Tri-County
Senior Gracie Boen finishes
impressive high school wrestling
career170 Weight Class: Gracie Boen
Senior Gracie Boen made her third section appearance. After a first-period pin on Day 1 and another pin in the semifinals, she faced rival La’Meyah Williams in the finals. Following a hard-fought 6-10 loss, Boen moved to a true second match against Brainerd’s Serenity Krebsbach. Despite a resilient effort, Boen fell in a 13-6 decision, finishing her high school career with an impressive 3rd-place podium finish
East Grand Forks arena facility improvements enter next phase
Brenda Halverson - Exponent Reporter
The steering committee for the recreational facility improvement project in East Grand Forks is ready to begin advertising for bids for the second phase. The city council heard the request at the Feb. 10 work session.
The project includes improvements and updates to the Civic Center Arena and the VFW Memorial Arena. Bids for the first phase were awarded at the council’s Dec. 2 meeting. Those focused on the ice rink refrigeration systems in both buildings.
It is expected that the ice facilities at the Civic Center Arena will be operational by July 31 and at the VFW Memorial Arena by Nov. 3.
The second phase of the project addresses mechanical and electrical system upgrades, replacement of doors, parking lot improvements, interior and exterior building improvements and certain structural repairs.
Alternates could be added to the project, such as an additional generator at the Civic Center. At the VFW, those alternates could include a roof replacement and a parking lot replacement.
In his memo to the council requesting the action Jeremy King, parks and recreation superintendent, noted, “Advertising for Bid Package #2 at this time will help maintain the overall project schedule, avoid delays to the start of construction, and support competitive pricing by allowing sufficient time for subcontractor bidding and review.”
The steering committee has been working with JLG Architects and Construction Engineers, a construction management firm.
The overall budget for the facility improvement project is estimated at $12,995,000.
Water is Life: Warroad and Baudette Parishioners Bring Clean Water to Malawi
What started as a simple conversation in northern Minnesota has turned into a life-changing mission halfway across the world.
Parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Warroad and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baudette recently came together to raise money for a clean water project in Malawi, Africa, the home country of their priest, Father Christon Muhero. Their efforts have already helped fund the drilling of six new wells, providing safe drinking water for families who previously had little or no access to it.
Father Muhero said the idea began casually while speaking with Tom Amiot, a trustee at St. Mary’s.
“It began like a casual discussion,” Father Muhero explained, “about some of the needs of my home country, Malawi.”
In Africa, Father Muhero said, the needs are many — but one issue quickly stood out: clean water.
A Daily Struggle for Survival
In many parts of Malawi, clean drinking water is not easily available. Instead, people rely on shallow, untreated wells or water sources that are often shared with animals such as cows and goats.
“When people drink from these shallow wells,” Father Muhero said, “there are a lot of people who suffer from water-borne and related diseases.”
Diseases like cholera, dysentery, and diarrhea have taken countless lives. The lack of clean water is not only a health issue but also a hardship that affects everyday life in major ways.
To access even unsafe water, people in rural villages often must walk long distances. Father Muhero said this responsibility falls mostly on women and young girls, who may walk miles just to bring water home for cooking, drinking, and washing.
In some cases, girls walk as far as five miles to fetch water.
This daily task can have serious consequences for education.
“This has affected the girl child,” Father Muhero explained. “Sometimes they absent themselves from school so as to go and fetch water. Or if they go to school, they have no time for study and doing assignments.”
A Community Steps Up
After hearing about the challenges, parishioners from St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart wanted to help. The need was shared with both congregations, and the response was immediate.
The project grew beyond the Catholic community as well.
“They are not only Catholics who responded,” Father Muhero said. “Some people of good will who heard about our story came to our assistance.”
Through generous donations, the two parishes were able to raise approximately $35,000. That funding has already been used to construct six boreholes (wells) in Father Muhero’s home area of Malawi.
The results have been dramatic.
“The water from these wells is so clean,” Father Muhero said, “that many people are happy to use this water for domestic purposes.”
More importantly, the new wells have reduced the long walking distances for women and children. For many girls, it means more time for school, studying, and simply being a kid.
The impact has brought joy to entire communities.
“The availability of such wells has brought a lot of jubilation among my home people,” Father Muhero said.
From Malawi to Minnesota
Father Muhero’s journey to the Northland is one of faith, service, and dedication.
He grew up in Malawi in a family of seven children — three boys and four girls — and is the second oldest. He completed all his schooling in Malawi, including his education at the seminary.
He was ordained a priest in the Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre on July 26, 2003.
Years later, due to a shortage of priests in the United States, the Diocese of Crookston reached out for help. Father Muhero said Bishop Richard Pates, then the diocesan administrator, asked his bishop in Malawi, Bishop Thomas Luke Msusa, to send priests to assist.
Father Muhero arrived in the U.S. on Nov. 11, 2021, and began serving at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Bemidji. He later came to Warroad and Baudette on July 1, 2023, where he now serves both St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart.
Since arriving, Father Muhero said he has been deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity he has received.
“The people of the two parishes have been kind and supportive to me both spiritually and financially,” he said. “I am very glad to work and be among them.”
More Than Wells
The clean water project is just one example of the ways parishioners have supported Father Muhero’s home community.
In addition to funding wells, he said parishioners have helped pay school fees for needy students in Malawi, as well as sponsored Christmas and Easter meals for children.
Their giving has touched lives in multiple ways — offering hope, dignity, and opportunity.
Father Muhero hopes the clean water work can continue.
“With funds available, I will construct more wells,” he said. “Because, as it is said, water is life.”
