By Robert Williams

Editor

Randi Newton and her Perham ladies pickleball group got together Thursday, June 25, to visit some of the larger-than-life sculptures in Otter Tail County’s giant adventure and check out the pickleball courts in both towns.

The 17 ladies began their road trip in Frazee with a visit to Tom the Turkey, followed by a tour of Frazee’s pickleball courts to see the progress of construction there. Some of the visitors donated money on the spot to help with its completion. 

Next, the group stopped for coffee at The Monarch coffee shop and visited the Home Sweet Bakehouse for a sweet treat, followed by a group photo at the little turkey downtown. 

“Lori and Terry at Twice Blessed thrift shop were kind enough to open their doors early for a Thursday so we all could find lots of treasures to buy,” said Newton. “Many of the gals had not ever been to Frazee so it was fun for them to see what Frazee had to offer.”

Next on the adventure was a picture by the Vergas Loon and off to Pelican Rapids for a picture by Pelican Pete. 

Joining Newton on the road trip were: Julie Dahl-Spilde; Terri Engers; Sue Zurn; Marianne Von Ruden; Rhonda Bernu; Donna Johnson Hutchinson; Laura Becker; Mary Mercer; Diane Herrman; Shari Kaiser; Kim Burd; Lynn Tobkin; Pam Rafferty; Stephanie Berns; Dianne Sebastian and Coleen Behm. 

“An exciting start to the Giant Adventure,” said Randi Newton. “They are all excited to come and play at our new courts when finished. The construction is underway and we are still in need of donations.”

For more information on pickleball in Frazee and how to donate visit: frazeecommunityclub.com/pickleball or  mail a donation to Frazee Area Community Club; PO Box 276, Frazee, MN 56544.

Pickleball is being brought to Frazee thanks to a collaborative partnership between the Frazee School District and the Frazee Area Community Club (FACC) to develop a new pickleball court facility on school-owned land adjacent to a planned baseball/pickleball parking lot. 

The total project cost is estimated to be $625,000, consisting of the district-funded parking lot project and the FACC funding the courts at $282,000.

The school district is providing the land needed for the courts, and has committed to the ongoing upkeep of the facility. The FACC partnered with Creating Community Consulting to lead a youth-focused capital campaign, spearheaded by Madison Olson and Hailee Olson.

The “Giants of Otter Tail County” is a summer road trip challenge featuring the highest concentration of giant animal sculptures in the U.S., and offers a check box card to mark off visits to Otto the Otter in Fergus Falls, the Prairie Chicken in Rothsay, Pelican Pete in Pelican Rapids, the Vergas Loon, Tom the Turkey in Frazee, the Tractor in New York Mills, the Big Otter in Ottertail, the Watermelon in Vining, Rusty the Fish in Battle Lake and Big Coot in Ashby.

Visit at least five and turn in the card for prizes. For more information visit ottertaillakescountry.com