ROCHESTER — Leadership Greater Rochester, a program put on by the Rochester Area of Commerce, with the help of community partners, launched a Youth Connections Sports Trailer on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 at Franklin Elementary School.

The Minnesota Twins donated various baseball and softball equipment, including bats, balls and gloves. TC Bear, the official mascot for the Twins, was in attendance to help unbox and play with SACC students at Franklin Elementary.

The trailer is free to rent and includes various sporting equipment designed to bring recreational activities to neighborhoods across Rochester.

The project aims to reduce monetary and access barriers to physical activity, and is managed by Rochester Parks & Recreation.

It is available for reservations through their website.

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin

Recently, during routine summer football conditioning at a local high school, what began as a typical day on the field quickly became a test of preparation, composure, and life-saving skill.

As student-athletes ran sprints under the heat of the summer sun, one young athlete suddenly collapsed. Jeff Wiseman, a certified athletic trainer (ATC) with Riverside Sports Medicine and the designated medical professional on-site, was nearby and immediately responded. What he found was alarming: the student’s pulse was faint, breathing irregular, and he showed signs of seizure-like activity.

Jeff didn’t hesitate.

With no time to spare, he began performing chest compressions and activated the school’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP)—a detailed protocol designed for exactly this kind of situation. An AED (automated external defibrillator) was quickly retrieved. 911 was called. Coaches on the field, trained and coordinated, assisted as Jeff led the emergency response.

Within minutes, York County Fire & Safety arrived on scene, seamlessly joining the effort. Working together, this team of first responders stabilized the athlete and transported him to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where emergency medical staff continued advanced care. He was later transferred to CHKD’s pediatric cardiology unit for further evaluation and monitoring.

Thanks to the quick thinking, rapid response, and collaboration between Riverside’s athletic training team and local emergency responders, the student-athlete is now doing well and expected to make a full recovery.

What happened on that field is a powerful reminder of why certified athletic trainers—and well-rehearsed Emergency Action Plans—are critical components of student-athlete safety.

“Without the life-saving care that was quickly provided by Jeff and supported by our community partners, the outcome may have been tragic,” said Dr. John Barley, Sport Medicine Physician with Riverside.

While incidents like this are rare, they underscore the reality that medical emergencies can—and do—happen in youth sports. But when they do, Riverside’s team is ready.

MINNEAPOLIS — Federal prosecutors have secured the conviction of the 52nd defendant charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

Guhaad Hashi Said, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in federal court on Monday.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the State of Minnesota, Said filed for reimbursements from the Federal Child Nutrition Program after falsely claiming to have served more than one million meals to children between March and December of 2021 through an organization called Advance Youth Athletic Development. Prosecutors said Said then attempted to launder the funds by opening a bank account for Advance Youth Athletic Development and later transferring the money to another account.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Said and his co-conspirators ultimately received more than $2.9 million in federal funding in the scheme.

“Said stole money, falsified paperwork submitted to the government, and was reimbursed millions of dollars to which he was not entitled,” FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. said in a statement. The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will ensure this fraud stops, and we will ensure that every defendant in this investigation is held fully accountable for their conduct.”

Said will be sentenced at a later date. He faces up to 25 years in federal prison.

Today we’re diving into some ongoing battles over athlete pay, from college athletics to the WNBA.

In the case of college sports, a recent lawsuit settlement involving the NCAA allows colleges and universities to pay their athletes directly, which has the potential to transform the financial landscape of college athletics.

“The House v. NCAA settlement is just the latest in what seems to be a kind of peeling back of an onion of how college athletes are being paid,” said sports journalist Kennington Lloyd Smith III.

On the show today, Smith explains how college athlete pay has evolved, how the recent House v. NCAA settlement could strain athletic departments, and what could come from the WNBA players’ current fight for more equitable pay. Plus, the sports private equity firms are eyeing.

Then, we’ll hear how one listener got involved in local government. Plus, Paralympic sled hockey gold medalist Declan Farmer answers the Make Me Smart question.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

Glen Allan “Gus” Gustafson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and community leader, passed away peacefully at his home in Lakeshore, Minnesota, on August 10, 2025, at the age of 80. Known to many simply as “Gus,” he was kind, loving, modest, humble, and generous. He lived an impactful life and leaves behind a legacy that will be felt for generations.

Glen was born in Bremerton, Washington, on March 8, 1945, to Alfred and Stella (Spilseth) Gustafson, while his father worked in the naval shipyards during WWII. The family later returned to Minnesota, settling in Alexandria. Glen attended Alexandria High School, where he shined both academically and athletically, earning letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1963.

He continued his education at the University of North Dakota, where he was a three-year letter winner in football and a proud member of the 1964, 1965, and 1966 teams honored in the UND Hall of Fame. He graduated in 1967, and later from the UND School of Law in 1970.

Glen’s greatest blessing came when he met Marilyn, his future wife, in junior high. They began dating in high school and married in 1962, sharing 37 years of marriage until Marilyn’s passing, at age 54 in 1999 after a courageous battle with ALS. Together, they raised four children in Brainerd, Minnesota.

After law school, Glen worked in Rochester, MN, for a year before moving to Brainerd in 1972 to establish a law practice. Starting out in a small basement office generously provided rent-free for six months, he built a highly respected practice over the next 40 years. Known for his integrity, humility, and generosity, Glen helped countless people in both his professional and personal life—often quietly without seeking recognition.

A man of deep faith and quiet strength, Glen’s heart for service was evident in every stage of his life. He founded the Brainerd Sports Boosters and served as president of the YMCA, Brainerd Youth Athletic Association, Bremer Bank Board, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He was a longtime treasurer of the Brainerd Soup Kitchen, a hospice volunteer, a board member for the Brainerd Food Shelf, and a faithful Meals on Wheels volunteer. In recognition of his dedication, Glen was named Brainerd Citizen of the Year in 2019.

Glen’s faith was central to his life. He approached each day with gratitude, a deep love for God, and a commitment to living his values. He loved his family fiercely, treasured time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and found joy in sports, hunting, golf, Lake Hubert, Mazatlán, and his loyal dogs.

He is survived by his children: Jan (Mike) Sheady, Mike (Melanie) Gustafson, Brian (Kaylo) Gustafson, and Anne Gustafson; seven grandchildren: Kelsey, Patrick, Bodie, Lizzie, Abby, Paige, and Hillary; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; his brother, John; and his parents, Alfred and Stella.

A celebration of Glen’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 15, 2025 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd, with a visitation starting at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brainerd Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen (www.sharingbread.com).

Nelson – Doran Funeral Home

www.neslon-doran.com

218.829.4755