Snowmobilers: Be careful near power lines —Brenda Booth photo C-I WRESTLING ALUM Brian Chileen gets a load of noodles from current wrestler Andrew Gripentrog during the C-I Wrestling fund raiser spaghetti dinner held at the Crosby Fire Hall Friday. —Brenda Booth photo GEORGE KNUTSON of Crosby digs into his spaghetti dinner during the C-I Wrestling fund raiser event held at the Crosby Fire Hall Friday. Surviving less than perfect holidays For all the promise of joy, peace and harmony that comes with the holiday season, the reality for millions of people is that the season is anything but a celebration. For many, it’s a reminder of lost loved ones, personal disappointments and dreams left unfulfilled. But for life coach Teri Johnson, whose personal journey through an imperfect life now inspires others to reach for the lives they’ve always wanted, the negative “nevers” of the disappointing hand life may have dealt you is where the healing starts. By confronting a never-ending and unproductive cycle of negativity, the elusive joy of the holiday season can be found not just now but every day of the year, says Johnson, author of the newly released book, Overcoming the Nevers (www.overcomingthenevers.com). “You never thought you’d get divorced, but you did. You never dreamed you would find yourself in an abusive relationship, but you are. You never thought you would need to lose 200 pounds, but you do. And you never thought you’d be 45 years old without a job, losing your home and drowning in debt, but you are,” says Johnson. “We start to believe lies about ourselves, such as “I’m not good enough” or “I’m undeserving.” We escape our pain and these toxic feelings into unhealthy behaviors and addictions. There is freedom from the struggle; there is hope in discovering the truth; there is a way to fall in love with who we are to experience a joy-filled season, and more importantly a joy-filled life.” Johnson’s tools for overcoming the “nevers” that drag many down during the holiday season are: —Acceptance: Do you have the strength to make the changes necessary to turn a situation around through an attitude of acceptance? Or will you remain powerless, remain in the state of nonacceptance and let everything around you dictate how you feel? The journey starts with accepting that you can’t change others, but you do have power over your own life. —Surrender: What we surrender ourselves to ultimately becomes our god, what we turn to or upon which we rely. The question then is: What are we surrendered to? Is it something firm, solid and long-lasting or something that hurts us in the end? —Joyfulness: Hold tight to your unique gifts and talents to enrich your own life and impact the lives of those around you. Build on what you’re good at, what makes you special and what makes you feel good about yourself. —Discovery: Confronting the truth about who we are deep inside helps us overcome our painful past and discover the basis for those “nevers.” —Faith: Until we accept love for ourselves from God, from others and toward others, the healing will not begin. Embracing love is an ongoing process that starts with learning to like yourself and with a willingness to accept your imperfections. Johnson advises that the process of confronting internal struggles and the “nevers” of life isn’t easy, but no treatment program, no diet and no New Year’s resolution can be successful without breaking down the essence of individual struggles and making the necessary adjustments to attain the life you deserve. “If the life you are living is full of unacceptable and disappointing things and you don’t want to spend another year like this, the only thing holding you back right now is your own confusion, selfdoubt and anger,” she says. “You don’t have to keep doing what you’re doing or feeling what you’re feeling, but you do need to come to terms with yourself and surrender yourself to faith that there is a better way.” Holiday Heart Health Advice We have entered “The Heart Attack Season.” Cold weather and holiday health hazards (heavy meals, excess alcohol and lack of exercise) can contribute to cardiovascular problems. Take heart and practice this healthy heart habit: Stop smoking: Replace your smoking routine with a 30-minute exercise session, which will help distract you and get your mind off smoking. Exercise is also a great way to combat stress, which can often trigger nicotine cravings. Christmas trivia If you received all the gifts listed in the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, you would receive 364 gifts Great River Energy reminds snowmobile enthusiasts of all ages to be cautious while snowmobiling this winter season. Heavy snow and drifting can bury electrical equipment, causing dangerous situations for snowmobilers. Please remember to be safe: —Watch out for power poles, guy wires and electrical equipment that can be hidden in the snow. Heavy snowfalls can often bury transformer boxes and cabinets. —Slow down, know the area where you are snowmobiling and stay on designated, marked trails. —If you see a downed power line, stay away from it and call 9-1-1 to report it. There is no way to tell if a power line is energized just by looking at it. Always assume it is live and can carry currents strong enough to kill. —Always wait for help to arrive before you approach an accident scene where a power line may be involved. —Share this important information with family, friends and anyone you know who rides a snowmobile. Great River Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by 28 member distribution cooperatives located from the outer-ring suburbs of the Twin Cities, up to the Arrowhead region of Minnesota and down to the farming communities in the southwest part of Minnesota. Please visit greatriverenergy.com for more information. CROSBY-IRONTON COURIER Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 Sports THE NORTHERN LAKES LIGHTNING Pee Wee B2 team placed third in the Breezy Point Hockey Tournament Saturday. The squad is comprised of players in grades 6-7 from Aitkin, Crosby-Ironton and Pequot Lakes. Pictured are: (l-r) Alex Schmidt, William Hallbeck, Josef Slepica, Landon Erickson, Dawson Rickard, Adler Hoagland, Dane Boozell, Colin Friberg, Carter Holtzleicer, Kaleb Shankle, Logan Hill and Cooper Anderson. Not pictured are coaches Maurice Slepica, Jeff Boozell, Brandon Anderson and Jeff Hoagland. Free trail side luncheon Jan. 17 The Merrifield Marathons Snowmobile Club is having the 9th Annual Open House and Free Trail Side Luncheon at the Merrifield Marathon’s Crosby-Ironton-Deerwood recycling program The Crosby-Ironton-Deerwood drop-off recycling program, has drop-off bins in the following locations: • Crosby: At the Crosby City Garage, 1077 First Street SW, by the water tower. • Ironton: Across the alley from the city maintenance garage. • Deerwood: Next to the Deerwood Fire Hall. This is a “single-sort” program, meaning all recyclable items can be deposited into one bin without being separated. This also eliminates the need for numerous recycling bins in your home, making just one bin necessary. The drop-off recycling areas in each city are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The areas are illuminated for after-dark drop-offs, and instructions for recycling are posted on signs as well as the containers themselves. Items that can be recycled through this program include aluminum, plastic items labeled #1 through #6, glass food and beverage containers (all colors), tin cans, newspapers, white paper, envelopes, magazines/catalogs, phone books, corrugated cardboard, and cardboard cereal boxes (with plastic or paper liners removed) or other similar boxes. Make sure all items 3B are rinsed and free of food residue. Caps or lids must be removed, but labels do not need to be removed. Plastic jugs, tin cans, and cardboard should be flattened in order to maximize container space and minimize recycling costs. Items not allowed include liquids, food waste, waxed paper products, fabrics, wood, light bulbs, window glass, drinking glasses, mirrors, styrofoam products (cups, plates, trays, etc.), plastic bags, photographic film, rubber products, paper towels and plates, carbon paper, packing materials, polyvinyl sheeting, shrinkwrap, or what is considered household hazardous waste— paint products, household chemicals, aerosol spray cans, appliances, power tools, batteries, or containers that have been used for automotive chemicals of other similar products. When dropping items off at a recycling bin, please empty the contents of plastic bags into the containers. If you have items in paper bags, you may place the entire bag in the bin. Merry Christmas from ATV club Center on Saturday Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free trailside luncheon will include brats, hot dogs, beans, chips, cider and hot chocolate. The clubhouse, groomer and trail drag will be on display. See the equipment necessary to make our trails great. Members will be available to answer questions and offer trail maps and trail tips on finding the best trails for your interest. The club has weekly rides open to anyone and find out when the next ride will take place. The Marathon’s Center is located on the Paul Bunyan Trail in Merrifield or west side of Highway 3 just one half mile south of the Super America station. Come by snowmobile or auto and get acquainted, look around, enjoy the outdoor fire and a free trailside luncheon. Christmas lights collection at Courier all year Do you have boxes full of non-working strings of Christmas lights? You may bring your non-working lights to the Crosby-Ironton Courier, 12 East Main Street in Crosby. Non-working lights will be accepted. Crow Wing Land Services, partnering with the non-profit organization Sunrise Sertoma, and Kenwood Enterprises will collect the recycled lights and all funds raised go back into the community. The Cuyuna Iron Range ATV club wishes everyone in the Cuyuna Range a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Club meetings will resume Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Ironton Legion (232 Fourth Street). The club will discuss trail rides, youth safety training and the Miller Black Bear Trail. Much of the trail work has been completed and a grand opening will be planned for the coming year. Non-members are welcome to join. The club offers memberships to anyone interested in trail riding and exploring nature. ATV riding is a fun way to meet new people and explore Minnesota’s great outdoors. Memberships are available by visiting www.cuyunaironrangeriders.com. For more information about the club contact club president Ken Irish 651470-2601 [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook. December is a good month to... Bake some cookies for your neighbors Baking has been a December tradition since the invention of the oven! This year, why not gather the family in the kitchen and do some baking for your a neighbors. What a nice holiday gift to give: a plate of decorative cookies and a visit. We’ll help you sell your items… •Ad copy deadline is noon on Monday (Unless Monday is a legal holiday, then the deadline is noon on Friday). Join the Cuyuna Lakes Trail Association The Cuyuna Lakes Trail Association (CLTA) is offering memberships to anyone interested in supporting biking, mountain biking, in-line skating (or rollerblading), running, walking, skiing, hiking and fishing in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and the surrounding communities. Annual memberships are individual, $20; family, $25; senior (62 or older), $10; student, $10; business or association, $100; and lifetime memberships are $500. The CLTA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Memberships dues are a form of contribution that is tax-deductible. Membership forms are available online by visiting www.cuyunalakestrail.org. If you are interested in serving on the CLTA Board, helping to improve recreational opportunities in the area, please contact Jenny Smith at 545-4545. Did you notice this spot right away? Why not advertise here? Call 546-5029 •Cost: $5 per week for 20 words or less (Ad copy with 20 words or more, the price is .25¢ per word). •Categories for ads include: for sale, automotive, real estate, rummage sale, sporting goods, for rent, storage, employment, business services, computer/internet, construction, painting/drywall, plumbing/heating/electrical, child care and lost and found. PLEASE NOTE: ALL RUMMAGE/ESTATE SALE ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID BEFORE THE AD WILL RUN. TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW: CATEGORY: COPY: PRICE: words x .25¢= WEEKS TO RUN: ($5 minimum) (Ads running until further notice can be billed. Please provide billing information). PAYMENT—VISA/MC NUMBER: EXPIRATION DATE: CHECK OR CASH ATTACHED: Call 218-546-5029, Fax 218-546-8352 or mail your ad to the Crosby-Ironton Courier, PO Box 67, Crosby, MN 56441. A drop box is also located on the street side of our building. E-Mail copy and billing information is accepted at: [email protected] 12 East Main Street Crosby, MN 56441 (218) 546-5029 E-Mail: [email protected] www.cicourierinc.com