Vicki Gerdes
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Staff writer at Detroit Lakes Newspapers for the past 16 years, currently editor of the entertainment and community pages as well as covering city council and the Lake Park-Audubon School Board. Living in DL with my cat, Smokey.
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It's been a long year of planning for 2012 Northwest Water Carnival Admirals Jon and Angie Olson -- but an exciting one as well.
When asked how her native country of Haiti is faring, two and a half years removed from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that ravaged the tiny island nation on Jan. 11, 2010, Miquette Denie-McMahon's wry sense of humor comes across. "It's been a good year, I could say -- there have been no major disasters," says the founder of the Detroit Lakes-based nonprofit foundation, TeacHaiti.
There's lots of music to be heard in the lakes area tonight, as Hope Fest continues north of Detroit Lakes with continuous live gospel music, the Oak Ridge Boys perform at Shooting Star Casino and Gloria Jean pays tribute to Loretta Lynn in Cormorant. Hope Fest runs from 5 to 10 p.m. today and again tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the festival grounds are located 1½ miles north of Detroit Lakes on Richwood Road and Dan Street. A variety of bands will be featured. Gloria Jean's tribute to country music diva Loretta Lynn -- backed by a full five-piece band -- begins at 7 p.m.
Art for the Ages exhibitors drew hundreds of art lovers to Emmanuel Community's Forest Conference Center on Wednesday afternoon. Residents and guests alike enjoyed a variety of sculptures, paintings and craft works from area artisans.
Despite the fact that Independence Day falls on a Wednesday this year, there will be fireworks on July 4 at the Detroit Lakes City Beach -- and donations are being sought to make the show as memorable as possible. "It's (the fireworks show) always on July 4, and it's always at dusk," said Carrie Johnston, president of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the show with support from local businesses and individuals. "Mark Fritz and Mike Hutchinson of Lakeshirts are the chairs of the event again this year, and they are collecting donations from businesses and individ
Though it's been 31 years since the Oak Ridge Boys' biggest hit, "Elvira," first became an international sensation -- and a No.
It was a curious sight that greeted visitors at Monday night's Lake Park-Audubon School Board meeting in the media center at LP-A High School. Instead of the usual rows of bookshelves and computer desks that had stood in the media center throughout the school year, there were stacks upon stacks of boxes and dismantled shelves leaning up against the walls. It was tangible evidence that the official move-in date at the new high school site off Highway 10 is now less than a month away. July 17 is the date targeted for teachers and staff to begin the process of moving class materials, furnit
For the past 42 years, Don and Pam Skarie have been partners -- in life, in parenting and in business. The Becker County natives have raised their six children on the same farm in Detroit Township where they began their married life 42 years ago. Along the way, they have also raised turkey breeder hens and produced hatching eggs for Jennie O -- and started up a hydroponic tomato business as well. "We also make Pam's Salsa and sell that there (at the greenhouse) too," said Don Skarie. Two of their four children, sons John and Brian, also help operate the 120-acre farm and its various en
A powwow and powerboat racing are both on tap for the lakes area this weekend, but first up tonight is a performance by the Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company at the Detroit Lakes Public Library. Members of the opera company will present excerpts from "The Face on the Barroom Floor," in a free concert at the library starting at 7 p.m. Call 218-847-2168 for more information. Also tonight, the Deb Jenkins Quartet performs blues and jazz from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Lodge on Lake Detroit.
Once every couple of weeks, the staff and residents at Emmanuel Nursing Home are treated to an unusual sight. Those are the days when their volunteer mailman, Steve Score, brings along a trio of fluffy yellow companions on his rounds. The ducklings that accompany Score on his mail rounds have become a familiar sight to the nursing home's residents and staff -- nevertheless, they do draw many a curious stare as they waddle along behind him. "I call them Peeper and the Pipettes," he said with a smile (the large one is Peeper, and is several weeks older than her companions). Score purchas