Cross-Counties Connect set to celebrate one year since website’s launch
There will be one candle lit on the anniversary cake tomorrow (Tuesday, November 18), as this website – Cross-Counties Connect (CCC) – is set to celebrate one year since its launch at www.cross-countiesconnect.com.
The local news blog experiment began with tentative steps – but soon began running at race pace to keep those who log in to check in fully up-to-speed on area news, school and community events and other activities. (The first-ever post was last November concerned a Mountain Lake Public School District survey sent out to district residents.)
Thanks to all of you have found this news source on the Internet; I appreciate your support and submitted post ideas.
Looking back into the archives from throughout the course of the past 365 days, there can be found, in addition to typical news items and articles on city council and school board meetings – many photo galleries along with the posts of concerts, programs, graduations, drama productions and other school and classroom events at Mountain Lake Public School, Butterfield-Odin Public School and Mountain Lake Christian – along with those from Mountain Lake Pow Wow, Butterfield Summer Sizzler, Cottonwood County Relay For Life, Butterfield Threshing Bee, Utschtallung and other area community events.
As well, CCC posts obituaries, celebrating the lives of those near and dear to the website’s readers; Carol’s Cyberspace musings by Mountain Lake resident and former newspaper columnist Carol C. Harder; senior student editorials from surrounding schools; upcoming faith events; sports shorts stories – and live-streams of Loon Cam, Eagle Cam and Owl Cam.
CCC also lets you – the readers – help spread the news by serving as first-person reporters, sharing photographs and news that piques peoples’ interests.
Additionally, I have had the opportunity to interview and write about many inspiring people – inspirational in every definition of the word.
Following are links to some those those stories and photo galleries –
- Here is a link to my story about our daughter, Jayne.
- This post is about a former Butterfield resident, the late Ed Wentzlaff, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on the USS Arizona and had his remains returned to that harbor and placed among his shipmates who lost their lives that December day.
- Sawyer Carrison has “starred” in photographs included in a number of Capstone Press books. Read it here.
- Michelle Majerus courageously shared her story on her struggles with alcohol and the hard work she and her family have put in to overcome the battle.
- Another inspirational article tells of LaVonne Oeltjenbruns and her timeline of survival following a brain aneurysm.
- Doug Wiens, a seismology expert, spent time in Japan. Read about what he did.
- Alexis Jellema-Baerg is the only MLHS student on the Windom Area Girls Hockey team. Check out her story.
- Papa Steve Ross, once a neighbor and a classmate, tells his story of support for The Grateful Dead and his interest in playing the bass. Tune in to his story.
- My dad (Gordie Neufeld’s) search for Michael Winklmann that dates back to World War II. Help in the search.
- Former MLHS science teacher CD Johnson took his teaching skills to Mongolia. Read about his experiences.
- Eddie Galles spent only his senior year at MLHS, but that impact led him to create scholarship. Read why.
- Butterfield and Trimont families traveled to Germany to find information about the uncle they never knew – one who died during World War II. Find out what they learned.
- Scan historical Pow Wow photos from across the years of the community festival.
- This post shares Mary Willaby’s courageous journey into the stand-off of facing down cancer.
- Take a look at Butterfield – the early years.
- The view of the Butterfield Threshermen’s Steam & Gas Engine Show (the Butterfield Threshing Bee).
- A short photo history of Mountain Lake’s growth.
- Scenes from the 2014 Utschtallung – or Heritage Fair.
- Mmm! Squirrel does (NOT) taste like chicken. How does this connect locally?
- Story of a former Mountain Lake resident – Curtis Ratzlaff – and his connection to NASCAR.
- Learn about the beginning of a special group just for young girls – You Are.
- The tale of a man – Bob Jass Jr. – who never changes a clock’s hands.
* To search on your own for specific posts, either type key subject words in the search box and hit enter, or search the monthly archives for the appropriate month and click on the link.
