Hometown News
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Where there is faith there is hope -By
Two nuns who happened to be nurses were driving to work at a local nursing home when they ran out of gas one morning. As they sat stranded alongside a busy highway, one of them remembered she had a bedpan in the trunk and walked to the nearest gas station to fill it up.
Harvey Mackay
client who was considering switching to a competitor. The stakes were high, and losing this client would have had a substantial impact on our business. Our team was anxious, and the pressure was mounting.
I had to rely on faith in several ways. First, I had faith in my team and their abilities to deliver exceptional service and quality. I also had faith in the relationships we had built with the client over the years. I learned a long time ago that the only way to create faith is to trust people. I believed that by demonstrating our commitment and value, we could retain their business.
are here and that I am ready to speak to you. It is faith that makes me believe you will remember what I have to say.”
His belief applies not only to religion but also to business. Faith hears the inaudible, sees the invisible, believes in the incredible and receives the impossible. Consider these ideas.
Trust in relationships. Faith is foundational in building trust with clients, partners and employees. Trust is essential for successful negotiations, collaborations and long-term relationships. We live by faith, not by sight.
MONDAYS • 5 PM
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Upon returning with the unusual container, the nuns began carefully pouring the gas into the empty tank. Just then a family drove by and stared in disbelief. Finally, the father blurted out, “That’s what I call acting in faith.”
Faith is the fuel that drives the engine of success. However, faith is not like gasoline, which runs out as you use it, but like a muscle, which grows stronger as you exercise it.
But what does faith have to do with business? Plenty. Faith is a concept that I often emphasize. Faith, in this context, isn’t necessarily about religious beliefs but rather about trust, confidence and belief in the potential for positive outcomes.
Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said, “If you lose faith, you lose all.”
One personal story that demonstrates this concept involved a situation early in my career when I was working to expand my envelope manufacturing business. We were facing a significant challenge with a major
We decided to take a proactive approach. I personally reached out to the client to understand their concerns and needs better. We then mobilized our team to address these issues swiftly and effectively. Throughout the process, I maintained open communication with the client, reinforcing our dedication to their success.
Our efforts paid off. Not only did we retain the client, but we also strengthened our relationship with them. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of faith –faith in our team, our relationships and our ability to overcome challenges.
Faith in your team and relationships can turn challenges into opportunities. Believe in yourself and your team, and the rest will fall into place.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
A recent seminary graduate was asked to preach the Sunday sermon. He began, “My message this morning is on the relationship between fact and faith. It is a fact that this is Sunday morning. It is also a fact that you
Confidence in decision-making. Having faith in your abilities and decisions can lead to more decisive and effective leadership. It allows business leaders to take calculated risks and pursue opportunities with conviction. Faith is a decision married to unswerving determination.
Resilience in challenges. Faith provides the strength to persevere through difficult times. It is the belief that challenges can be overcome and that efforts will eventually lead to success.
Upcoming Events
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11
• Grey Eagle Senior Center Christmas Party starting at 1:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
• 18th Annual Christmas Cookie CareO-Sell from 8-11:30 a.m. at the Community Covenant Church, Upsala.
• Wreaths For The Fallen Bus to Camp Ripley at 9 a.m. at Melrose American Legion.
• The Art of Converation Christmas Market from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Upsala.
• New Munich Lions Breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Hot Shots Bar & Grill, New Munich. See ad on page 5.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15
• Minnesota Darkhouse & Angling Association Heartland Chapter Meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. at Schiffler’s Liquor, St. Anthony. See ad on page 7.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
• Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions Red Cross Blood Drive from 12-6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Grey Eagle.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
• Santa Day in Burtrum starting at 11 a.m. at the Burtrum Community Center. See ad on page 5.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 7.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7
• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10
• Spaghetti Supper Benefit for Nikki Schultz starting at 3 p.m. at the American Le-
gion, Holdingford.
AL-ANON • AVON
• Meets every Monday from 5-6 p.m. at the Avon City Hall.
ALBANY SENIORS
• Meets 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center.
ALBANY TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
• Planning Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall.
BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. FEET FIRST CLINIC
• Freeport: Meets 1st Wednesday of the month at the Freeport Senior Center.
• Holdingford: Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
• Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution 1st Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre.
FREEPORT CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
FREEPORT LIONS CLUB
• Bingo every Saturday thru March at 1:30 p.m. at the Corner Pub, Freeport.
FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING
• Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.
GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m. LINE DANCING
• Meets Mondays at 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. alternating Mondays at the Melrose American Legion.
MELROSE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX.
• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms.
MELROSE LEGION #101 POST/AUX.
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. (Aux. Sept.-May.)
STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
• Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany.
SUNSHINE CLUB
• Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.
SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
• 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP
• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall.
UPSALA CITY COUNCIL
• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne
Bald Eagles
I don’t remember seeing eagles during my younger years. I believe that their numbers were fewer than today. Several factors contribute to the change. The elimination of DDT, which contributed to fragile eagle egg shells seems to have helped.
There is also a change in the thinking of the rural human residents of the area. Back when humans were changing the forested land into farmland, they were faced with the supposed need to not only get rid of the trees, but it was felt that to protect their crops and farm animals, some wild animals needed to be eliminated. The elimination of “chicken hawks” was done to eliminate predatory birds from preying on the farmer’s flock. Chicken protection also included getting rid of raccoons, mink, coyotes, fox, owls, skunks, eagles and weasels. So, basically anything that threatened the chickens must be eliminated.
Another detriment to the wildlife and fish population was human need for food. The land had a sudden increase in human population. These people needed to eat and since there was a great supply of deer and fish, it was fairly easy to meet the need, especially with the use of firearms and netting. The hard times and need for meat during the 1930’s almost eliminated the deer in this area. Game laws, processing expenses, human concern and Sunday football have helped the wildlife to recover. Fish populations are carefully controlled to keep certain species in existence. Computers, home repair, game laws and lawn mowing have helped the fish survival rate.
Remembering that we first were discussing eagles, here’s a few unusual stories about them. Many have heard about the person that was taking their small dog for a walk and an eagle swooped in to grab the dog and changed it’s mind when it saw the human. A story of a cat that was hit on the road and created a vet bill of $165.00. A few months later, while having morning coffee and looking out the window, the husband told the wife to look out the window to see $165.00 fly through the air. The eagle had breakfast.
Another occurrence showed eagle intelligence. The farmer was cleaning the manure out of a shed. Two eagles sat in a tree near the barn. They sat there all morning while the shed was being cleaned, but when the job was done, they flew away. I guess they felt since the barn was clean, there wouldn’t be a chance to get a rodent running out.
I think I wrote about this before, but while fishing with my cousin, two eagles kept trying to catch two young loons, but each time they began their attack, we moved toward the loons and the eagles flared off. After several attempts, one decided to catch a fish and grabbed about a 2 pound bass. The weight was quite heavy and when it nears the shore the other eagle attacked the first eagle and stole the fish. The first eagle then spent a couple of minutes splashing in the water to get to the shore so it could fly.
Many of us remember when almost any body of water, no matter how small, was occupied by a muskrat. Today one has a difficult time seeing a muskrat. I’m thinking that they probably make really good eagle food.
They have made their home here and now are part of what nature offers.
For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at kuehneins@gmail.com
Harvey Mackay continued from pg 2
Inspiration and motivation. Faith can inspire and motivate teams, fostering a positive work environment where individuals believe in their collective goals and the impact of their work. When you cease to use faith, you lose it.
Vision and innovation. Faith in a vision or mission can drive innovation and creativity. It encourages thinking beyond the status quo and pushing boundaries to achieve extraordinary results.
Faith in business is about fostering trust, confidence and a positive outlook, which are crucial for achieving success and navigating the complexities of the business world.
Mackay’s Moral: Positive thinking without positive faith will result in positive failure.
Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”
From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
Last Sunday was the second Sunday of Advent representing love. We all know that Jesus came to earth because He loved us and wanted to save us from our sins. In doing that we gain a relationship with Him.
If I were to ask you what is the definition of love, what would you say? Don’t answer it right away, think about it just a bit. Everyone wants to be loved, am I right? What does that look like? Are there “feelings” associated with love, or is it just love?
I have never, until recently, been too concerned with the English language. Nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs usually confuse me more than anything. I have been a pastor now for over twenty years and if I have learned one thing, it’s that I need to know what a word is to understand it. Love, is a verb, an action word! So, our thought of “feelings” is thrown out, but if it’s an action word, does that mean that the term “making love” defines love? Absolutely not! That is just a human phrase we have created to describe love.
The Bible teaches us that we “Do
Love!” 1 John 3:16-18 describes this best of all. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Jesus gave up everything, showing us exactly what we are to do. Put other people first, put your own wishes on hold, help with the dishes, tell others that they are doing a great job and don’t look for the credit yourself. Buy a gift for the one you love, but not just any gift, buy a gift that is well thought out. The best gift we have is salvation that comes through Jesus coming (the first advent), shedding His blood, and raising from the dead, giving us the gift of eternal life, the best well thought out gift ever.
-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916
THURSDAY: 5-9 PM
Paulette K. Ritter
Paulette K. Ritter, age 77 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 13 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. immediately followed by a rosary Friday evening at the funeral home.
Paulette Katherine Ritter was born January 2, 1948 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Glen and Monica (Uphus) Ritter. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1966. In 1979, Paulette’s two aunts and grandmother took Paulette on trip to Switzerland which led to many other family trips later in life. Her longest and favorite place of employment was at the Palmer House in Sauk Centre. Paulette was a member and volunteer at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. She also enjoyed volunteering at Holy Family School.
Survivors include her sister, Susan Bredeck of Albany; brother, Joe (Theresa) Ritter of Sauk Centre; nieces and nephews, Christine, Samantha, Daniel, Tammy, Brian, Jeff, and Jessica; and many loving relatives and friends.
Paulette was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Monica Ritter; and many aunts and uncles.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Rita T. Feldewerd
Rita T.
Feldewerd, age 89 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, December 10 at St.
Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery. The Mass was livestreamed and the link can be found at: oneinfaith.org
Rita Theresa Doll was born April 21, 1936 in St. Martin, Minnesota to Joseph and Elizabeth (Schaefer) Doll. She was united in marriage to Alfred Feldewerd on November 19, 1963 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin. Rita worked at Pine Villa in Melrose as a nursing assistant and also at Park View as an activity aide. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Women, the Legion of Mary, and volunteered at St. Mary’s School in Melrose. Rita enjoyed sewing and quilting, making crafts and greeting cards, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Alfred Feldewerd of Melrose; children, Therese (Ron) Herdering of Melrose, Linda Feldewerd of Farmington, Thomas (Deanna) Feldewerd of Melrose, and Lori (Glen) Arceneau of St. Martin; eight grandchildren, Leah (Luke) Blonigen, Brandon (Alli) Herdering, Kim (Joe) McCoy, Nick Herdering, Kayla (Brandon) Kurtz, Logan Arceneau (Brooke Schleicher), Katianna Feldewerd, and Christopher Feldewerd; four great-grandchildren, Owen, Milo, and Ellie Blonigen, Braxton Kurtz, and Baby McCoy due in May of 2026; and sister-in-law, Theresa Doll.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Doll; brothers and sisters, Henry Doll, Marcella Laumeyer, Urban Doll, Sylvester Doll, Genevieve Loehr, Maria Faber, Hilary Doll, Martin Doll, Virgil Doll, MaryAnn Fuchs, Anthony Doll, Walburga Lieser, and Joseph Doll.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
Rose M. Hinnenkamp
Rose M. “Rosie” Hinnenkamp, age 96 of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Melrose. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Friday at the church.
Rose Blenker was born February 24, 1929 in Millwood Township, Stearns County Minnesota to Joseph Sr. and Marie (Bussman) Blenker. She was united in marriage to Elmer Hinnenkamp on August 24, 1948 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. They lived in Melrose until 1959 when they moved to the farm in Millwood Township. In 1987 they moved back to Melrose.
Rose was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Catholic Aid, and St. Elizabeth’s Society. She sewed her own dresses, darned all their socks, and patched up clothing. In her younger years, she enjoyed gardening and canning food. Rose also enjoyed embroidering, taking care of her flower garden, snowmobiling with Elmer and friends, playing cards with card groups, going on casino runs, helping with Bingo at the nursing home, but most of all, enjoyed babysitting her grandkids and her kids’ pets.
Survivors include her children, Marv (Vickie) Hinnenkamp of Grey Eagle, Darrell (Suzette) Hinnenkamp of Melrose, Renee Botner of Dent, Glenn (Vicki) Hinnenkamp of Melrose; nine grandchildren, Brent and Chad, Heather and Ashley, Jacob and Cody, Danna and Justine, and Olivia;15 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Marcella “Sally” Hinnenkamp of Melrose.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer Hinnenkamp on December 31, 2004; daughter, Sharon Kays; son-in-law, Brad Botner; daughter-in-law, Jelene Hinnenkamp; and brother and sister-in-law. Joseph Jr. (Marcy) Blenker.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.
Jodi Westermeyer
Jodi A. Westermeyer, age 56 of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 5, 2025 at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 11 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Kevin Soenneker
officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Jodi Ann Westermeyer was born May 26, 1969 in Melrose, Minnesota to Richard and Esther (Terhaar) Westermeyer. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1987. Jodi worked at Jennie-O Foods in Melrose for 25 years.
Jodi was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. She enjoyed playing cards and going to the casino. She loved animals, and her dog Benny was one of her favorite gifts. She also cherished the time she spent with her family and friends.
Survivors include her siblings, Kim Westermeyer and Ron (Kate) Westermeyer; and nieces, Erika Wenning and Lydia Westermeyer.
Jodi was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Esther Westermeyer; sister, Kerry Westermeyer; and brother, James Westermeyer.
Larry E. Gerads
Larry E. Gerads, age 79 of St. Anthony, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 20 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony with Rev. Julius Beckermann, O.S.B. officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Albany American Legion. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Lawrence Edward Gerads was born September 9, 1946 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Edward and Rose (Althaus) Gerads. He attended St. Anthony School through the eighth grade and graduated from Albany High School in 1964. Larry served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1970. He was united in marriage to Agnes “Aggie” Hemmesch on May 22, 1971 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Roscoe, Minnesota. Larry acquired his parents dairy farm and continued farming until 2012 when he retired from milking.
He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony and the Albany American Legion Post 482. Throughout his life, Larry would write a journal every day, whether it be a simple weather record or a birth of a family member. He was an avid bowler in his younger years and later in life enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino, golf cart rides, and playing cards, especially with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, Aggie Gerads of Albany; children, Connie (Chris) Fournelle of Billerica, Massachusetts, Barb (Dave) Fischer of Albany, Tom (Amy) Gerads of St. Joseph, Russ (Amanda) Gerads of Buffalo, and Rachel (Joe) Melendez of San Francisco, California; grandchildren, Kellan, Tyler (Jaclyn), Justin (Allie), Natalie (Riley), Kaylin, Cooper, Jackson, Brynn, Ella, Addilyn, Layla, and Ryder; sister, JoAnn Heinen of Ramsey; and brother-in-law, Fred Linn of St. Anthony.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Carol Finken and Ruth Linn; and infant sister, Jane Gerads.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
Richard Joseph Czech
Richard Czech, 90 year old resident of Bowlus, passed away on Sunday, November 30th, 2025, at St. Cloud Hospital. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 12th, at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls with Father David Maciej officiating.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home. The burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN.
Richard Joseph Czech was born October 10th, 1935, in Bowlus to the late Helen (Bekenski) and Joe Czech. He graduated from Royalton High School in 1954. After graduating, Richard joined the army where he served for two years. Following his service, he worked for Northern Pump. Richard was united in marriage to Mary Holdvogt on May 18, 1957 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton, MN. The couple made their home in Brooklyn Center where they raised their three children. Richard worked as a warehouse manager at AC Carlson in Crystal before working as one of the original exterminators for Plunkett’s Pest Control. He worked for Plunkett’s for 23 years before retiring in 1998 at the age of 62. After retiring, Richard and Mary moved back to Bowlus, where they enjoyed many years together.
Richard’s pride and joy was his lawn. He always maintained it well, mowing it at least once a week. He also enjoyed playing cards and dice, fishing, deer hunting, and spending time at his lake cabin on West Battle Lake. Most of all,
Richard enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He will be remembered for his sweet tooth and his sense of humor, and for being a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and a good friend to many.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Rick (Jody) Czech of Maple Grove, MN, Sue (Wayne) Emly of Forest Lake, MN; siblings, Joseph “Junior” Czech of Bowlus, Carol (John) Gottwalt of Rice, Mary Jane (Randy) Thielges of Rice, and Pat (Terri) Czech of St. Steven; 7 grandchildren; and 7 great- grandchildren. Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Joe Czech; wife, Mary Czech; and son, Tom Czech.
Morrison Co. Sheriff’s Office
Accident: December 7, 2025: At approximately 7:13 pm, their office received a report of a one-vehicle accident at the intersection of 140th Avenue and 20th Street, approximately two miles southeast of Bowlus, MN in Two Rivers Township.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, 55-year-old Sean Kelly of Burtrum, MN was traveling north on 140th Avenue driving a pickup pulling a trailer. The trailer began to fishtail and ended up jack-knifing going into the ditch on the east side of the road. The vehicle hit a tree and came to rest at the bottom of the embankment. Kelly was transported to St. Cloud Hospital by Mayo Clinic Ambulance with unknown injuries. Kelly’s 17-year-old juvenile male passenger was treated and released at the scene with minor injuries.
The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Bowlus Fire Department, Bowlus First Response Team and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.
A Check Funny
A kindly 90-year-old grandmother found buying presents for family and friends a bit much one Christmas, so she wrote out checks for all of them to put in their Christmas cards. In each card she wrote, “Buy your own present” and then sent them off.
After the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks in her desk.
Todays Thought
Unbeknownst to Bible scholars, there was a fourth wise man who was thrown out of the house for bringing fruitcake.
Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game.
Dave Says -By Dave Ramsey
Dear Dave, Our son is a freshman in high school, and he has the opportunity to take a schoolsponsored, weeklong trip next year with the rest of his class. The student fee is $500. Over the past couple of years, he has started making money mowing lawns and doing odd jobs around the neighborhood. We’ve always taught him that money comes from work, and he has always been very focused on being smart with the money he earns. Do you think we should cover the entire $500, or should he have to contribute something?
-Patrice
Dear Patrice,
When it came to making these kinds of decisions at our house, my wife and I would always take a look at a few things. Is the kid behaving? Are they getting good grades? You know, just basic things that can reasonably be expected from most teenagers. Most of the time, if they were living like well-behaved, responsible young people, we’d pay for things like this as a reward.
But, there’s a good argument to be made for a kid having some skin in the game at that age, too. If you and your husband can
pay for it without causing yourselves any financial stress—and your son is fulfilling his responsibilities at school and at home— there’s nothing wrong with you paying the fee. Then, here’s an idea. If you want to make this a teachable moment, another learning experience, you could require him to work, and save up his own spending money for the trip.
I’m glad you and your husband are thinking of your teenage son as an adult in training. I know you love him, but it’s also a parent’s job to teach their children what they need to know for that moment when you send them off to college, trade school or even their own apartment and their first real, full-time job. Trust me, you don’t have to be a finance professor to teach your child how to save money and wisely manage their finances.
Patrice, I’m so impressed with the young man you’re raising. To have that kind of drive and maturity at his age is a testimony to him, and to how well you and your husband have taught and guided him throughout the years. I have no doubt your son will be well-prepared to take on the world one day.
In the meantime, I hope he has lots of fun on his upcoming trip!
-Dave
* Leadership and small-business expert Dave Ramsey is the CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored eight national bestselling books, including “EntreLeadership,” and he’s a host of “The Ramsey Show” and “The EntreLeadership Podcast.”
Albany Senior Dining
Volunteers Needed! Call 320-845-4070
Mon., Dec. 15: Pork tenderloin, cheesy potatoes, vegetable Normandy, cookie, bread.
Answers from December 4
Tues., Dec. 16: Cheese ravioli, broccoli, peaches, bread, churro.
Wed., Dec. 17: Chicken alfredo, noodles, Scandinavia vegetables, cake.
Thurs., Dec. 18: Flatbread sausage pizza, corn, brownie.
Fri., Dec. 19: Western chili, sandwich, fruit cocktail, cookie.
Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.
Ask The Motor Medics®
From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.
Dear Motor Medics,
I heard you guys on a recent show discussing vehicle warm-up times and heard you say it was not necessary to warm up a fuel injected vehicle. I thought that all vehicles should be warmed up to get the oil flowing at least a little bit. If this is so, how long is a good warm-up time?
-Brandon in Dayton, Ohio
Dear Brandon,
There was more to what we were talking about that you must have missed. While we said that the fuel injected vehicles manufactured in the past few years could be driven right away due to better parts and efficient injection systems we still recommend some warm up time. We have heard some people even say just start them up and drive them to warm them up faster although we don’t agree with that. There has to be a proper medium between running a vehicle too long to warm it up which wastes fuel and taking off so soon that the defroster won’t even keep a windshield clear posing a safety hazard. The owner’s manual will provide a good reference for warm ups. For us personally we tend to err on the longer side of warm up times. We like to make sure everything is lubricated and working as it should. It also gives us a chance to do some important things like adjust those mirrors, fasten our seat belts, and most importantly, turn off our cell phones for safety.
-Take care, the Motor Medics
Dear Motor Medics,
My question is about accessories plugged into a lighter socket. Recently I have been experiencing dead batteries on my 2009 Cadillac Escalade and they tell me it’s caused by the accessories that I leave plugged into the lighter at all times. If the vehicle is not driven every day it will not start and is
completely dead. I question how something as small as a cell phone or GPS unit can drain a battery so quickly, is this possible? I have stopped leaving things plugged in and have had no further issues but wonder if it’s not just a weak battery. What are your thoughts?
-Darla in Elmira, New York Dear Darla,
It may sound strange but when anything is left plugged into the accessory outlet it can run the battery dead. Yes the power drain is very small and would take many days to drain a battery but there is something much larger at work here. Newer vehicles have many modules that when awake (turned on) will draw several amps of power and would drain a battery very quickly. To prevent this drain the modules go into a sleep state just like a home computer in sleep mode. They know when to sleep by monitoring the systems for non-use just like a home computer. If something is being charged by the lighter socket they think the system is still in use and keep the modules powered thus draining the battery quickly.
-Take care, the Motor Medics For entertainment only. Always consult your local shop and follow all safety procedures before repairs. Come visit the Motor Medics® online at Underthehoodshow. com.
City of Upsala Holiday Lights Contest
Show your Holiday Spirit with your most festive outdoor lights and decorations! Prizes Awarded in Upsala Bucks to Residential Homes:
1st Place: $150
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $75
4th Place: $50
Top Commercial Property: $100
Judging the week of December 14th. For more information, call 320-573-4950.
Sudoku
Local Municipality Minutes
Swanville City • November 5, 2025
The Public Hearing, Wednesday, November 5, 2025 was opened at 6:45 pm. Members present: Sandy Lange, Norm Carlson, Carter Loven, and Jim Molitor. Mayor Lange explained the two Sub Division Applications of land in the Industrial Park. This applies to the land to the south of Peterson Trucking where the Sno Drifters has their building and the land in the corner of Springbrook Drive and north of Industrial boulevard. No comments were made and Mayor Lange closed that hearing and opened the regular monthly meeting.
Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held in the Swanville Center on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: Sandy Lange, Norm Carlson, Carter Loven, Tony Maciej and Jim Molitor. Also present: Ryan Odden, Lonny Hutchins and reporter Sheila McCoy
Minutes of the Public Hearing and Swanville City Council meeting held Tuesday, October 7, 2025 were reviewed. A motion was made by Tony Maciej to approve the minutes. Jim Molitor seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The treasures report was given. A motion was made by Jim Molitor and seconded Norm Carlson to approve the treasurer’s report. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Floor was opened for public comment-no comments.
Ryan Odden, City Engineer, gave an update on the Water Project. Water storage tank /pumphouse up and running. A few problems need to be ironed out. Settings, pressure settings and chemicals all need to be modified in the pump house. The old water tower is not being used any longer and work to take down the tower will start next week. Tony Maciej made a motion to approve Eagle Construction to do the take down work. Norm Carlson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried. The old wells and well houses will be worked on shortly to cap and take down. There will be a walk through on this Thursday at 9:30 am. With the federal shutdown, no money has been received from Rural Development Funding to pay the next payment applications for the project.
The last water meters readers that were installed by Winwater will be added to the computer system. There are about 12 more meter readers that need to be installed.
North Berkey 1st Addition is now completed. One house has been built. Council agreed that letters need to be sent out stating plans need to be in place by April of 2026 to build or the city will return the down payment money and sell the lot.
Lead lines update, there is one lead line reported, 18 galvanized and 26 unknowns. Letters will again be sent out those residents to let them know there are grants for line replacements which must be discussed with the city before work can be started.
Applications for subdivisions of lots for Swanville Sno Drifters Club/Sandy Lange and city lot both in the Industrial Park was
presented. After discussion Tony Maciej made a motion to approve the subdivision of lots. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, Mayro Lange abstained, motion carried. This will be sent to the city attorney for the next steps.
The drainage ditch on Forest Hill Lane was again discussed. It was decided to have cracked rock hauled in for now.
Central MN Housing grants are now closed, final paperwork will be completed.
“Your Speed” signs on Balcony Road was approved by Sourcewell which they will contribute $5,565.00 to the project. Swanville Lions will contribute the rest of the project.
The Cannabis ordinance was again discussed. Mayor Lange will visit with the city attorney on this issue to see if the city can change the buffer.
Delinquent utility bills were looked at. Any accounts over 90 days will be sent a letter and if not paid, the amount due will be added to the property taxes.
There have been numerous complaints about the property at 401 Berkey Avenue. A certified letter was sent to the resident but was not accepted. Norm Carlson made a motion to have the city attorney write and have the resident served a Notice of Abatement. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Council discussed the concern of some apartments in the city lacking 911 numbers, which makes it difficult for first responders. Letters will be sent to landlords asking to be sure to mark units with visible 911 numbers.
The following claims were presented for payment. Members of the council were furnished with a listing. Jim Molitor made a motion to approve the claims. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Swanville Center.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Norm Carlson and seconded by Tony Maciej to adjourn. All members voted in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned 8:15 pm.
Julie Hollermann, City Clerk/Treasurer
Generosity Isn’t Just for Christmas
By Rachel Cruze
No matter what your holiday plans look like, one thing most people can agree on is that giving is a huge part of the Christmas season. And it’s fun to think about our own wish lists, of course. But somehow, it’s even more fun to give and be extra generous during this special time. But here’s the thing: Generosity shouldn’t just be a priority at Christmas. What if we committed to being generous so often that it actually became a habit—something we naturally do all the time?
Growing up as Dave Ramsey’s daughter, my parents taught me the importance of giving from a very early age. In fact, one of my favorite memories from my middle school years (and trust me, there were many—I’m a 90s kid) is the time my dad gave me a unique opportunity to participate in outrageous generosity. My sister, Denise, and I were watching TV one Saturday morning when my dad came in and said, “All right, girls! You’re going to do something a little different today.”
He then handed each of us a massive en-
Wednesday,
velope full of cash and said Denise and I were going to take two teenage girls shopping. He explained that he’d already made a phone call to a local outreach program and set it up. I wish I could say we were instantly on board and ready to serve, but that was not the case. I mean, we were teenagers after all, and we didn’t even know these girls! Honestly, it sounded kind of awkward.
We jumped in the car anyway and headed to pick up our shopping buddies for the day. Once we got to the mall, we pulled fun pieces for them to try on, swapped out sizes while they were in the fitting rooms, and had so much fun. It felt like we were in our own episode of an early 2000s makeover show.
Eventually, we made it to the cash register. As we handed the employee our wads of cash to pay for their items, one of the girls started crying. I’ll never forget that moment. She looked at us through tears and said, “I just can’t believe this is my life right now. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”
Looking back, that experience was super formational for me as a 13-year-old kid. At the time, I remember feeling pretty out of my comfort zone, but I’m thankful my parents gently pushed me to do something new because it ultimately laid the foundation for a lifelong love of giving. And today, I can honestly say that giving is one of the main reasons I choose to live a debt-free lifestyle.
Rachel Cruze continued to pg 8
24 • 4:00 PM Grey Eagle United Methodist Church is located at Todd County Roads 2 & 47 Candle Lighting at the end of Service.
Meeting December 15th at Schiffler’s Liquor, St. Anthony 6:30 PM Social • 7:30 PM Meeting • Public Welcome!
NOTICE OF MEETING DATE CHANGE MELROSE TOWNSHIP
The January Melrose Township meeting date will be changed from the 1st Thursday in January to the 1st Wednesday in January due to the January 1st holiday. The monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 PM at the Melrose City Center.
Cindy Willman, Melrose Township Clerk • 612-280-0595
RESIDENTS OF BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP
Notice of Filing for Township Election
Affidavits of Candidacy for township board March election may be filed with the clerk at her home beginning Tuesday, December 30, 2025 until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Offices to be elected include: • Supervisor seat A for a 3 year term • Clerk for a 2 year term Filing
BANQUET
WANTED TO BUY: Dairy Heifers and Cows. 320-894-7175. SC-evB
WANTED: Cars and pickups from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, in your weeds or sheds. 218-640-3807 or 218-756-2257.
WANTED: CamAm side-by-side, 48” wheel outside. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
WANTED: Wood pellet stove, must have 2 augers. Call 320-987-3317. 12/18
FOR SALE: Firewood, all Oak boiler wood, you haul I load, $125/cord. Call 320573-3939. 1/29P
FOR SALE: All kinds of Red Cedar lumber. Call 320-429-0149. 12/18
FOR SALE: 8 hp. 24” Snapper snowblower, electric start, works good, $300. Call 320-630-7429. 12/18
Rachel Cruze continued from pg 7
Generosity motivates me to be smart with my money so that I have more to bless others with.
And you know what else? This act of generosity helped us grow closer as a family because it was a team effort! My parents gave up something they had (money), and Denise and I gave up something we had (time). Not only did I get to share quality time with my older sister and our new friends, but I also got to practice being a good steward of resources that were never mine to begin with. And isn’t that what generosity is really about? Not just during the holidays, but all the time.
I hope this little memory inspires you this holiday season. But what I really want is for you to take the spirit of giving into the new year and beyond.
And don’t forget, money isn’t the only thing you have to offer! You can give your time, talents, possessions and so much more to make someone’s load a little lighter. Here are three steps to help you make generosity a habit all year.
12/18
GREY EAGLE SENIOR CENTER:
Available for holiday get-togethers or business meetings. Call 320-285-3168 for more information.
Make a commitment. Decide that you’re ready to get serious about making some sacrifices and invite people in your life to partner
with you.
Do some brainstorming. Make a list of non-money “gifts” you can be generous with, like a professional skill that can serve someone else or a knack for hosting and hospitality.
Balance your budget. Create realistic margin in your monthly budget so you have the funds to fuel your giving habits.
The practice of giving takes intentional thought and preparation, so start with these simple steps today. And hear my heart on this: You don’t have to immediately start giving away huge envelopes of money like my dad did, but I hope you choose to believe that generosity is possible at any income level.
Happy giving!
* Rachel Cruze is a two-time #1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of The Rachel Cruze Show. She has appeared on Good Morning America, TODAY Show and Live! With Kelly & Ryan, among others. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people to avoid debt, save money, budget and how to win with money at any stage in life. Follow Rachel on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube or online at rachelcruze.com.
