The Northern Minnesota District Fair begins today with a variety of events.
New and old attractions are planned.
The premier event is a free showing of “Shrek the Third” on a giant screen. The show begins at dusk tonight.
Other major events include tonight’s mud runs that begin at 6 p.m., Saturday’s 10 a.m. horse show and 1 p.m. National Barrel Horse Association barrel racing, and Sunday’s 1 p.m. oval races.

Mandy Sears is one of eight new Falls firefighters

Becoming the first female firefighter on the International Falls Fire Department is a historic moment for the community. But Mandy Sears said she wants to be treated the same as the other firefighters.
Sears said she has always been interested in joining a fire department or ambulance service.
At her job as an off-machine coater at the Boise Inc. paper mill, Sears heard from her coworkers that the fire department was considering candidates for firefighter positions.

By ARIEL ARCH, Intern

Thousands of miles separate the United States from Indonesia, but the desire for education shortens those miles.
When Alicia Slaubaugh of International Falls attended the Rosedale Bible College in Ohio during the spring of 2008 she had no idea it would lead to a journey of a lifetime.
Through the school, Slaubaugh got involved in REACH, a non-profit group that organizes mission work all over the world. The program is affiliated with Rosedale Mennonite Missions.

The compressor is on and the ice is in at Bronco Arena as the building plays host to the 40th Annual Falls Summer Hockey Camp.
More than 100 youngsters from International Falls, Fort Frances, Lake of the Woods area and the Iron Range participated in the two week program that will come to an end this evening.