Features & People

Aitkin, Minnesota — Every year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 die from flu. To protect yourself and others, follow these simple steps: Get an annual flu shot! Many clinics are planned throughout the county beginning in October. Stay home from school or work if you have a respiratory infection. Avoid exposing yourself to others who are sick. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue whenever you cough or sneeze and then throw away the tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If you have an infant, don’t expose her to large crowds or sick friends and family during flu season. Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces if someone in your household has a cold or flu.

Persons for whom annual vaccination is recommended include children and adolescents, age six months through 18 years; persons age 50 years or older; children and adolescents age six months through 18 years of age receiving long-term aspirin therapy who therefore might be at risk for Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection; women who will be pregnant during flu season; adults, adolescents, and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes), immunosuppression, or any condition that can compromise the respiratory function; residents of long-term care and other chronic-care facilities; health-care personnel; household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children under five years of age (with particular emphasis on contacts of children six months and younger); adults 50 years of age and older; and persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

For more information, contact Nancy at Aitkin County Health and Human Services 218-927-7287.

Watch in your community for postings of flu clinic schedules and locations.

Publisher

Friends, family and community members packed the McGregor High School gymnasium to honor Mark Root, who was shot to death as he sat by a fire pit on Saturday, September 13.

The message from Mark’s oldest son Jake at the funeral was one of forgiveness. “I had the privilege of going down to pick up Jake from college,” said Dennis Meyer who was the officiant at the funeral. “I wanted to see how he was doing. We hadn’t traveled very far down Interstate 35 and Jake said, ‘We have to forgive John [Brightman]. Dad would have.’”

Jake was talking about the man who took his father’s life, that of another friend, Jaime Gage, and then his own.

Dennis then shared how important it was for the family to forgive and not hold on to bitterness, resentment or anger. “When Jake said, ‘We have to forgive,’ that means all of us,” added Dennis. “It is the key to unlocking the future. If you want to honor Mark, then forgive.”

Taking a closer look at the importance of honor, Dennis continued to remind the entire audience of the importance of honoring this father.

“The first commandment in the Bible has a promise to go with it, Honor your mother and your father that it may go well with you . . . and we are going to honor your father,” Dennis promised Mark’s children. “There is no greater honor than we can give Mark today, than to agree as a people that we are going to take care of his greatest treasures [Jake, Jessica and Kyle].”

Most agree that what happened at that fire pit was awful, and it is very difficult to forgive such a thing, and how could this happen?

“The immediate question is why would GOD do this?” added Dennis. “Well, HE didn’t do this.”

Denny shared that God did not create us to be robots and nothing happens on this earth unless God allows it. “God allows mankind to make choices,” he said.

Denny went on to remind Jake, Kyle and Jessica that they have a heavenly father who will never leave them. “Never, ever. But man has choices, and we make choices,” Denny added. “The choices we make aren’t always the wisest or the best.”

Friends and family pay their respects

Mark’s brother Jason thanked everyone for attending the funeral and wanted to share how much he loved his older brother. “He was extremely genuine,” Jason said. “Our family is a little bit different. Our Root blood is strong, and I am very proud of my family.”

Jason asked if anyone in the audience had been to a basketball game with Mark. “There were a few times that he argued with the referees, but I tell you what, he supported these kids and this school.”

Jason also talked about Mark’s neatness or his attention to details. “Even in the work place. Any tool that was out of place went right back to its place,” he said. “He took good care of everything he owned. I don’t know if it is a Root trait or not.”

“He was a father that dedicated everything to his children,” concluded Jason. “I looked up to him.”

Mark’s youngest son, Kyle, felt compelled to share his appreciation for his father. He wanted everyone to know how much he loved his father. “He was always there for us, and we want to be here for him,” Kyle said. “I love him very much, and I miss him.”

Mark’s sister Rhonda shared her memories through a sign language interpreter. Rhonda has been deaf since birth. She recalled Mark coming to get her to bring her home when she was at the Minnesota School for the Deaf. She also talked about the letters Mark wrote when he was in the military.

Honoring Mark’s service to his country

In honor of Mark, the VFW Post #2747 presented the family with the flag he served under. Darrel Olson, the acting commander presented Mark’s oldest son Jake with the flag.