Calendar
TODAY
Ash Wednesday Come-Anytime-Service, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Faith United Church of Christ.
Retired Boise Cascade electricians, 9 a.m., Coffee Landing Cafe.
AARP Tax Aide preparation, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Backus Community Center, Rooms 208/209 (free, appointments, 283-5236).
Walk-ercise group, 10-11 a.m., Backus Community Center gymnasium.
WIC Clinic, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Northome.
Community Clothes Closet drop-offs, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Aquinas Hall.
Littlefork Ambulance Thrift Shop open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Northland Art Society open, various arts, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Backus, Room 114.
Wednesday Study Group, 10:15 a.m., Faith United Church of Christ.
Salvation Army Advisory Council, noon, Salvation Army building.
Girl Guards, Sunbeams and Adventure Corps, 4:30-6 p.m., The Salvation Army.
Free At Last, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Forestland Annex, lower level conference room.
Northland Art Society open, various arts, 5:30-8 p.m., Backus, Room 114.
International Falls Recreation Commission Board, 5:45 p.m., city council chambers.
Narcotics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Alano Club.
Men’s Non-Violence Group, 6-8 p.m., Friends Against Abuse office.
Members and guests Elks Lodge 1599 Wednesday Meal, 6:30 p.m., Giovanni’s pizza and salad.
Little Lambs (3 years to kindergarten) and King’s Kids (1st-5th grades), Youth Group (6th grade-up), 6:30-7:30 p.m., Full Gospel Fellowship Church.
Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club, 7 p.m., AmericInn.
Adult Mixed Volleyball, 7:15 p.m., Backus Community Center.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Alano Club.
THURSDAY
Community Clothes Closet open, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aquinas Hall.
AARP Tax Aide preparation, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Backus Community Center, Rooms 208/209 (free, appointments, 283-5236).
Bone Builders, 10-11:30 a.m., Woodland Apartments.
Littlefork Ambulance Thrift Shop open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Falls Hunger Coalition Food Shelf open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 1000 Fifth St.
Northland Art Society open, various arts, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Backus, Room 114.
Storytime, 10:30 a.m., International Falls Public Library.
“Employer of the Day,” UnitedHealth Group, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., WorkForce Center, Rainy River Community College campus, Room SC-128.
Falls High School Class of 1960, 11:30 a.m., Lenard’s.
Servants of Shelter Board, noon, KOOTASCA.
Ostomy support group, 2:30 p.m., Essentia Health-International Falls Clinic.
Falls Hunger Coalition (Food Shelf) annual gathering, 2:30 p.m., Forestland Annex, downstairs conference room.
Weight Watchers, 4:45-5:15 p.m. weigh-in; 5:15 meeting, Zion Lutheran Church.
Citizens for Backus/AB annual gathering/board member election, 5 p.m., Backus Community Center, conference room.
Community Café, 5:30-6 p.m., cheeseburger pasta hotdish, green beans, dinner roll, Backus Community Center.
Beginner’s Tae Kwon Do, 5:45 p.m., Falls Elementary School gymnasium or cafeteria.
The Lamplighters, women’s support group for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, 6-8 p.m., Friends Against Abuse office.
St. Thomas Bingo — Bonanza, 6:45 p.m.; Bingo, 7, Aquinas Hall.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Alano Club.
FRIDAY
AARP Tax Aide preparation, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Backus Community Center, Rooms 208/209 (free, appointments, 283-5236).
Walk-ercise group, 10-11 a.m., Backus Community Center gymnasium.
Falls Hunger Coalition Food Shelf open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 1000 Fifth St.
Serenity Sisters, Women’s A.A., noon, Backus, Rational Alternatives, Room 101.
Members and guests Elks Lodge 1599 Friday Light Meal, 5:30 p.m., chicken Parmesan sandwich, salad, dessert.
Narcotics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Alano Club.
Bronco Boys Basketball Parents Night, 6:45 p.m., Falls High School gymnasium.
For Those in Need, Addiction Recovery, 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1340 Keenan Drive.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Alano Club, 410 Fifth Ave.
SATURDAY
Northland Art Society workshop, fused glass trinket plate — Diana Kangas, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Backus Community Center, Art Room 114.
Guided Snowshoe Hike, 1-3 p.m., Rainy Lake Visitor Center.
Soup Supper, 4-7 p.m., Birchdale Church.
“TET – Vietnamese New Year” special dinner, 6 p.m., Backus Community Center, dining room.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Alano Club.
BOYS BASKETBALL PARENTS NIGHT
Bronco Boys Basketball Parents Night is set for 6:45 p.m. Friday at Falls High School gymnasium. Senior players, cheerleaders, manager and parents will be honored.
BIRCHDALE
SOUP SUPPER
Birchdale Church will serve a soup supper from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Homemade soups, rolls and pies will be featured. Free will offering will be accepted. The public is welcome.
TOP THE
TATER DINNER
Top the Tater dinner is scheduled for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at Backus Community Center. The $6 per person charge includes baked potato, toppings, salad, dessert and beverage. Dinner precedes Border Concert Association concert, “Todd Oliver and Friends” at 7 at Backus Auditorium. Dinner ticket value packs are available for sale at the door. Dinners available “to go.” Call Backus at 285-7225 for information.
HOMEBUYERS
WORKSHOP
A first time homebuyers workshop is planned for 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Feb. 26 at KOOTASCA Community Action, 2232 Second Ave. E. Topics include: Qualifying for a Mortgage, Credit, Shopping for a Home/Realtor Services, Insurance, Inspections and Closing. The $40 per family charge is payable to KOOTASCA. Registration is required. Call Sandy O’Fallon at 218-999-0828 or at 1-877-687-1163.
SENIOR LAW
PROJECT SESSION
Legal Aid Senior Law Project, International Falls Outreach Attorney Robin Raplinger will be available for a Legal Aid Senior Law Project session from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 in the basement meeting room at International Falls Public Library. The Senior Law Project serves people 60 and over. Income and assets will not exclude one from meeting with the attorney to discuss legal issues. There is no charge. Walk-ins accepted, however appointments are preferred and will be given priority. For an appointment or for more information, contact Raplinger at 218-749-3270, ext. 405, or 1-800-886-3270, ext. 405.
Q: There are way too many other drivers on their cell phones calling or texting. Why don’t you enforce these laws? We never hear about it.
A: I agree that there are too many drivers that are distracted while driving. We are doing our best to enforce the laws and reduce the number of crashes on our roadways.
Minnesota does have a law making it illegal for drivers to read/compose/send text messages and emails, or access the internet using a wireless device while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic.
I believe that distracted driving, namely texting and using the internet on our phones, is a major distraction that causes many crashes. I’ve based this belief not only on my years of training and experience from several traffic stops and crashes, but also on the statistics.
Each year in Minnesota distracted or inattentive driving is a factor in one in four crashes, resulting in at least 70 deaths and 350 serious injuries. I believe these numbers are vastly under reported due to law enforcement’s challenge in determining distraction as a crash factor.
Driving itself is a challenging activity that involves steering, checking mirrors in traffic, signaling, maintaining safe speed, reading road signs, and more. Adding non-driving tasks behind the wheel increases the risk of a crash. Attentive driving is critical as the traffic environment can change in an instant, such as lights changing, vehicles braking quickly, changing lanes, road conditions, and pedestrians crossing or walking along the roadways.
A recent in-depth study showed that the average person checking/or sending their phones for a text message takes their eyes off the roadway for approximately 4.6 seconds at a time. Now at 55mph you have traveled over 370 feet in that time (well over the length of a football field.)
Ask yourself, what can happen in that time and distance? Could you drift over the shoulder and hit somebody changing their flat tire? You can have all the laws you want, but unless the motoring public obeys them, not much will change.
We need to know the serious dangers of distracted driving and understand that texting and driving is unacceptable. The Minnesota State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies have been, and will continue be actively involved in distracted driving campaigns throughout all of Minnesota.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Neil Dickenson, Minnesota State Patrol, 1131 Mesaba Ave., Duluth, MN 55811. (Or reach me at neil.dickenson@state.mn.us).
Lottery
Sunday’s Daily 3
9, 0, 0
Sunday’s Northstar Cash
2, 4, 13, 19, 25
Friday’s Gopher 5
3, 15, 21, 25, 47
Saturday’s Hot Lotto
2, 14, 22, 24, 36
Hot Ball
7
Friday’s Mega Millions
4, 20, 44, 65, 74
Mega Ball
14
Saturday’s Powerball
1, 24, 44, 45, 51
Powerball
28
