Jason Cervantes and Cody Gillund of the Middle River Law Enforcement have been chosen to lead the 2020 Goose Festival as Grand Marshals. They are being honored for their difficult, and sometimes unappreciated, but essential service to our community. Meet them on Page 4.
When Jason was questioned by the Honker, he did such a wonderful, thorough job that we will introduce Jason “IN HIS OWN WORDS.”
The community of Middle River, MN announces its’ 46th Annual Goose Festival, to be held September 25, 26 and 27. This year’s theme is “Can’t Mask Our Pride”.
When the Middle River Community Theatre was organized in 1985, they were a traveling troop with no place to call home. Productions of Our Town 1986, Let It Rain 1987, Oklahoma 1987, Bless Me Father 1988, Winnie the Pooh 1988, South Pacific 1988, Charlotte’s Web 1989, and Blithe Spirit 1989 were staged in the old Hardware Hank building and the Middle River School. In 1990 they purchased the original Great Northern Depot from Mae Geer, moved it to its present location, and called it home! The first shows in the new building were the children’s summer performance of Hansel and Gretel and the Goose Festival production of Harvey. The MRCT has come a long way since those early days of using a generator for electricity and carrying water in pails! Electricity and water were installed, the original Archie’s Barber Shop was moved from Main Street to the theatre property to be used as a concession stand, and many upgrades have turned the old depot into a home to be proud of. The one thing missing and a constant dream of the theatre board was to enhance the railroad theme of the historic building by adding a train car to its property - with the ultimate dream being a caboose. With the dwindling number of cabooses in operation and snatched up by collectors, and the cost of such an acquistion, the board had all but given up on their dream. Enter Frank Nesbit, owner of Independent Locomotive Services of Holt and Bethel, Minnesota and Minnesota Northern Railway. He worked as Round House foreman at the Soo Line in Minneapolis for 20 years and is a lifetime “Rail” worker, entrepreneur, and promoter of anything railroad. The phone message came to Tom Super on October 21 of 2019... “Yeah, Tom, tell the girls I have a caboose for them!” What?!? The dream was about to come true - but it was a journey!
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is excited to announce the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners. Student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake recently entered into the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and competed for $2,300.00 in cash awards. The winners were recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Warren, Minnesota on August 26.
655 2nd St. North
Middle River, MN 56737-4136
(218) 222-3501