January 2023

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It’s amazing what a person learns by asking questions This week at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, we asked a few questions of Laura Borud, Executive Director at Just Kids Dental about their program. We found some pretty amazing ways they help hundreds of kids in Lake County, and thousands across the region. Founded in 2006, JKD started as a grassroots non-profit charitable organization in Two Harbors. Their mission was to improve the oral health of low-income and underinsured children by providing portable, on-site, and community-based dental services. The impact is impressive. To date, they benefit and educate students in thirty rural schools, and seventy rural communities in Lake, St. Louis, Carlton, and Douglas County. That adds up to JKD providing on-site dental care for over 10,000 children and caregivers every year. The key is building good partnerships. JKD works with more than a dozen Two Harbors and Silver Bay community sites helping students who need either of their two signature programs; the School-Based Dental Sealant, and School and Community-based Oral Health Education program. These programs are targeted at rural schools and community sites where the majority of children are underserved and face limited access to dental care. Additionally, the services are provided at no charge to those enrolled in their school-based sealant programs, and include dental cleanings, fluoride applications, sealants, oral hygiene instruction, and an oral health kit. Families interested in receiving these services simply need to contact their school secretary to obtain a JKD consent form.

Martha Hanson This tasty hotdish is easy to put together. The recipe could easily be cut in half for a smaller group.

A delegation of the All American Cheerleaders shared a presentation and photos of their trip to Hawaii this last summer during the most recent meeting of the Lake Superior School District #381 on Tuesday.. Seven All American cheerleaders, four moms, a sister and coach were along on their trip. It was fairly unusual that the district had so many All American Cheerleaders and taking a trip together seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. In addition to tours and doing stunts just about wherever they went, the group also participated in the Pearl Harbor Memorial parade. About 800 girls from around the country were part of the events in Hawaii. The trip was made possible through fundraising efforts of the cheerleaders.

I am pleased to introduce Tommy Ludolph who I met today after shopping at Super One. I noticed Tommy because he was helping gather up groceries that had spilled all over the sidewalk.

Jobs and Economic Development Committee Chair Bobby Joe Champion supported Senator Hauschild’s bill and recommended it be advanced by the Senate Finance Committee so that it can go to the full Senate Thursday.