GRAND RAPIDS — The Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids and Greenway combined its two branches into one location for the 2024-25 school year, citing insufficient staffing and funding challenges.
The club is located at Robert J. Elkington Middle School in Grand Rapids. Greenway students in the program will be bused from Coleraine.
"We know this comes at a time when families are left with very few options for childcare ... We also know this hurts the Bovey/Coleraine community tremendously as many families have come to rely on the Greenway Boys and Girls Club to be the bridge they need for their children between school and the end of the workday," said Isaac Meyer, Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids and Greenway advisory board president.
"For these reasons, we struggle with reducing our programming. However, we've found this is necessary for the long-term sustainability of the clubs and our ability to serve families at this time."
The Boys and Girls Club is an after-school program seeking to provide a safe place for kids to continue their learning, finish homework, spend time with friends and enjoy an afternoon snack and dinner.
A news release from the organization said the move to one location does not change its mission: "to empower and inspire all youth ages 6 to 18 in reaching their full potential."
"As we work to further diversify our funding sources, attract prospective employees and rebuild momentum for our program, the hope is this merger will be temporary," said Todd Johnson, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland CEO.
Earlier this year, the organization raised its cost from $20 a year to $60 a week on a sliding scale after losing grant funding.
Students attending West Elementary in Grand Rapids will also be bused to the middle school, while students at East Elementary will walk with a staff escort.
-
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe Pequot Lakes Fire District and Breezy Point Police Department responded to the fire the morning of March 14, 2026. The incident is under investigation. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEFresh Picks: True rebel music, sweet and gritty country, a songwriter steps out and jazz-punk fusionThe KAXE Music Team highlights new music from Tinariwen, Cat Clyde, Morgan Nagler, Jalen Ngonda, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Julianna Riolino, Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis. -
Contributed/Lakers Music BoostersSeveral Detroit Lakes High School band and choir members are currently on a northbound bus, and Music Director Tim Siewert said the travel fiasco will add $35,000 in unexpected costs. -
The 110 investor-owned utilities included in the report had an average profit margin of 12.8% from 2021 to 2024 and 14.6% in 2025. Xcel and Otter Tail were in the top 40 both years. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHundreds of cities are vying for state bonding bill dollars to fund local infrastructure projects at the Legislature. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAn estimated 9 million trees around the Bemidji area were damaged or downed in the June 2025 storm. Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood said planning for spring fire danger has been ongoing since. -
Contributed/John Muhlenpoh / MSHSLMountain Iron-Buhl finishes its season with a 30-2 record. Anna Neyens and Paige Norman were named to the all-tournament team, as was Kelliher/Northome’s Kate Thayer. -
Planning and preparation for the 2026 spring wildfire season began shortly after the major blowdown storm in the Bemidji region, which saw an estimated 9 million trees downed or damaged. -
And: A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature would allow small school districts to shrink their school board size.
-
Contributed/Beltrami CountyIn a Thursday, March 12, 2026, order, Judge Jeanine Brand said the attorney general’s office showed sufficient probable cause for the case against Michelle R. Skroch to move forward.
