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Thursday, June 20th, 2013
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Human Trafficking: Breaking the chains of an unbroken silence


By Mitchell Walbridge

Fri, Jun 14th, 2013
Posted in All Features

Sister Anne Walch and Sister Briana McCarthy are pictured with Preston Ecumenical Progressive Dinner event coordinator Gerrie Daley after concluding a successful evening. Photo by Mitchell Walbridge

Think about an Indian girl who spends anywhere from 10 to 15 hours per day stitching soccer balls, or of a 16 year-old girl forced into prostitution by her 22 year-old boyfriend who won over her trust by helping her with money and a place to stay, or even an 11 year-old boy working on a cocoa plantation with countless scars on his legs from the strenuous work with a machete. Individuals like these are the horrifying realities of the global human trafficking industry.

Human trafficking is a $34 billion per year industry, involving 27 million victims of which 80 percent are female and 50 percent are children. Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, second only to drug trafficking for the time being. Although this form of modern day slavery is illegal in every country, it exists within the borders of every nation in the world.

Because of the prevalence of human trafficking in Minnesota, the United States, and around the world, Sisters Anne Walch and Briana McCarthy of Saint Francis in Rochester, Minn. addressed a crowd of roughly 150 people Wednesday, June 12, at the 39th Annual Preston Ecumenical Progressive Dinner hosted by Preston, Minn. area churches.

Sisters Walch and McCarthy have been on a mission, traveling around the nation bringing awareness to the serious issue of human trafficking. “We’re in the 21st century,” explained McCarthy, “We need to look at slavery in a different way, and the first step in facing evil is through awareness.”

Sister Anne Walch defined human trafficking as uprooting a person from their home and family through the use of force or deception and moving them into a situation of exploitation, whether for forced labor or sexual acts.

Some of the most frightening statistics involve children. According to UNICEF the human trafficking industry involves more than 1.2 million children each year. The average age of child human trafficking victims is estimated to be 12 years old.

The issue isn’t just a problem in foreign nations as the United States is home to its fair share of human trafficking. Minnesota even ranks as one of the 13 most heavily sex and slavery trafficked states in the nation.

But why is this industry involving modern-day human slavery so prominent in today’s society? The answer is simple: money. Human traffickers, according to the organization MN Girls Are Not For Sale, c .....
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Charlie's Eatery & Pub
City of Fountain

MDA announces Value Added Grant recipients

Wed, Jun 19th, 2013
Posted in All State of Minnesota

Grants give boost to farmers, rural businesses St. Paul, Minn. – Nearly 50 Minnesota farmers, producers and processors will share $1 million in Value Added Grants distributed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The Value Added Gra ..... 
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David Robert Drake

Wed, Jun 19th, 2013
Posted in Lanesboro Obituaries

David Robert Drake, 76, of Lanesboro, passed away at his home Wednesday, June 12, 2013. David was born in La Crosse, Wis., Nov. 3, 1936, to Charles R. and Vienna L. (Kennedy) Drake of Lanesboro. He graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1954, and ..... 
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Taylor shooting 6-15-13

Wed, Jun 19th, 2013
Posted in All Police Reports

The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accident that occurred in Arendahl Township Saturday night in which a 47 year old Utica man died. According to Fillmore County Sheriff Daryl Jensen, Jeffrey Taylor and his two sons had been ..... 
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3rd Annual Rushford Days Silent Auction

Tue, Jun 18th, 2013
Posted in Rushford Business Announcements

Grace Place is once again celebrating Rushford Days with their 3rd Annual Silent Auction. This year the location will be held at the Rushford Grace Place location, 110 W. Jessie Street. Store volunteers have been collecting items throughout the year ..... 
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Robert Duane Kingsbury

Tue, Jun 18th, 2013
Posted in Lanesboro Obituaries

Robert Duane Kingsbury, 85, of Lanesboro, died June 14, 2013, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield. Robert was born July 16, 1927, in Harmony, to Arthur R. and Alice (Benston) Kingsbury. He attended Harmony High School, graduating in 1945. On M ..... 
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Jack Brass Band in Chatfield

Mon, Jun 17th, 2013
Posted in Chatfield Arts & Culture

The Jack Brass Band from Minneapolis will be entertaining the audience at the Chatfield “Music in the Park” series on Thursday, June 27th at 7:30 p.m. The concert will take place in the City Park Band Shell. Food will be served from 6:00 -7:30 by ..... 
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Barn Dance, Wood-Fired Pizza & Ice Cream

Mon, Jun 17th, 2013
Posted in Wykoff All

WYKOFF, Minn. -- A Solstice barn dance will cap the Land Stewardship Project's (LSP) annual summer gathering on Friday, June 21, at DreamAcres Farm near Wykoff. The public is invited to eat, sing and dance in "Celebration of Food, Family and Farming, ..... 
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Grave to Be Rededicated in Utica for Killed Gettysburg Soldier

Mon, Jun 17th, 2013
Posted in All Features

The Minnesota Civil War Commemoration Task Force, Rochester Civil War Roundtable and Utica Township will host a grave rededication for Private David Taylor at the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Utica, Minn., on Saturday June 22, 2013. Taylor, a native of I ..... 
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