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Gronner files for District 3 post
Published Saturday, July 12, 2008
Rick Gronner
Rick Gronner of rural Underwood has filed for the District 3 county commission post being vacated at year’s end by current commissioner Dennis Mosher. The district includes southwestern Otter Tail County, a portion of southeast Fergus Falls and the towns of Battle Lake, Dalton, Rothsay and Underwood.
Gronner finished his teaching career at Fergus Falls High School in 2007. His program became the first nationally certified vocational auto service technology program in Minnesota. He was elected to the Sverdrup Township board as township supervisor in 1983 and has been reelected, still holding that position after 25-1/2 years.
“With my township background, I believe I have a good feel for issues affecting all of Otter Tail County,” Gronner said. “I’ve worked firsthand with MPCA compliance, city annexation, wetlands mitigation and other issues.”
Gronner said he knows that serving on the county board of commissioners is a job that can, at times, feel like serving in a full-time position.
“My goal, if elected, would be to serve as a voice for people residing in District 3,” he said. “I believe I’m in tune with the philosophy of people who live in this area.”
Gronner is a graduate of Underwood High School who graduated from Bemidji State University in 1968 with a degree in Industrial Education. He taught in Warren and attended the U.S. Navy’s Instructor Training School (ITS) and later taught for Naval Schools Construction in Davisville, R.I.
He attended the Automechanic Trade School at the State School of Science, Wahpeton. Gronner owned a Champion Auto Store in Fergus Falls, operated Rick’s Performance Center and was employed by Fergus International and Minnesota Motor Company.
Gronner taught school in Owatonna before becoming a teacher in Fergus Falls., also teaching at Wadena Area Vocational Technical Institute and Northwest Tech in Detroit Lakes, now part of MSCTC. He’s a ASE certified (master) auto service technician.
In addition to his service with the Sverdrup Township board, Gronner is in charge of Lakeview Sunset Memorial Gardens, a cemetery at Underwood. He is past commander of Underwood American Legion Post 489, is a life member of Fergus Falls VFW Post 612, a member of the Disabled American Veterans, is a certified NASCAR and Wissota technical inspector, was president of the sports boosters and was active with the Boy Scout program.
His hobbies include mechanics, welding and in his words, “tinkering and enjoying work for fun.”
Gronner and his wife, Linda, have three children and five grandchildren.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by FFHSStudent08 (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So, wow, interesting point of view on this subject...
Posted by classof76 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't that be be stereo-typing the individual? A person could be full blooded Norwegian and still have a middle name from a different nationality.
Rick has been active in the Underwood and Fergus Falls communities as you can read in the article, including many years of service in Government at the Township level.
By age 60 something, "IF" he had a terroristic side, I think it would have been revealed
by now :-)
You cannot judge a book by his cover nor a man by his name!
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