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“Mayor for a Day” Essay Contest Invites Students to Share Ideas for Improving Their Cities

Written by the alley on 01 November 2024

By LEAUGE OF MINNESOTA CITIES

The “Mayor for a Day” Essay Contest, hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities, is now open for submissions. Contestants in fourth, fifth, or sixth grade may answer the prompt “What would you do if you were mayor for a day?” for a chance to win $100 and recognition in Minnesota Cities magazine.
Essays must be submitted by Friday, Dec. 13. Students and parents/caregivers can submit essays via an online form, a PDF email attachment, or through the United States Postal Service mail. All contest details and materials are available at lmc.org/mayorforaday, including a primer on what it’s like to be a Minnesota mayor.

The contest is in its 12th year and received 540 essays from all around the state in 2023. The winners were from Byron, New York Mills, Shoreview, and St. Louis Park. In addition, judges selected four honorable mention essayists from the cities of Dilworth, Grand Marais, Lauderdale, and Windom.
“I always look forward to learning the passionate and creative ideas of Minnesota students, but our ‘Mayor for a Day’ Contest is more than just a fun event,” League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director Luke Fischer says. “It’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation of civic leaders and let them know they can make a positive impact on their communities by serving in local government.”… Read the rest ““Mayor for a Day” Essay Contest Invites Students to Share Ideas for Improving Their Cities”

Beulah Corneal: A Remarkable Young Woman

Written by the alley on 01 November 2024

from the series Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery

228th in a Series

By SUE HUNTER WEIR

Phannie Corneal was willing to try anything to save her daughter’s life. On January 18, 1911, she and her daughter, Beulah Corneal, set out for Denver, Colorado hoping that the change in climate would restore Beulah’s health.

The headstone for Beulah Corneal and her half-brother Harvey Botts. PHOTO: Tim McCall

Three months earlier, Beulah had been diagnosed with what doctors initially thought was typhoid. A brief mention in the November 4th, 1910, issue of the Appeal newspaper announced that she seemed to be recovering, and a few weeks later offered an update indicating that Beulah was “able to get up, but still unable to go out.” The following month, she was admitted to the hospital to be treated for tuberculosis of the skin.

Phannie and Beulah spent two months in Denver and returned to Minneapolis on March 18, 1911. Beulah died from tuberculosis on March 30, 1911, less than two weeks later. She was 23 years, four months, and two days old. Phannie’s wishes for her daughter’s recovery had gone unanswered.

Beulah was Phannie’s fourth youngest child. Phannie had three older children with her first husband, Henry Botts.… Read the rest “Beulah Corneal: A Remarkable Young Woman”