GRAND RAPIDS — United Way of 1000 Lakes presented its 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award to Shannon Anttila, co-founder and president of Great Tails Animal Rescue.
Great Tails Animal Rescue works to find permanent homes for stray, abandoned and surrendered animals in Itasca County. Anttila helped start the volunteer-based nonprofit in 2018.
United Way gave Anttila the award at its 2025 Community Impact Celebration on May 22. The award honors individuals who have given their time, energy and passion to making their community a better place.
Anttila was one of four finalists for the award, including Anthony Scholler with Itasca County Habitat for Humanity, Madelen Schuemann with Grace House and Dorothy Duquette with the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids and Greenway.
“Volunteers are the heart of our work,” said United Way Board Member Sara Rose in a news release. “Their time, skills, and compassion make it possible to expand reach, fill service gaps, and support lasting change.”
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Contributed/East Range Police DepartmentSgt. Cody Siebert of the East Range Police Department also served in the Mesabi East School District. He died Feb. 27, 2026, less than 24 hours after being diagnosed with a brain infection. -
Contributed/Canva Pro graphicCody Teie, 33, died in a crash in Gentilly, east of Crookston, on Feb. 28, 2026. -
Contributed/Karina Kafka / Report for MinnesotaOn Feb. 24, 2026, Gov. Tim Walz announced a 15-point package that includes a ban on assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines and additional school safety measures. -
Contributed/Karina Kafka / Report for MinnesotaRepublicans in the Minnesota House have been trying to force a vote on a bill that creates a new inspector general to oversee public programs. -
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Each school district would be in charge of creating, implementing and enforcing a policy that meets these standards for the 2026-27 school year. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Boys and Girls Club of Bemidji Area operates a branch at J.W. Smith. Families and staff are concerned about the future of the grant-funded program if the school closes. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEDarrin Smedsmo's vintage aircraft was impounded following an emergency landing within the Red Lake Nation in October 2025, and he is still waiting for a day in tribal court. -
Contributed/Alyssa Chen / Minnesota ReformerThe package has 18 proposals, including prohibiting legislators from making direct appropriations to nonprofits and establishing a centralized Office of Inspector General. -
Contributed/The Unruly ShutterThe four teams will represent rural Northern Minnesota in the state tournament March 4-7, 2026, in the Twin Cities.
