Experience
OUTDOORS FOLLOWING HER
PASSIONS
Contributed photo
Janelle Negen is pictured with her dog, Brutus, during a pheasant opener.
By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press Janelle Negen has a passion for animals and the outdoors, especially hunting – whether it is with family or friends. She grew up in Alexandria, but now lives in Miltona with her husband, Cory, and their daughter, Jordie, 5, and son, Casen, 3. They also have two dogs, Brutus and Ranger, some chickens, a horse, a pony and a donkey. She’s always been into animals, as she was a dedicated and passionate 4-H’er who loved going to the county fair. She took pride in showing her animals and getting her other projects ready each year. Janelle and her husband, who she met in 10th grade, got married in 2015 and they now own and operate Rolling Acres Retrievers and Pet Boarding. Dogs are her greatest joy – whether training them, playing with her own, taking them hunting or using them to help others. “The kennel was my dream, but Cory supports it fully and is the ‘hands-on’ worker behind our success – making my Pinterest pins come to life,” said Janelle. “From a young age, my dream job was to be a stay-athome-dog-mom.” For the past couple of years, Janelle said, she has been boarding and training dogs for family and friends and it was always a goal to turn it into something bigger. “Our dogs have a special place in our family and we love welcoming in new guests each weekend,” she said. Another one of her passions is therapy dog work. She is a hospice therapy dog volunteer for Hospice of Douglas County. She and Brutus, a British lab, visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities and schools in the area.
PASSIONS: Page 3
Alexandria Lakes Area Let's Go Fishing chapter offers seniors pontoon trips By Sam Stuve Alexandria Echo Press
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
A Let’s Go Fishing pontoon returns to a dock on Lake Le Homme Dieu with members of the Alexandria Senior Center on board on Sept. 13, 2023.
ALEXANDRIA - There’s a wide variety of outdoor activities that people of all ages can partake in. And Let’s Go Fishing provides opportunities for seniors and children to experience those outdoor activities. They go out on over 200 pontoon trips a year, all to give others the opportunity to experience the lakes in the Alexandria area. “Seeing the expression on people’s faces when they get to come out here on the water because most of them don’t get that opportunity,” Loren Johnson of Let’s Go Fishing said. “We like making their day,” Cindy Olson with Let’s Go Fishing said. “My mom went on a trip over where she lives with the Let’s Go Fishing people over there and Oh it just made her week. She was so looking forward to it.” A couple of years ago, the COVID19 pandemic knocked down the number of pontoon rides that Let’s Go Fishing offers, but the number of trips and interest is back on the rise in the Alexandria area.
FISHING: Page 2