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COUGAR SPORTS: Boys lacrosse has strong conference finish. PAGE 11
A glimpse into life as a military spouse BY CRISTIN OXTRA MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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The Girls Club was created by Centennial High School juniors Brielle Reynolds and Jenna Orcutt.
New girls club at Centennial focuses on women empowerment BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
Centennial High School juniors Brielle Reynolds and Jenna Orcutt are responsible for the creation of The Girls Club, a club that revolves around learning more about women’s history and their future. Reynolds and Orcutt created the club because wasn’t one at school, where girls could come together,
do service projects and work with the community. They also wanted to create a safe space for freshmen through senior girls to be able to connect. “We saw a lot of divide between the girls at our school, and there wasn’t a space for girls to go and make a friend,” Orcutt said. “So, we thought, ‘Why don’t we start a club where people can come and just not feel ashamed if they’re
alone, and they get somewhere to sit at lunch where they will always have a friend.” The reason Reynolds and Orcutt wanted to focus on women empowerment was due to a video that went around their school made by a Centennial student that talked about what women could do to better themselves.
CIRCLE PINES — The Month of the Military Spouse is observed in the United States every May to honor the contributions and sacrifices of military spouses. Lauren Shegstad is one of the almost 10,000 military spouses of active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members in Minnesota. She and her husband, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas (Nick) Shegstad, 133rd Airlift Wing Maintenance Squadron, have been married for 11 years. They have three children: Landen (11), Kinsley (8) and Cedar (6). The family resides in Circle Pines. Military life includes many challenges for both the military spouse and the service member. “The unknown is one of the biggest challenges, and trying to find people who understand and relate to the military family lifestyle,” Lauren said, “along with the sacrifice you have to make as a spouse and watching the sacrifice your children make.” “I worry about leaving Lauren to handle everything on her own,” Nick said. “I know that she can handle it, but I also know that it can be very stressful. When it’s been a tough day at home, there is no tapping out with me so that she can take a break.” Nick has been deployed eight times, four of which were while being married with children. “I wouldn’t say that it’s ever easy to have your spouse leave for any amount of time, and each new deployment brings its own unique set of challenges, especially with kids,” Lauren said. “All three of our children have special needs and that itself brings their own challenges, physically and emotionally.” SEE MILITARY SPOUSE, PAGE 2
SEE GIRLS CLUB, PAGE 7
Golden Lake Elementary 5th grader hosts fundraiser for a cause
SEE FOODIE FUNDRAISER, PAGE 6
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Golden Lake Elementary fifth grader Sierra Taylor goes on a tour of the Centennial Community Food Shelf with Marc Ehrmantraut, the food shelf president.
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and it’s food to supply them for the weekend,” Taylor said. “I walk into school one Friday and I see one of my friends walking home with it (a PowerPack). So, I just wanted to support a local cause that would overall affect so many more people.” From 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, Taylor will host an event at Golden Lake Park in Circle Pines to help raise funds for Thee Foodie Fundraiser.
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CIRCLE PINES — So far, Golden Lake Elementary fifth grader Sierra Taylor, 11, has been able to raise almost $2,000 in donations to go toward the Centennial Community Food Shelf through her fundraiser, Thee Foodie Fundraiser. Taylor said she was looking to put on a charity event and was looking for a local cause to help out with. She decided
to help the Centennial Community Food Shelf after seeing kids at her school go home with PowerPacks. PowerPacks are provided as a supplemental food source for children who may need help with having enough food available at home on the weekends. The packs include breakfast items, individual meals and snacks for children within the ISD 12 school district. “Every kid who needs help will go home with a PowerPack,
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