February

Fire destroyed the home of Walter and Shirley Larson on Lake Linka  February 3.

John Olson of Lowry has been named the Lowry Postmaster.

A record 336  people, turned out for the Minnesota Caucuses.

The 10th Annual Winterama held in Glenwood had to be postponed d when temperatures plunged down to -20 below zero. The event was held two weeks later.

Minnewaska Area Day Treatment was awarded a $160,000 grant from the Prime West Community Health Reinvestment Grant program to serve underinsured students in need of their services.

Senator Amy Klobuchar  served regional Minnesota specialties  at her weekly constituents gatherings in Washington. Among the items served was the hand-made Scandinavian rosettes from the Pastry Shoppe in Starbuck, Minnesota. Klobuchar had visited the Pastry Shoppe as part of her January portion of her 2008 Main Street Tour.

Mrs. Astrid Forde of Minneapolis, formerly of Starbuck celebrated her 100th birthday in January.

More than 500 scouts attended the 45th Annual Boy Scout Fishing Tournament held in Glenwood.

Approximately 200 people were served fish when the Starbuck Fire Department held a fish fry fund-raiser at the Starbuck  Community Center.

Ryan Harms, 18,  of Lino Lakes was killed in an automobile accident with a semi truck at the intersection of Hwy. 114 and County Road 24, near the Indherred  Church. His passenger, a 19-year-old man from Centerville was airlifted to the St. Cloud Hospital. The driver and passenger in the semi were, Cullen D. Anderson, 31, and Dale A. Boysen, 31, both of Lowry were not injured.

March

Laura Thompson, daughter of David and Dawn Thompson was crowned Pope County Dairy Princess Saturday, March 8.

Helen Landa was named Lowry Citizen of the Year.

Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern aired its visit to Cyrus on March 25 on the Travel Channel. The Cozy Cafe in Cyrus played host to Zimmern and his crew on September 15, 2007  when they were filming an episode on lutefisk.

Jessica Erlandson, Minnewaska Area High School eighth grader,  earned a place in the Minnesota State Geography Bee.

The Walden Township Board made a big donation to the Starbuck School Museum project by donating  everything from books to desks and even finger paint. The Walden Township Hall, stored many of the items from the old country school, and it was kept in near perfect condition through the years.

Esther Lien celebrated her 104th birthday at Minnewaska Lutheran Home on March 29.

At a hearing on March 25, the Starbuck City Council voted 2-1 to drop an alleged ordinance violation against Franny’s Bar in Starbuck concerning the city’s ordinance pertaining to minors being in the bar. Franny Moen, owner of the bar, contended the ordinance was too vague and the council agreed and dismissed the alleged violation.

April

Iva Weir of Corvallis, Oreg., left $1.8 million to Minnesota for the preservation and the protection of the state bird, the Loon. Part of the legacy went to purchase land in the Ordway/Glacial Lakes Project in southern Pope County.

A snow storm engulfs West Central Minnesota on April 10, dumping eight inches of snow in Starbuck.

Glen Menze of Starbuck announced he will run for 7th District Congressional seat currently being held by Collin Peterson.

Stacy King of White Bear Lake appeared on the April 23 segment of the Rachael Ray Show on NBC as one of three “hockey moms.” King is the daughter of Terry and Clete Glassing of Starbuck and the late Bob Olson.

Lowry First Responders received a new first responder unit after receiving a grant of $8,900 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

A new gazebo was built at Minnewaska Lutheran Home.

May

According to Schibsted Norwegian Book of Records, Starbuck remains the owner of the title of the World’s Largest Lefse which was made by eight Starbuck men at the Starbuck Centennial in 1983. Several attempts have been made to break the record, most notably a failed attempt in Stanwood, Wash., where the lefse broke in half.

On May 5, a group of neighbors, relatives and friends helped the David Ranum family out by working up 120 acres of land and planting wheat. A group also planted 130 acres of corn and soybeans later in the summer. Ranum died this spring of cancer.

Vernon Pederson and Helen Dullum were crowned king and queen of Minnewaska Lutheran Home during the annual week-long activities celebrating Homes for the Aging Week.

Jerome “Jerry” Otteson of Appleton, Wis., has written a book which features a special section on his hometown of Starbuck. Otteson, who is now retired, sold Cutco Cutlery for 56 years.

The City of Starbuck was one of 160 facilities and communities, deemed excellent at the Annual Wastewater Operations Conference this year.

State Representative Bud Heidgerken stated he would not seek re-election in the November election. He cited a desire to slow down and spend more time with his family and business.

The first Glacial Hills Elementary School kindergarten, sixth grade graduation was held May 22 at the Starbuck Community Center.

June

The PrimeWest Community Health Reinvestment Grant Program awarded Minnewaska Lutheran Home with a $48,500 grant to help the home care department update it’s computer software with a more efficient way to check on residents and patients.

Three exchange students - Lucas from Brazil, Stefan from Germany and Jan from Germany - will attend Minnewaska Area High School in 2008-2009.

Twenty-five grants from the Gladys Brang Foundation, totalling $41,650 were approved at the May 22 meeting of the Gladys Brang Foundation Personal Trustees.

Stone Wings Lodge near Farwell opened its doors to the public June 7 and serves as an archery park.

Melissa Shauer of the Minnewaska Area High School and Eileen Franey of the Morris Area High School received scholarships in the amount of $44,000 each from the Cyrus Scholarship (Richard Hanschen). The Cyrus Scholarship has been given to top area students who are pursuing a degree in engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Doris Weispfennig and Travis Herdebu were the Honorary Survivors at this year’s Pope County Relay for Life.

The Pastry Shoppe rosettes were featured in Figis magazine this year.

Grant Hanson of Glenwood showcased his invention - The Rescue Walker - during the 51st Annual Minnesota Inventor’s Congress. Hanson picked up the F. Robert Starr Award ($1,000 Grand Prize). the Maynard Speece Award ($500 People’s Choice) and the Gideon Volkenant Memorial Award (Best Working Model).