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<br />RAMSEY UNDERDOGS TAKE GOLD MEDAL
<br />
<br />
<br />Back Row (Left to Right): Coach Doug Lynch, Kathy Lund, Bridgette Mitchell, Casey Monear, Lori Schommer, Heather Rung,
<br />Nicole Anderson, Kelle Sauer, Assistant Coaches Gary Lund and Perry Jung. Front Row (Left to Right): Stephanie Richards, Beth
<br />Prior, Barb Lynch, Krisha Jung, Christina Whaley, Beth Lynch.
<br />
<br />Barely qu.alifying ~or the tournament, the RXAA Girls Slow Pitch Softball Team sponsored by the Anoka Sport Shack came
<br />from behind to Win the Gold Medal Championship at the Minnesota Star of the North State Games held in Burnsville June
<br />17 and 18.
<br />
<br />SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET
<br />
<br />CUT 4.3 MILLION
<br />
<br />The $167.9 million budget presented to Anoka-Hennepin
<br />District 11 School Board June 22 includes reductions in pro-
<br />grams and services of approximately $4.3 million.
<br />The reductions come through the elimination of 95
<br />teaching positions, several central administrative positions
<br />and a number of secretarial, paraprofessional and custodial
<br />positions.
<br />The proposed budget calls for revenues of $127.6 million
<br />and expenditures of $127.1 million in the general fund, leav-
<br />ing a projected balance of $708,585 in the fund that pays
<br />the bulk of educational expenses. "This is about as close
<br />as you can get to a zero fund balance," said Dr. Roger
<br />Giroux, assistant superintendent.
<br />Under the proposed budget, elementary instrumental
<br />music programs would be reduced and elementary media
<br />specialists would be cut from full to half-time. The stu-
<br />dent/teacher ratios in the junior and senior high schools
<br />would be increased by .8. Elementary paraprofessionals who
<br />provide teacher preparation time would be eliminated and
<br />paraprofessionals who assist with composition in the senior
<br />highs would be reduced by half. The number of Amity Scholar
<br />who assist with foreign language classes would also be
<br />reduced.
<br />Junior high boys gymnastics, boys and girls cross coun-
<br />try running, girls cheerleading and seventh grade in-
<br />terscholastic athletic competition would be eliminated. Senior
<br />high boys gymnastics would be phased out, the senior high
<br />slalom ski program would be reduced, and senior high
<br />coaching positions would be reduced.
<br />The district had joined other school districts throughout
<br />the state in lobbying the legislature for increased funding
<br />in hopes of avoiding some of the program cuts included in
<br />this budget.
<br />The legislature approved a funding packing that sets the
<br />foundation aid figure at $2,838 per pupil unit for next year
<br />and $2,953 the following year, increases of three and four
<br />percent. The increase was not enough to maintain programs
<br />and services at the level of the last school year.
<br />"Every reasonable effort will be made to minimize the
<br />negative impact of the cuts on students, but that impact will
<br />be felt," said Dr. Finch, who added that there is little help
<br />of restoring programs the following year.
<br />
<br />ADVENTURES PLUS MEETING
<br />
<br />CHILD CARE NEEDS
<br />
<br />As parents head out for work in the morning more and
<br />more are stopping along the way to drop off their children
<br />at an Adventures Plus child care site.
<br />Responding to the need for child care before and after
<br />school and summers, the Anoka-Hennepin District 11 Com-
<br />munity Education Department initiated Adventures Plus in
<br />the district five years ago on an experimental basis.
<br />We have 10 sites serving every school in the district as
<br />well as St. Stephen's," said Tom Holton, Community Educa-
<br />tion area manager who oversees Adventures Plus.
<br />The program serves about 600 students before and after
<br />school. Three sites, Andover, Oxbow Creek and Monroe
<br />Schools, have space to serve kindergartners half days as
<br />well. Six sites offer care during the summer - Monroe, Ox-
<br />bow Creek, Wilson, Andover, Sorteberg and Madison
<br />Schools.
<br />"It is becoming really important, especially now with open
<br />enrollment. Parents want the convenience of child care at
<br />the school." Daycare was cited as the primary reason parents
<br />requested transfers for elementary students under Open
<br />Enrollment.' ,
<br />The cost of the program is covered entirely by parent fees.
<br />"We try to keep our prices as low as possible so it is affor-
<br />dable," said Holton.
<br />Registrations are being taken now for September. For in-
<br />formation and registration call 561-0360.
<br />
<br />INSTRUCTORS WANTED
<br />
<br />Ramsey Community Education is now hiring part-time after
<br />school instructors for youth classes. You must be at least
<br />16 years old. Share your talents and interests with the youth
<br />in Ramsey. Call 422-5199 for more information.
<br />
<br />R. Y .A.A. NEWS
<br />
<br />FALL SPORTS REGISTRATION for Football grades 4-7 and
<br />Fall Soccer grades 3-6 will be held at Ramsey City Hall from
<br />7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1st and Tuesday, August 8.
<br />Anyone interested in being an assistant for football direc-
<br />torship for 1989 and becoming the football director for 1990
<br />should contact Lance Leipzig, 427-6745.
<br />Congratulations to our own RYAA "Sport Shack" Jr. High
<br />girls softball team for winning the Championship at the re-
<br />cent "Star of the North" event in Burnsville. Also our "Sport
<br />Shack" Jr. High boys softball team won 1st place at the
<br />recent "Father Hennepin Days" tournament in Champlin.
<br />The next scheduled RY AA board meeting will be held at
<br />Ramsey City Hall on August 24, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. Everyone
<br />is invited to come and share your ideas about our sports
<br />program.
<br />
<br />"NATIONAL NIGHT OUT"
<br />
<br />America's Night Out Against Crime
<br />
<br />Tuesday, August 8th
<br />
<br />This summer the schools involved in the Key Communicator
<br />Project in Anoka Hennepin are planning to participate in the
<br />National "Neighbors Night Out Against Crime". The event
<br />will be held on Tuesday, August 8th. Traditional observa-
<br />tion of this event has included running outdoor lighting and
<br />spending the evening outside with neighbors.
<br />
<br />The National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime
<br />prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and par-
<br />ticipation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) Strengthen
<br />neighborhood spirit in the crime prevention campaign; and
<br />(4) Send a message to criminals letting them know that
<br />neighborhoods are organized, care, and are fighting back.
<br />
<br />Ramsey has several neighborhoods that are organized and
<br />will be participating in this event. If you are interested in your
<br />neighborhood becoming a Key Communicator neighborhood
<br />call Claudia Dodge 422-5199.
<br />
<br />
<br />CROSS OF HOPE
<br />
<br />LUTHERAN CHURCH
<br />
<br />WHEN?
<br />August 7 - 11, 1989
<br />9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
<br />
<br />WHO?
<br />3 years old through 6th grade
<br />(3 year olds welcome on Tuesday & Thursday, August 8 &
<br />10)
<br />
<br />WHAT?
<br />Terrific Music · Awesome Crafts
<br />Fantastic Field Trip (Springbrook Nature Center)
<br />Incredible Bible Stories · Daily Snack Provided
<br />
<br />WHERE?
<br />Cross of Hope Lutheran Church
<br />5730 179th Lane N.w. · Phone 753-2057
<br />
<br />HOW?
<br />Register at the door on August 7th. Registration fee is $8.00
<br />for 4 year olds through 6th grade and $3.00 for 3 year olds.
<br />
<br />LORD OF LIFE
<br />
<br />LUTHERAN CHURCH
<br />6139 157th Lane N.W.
<br />Ramsey, Minnesota 55303
<br />
<br />LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCN announces: A
<br />BLUEGRASS Worship Service featuring "STONEY
<br />LONESOME". On Sunday, August 20, 1989 at the 8:00 a.m.
<br />and 9:30 a.m. Worship hours, Lord of Life will feature Stoney
<br />Lonesome in a bluegrass worship experience. Stoney
<br />Lonesome appeared regularly on American Public Radio's
<br />"A Prairie Home Companion" as well as appearing on the
<br />regionally syndicated television show, "Nighttimes Variety" ,
<br />and .Nashville Network's "Fire on the Mountain." Lord of
<br />Life is located on the corner of Sunfish Lake Blvd. and County
<br />Road 5. Pastor Blair Anderson invites all to attend. For fur-
<br />ther information, call the church office at 427-8630.
<br />
<br />PLEASE BUCKLE UP
<br />
<br />By: Police Chief Auspos
<br />
<br />If this article sounds a little more disjointed than some
<br />of my previous scribblings it is because I have impetuously
<br />put paper into the typewriter and took off rather than first
<br />do it in longhand. This is being done because of the gravity
<br />of the matter and my mind, such as it is, is racing with
<br />thoughts and the longhand process will dull them.
<br />A young man, a resident of Ramsey for all his life as far
<br />as I know, died last month. I suppose that had I read about
<br />a young man or woman dieing in an accident and having
<br />been a resident of some other community my reaction would
<br />have been like that of most persons perusing the morning
<br />paper or listening to the evening news..."lsn't that a terri-
<br />ble shame!" and then on to other matters. But I knew this
<br />young man when he was younger and playing baseball in
<br />the city kid's league. He was memorable to me because he
<br />tried so hard to be a good player and when he got a good
<br />hit or made a good play I could just see in his face an ex-
<br />ultation and pride of accomplishment that removed some
<br />of the jaded veneer covering my aging cynicism. His presence
<br />here was good for me and I am sure that he touched many
<br />others and would have done so to countless others had he
<br />lived to be an old man, sitting in front of that proverbial fire
<br />remembering his youth. But he is no longer here and the
<br />world will never know what it has missed and I am sadden-
<br />ed; for him, for his parents, for those who will never know
<br />him and for myself who will now regain some of that veneer
<br />he helped remove.
<br />It has become for me what my kids will tell you may be
<br />approaching a noxious habit to tell them to buckle up, just
<br />as they are leaving the house. I have replaced "good-bye"
<br />or "see you later" with "Buckle up" and I am sure they
<br />are tired of hearing it. This is evident because quite often
<br />I see them driving away or perhaps observe them on the
<br />highway and I don't see that strap coming down from the
<br />door post.
<br />There is a song from a number of years ago (I think it
<br />came out during the early Peace years) the lyrics of which
<br />state, "When will they learn, when will they ever learn?".
<br />When will they ever learn?! And now I must confess to very
<br />nearly being a hypocrite on this subject matter since it was
<br />only two years ago that I began to faithfully wear my seat
<br />belt. A few days ago I drove my truck from my garage door
<br />up to the barn that is on my own property and discovered
<br />when I got there, after a trip of 400 feet, that I had put on
<br />my seat belt! Part of that is due, I am sure, to creeping senili-
<br />ty but most of the credit should go to habit. What is ironical
<br />however is that I was forced into developing this habit by
<br />a sixteen year old boy who was undergoing driver's training
<br />and came home with all kinds of arguments for wearing a
<br />belt and convinced both my wife and I to always buckle up.
<br />That same sixteen year old is now eighteen years of age and
<br />was referred to a few lines ago about being seen driving
<br />"strapless" .
<br />Please keep in mind, all of you, adults and kids, that death
<br />isn't the only possible result of failing to protect yourself
<br />in an automobile accident. I have seen a wide variety of crip-
<br />pling and disfiguring injuries in the past 25 years ranging
<br />from knees that are able to rotate as well in the opposite
<br />direction as they were once able to do in the way they were
<br />fashioned to operate, to faces cruelly and horribly lacerated
<br />with many other interesting varieties of injuries in between.
<br />Someone may take me to task for saying this but I'll take
<br />that chance and state that by far the greater number of crip-
<br />pling and tearing injuries to the human body, and even most
<br />minor injuries, would be prevented from happening with the
<br />proper use of seat belts. Now I know that time and again
<br />someone, while engaged in a conversation about seat belts,
<br />will tell the tale of a friend of a friend of a distant uncle's
<br />cousin who survived an accident while unbuckled; while his
<br />partner who was buckled in did not. Or the assinine state-
<br />ment, "Boy, if he'd been buckled in he'd be a goner for
<br />sure!". Now, in the former statement it is well known that
<br />there is always an exception to the rule but I tend to believe
<br />that Jimmy the Greek would gladly accept any and all bets
<br />regarding your chances buckled vs. unbuckled and get rich
<br />in the process. As to the latter, I would appreciate it if those
<br />great prognosticators who state this could tell me just how
<br />they know what they say is true!
<br />To properly finish out this article I will now deliver the very
<br />proper and expected message from your police department
<br />that says that if you don't wear your seat belts you will be
<br />subject to a citation and subsequent fine. If that frightens
<br />you into wearing it, or at least does the trick for some of
<br />you, that is absolutely great and certainly was worth the ink
<br />expended. But I would rather you would think more of the
<br />consequences of not wearing a seat belt and of the pain,
<br />grief and everlasting torment your passing will bring upon
<br />those who must now live without you and who were so sure
<br />that their last view on this earth would be your face and the
<br />touch of your hand. Please buckle up! Please!
<br />
<br />RAMSEY SENIOR CITIZENS
<br />
<br />CLUB
<br />
<br />The Ramsey Senior Citizens Club met on July 5th and there
<br />were 28 members present. The Lions Club provided the hot
<br />dogs and the Seniors provided the salads and desserts. Many
<br />thanks to the Lions.
<br />Rather than meeting at the Ramsey Municipal Center in
<br />August, the Seniors will be taking advantage of Senior Citizen
<br />Day at the Anoka County Fair.
<br />For the September gathering, the Ramsey Seniors are in-
<br />vited to Park Terrace in Anoka for lunch and a meeting. For
<br />those interested, there will also be a tour of the Park Ter-
<br />race apartments.
<br />If you are interested in joining the Ramsey Senior Citizens
<br />Club, or would like additional information, call Zola Malamen
<br />at 441-7841.
<br />We hope to see many of the Ramsey Seniors at the County
<br />Fair in August!
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