The Wonder Spotlight

New Ownership at Last Chance Pub & Grub

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:54:01 GMT

Cindy Kerrick takes over at Last Chance Pub & Grub

McGREGOR, Minn.— A familiar face behind the bar is now the official owner of one of McGregor’s longtime gathering spots. As of June 1, Cindy Kerrick has purchased Last Chance Pub & Grub, stepping into ownership after years of friendship, bartending shifts, and encouragement from the previous owners.

Kerrick is the sister of former owner Donnie Fitzsimonds (Becky Reno Knoop), who helped build the bar’s reputation as a local favorite known for its casual atmosphere, regular events, and steady community crowd.

What began as a retirement plan for Kerrick slowly turned into a new chapter in business ownership.

“I was at home retired. I was tired,” Kerrick said, reflecting on her decision. After stepping away from previous work in long-term care and corporate roles, she had no immediate plans to return to business ownership. “I had been retired and kind of staying at home, and I didn’t have that activity. I was bored.”

For a time, Kerrick occasionally helped out behind the bar, working Sunday shifts alongside Becky Reno Knoop. Over the winter, she spent more time learning the rhythm of the business from both Fitzsimonds and Knoop, who had occasionally floated the idea of her taking over.

“They would say, ‘Do you want to buy the bar?’ And I would say, ‘No, I’m retired,’” Kerrick said. “Then one day I thought, you know, it’s fun here. I just have fun. So I called Becky and said, ‘Yeah, I think I’ll buy the bar.’”

The decision quickly gained momentum. Knoop, preparing for a move to Texas and seeking more balance in her own life, welcomed the transition.

“She was all excited,” Kerrick said. “She just needed work-life balance.”

Kerrick emphasized that stepping into ownership feels less like a leap into the unknown and more like a continuation of something she already understands.

“I enjoy it. I’m not coming into something that’s unknown. I feel like I’ve been having fun with everything.”

While Kerrick’s professional background includes managing demanding schedules in healthcare and corporate environments—often working 60 to 80 hours a week—she said the energy of a busy establishment feels familiar.

“I just like being around people,” she said. “When I was retired and staying at home, I didn’t have that activity.”

Keeping traditions, adding new idea s

Under Kerrick’s ownership, many of the bar’s popular traditions will remain in place, including games, community events, and the casual atmosphere that regulars have come to expect.
“We’re going to do the same games and the same activities,” she said. “And throw a little crazy stuff in there now and then.”

Some updates are also planned, particularly around food offerings. Kerrick hopes to expand the menu with more variety, including additional appetizers, salads, and lighter summer options. A refreshed menu is expected to be finalized by mid-July after customer feedback is gathered.
“I want to introduce some healthier summer foods and get feedback from people as we go,” she said.

From seasonal bartender to owne r

Kerrick’s path to ownership included a gradual introduction to bartending, beginning with limited shifts and eventually leading to more regular involvement during the winter season.

“Zero experience before this winter,” she said with a laugh about bartending and restaurant work prior to stepping in more seriously.

That hands-on experience helped her build familiarity with customers and daily operations, something she says made the transition feel natural.

Looking ahead

Kerrick is also planning for seasonal changes in operations, including adjusted winter hours and expanded winter activities such as games and community events. Summer hours will continue Wednesday through Sunday, with potential adjustments in the colder months depending on staffing and demand.

Breakfast service is also being considered for weekends during winter months.

One of the biggest challenges, she acknowledged, remains staffing in a small community.

“That’s been the biggest obstacle in McGregor,” she said. “I’ve witnessed it for many years.”

Still, Kerrick says the strongest asset of the business is its people.

“The customers are wonderful. I couldn’t ask for better customers,” she said. “It feels very homey. I feel very comfortable.”

As she settles into ownership, Kerrick sees the transition not as a dramatic shift, but as a continuation of a place already rooted in community connection.

“It’ll be fun,” she said. “It’ll be challenging, but it’ll be worth it.”

Also in the June 9th edition of the Voyageur Press:

• New school records in high school track & field

• Small Town Strong: McGregor Responders fill Emergency Care Gap

• Recipes from the Biblical Nutritionist

• Baseball team is headed to state!

Your Guide to Last Chance Pub & Grub

View current hours, upcoming events, and details for Last Chance Pub & Grub.

From Split-Log Benches to Modern Classrooms

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:46:45 GMT

Floodwood High School Celebrates 100th Graduating Class

FLOODWOOD Minn.— In 1893, the newly organized village of Floodwood took out a four-hundred-dollar loan from the state to purchase books and supplies. That modest investment laid the foundation for a school system that would grow from a single log cabin into a central hub of community life.

The town’s first official schoolhouse, constructed that same year, was a simple log building situated between the local creamery and the old Hokkanen home. In its inaugural terms, just eight children attended the six-month school year. Resources were sparse; early students in nearby rural schoolhouses like the Cedar Valley School, built in 1894, sat on benches made of split logs.

The Rugged Frontier Era

The early days of education in the region required immense resilience from both students and staff. At the Moore School, established around 1899, the wilderness was a literal threat. Young boys carried rifles on their daily walks to the schoolhouse because the woods were dense, and the howling of wolves was a frequent soundtrack to the spring term.

Getting to class was its own battle against the elements. Before the advent of standard motor buses, children were transported via horse-drawn teams and wagons or winter sleds. Drivers were paid twenty-eight dollars a month to cover a grueling twenty-four-mile daily route, utilizing charcoal foot warmers and heavy blankets to keep the children from freezing. For those living too far to make the daily trek, the state stepped in to pay for room and board with families in town.

A Milestone Year: The Class of 1926

As the timber and agricultural industries grew, so did the need for higher education. The landmark Lincoln School was completed in 1911, establishing Independent School District No. 19. While Floodwood had offered limited two-year and three-year high school tracks starting in 1912, it wasn’t until the fall of 1925 that a full, four-year high school course was officially launched.
In the spring of 1926, Floodwood celebrated a historic milestone: its very first graduating high school class.

THE CLASS OF 1926
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• Hannah Huttunen (Valedictorian)
• Pearl Garland (Salutatorian)
• Marie Canfield
• William Stenback
• Howard Past
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Motto: “Step up the stairs, Don’t Stare up the Steps”

The five graduates completed their studies under Superintendent B.H. Gibbon and Principal Roger M. Peet, stepping out into a world defined by the cultural boom of the Roaring Twenties. It was an era where the airwaves belonged to “Five Foot Two” and “Sweet Georgia Brown,” moviegoers swooned over Rudolph Valentino, and sports fans cheered on Babe Ruth.

Growth, Consolidation, and Expansion

The school system underwent massive shifts in the mid-20th century. In 1957, a sweeping consolidation effort integrated the Prairie Lake area and portions of Aitkin County, transforming the local system into Independent Consolidated School District No. 698.

To keep pace with population growth and changing educational demands, the Lincoln School plant expanded in waves. A 1938 addition brought dedicated agriculture and science laboratories, commercial classrooms, and a music studio. Twenty years later, in 1958, a new industrial arts department and a modern gymnasium-auditorium opened their doors. By 1966, federal funding helped establish the town’s first full, year-long kindergarten program, welcoming 41 students under teacher Evelyn Johnson. Space restrictions and evolving programs eventually led voters to approve another major facility expansion that opened in the fall of 1976.

A Century Later: The Class of 2026

Exactly 100 years after those first five seniors accepted their diplomas, a new generation made history. On Friday, May 29, 2026, 12 students graduated from Floodwood High School, marking a full century of secondary school excellence.

This year’s graduating class included: Layla Bailey, Kolt Bennett, Isabella Hanke, Logan Hart, Davia Hayes, Navayah Heavirland, Claire Johnson, Kenzie Kiminski, Jonah Spindler, Kiaja Stokke, Sylis Svoboda, and Riley Terry.

Leading the centennial class into the future, Claire Johnson honored the tradition as the 2026 valedictorian, alongside Isabella Hanke, who served as the class salutatorian. From five students on split logs to a century of academic resilience, Floodwood’s educational journey stands as a testament to a community’s enduring investment in its youth.

Celebrating people, places & traditions

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:34:57 GMT

25 Years of Community Storytelling and our vision for the future

McGREGOR, Minn. —For the past 25 years, Voyageur Press has been dedicated to promoting the positive aspects of our surrounding communities. Our mission has remained simple: to tell the stories that make this region special.

We have highlighted local sports, restaurants, outdoor traditions, and the businesses and organizations that form the backbone of our communities. Through it all, we have focused on celebrating the people, places, and traditions that define life in northern Minnesota.

But the story of this region goes much deeper than the last 25 years. This area has a significant historical connection to the Voyageurs who traveled these waterways centuries ago. They ascended the Saint Louis River from its mouth at Fond du Lac in what is now Duluth.

From there, they traveled up the East Savanna River near Floodwood, crossed a portage over the divide to the West Savanna River, and continued down that route to the Prairie River and into Big Sandy Lake. Big Sandy Lake became the hub of two major fur trade routes linking the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River during that era.

In many ways, the role of Voyageur Press has mirrored that same spirit of connection — telling the stories of the people, places, and traditions that define this region.

Today, this area continues to be a destination for those who appreciate its natural beauty — forests, lakes, trails, and small towns that make this region unique. For 25 years, our newspaper has shared those stories.

Now, it is time to make those stories more accessible. Our vision is to create a comprehensive digital platform that showcases the region — highlighting places to stay, play, and eat, while providing easy access to local events and activities.

Rather than replicating a traditional newspaper website, we aim to build something more immersive and regionally focused — inspired by destination platforms, but centered on the Big Sandy Lake area and the St. Louis River waterways .

A place where visitors can discover local events, find restaurants and lodging, explore outdoor recreation, learn the history of the area, and read the stories that capture the character of our communities.

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A Lakeside Legacy

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:06:52 GMT

The Story of Bann’s Bar & Restaurant

LAKE MINNEWAWA, Minn .—Along the shores of Lake Minnewawa, Bann’s Bar & Restaurant has long stood as more than just a place to eat. For decades, it has served as a gathering space, a community hub, and a reflection of small-town values rooted in family, hard work, and consistency. Its story—spanning from a modest post-war storefront to a beloved regional destination—is one shaped by tradition, resilience, and the people who made it their life’s work.

A Family Takes the Leap

The defining chapter in Bann’s history began in 1976, when Tom and Fran Bann made a life-changing decision. Along with their children—Audrey, Lisa, and Chris—they moved from Minneapolis to Lake Minnewawa, a place where they had spent years visiting Grandpa Tom.

Their goal was straightforward: to operate a restaurant as a family.

The story of how that decision came together has been told with humor over the years.
“Dad retired, but Mom wasn’t old enough to do the same,” Chris Pierce once recalled. “They bought the restaurant for something to do.”

Lisa Enderle offered a different version with a laugh: “It was Chris’ fault. Mom and Dad wanted to retire, but they still had 11-year-old Chris to raise, so they bought the restaurant.”

Regardless of which version is most accurate, the result was a true family-run operation. Fran took charge of the kitchen, Audrey worked behind the bar, Lisa—just 16—waitressed, Chris washed dishes at age 11, and Tom handled maintenance and public relations. From the beginning, Bann’s found its footing.

Early Memories & Family Traditions

For Lisa and Chris, the restaurant quickly became more than a business. It became the center of their childhood and adult lives. Lisa’s earliest memories were in the kitchen beside her mother. “We just always worked together,” Lisa said. “I just remember helping her.”

In those early years, the restaurant operated with a simplicity that customers came to love. The original salad bar was little more than a table set up for customers. “Our salad part, when we first had it, was just a table out there,” Lisa remembered. “My mom loved herring, so she put that out on the salad bar. I remember a few people would come and just clean out the bowl, and she’d get so mad.”

“Remember when dad had the bright idea because Larson had a mechanical bull in their garage down in the Twin Cities,” Lisa recalled. “So Dad said, ‘Why don’t you bring that up here for a summer?’” For one memorable summer, Bann’s became home to a mechanical bull that quickly became a Sunday attraction. “Every Sunday, all the softball teams were done playing, they would come and ride that mechanical bull,” Chris said.

Then there was the annual Pig Roast, held each year on the weekend following Labor Day. Pictures of that event brings back fond memories.

The sisters also remembered the bowling banquets that packed the restaurant year after year. “Everyone loved my dad,” Chris said. “Dad would dress up and go out in his bowling shirt. Bann’s always sponsored a team.”

The shirts themselves became legendary within the family. “Remember that?” Chris laughed. “His shirts had the lifted velvet on the back — Bann’s in lifted velvet. Baby blue.”

“Baby blue or beige,” Lisa added. “It was fun.”

Another favorite tradition was winter volleyball. “We had a traveling net and standards that went from bar to bar,” Lisa said.

Those memories reflected what Bann’s had become: not simply a restaurant, but a place where community life happened.

In its early years, Bann’s established traditions that would define its identity for decades. Chief among them was the Saturday night prime rib special. “Back in 1976, people didn’t go out like they do now,” Chris said. “Saturday was a special occasion night.”

That tradition endured. Even decades later, prime rib Saturdays remained one of the restaurant’s biggest draws, known for generous portions and consistent preparation.
Another staple emerged in the early 1980s: Friday night burritos. Suggested by bartender Debbie Jackman, the offering began modestly with a single crockpot of filling. Over time, it grew into one of the restaurant’s most popular features, with hundreds of burritos served on a typical Friday night.

These traditions helped define Bann’s not just as a restaurant, but as a place people could count on—week after week, year after year.

A True Community Gathering Place

What set Bann’s apart was more than its menu. It became a central meeting place for the surrounding communities of McGregor, Wright, and Cromwell. On any given night, the dining room and bar would fill with a mix of locals, families, and visitors—many of whom returned regularly.

The atmosphere encouraged connection. Conversations about local sports, school events, and community happenings flowed easily between tables. The restaurant’s layout—featuring both a family-friendly dining area and a lively bar—allowed it to serve a wide range of customers.

The early 1990s marked a difficult period for the Bann family. Tom passed away in 1992, followed by Fran in 1995. Their deaths left a void both personally and professionally. Faced with uncertainty, the three daughters made a collective decision: they would continue the business their parents had built.

Ownership was shared among Audrey, Lisa, and Chris, with Lisa and Chris taking on the day-to-day operations. It was not an easy transition, but it reinforced the family’s commitment to preserving Bann’s legacy.

Owners Chris and Lisa became known for their constant presence, moving between the kitchen, dining room, and bar, ensuring guests felt welcome. “People like to see the owners,” Lisa said. “They know you’re invested.”

That visibility helped build trust and loyalty—qualities that sustained the business through changing times.

Growth and Change

As Bann’s moved into its third decade, it adapted to meet the needs of a growing and evolving customer base.

In 1996, the restaurant underwent a significant expansion, adding a 35-by-40-foot addition. The renovation increased seating capacity, extended the bar area, and introduced large windows overlooking Lake Minnewawa—enhancing both the dining experience and the atmosphere.

During this expansion, Bann’s also added its first big screen television—an upgrade that reflected changing customer preferences and marked the beginning of a new era for the bar area. Today, the restaurant features nine big screens, making it a popular spot for watching sporting events year-round.

The updates reflected a balance between growth and tradition. While the space modernized, the core elements—familiar menu items, friendly service, and a welcoming environment—remained unchanged.

At the center of Bann’s success has always been its kitchen. Few individuals represent that consistency better than Lisa Bann and long-time cook Darrell Grefrath. Lisa has worked in the kitchen since she was 15 years old, learning alongside her mother. Darrell, a 1984 graduate of McGregor High School, joined Bann’s after a chance conversation and never left.

As Bann’s approached its 50th anniversary celebration, the kitchen itself entered a new era. “We completely gutted it,” Lisa said. “It was a total teardown and a beautiful facelift.”

The remodel included a new grill oven, stovetop, additional fryer, and a redesigned layout intended to improve workflow and efficiency. A few menu updates were also expected to follow the renovation, blending fresh ideas with longtime customer favorites.

Expanding Traditions

Over time, Bann’s continued to innovate while staying rooted in its identity—not only through food, but through entertainment and community involvement.

Live music became a year-round staple, drawing both local performers and visiting acts. Regular karaoke nights, hosted by Ben Horton, added another layer of energy and interaction, giving patrons a chance to take part in the fun themselves. Bann’s also played a role in supporting local organizations. For years, it hosted the Minnewawa Sportsmen’s Club Fishing Contest raffle each February, reinforcing its connection to the area’s outdoor traditions and community groups.

In 2001, through a collaboration with Pier 65, Bann’s expanded its recreational offerings by adding a beach volleyball court and launching a local league. The league quickly gained popularity, bringing together teams from across the area and further establishing Bann’s as a destination for both social gatherings and active summer fun.
Seasonal promotions, such as March Madness bracket challenges paired with new wing menus, brought fresh energy to the restaurant.

Every August Bann’s hosts a golf tournament at Minnesota National, and in 2013, the restaurant introduced a Big Buck Contest, which quickly became a fall tradition among local hunters. Winners ranged from seasoned outdoorsmen to young participants, reinforcing the event’s broad appeal.

Another notable addition was the Adult Prom fundraiser, supporting KIDS PLUS Children’s Wish List. The event combined entertainment with philanthropy, raising thousands of dollars for families in need during the holiday season.
These initiatives demonstrated Bann’s ongoing commitment to community engagement.

Celebrating 50 Years

In 2026, Bann’s prepared to celebrate 50 years under the Bann family name — a milestone representing decades of hard work, family dedication, and community support.

The anniversary celebration was scheduled for Saturday, May 16, with live music and festivities planned throughout the day.

“From two to five, we will have Rusta Canyon playing live music, and from seven to 11, Last Call will play,” Chris said.

The celebration would include food specials, prizes, drink specials, and a buffet meal for guests. “There’ll be plenty of food over there,” Chris added. “We thought we’d maybe try to do a champagne toast of some kind.”

For longtime customers and generations of local families, the event represented more than an anniversary. It was a celebration of shared memories built over five decades on the shores of Lake Minnewawa.

Recognition and a Lasting Legacy

In 2007, Bann’s received one of its highest honors when the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce named it “Business of the Year.”

Reflecting on their years at Bann’s, the sisters often returned to the relationships they had built. “We became part of their families, and they became part of our family,” Chris said.

Over the years, Bann’s also evolved into something more than a neighborhood restaurant or lakeside gathering place. It became widely recognized as the region’s premier sports bar — a destination where fans gathered to watch games, celebrate victories, and support local athletes.

What started decades earlier with bowling teams and post-softball game gatherings gradually grew into a full sports culture woven into the identity of Bann’s itself. The addition of big-screen televisions during the restaurant’s expansion years only strengthened that connection. Today, with nine large screens throughout the restaurant and bar, Bann’s has become a year-round gathering spot for everything from Vikings Sundays and March Madness to high school tournaments and playoff runs.

Sports have never simply been entertainment for the Bann family — they have been part of everyday life.

Bann’s sponsored bowling teams for years, hosted volleyball leagues, welcomed softball teams after games, and became known as a place where local athletes, coaches, and fans naturally gathered.

That passion carried into the Bann family itself. Lisa and Chris spent years raising children who were deeply involved in athletics, from football and basketball to volleyball, softball, and countless other activities. Much of life revolved around practices, games, tournaments, and supporting their kids from the sidelines.
Now, a new generation is carrying on those traditions.

Today, Lisa and Chris find themselves cheering on children who are now coaches and grandchildren involved in many of the same sports, continuing a family connection to athletics that has spanned generations. Just as customers who once came to Bann’s as young adults now return with children and grandchildren of their own, the restaurant itself has become part of the rhythm of community life.

That connection between sports, family, and community helped shape Bann’s into more than just a successful business. It became a place where teams celebrated after games, where rivalries turned into friendships, and where generations gathered around food, conversation, and shared memories.

Today, Bann’s Bar & Restaurant stands as a testament to what a family-run business can achieve over time. Its success was never built on trends or rapid expansion, but on consistency, relationships, and a clear sense of purpose.

From its beginnings as a small lakeside store to its evolution into a regional favorite and the area’s go-to sports destination, Bann’s has remained grounded in the values that shaped it: quality food, genuine hospitality, community connection, and family tradition.

For those who have dined there—whether for a Saturday night prime rib, Friday burritos, a Pig Roast, live music, karaoke, a championship game, or simply a familiar conversation at the bar—Bann’s represents something enduring.
It is not just a restaurant.

It is a place where stories are shared, traditions are upheld, teams are celebrated, and generations come together—year after year, meal after meal—on the shores of Lake Minnewawa.

Everything You Need to Know

See what's happening at Bann's Bar & Restaurant, including upcoming events, hours, menu options, and more.