Crystal Falls welcomes home Nick Baumgartner

CRYSTAL FALLS - Forest Park School District held a pep rally Feb. 17 to honor Olympic gold medalist Nick Baumgartner. After a rousing welcome from the cheerleaders, high school band, students, faculty and staff, Nick addressed the crowd with inspiring words. He spoke of his humble beginnings back in 1990 when he received a plastic snowboard for Christmas and how he would take it to a sledding hill behind his house to snowboard. Baumgartner encouraged the students to go out and work hard at whatever they love to do because they never know what it could turn in to. As he held up his gold medal with pride, the crowd began to cheer for their beloved Olympic Yooper. More  photos on page 9.