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Memorial service held for father who drowned saving his children
Cody Jay Pope was many things including a father, a brother, and a carpenter. But the final thing he left this earth as, was a hero.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — A memorial service was held Thursday, July 25, to honor and remember the life of Cody Jay Pope. Pope lost his life on July 12 after rescuing his 10 year old step-daughter and 6 year old son from the Mississippi River. Seconds after getting his son to the sandbar, Pope disappeared under the current. His body was recovered from the river two days later by the Wright County Water Patrol.
The service on Thursday at Living Word Chrisitan Center in Brooklyn Park was not only a time to mourn for the couple hundred family and friends, but a time to celebrate. Cody’s girlfriend Cheryl Holzknecht spoke about the man she loved for eight years.
“Being on any body of water made him happy and brought out his spirit of adventure,” Holzknecht said. “It’s ironic how the water of the mighty Mississippi that he loved so much was also the same place where he showed his ultimate act of bravery and love.”
She also talked about Cody’s passion and skill as a carpenter, while recalling a funny story.
“As Cody and I spent more time together, I realized he was not just a carpenter, but a true craftsman,” Holzknecht said. “We would be driving around our neighborhood and he would point out houses that needed something fixed,” Holznecht said with tears streaming down her face. “And there were a couple times where he did go up to the door and he did fix something.”
Cody’s brother Jesse also spoke at the service. He wants his younger brother to be remembered for the way he treated others.
“He wanted to help people because he thought that was the most important thing he could do with his time here,” Jesse said. “He always placed the well being of his family and friends above his own.”
Cody embraced this until his final day, leaving this earth, a hero.
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later.
Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him.
Jourdain was 17 at the time.
Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.
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