Officials with Boise Inc. in International Falls aren't letting the company's 100-year birthday go by without a celebration.
That will happen today, with a gathering of employees, community and elected officials. Festivities will include displays and activities in Smokey Bear Park in downtown International Falls, as well as a commemorative program, community picnic and paper mill tours.
Dignitaries on hand will include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who will attend a celebration breakfast and the commemorative program.
Minneapolis sawmill owner Edward Wellington Backus built the mill after seeing the power of Koochiching Falls on the Rainy River. The mill produced its first paper in June 1910 for a newspaper in Montana.
Today, with 830 jobs, the mill is the largest employer in Koochiching County.
