How did you land in Cook County?  What journey led you here? 
Dana: I grew up in International Falls and have always preferred time in the woods and on the lake to being anywhere else.   One summer vacation with my parents, was my first trip on the north shore.  We stayed at Naniboujou Lodge and even as a small child, I remember it vividly and fondly.  I came back as often as possible throughout my life as one of my very favorite places to be.  When I met Jeff in Spring 2003 I wanted to bring him up here and hoped he would fall in love with it like I did.   He fell in love with it too – right away.  From then on, all our vacations were here and we dreamed of living here some day.  Then we retired – and everything fell into place and here we are… AND less than ½ mile from Naniboujou Lodge where I work part time.  No doubt one of God’s blessings.  

Jeff:  I had never been to the far “North Shore” before meeting Dana in 2003, the furthest I had been was to Split Rock and in fact the real “North Shore” does not start till you get to Tettegouche.  I had always loved Thomsonite and wanted to go and mine my own; that’s what brought us up the first time.  Pretty soon we were coming up every free minute we had and camping at the Rec Park.  We brought church groups with us at times and we began searching out the waterfalls.  Funny thing was when we had to go back to Princeton, MN (where we were living) I would start getting ornery because I did not want to go back.   We began looking for property in Cook County, we worked with Julie Carlson and it took 8 years to find our spot on Paradise Beach.

Can you share a bit of information about the local support groups that you are starting?  What prompted this? 
Dana:  I became a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor after a long battle with severe alcoholism.  I believe helping others is a way to not only give back for the long term sobriety that I have now,  but also keeps me sober.  Through the years we have both attended countless AA and NA meetings and I have worked at a treatment center for many years as an LADC.  Following COVID and being in a small community, we wanted to get involved here in the recovery community like we were in Princeton.  The folks we talked to said they could use more meetings – so we found out from AA that combining meetings in small areas was permitted so we thought – we’ll have one and put them together.  ALTHOUGH…… if there is enough interest, we have enough people and rooms at Cornerstone and split them up and have each one individually.  

When we came to Cook County we were in the midst of Covid, and we were doing our church via the internet, we had not been invited to go to any church’s in the area.  2022 we were invited to come to “Pastor Dale's Church”, Cornerstone Community Church by a church family member named Oppie Scheils.  We had been members of the Methodist Church and this was a Baptist Church.  We discovered there was not a lot of difference they put more emphasis on bible study. We thought God had led us there but why we did not know.  This was a much smaller church than we had been at in Princeton, but our heart for missions was in hospitality, fellowship and recovery.

We started by doing hospitality, and after a time we suggested that we do a recovery ministry. Something that we wanted to do is help people struggling with addiction. After a year we started the Shepherds Reach Recovery Ministry.  Dana is an LADC and still holds her license, and I do recovery coaching, we have both been involved with recovery, and  have a place in our hearts that screams “help the addicted”.  There aren’t many meetings going on and there is only one outpatient treatment place in town. Due to what has happened in our lives as well as our families,  we have a need to help. We are going to start an AA, NA Alanon Meeting starting Friday, February 27 at 6:00 pm at Cornerstone Community Church.   These will be strictly followed AA/NA materials,  following the Big Book, 12 Steps and Traditions.   If anyone wants Faith-based recovery help,  we will help with that on Sundays following church service or they can call us.

Do you have a favorite spot in the County where you go for a day of relaxation?   
Dana: My favorite place is the waterfalls on Partridge Falls, not only gorgeous but private.  

Jeff: My favorite place to go to relax is Partridge Falls. I could hang out there for days at a time. We could just hang out on our beach and watch the lake and really be happy too!!

What do you enjoy most about life in Cook County?  
Dana: It’s quieter, private, slower and the critters, birds, waterfalls, woods,  it’s like the air we breathe. It never gets old, we never take it for granted and we are grateful for every day we have to be here and call this our home.  Another one of God’s blessings.  

Jeff: The thing I like most about living here is the beauty of the area.  The friendliness of most people and the fact that you can go from the business of activity in town to being in the wilderness in less an 15 minutes!!  We really get a kick out of friends that have never been here. They say “How do you put up with isolation so far up in the middle of nowhere?” Since we have been here,  we have friends we have not seen for ½ a lifetime show up!!! You got to admit it, that Big Lake is even a bigger draw!!!!!  We have  also made so many new friends here (isolation is NOT a problem) and we love it.

With you being so actively involved in the faith community, what words of advice would you share with someone who has been away from the church for some time and isn't sure where to begin?  Dana:We all have our own stories and journeys.  I have heard from so many that don’t want anything to do with church” or religious people.  What I do know is that I would be dead from alcoholism if I had not reached out for a relationship with God.  He showed me without question that my sobriety comes from the strength that God gives me – not from anything I did and the life we enjoy now is beyond what we could have dreamed.  We are so thankful.  We have learned a great deal from Pastor Dale and Cornerstone, it’s a faith family.  I think having a stronger relationship with God is something we should strive for through out our lives.  If any of this sounds like something you would be interested in knowing more about, contact us or come to one of our services some Sunday or any other Bible based Church in the area.  

Jeff:  To those who have lost their way and seem to have fallen away from Church, remember we are living in a time of Grace, ask Jesus for forgiveness and you will be forgiven. It is just that simple.  My favorite bible verse is John 4:35. It states, “Do you not say four more months and then the harvest? I say look at the fields they are ripe for harvest” I believe this so much I have it tattooed on my right arm, so people can ask about it. If you have not read the bible, I would  suggest to start with Revelation. (The last book of the bible) Jesus is showing John the “End Times” though a very hard book to read it not only shows the Tribulation and Armageddon it also talks about the Glory we are going to have when we reach heaven and the new earth.

If you have not been to church for a while, just attend.  There are many great church’s in Grand Marais. I am a bit tilted, but I would really suggest coming to Cornerstone Community Church. Pastor Dale McIntire gives a very great sermon every week.  Sermons are biblical, bible-based and easy to understand. Pastor Dale can make you laugh, but most of all he gives you the word as it is written!! You will be welcomed and no matter what, you will not be judged. If you have addiction issues you will not be stigmatized, you will be loved and welcomed.  Cornerstone is at #1 Cedar Grove Lane just off the Gunflint Trail, come join us.