Organization helps those with disabilities connect or reconnect with outdoors Kevin Finneman had recently graduated from high school when he and his friend decided to go to the Twin Cities to check out the nightlife. It was 1974, and “we were going to the big city for a Saturday night of going bar-hopping!” he remembered. A hunter is transported in the field by volunteers at Minnesota Broken Wing Connection. Contributed photo They also wanted to do a little shopping, and mayb

‘Veterans on the Water’ established by Vietnam vet Steve Gillaspie, 68, of Arlington, is a decorated U.S. Army Ranger Vietnam combat veteran. Veterans on the Water founder Steve Gillapsie, of Arlington, shows some of the many photos of fishing trips taken by veterans at no cost to them to various lakes around the state. Photo by Steve Palmer He understands what it means to have courageously served his country. He has a Purple Heart and two medals for valor to prove it. Steve

Volunteers help those with special needs remain socially and creatively active in the community Dignity. Safety. Hope. Lutheran Social Services client, Patty, front, shares a laugh in her residence in Mankato with, from left, Shannon Butler, Guardianship Options supervisor; Sandy Birkholz, friendly volunteer visitor and Sally Brigance, volunteer coordinator, Guardianship Options. That is the stated goal Lutheran Social Services (LSS) has for all people served through the Guar

They have limited abilities and that qualifies them to participate in the limited deer hunt at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center. Hunters and their helpers. The hunters include Craig Vorhees, Aaron Cross, of St. Cloud, Jeremy Carlson, of Svea, Keegan Maclennan, of Willmar, Mike Oldfield, of Spicer, Brian Gieseke, of Spicer, Calmon Peterson, of Blomkest, Bob Lungstrom, of New London, Jim Gustafson, of Pennock and Pierce Heinze, of Grey Eagle. Contributed photo. I

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he doesn’t just make his presence known at Christmastime. In fact, he “paid it forward” to three Lake Region Healthcare volunteers in March. Instead of getting a bill for their lunch, volunteers Carol Nygaard, Arlene Palmer and Pat Eidal got a note written on a napkin thanking them for their work. It was signed by Santa Claus. Photo by Carol Stender The volunteers – Carol Nygaard, Pat Eidal and Arlene Palmer – were celebrating Arlene

It all started in 2006, according to Terry Mooney.  That was when Terry’s mother-in-law, Helen Mooney, decided to talk with the editor of The Maple Lake Messenger, Theresa Andrus, to suggest that a community library be started.  According to Terry, Helen went in to meet with the editor, stating that, “Maple Lake always had a public library in the old days; why can’t there be one now?” “Maple Lake is the kind of town where people pull together,” said Terry.  “If someone has a

Riding therapy program founded in 2008, looking to expand to benefit more “We used to have a summer celebration, but the Cowboy Christmas we have held the last few years is a big hit, with more families attending every year. We have horseback rides, craft tables for the kids to work at, a few vendors, refreshments served by the kids with 4-H, who donate all the free-will donations they get to the riding program, there are wagon rides, and Santa is always a big hit,” said ridi