Luck, Ladders, and a Little Bit of Engineering
First Graders and Juniors Team up to trap leprechauns
Samantha Alme
samantha.tribunepaper@gmail.com
Somewhere in the halls of Greenbush-Middle River School this week, a group of very determined students believe they may finally outsmart one of the trickiest creatures known to humankind: the leprechaun. In an unexpected partnership between GMR’s 1st grade class and the high school juniors, students joined forces to design and build elaborate leprechaun traps in preparation for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day season. What began as a simple classroom activity quickly turned into a full-scale engineering project complete with blueprints, negotiations, and highly confidential “capture strategies.” The first graders brought enthusiasm, imagination, and a strong belief that glitter is a perfectly acceptable construction material. The juniors contributed engineering know-how, structural stability, and the ability to use glue without getting stuck to absolutely everything. Together, the teams got to work. Soon the classroom was filled with cardboard towers, rainbow-colored tunnels, clever ladders, shiny bait stations, and a suspicious number of glitter-covered “gold” coins meant to lure in the elusive visitors. Game plans were drawn. Strategies were debated. Secret trap triggers were tested. Rumor has it several teams even developed highly classified “Plan B” backup traps in case the leprechaun proves to be especially sneaky. Of course, no major operation happens without negotiations. The first graders made it clear that if a leprechaun is successfully captured, the treasure must be shared. After careful discussion, a deal was struck between the two grade levels: gold for everyone… and fruit snacks for immediate celebration. “It’s a fair deal,” first grader Finley Wiskow explained confidently. “Leprechauns like shiny things, but everyone likes fruit snacks.” Teachers overseeing the project say the collaboration has been a fun way to bring together creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork between the two grade levels. While the younger students dreamed up imaginative trap ideas, the juniors helped bring those visions to life with clever designs and structural support. Whether the traps will actually capture a leprechaun remains to be seen. (Pictures will be in next week’s edition.) History suggests the tiny green tricksters have managed to escape many traps over the years, often leaving behind glittery footprints, turned-over chairs, and the occasional chocolate coin. Still, optimism is high in the GMR halls. With enough cardboard, glue, teamwork, and determination, these young engineers just might pull off the impossible. And if a leprechaun does get caught? Well… let’s just say the fruit snacks are ready.
Demo rate will double at Lake of the Woods Landfill
by: Linwood Fiala, Government ReporterAt their March 10th meeting, the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners authorized Public Works Director Anthony Pirkl to double the per-yard Demo rate from $10.00 to $20.00. Pirkl explained that at the new rate, the county's cost to haul a load to Kooch or Markit would be in the thousand-dollar range instead of the current $3,000/load. The board also authorized the purchase of four recycling trailers, one Cardboard Recycling Trailer for the school, a 16’ bat-wing ditch mower, and a new cardboard bailer for the Landfill. Most of the costs will be covered by a Greater Minnesota Recycling Grant. Part of the cardboard bailer cost will be covered by insurance. How to deal with large amounts of demolition material and contractors was discussed, with no action taken and no consensus reached.