Moorhead homeowners can remove sandbag dikes

In Moorhead Minnesota, the city engineer has authorized that people can now take down sandbags. The Red River crested on March 21, by this Monday the river dropped to just over 31 feet. Sandbags can be put on the street where city crews will pick them up. Bag removal assistance will be discussed at the next council meeting.


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Story 6

Who would imagine that right when you thought you were going to be a pediatrician you end up being a career advisor? Maria Barlage started thinking that she was set out to be a doctor, but after much thought and consideration, realized that it wasn’t a fit for her.

Maria Barlage grew up in a small town 20 miles north of Alexandria, Minn. called Parkers Prairie. She started out in Fergus Falls at the local school, Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Where she took a few classes and realized that she needed to get to a larger school to pursue her study to be a pediatrician. Barlage then headed to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD); where she started her path to a doctorates degree. After taking many classes related to the in depth science programs related to her career path, Barlage decided that medicine wasn’t the path for her.

While she finished up her four year degree at UMD, Barlage realized that she wanted to be in a career that allowed her to be around people. Sitting in a cubicle wasn’t what she wanted. She knew she destined to help people. So after many fun and different ideas, such as an interior designer and with being such a free spirit, it was hard to nail down one career idea right away. But after a lot of consideration, so after going to a few job fairs, talking to different people, and even being at UMD, Barlage wanted to be a counselor. Although helping people with personal problems and different issues like that, it seemed a bit overwhelming for her, so after awhile, Barlage realized that being a career counselor would be a better fit for her personality and lifestyle. She then finished out her graduates degree at the UMD knowing what she wanted to do.

After being with her husband, Barlage ended up settling down in Princeton Minn. where her husband works in Rogers and where she works in Cambridge at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC). Living in Princeton works out well for Barlage and her husband since it’s a nice close commute to both of their jobs. Barlage also has two beautiful daughters Madelyn, 6 and Mariana, 8 months.

Barlage has been at ARCC for the last 10 years and has loved every minute of it. “I like the creativity and all of the different career ideas of the students that I get to work with.” Barlage said after asking her on what was one of the things that keeps her interested in her job. Even after being a career advisor for 10 years, the different career goals and ideas change with every student. “It makes me want go out and try all of these different careers that I hear about!” So with many years of advising careers ahead of Maria Barlage, she can dream about all of the different things that she too might want to do in her lifetime, along with guiding the minds of young and old to their career destinations as well.

Former Florida inmate gets 15 years in prison for trying to break back onto jail

25-year-old Sylvester Jiles was sentenced to 15 years in prison after trying to break into the Brevard County Jail, which violated his probation. Jiles was trialed in January for trespassing on property of the jail and resisting an officer. His reasoning for wanting to be back in jail, was the retaliation of the victims family that he accepted a manslaughter plea bargain against.

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Tournament Tuesdays

With every other Tuesday comes a new tournament at the Anoka Ramsey College, Coon Rapids campus. This week’s tournament selection was Big Buck Hunter. It might sound silly to have tournament games on campus, but to the students, who like these games, it gives them something to do that is different from being in a classroom, along with meeting other students that you wouldn’t have already have met.

For these fun filled tournament Tuesdays, the ARCC student government plans out each event accordingly, along with taking suggestions for new games to play. For the Big Buck Hunter game, the tournament went from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon at the courtyard commons.

While watching Amanda Ramseth and her friend play the game, I had asked her if she is pretty familiar with the rules of Big Buck Hunter. “Yes, I’ve played a lot before, but I have mostly played the newer version of it that’s a little bit different and a little harder to play.” As Amanda finished her turn, she realized that she was in the number one position for the game, “Whooo hoo I’m number one! But I am only the fourth person to play so far, so anything’s in the air.” Amanda said to her friend that was with her. Amanda’s friend went next, but her surprise she finished in fourth place so she didn’t even fill out the tournament form since they only give out one prize to the number one winner.

There weren’t a lot of rules that were involved in participating in the tournament. They were more like guidelines so that it was more organized to find a winner of the game. Some of the guidelines were that if you wanted to be entered to win a prize, you had to fill out the form that consisted of writing down your first and last name, your telephone number, and your initials that you used in the game. You also can only play the game once. The game rules were a little more in depth though. To be eligible for the tournament, everyone had to go to the same region (on the games map) to play. If you choose a different part of the map, you were disqualified for not following the rules. Another thing you strive for in the game is to only shoot the bucks, if you shoot them when they are farther away then you get a higher score, or if they are a bigger buck, you can also get more points for that as well. If you shoot a Doe (female deer without antlers) your turn is done. But pending on how high your score is after you’re done with a round, you might be eligible to do a different bonus game that consists of shooting boars or other types of animals.

With the ARCC student government putting together the tournaments a few Tuesdays a month, the prize always changes, and you never know what it is until they call you to tell you that you’ve won. So with a little bit of intrigue, students try their luck at different games that goon for many fun reasons. Whether it’s a game that they’re really good at or something they’ve always wanted to try. So all students are encouraged to try out their hand at luck and give a game a shot.

1 dead in charter bus crash near Detroit Lakes

25-year-old Tabitha Janssen drove a 2007 Ford Escape, when she was struck crossing Highway 10, west of Detroit Lakes, by a charter bus heading eastbound, as the State Patrol reported. It all happened around 11 p.m. Friday, reported by The Daily Journal of Fergus Falls. There were 15 people total on the bus, who were all fine. Janssen died at the scene.

Bryant Billehus

As a young child, Bryant Billehus couldn’t get away from the game of golf even if he tried. Both his dad, who bought him his first set of clubs and grandpa, who took him out on many weekends to many different driving ranges, influenced him at the young age of eight, to get out onto the greens to challenge himself to figure out how to master the game that few have.

Growing up around golf, Bryant watched pro golfer Tom Lehman a lot. Bryant had a few comments about one of his golf idols: “He grew up in Alexandria, MN where my family and I have a cabin. He is a very nice guy. He isn't cocky about his game at all.”

While in high school, Bryant and his family would go on a winter vacation, before the high school golf season started, to practice on different golf courses to warm up for the upcoming season. Bryant also had to go to Hawaii for a “golf” trip, “We did a little more than golf lol.” Bryant said.

Even though Bryant has been to more golf courses than some, he believes that he has had a short golfing career so far. He will just have to keep trucking along in his golf apparel consisting of polo shirts and dress pants to practice until he is out on the greens sharing a game with Tiger Woods or one of his favorites Tom Lehman.

1. How long have you played golf?

I have been playing golf since I was eight years old.

2. Did anyone influence you to play the game?

My dad has always been a big fan of golf so he wanted to start me off somewhat young. He bought me my first set of clubs. My grandpa was also a big contributor in my fondness of the sport. He took me to the driving range many weekends.

3. Does your family play?

Most of my family does; my sister is the only one who hasn't golfed. As you know my dad loves the game, my mom also enjoys the game but is more of just a casual golfer. She only gets out ten or so times a year.

4. Do you have a lot of friends that play?

I don't have many close friends that play. I made a lot of friends while playing on the golf team in high school.

5. Have you traveled to different states to play on different courses?

I have traveled to many different states to play golf. Almost any where my family goes; we typically take our clubs with and try to play a round or two. I have seen many different courses in my short golf career. I hope to see a lot more.

6. How about vacations, have you ever went on a vacation just to play golf

Before golf season for high school every year, my mom, dad, and, I would travel somewhere south where there wasn't snow on the ground and it was warm enough to play. Golf courses around Minnesota don't open till late spring so it wasn't possible to really work on my game. We also took a "golf" trip to Hawaii. (We did a little more than golf lol)

7. Did you grow up around golf (ex. Tiger Woods?!)

I kind of grew up around golf. Tiger didn't come on the scene until I was about 12. But he has been one of my idols ever since. I grew up watching Tom Lehman. He grew up in Alexandria, MN where my family and I have a cabin. He is a very nice guy. He isn't cocky about his game at all.

8. What do you need to bring/wear when playing golf?

Your attire depends on how nice of a course you are playing. At a lower end course, you can wear jeans, shorts, and dress pants with any type of shirt. The pro's have to wear nice dress pants with a polo shirt of a nice dress shirt. Golf shoes are also required. You also need to bring your clubs with you.

Man dies jumping off Mall of America parking ramp

The Bloomington Police got a call on Monday at 3:45 p.m. about an erratic driver who was in a hit and run crash. After getting information, cops followed the driver to the MOA parking ramp, where the unidentified man drove through a barricade to the seventh level. He then got out of his vehicle and jumped off the side, he landed below on the surface lot. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died.



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