the Thunderbirds)

11/07/2023

Congratulations to the Mahnomen-Waubun Thunderbirds, the 2023 MN Football Section 8 Class A Champions!! The Thunderbirds will play in Brainerd on Friday, November 10, at 7 p.m., vs the Parker's Prairie Panthers. Good Luck in the State Tournaments Thunderbirds!

02/28/2023

Comments from Thunderbirds Girls Basketball Coach Zach Qual:
Found too late to make it into the Pioneer this week, but I am posting on Facebook
Coach Zach Qual commented
"We finished the season 10-16 and we head up to Cass Lake on Thursday for our first round of the playoffs. I'm very happy with how our kids battled all year. We had 12 games that were decided by 7 points or less. We weren't very successful in those games as we would have liked to be going 2-10 but our kids were so competitive all year.
Cass Lake is going to be a tough game for us. We're the 5 seed and they are the 4 seed so it's going to be a battle. We'll have to slow down their two best players in Gabby Fineday and Alexia LaRose. The two of them combined for 48 points the last time we faced off against them so it will be a challenge. Overall, it was a great year and we are hoping to make some noise during tournament time!"

The Girls Play at Cass Lake at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
Good Luck Lady Thunderbirds!