5th Graders honors Buddy who drown

About the article:
3 Carlos Elementary 5th Graders wanted to come up with a way to honor their "buddy" Kortni Botzet of Carlos who drown at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria. The boys felt that they should do something and were persistent about it. At the track and field event for the 5th Graders, Kortni was honored. With all of the Carlos Students participating, there was not a dry eye to be seen as Austin Johnson-Wakely gave a speech and devotion as to what the bandannas were for. The 5th Grade class is led by Mr. Tim Urness, who said that the boys and their parents did most of the work to make this idea a go. He couldn't be any prouder of his students.

I think it is fabulous that these boys were persistent about honoring Kortni at their Track and Field event. I am so proud to say that I attended Carlos Elementary and I too, had Mr. Urness as a fifth grade teacher. I am so impressed that these boys went above and beyond the call of duty for Kortni and her family. I know that it was well appreciated by the Botzet family and their friends.

http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/75201/publisher_ID/2/

The haunted Hotel- The Palmer House

About the article: KSAX Alexandria's local news source investigated what has been known as the most haunted hotel in Minnesota, The Palmer House, Located in Sauk Centre. The hotel was built in the early 1900's and has weathered many years and has been a famous hotel and bar for the last 110 years. Still in operation today, The Palmer House has been known to have strange light Anomalies, unexplained cold spots, and strange voices. Until KSAX investigated these reports, many were skeptical. This is a phenomenon that is unusual, but as reports and cameras show, there were strange voices, one in particular saying "get out" in a tone that appeared to be very real. There is more to it though, like the sounds and sights of pots and pans flying off of the cabinets or books flying off the wall, just falling for no apparent reason.

I agree that it is creepy a local hotel could be haunted but I could understand how it happens when I think about where I work, Bethany, lets be honest; lots of people have died there it would be easy to understand how that could be haunted. But a hotel/ restaurant doesn't seem as though it could be haunted but as Kelley explained "this hotel was the first building in Sauk Centre with electricity so it was a very popular place." I don't believe that explains why the place is haunted but, it would however explain why so many people know about the books flying off the wall, etc.


I know that I will not be going there alone!

http://ksax.com/article/stories/s1571931.shtml

Twin Cities Hospitals Spokeswoman Fired after theft

About the article:

Trish Dougherty was dismissed from work just Hours after news had broke that she had been caught stealing money, surgical supplies, and patient information at a South Dakota hospital that she had previously worked at.

I can't believe that someone would be so dumb as to steal from a hospital, especially the place where you work. Not only is stealing wrong but if you get caught you will also be sentenced in a court of law but, you will probably get fired from your job. I really don't understand why someone would try to steal patient information. What use do you have for it? I realize that is a form of identity theft but, honestly their is not much point in that. Just causes more trouble for you in the long run. To steal surgical supplies you would have to be a complete idiot! For one, what would you need them for? Also, those supplies are counted so the place needs to know where their supplies are being distributed to and what for. I work in a nursing home, I work in the medical field. I know how much medical supplies are worth, I know how important it is to protect patients rights, and lastly, I know how important money is in the workplace. Working at a nursing home I am aware of the fact that doing those things would be so easy, walking down to the nursing supply room and loading up your car when no one is looking. It takes honesty. If its not yours; don't touch it! That is a concept from Kindergarten; everyone should know that. BE HONEST! If not; you are only hurting your own image.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=850980

Man sentenced to workhouse for luring children in Edina

A Fairbault man has been sentenced to 180 days in a Workhouse, not much time to pay for trying to lure several little girls in the Edina area? No, I think that a case like that the person should be put in jail not just placed in a workhouse for 6 months, seriously? What is he going to learn? How to clean toilets for 6 months? I just don't believe that the penalties for trying to abduct little children (or anyone for that matter) are strong enough, the girls were reportedly 9,10,11,12 at this time the names of the girls is not being released due to privacy issues. It has been reported that Wolters had coerced the 12 year old girl by suggesting that he could make her "very happy" The girl then screamed and proceeded to try punching Wolters who then took off to attempt to get the 9,10, and 11 year old into his car. Wolters told them that he would "show them a good time, not to worry girls do this all the time" It is apparent that he was trying to persuade all 4 girls to have sex with him, but according to police; the girls all ran from Wolters and were not molested. Wolters was in jail for 4 days and now resides at the Hennepin County Work house.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=849966&catid=14

6 Year old Carlos Girl drowns in Jacuzzi

About the article: this is a story that pulls thousands of heart strings, On Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 Kortni Botzet, a 6 year old girl from the small town of Carlos Minnesota, just about 8 miles north of Alexandria drowned in the Jacuzzi at the Alexandria Holiday inn, according to police and witnesses "this was freak accident and no foul play is suspected, no charges will be made." According to Kortni's dad, Jim, "Kortni was in the jacuzzi along with a few others and some parents, (Jim was close by watching her but was not in the Jacuzzi with her) when the man noticed she needed help and pulled her out of the water, immediately began performing CPR." As to be expected Kortni's family is devastated along with the parents who were hosting the birthday party.
My opinion: I believe that accident is a complete tragedy and first of all my condolences and sympathies go out to Jim and Nicole and the rest of their families. I had the pleasure of getting to know Kortni as I attended Kindergarten Buddies with her, she was a very caring and beautiful young girl, who was taken way too soon. Accidents like this one happen far too often, but when it hits so close to home the reality is intensified. The accident has hopefully raised some attention to the fact that you can never be to careful and how precious life is. May Kortni rest in peace! I hope she can fulfill all of her dreams in Heaven.



http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=849429

Issue 2- Boosting the Minimum Wage

Living below the poverty line is difficult and unhealthy, it is not okay that so many people are still living in such conditions were they have to decide are they going to send their child to school or are they going to eat lunch today. The minimum wage was raised from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 but that is still not enough, families can apply for benefits such as food stamps and earned income tax credits even then people still can't seem to stay afloat. I make more than the minimum wage and I know that I couldn't support a family on my income without help, so I can understand how these people struggle to even have just the necessities.

Many people say that the minimum wage earners are high school and college students only, sadly that is not the truth. Most of the minimum wage earners are single parents, hence why we need so many support programs and financial aid. Below I have a picture that represents the working class struggling to make ends meet and I also have linked to other students blogs. Enjoy!

Putting Welfare to work

All things being unequal

10 Killed in 3 Weekend Crashes in Minnesota

About the article:


The title is pretty self explanatory. I believe of those 10, 6 of them were teens, any people who die from a car crash is unfortunate, but myself, also being a teen think that it is scary how many people are in car accidents. The sad reality is that about 1 in every 3 teens will be in a car accident and about 1 in every 5 of them will die or have serious life altering/ limiting illnesses after that, just about a year ago I had a friend, Jesse that was in an accident, an older man side-swiped him on ice and caused his truck to roll into the lake in the middle of winter, plunging through the ice, ultimately plunging to his death. He was "lucky" his truck became hung up on the bottom of the embankment in a gnarl of trees, he was trapped upside down in his truck for four hours before he was noticed and help could arrive. Jesse now is a quadriplegic (he is paralyzed from the neck down) and has some severe brain damage, he is living in a nursing home at the age of 24 and will never again be able to walk or breathe on his own will, he lives off of a ventilator and relies on a feeding tube, he is able to talk in short sentences that appear to make no sense, but to Jesse's family and friends it makes perfect sense, he "left behind" a wife and an unborn daughter, as Traci, his wife puts it "essentially Jesse is dead to the world, as morbid as that sounds he has no idea who Ayden (his son) and the rest of his family are. He lives off of machines, two seconds without them and he will be existing no more."
That is a tough thing for anyone to think about but especially for Ayden, he will be growing up never knowing who his father is.
The idea of so many young people losing their lives because of the actions is unfair and very sad, but what can you do? their is not alot. We do have laws that say 16 Year olds cannot drive with more than one person in the car and cannot drive between midnight and 5 AM and we all know that teenagers cannot legally drink, but the girl driving one of the cars had just gotten her license three weeks or months prior, and the smell of alcohol was pouring from the car and she was driving at two in the morning, what did save her though was her seat belt, with all that she has to face in the days to come, she probably won't want to live and move on... the mistakes you make once will be with you forever.














http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=848758&catid=14