Bruce Budris of International Falls takes a turn testing his snowmobile’s speed during the 2015 Speed Run Against Cancer hosted by the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club at Thunderbird Lodge.
A rider creates a cloud of snow behind his sled as he takes off down the track in front of Thunderbird Lodge. The highest recorded speed Saturday was 104 miles per hour.
A rider competes in a side-by-side race with another rider Saturday.
The sound of helping in the fight against cancer could be heard echoing down Rainy Lake Saturday.
The seventh annual Speed Run Against Cancer attracted about 60 snowmobile riders and other spectators from all over northern Minnesota and Fort Frances, Ontario, to Thunderbird Lodge over the weekend.
According to Jim Bigler, president of the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, which co-hosts the event, about $700 was raised for the local Community Cancer Walk program.
“We certainly appreciate all people who run their machines and the people who just come out to watch and donate to a good cause,” Bigler said. “While our club is about snowmobiling and grooming trails, we also take great pride in holding this event with the Thunderbird Lodge.”
When the snow dust settled Saturday after more than 220 runs were made down a 1,000-foot track, Dustin Christopherson, Travis Christopherson and Tyce Jackson, all of International Falls, set speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
So where does racing snowmobiles tie into raising money for helping those suffering from cancer?
Bigler said several years ago, he was approached by Chris Raboin, former chief of the International Falls Police Department, about the city giving the snowmobile club its old radar machine. Bigler said the club considered using the equipment to somehow teach snowmobile safety.
“After thinking about it, we decide it wasn’t a good idea so we said, ‘Let’s do a radar run for fun,’” he said. “We did our first one to try and raise funds for a dialysis machine as one of our long-time members’ son died with kidney disease.”
The next year, the snowmobile club teamed up with the Thunderbird Lodge, which donates a portion of its income received during the day of the event, to help the Community Cancer Walk. The program provides gas cards to cancer patients who travel out of town for treatment.
“It’s a privilege for our club to help to relieve the burden of traveling out of town for treatment,” Bigler said. “The IVSC is a proud organization of our community, so if you ride, join our club and share in the pride.”
Steve Shermoen
This month’s meeting of the local sewer board may feel a little like musical chairs.
International Falls City Attorney Steve Shermoen told the Falls City Council Monday Brian McBride continues to object to the lack of reappointment to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board as a city representative.
On Jan. 21, the council on a 3-2 vote approved Mayor Bob Anderson’s appointment of Robert Thompson to the board. Councilors Pete Kalar and Cynthia Jaksa voted no. The appointment was first brought to the council Jan. 5 at its organizational meeting, which is held each year prior to the first regular meeting of a new year. At that time, the appointment failed on a 2-2 vote, with Anderson and newly sworn-in Councilor Harley Droba voting in favor. Councilor Brian Briggs was absent from that meeting.
McBride has petitioned Ninth Judicial District Judge Kurt Marben to reappoint him to the board, claiming the council did not act on the appointment in time to meet requirements set out in the legislation that created the board, Shermoen said.
The next step is a scheduling conference, Shermoen said. He said he expects the judge to ask all sides to submit their information and will hear arguments via interactive television.
“My belief is the mayor and council acted appropriately,” Shermoen said. “I am confident Judge Marben will approve what the city did and allow Robert Thompson to serve.”
Shermoen recommended the council instruct Thompson to become “immediately involved with as much as he can on the sewer board until the judge tells him he is not representing the city.”
Thompson is the fourth member of the board appointed by Anderson.
Councilor Brian Briggs asked what would happen if McBride attends the Feb. 9 sewer board meeting.
“I don’t think anyone on the board would have the authority to tell Mr. Thompson he is not a member,” Shermoen said.
Shermoen said McBride’s term is over and he has not been reappointed.
“It is my legal opinion (Thompson) would have to be recognized until a court order says he is not,” Shermoen said.
Anderson said he believes the sewer board’s attorney, Joe Boyle, has issued notice McBride will serve on the board, not Thompson. He asked the council to approve, and it did so unanimously, Shermoen’s attendance at the next sewer board meeting.
Anderson said he was served with the court papers the night Thompson was appointed and he is drafting a response to the claim.
Meanwhile, Shermoen told the council he hoped the 8 a.m. Feb. 9 sewer board meeting would be over by 9 a.m. as he is scheduled to start a jury trial at that time.
Jaksa said the city’s PEG channel, KCCTV “would be there to capture the drama.”
