Saturday, February 22,
Bingo/Meal/Cash
Kuehne: The Good Old Days
Obituaries: Beilke, Rieland
Dave Ramsey: Dave Says
Ask the Motor Medics®
Photo by John Heisick.
Hometown News
29442
Published By Lori Young
MONDAYS • 5 PM
The Hometown News is a free weekly publication, which is published and distributed every Thursday.
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If a picture is
worth 1,000 words, a demonstration is worth 1,000 pictures -By
Harvey Mackay
You might remember taking your turn at “Show and Tell” in grade school, bringing a favorite toy or book to show to your classmates and tell all about it. Little did you know that you were preparing for a very important element of your professional life. In a business setting, particularly in sales and customer service, the adage “show, don’t tell” is often very effective. Demonstrating a product or service allows the customer to see firsthand the value and practical application, which can be far more convincing than a verbal description alone. It’s about making the benefits tangible for the customer.
In sales, demonstrations can engage customers more deeply by appealing to their senses and emotions. It builds credibility as customers can see the product in action, confirming its features and benefits and clarifying complex features or uses that might be difficult to visualize.
In customer service, demonstrating a solution to a problem, rather than just explaining it, can significantly enhance the customer’s experience. It shows that you are not only attentive to their needs but also
committed to resolving their issues in a practical and understandable way.
Demonstrations can instill confidence in the product and the company’s support. A demonstration can leave a lasting impression, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The key is to listen to the customers’ needs first, then tailor the demonstration to address those specific concerns. This personalized approach shows that you are not just pushing a product or service but providing a solution.
To demonstrate sincerity to customers and partners, businesses need to adopt a variety of strategies that not only communicate their values but also show them in action. Here are some ways to effectively convey that a business means what it says: Transparency. Keep customers and partners informed about company policies, changes and developments. Also, ensure that marketing materials and advertisements accurately represent products and services.
Quality and Consistency. Make sure that the quality of products or services is consistent with what has been promised. If a commitment is made, it is crucial to see it through to completion.
Customer feedback. Actively seek out and address customer feedback, showing that their opinions shape business decisions. When problems arrive, address them quickly and effectively, demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction.
Community involvement. Show social responsibility by engaging in community
service and environmental sustainability efforts that reflect the company’s values. Align with charitable causes that resonate with the company’s mission and customer values.
Employee advocacy. Empower employees and encourage them to be brand ambassadors who genuinely believe in the company’s mission. Invest in employee training to ensure they can competently represent the company’s values.
Partnerships and collaborations. Choose to work with suppliers and partners who also demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices. Collaborate on projects that showcase a shared commitment to quality, innovation or community service.
By integrating these practices into the fabric of a business, companies can build trust and show their stakeholders that they are committed to upholding their values not just in words, but in actions.
Early in my career, I learned a valuable lesson about the power of demonstration over description. We were trying to break into a new market with a revolutionary type of envelope that was supposed to significantly reduce the time it took to stuff and mail large quantities. We believed in the product’s potential, but simply talking about its features and benefits wasn’t convincing our prospects.
We decided to change our approach and invited potential clients to our facility for a live demonstration. We set up two stations, one with our new envelopes and another with the traditional envelopes that our prospects were currently using. We then had two of our staff
Upcoming Events
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6
• Red Cross Blood Drive from 12-6 p.m. at Avon Community Church.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9
• Albany Legion Post 482 Smorgasbord Breakfast from 8 a.m.-noon at Church of Seven Dolors Parish Hall, Albany. See ad on page 3.
• Quilt Bingo at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Upsala.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
• Freeport Lions American Red Cross Blood Drive from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15
• 20th Annual Grey Eagle-Burtrum Lions Race On Trace starting at 11 a.m. on Trace Lake, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 8.
• Valentine’s Banquet at 6 p.m. at Word of Life Church, Upsala. See ad on page 5.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17
• Minnesota Darkhouse & Angling Association Heartland Chapter Meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Inn, Freeport. See ad on page 4.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
• Grey Eagle Senior Center Meeting at 11:30 a.m. Potluck & Bingo to follow.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
• Melrose American Legion Fish Fry from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
• Sobieski & Swanille Lions Club 32nd Annual Fishing Contest & Raffle. 12-3 p.m. on Long Lake, Swanville.
FRI.-SUN., FEB. 21-23 & FRI.-SUN., FEB. 28-MARCH 2
• The Resurrected Artists Present ‘Don’t Mention My Name’ Dinner Theatre at Shady’s Sunset Bay, St. Anna. Fri. & Sat. at 5:30 p.m. Sun. at noon.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
• Sacred Heart School Big Buck Bingo starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. See ad on front.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
• Catholic United Financial Matching Grant Fundraiser Breakfast from 9 a.m.12:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church Basement.
• Confirmation Bingo Fundraiser at 1 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Freeport.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
• New Munich Lions Pancake & Sausage Breakfast from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church Basement, New Munich.
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
• 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 SENIOR MEETING
• Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at
1:30 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 8 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.
Harvey Mackay continued to pg 3
“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne
Cars
Since the original automobiles began to become a required part of our lives, they have changed a great deal. Not only have they changed in appearance, but their entire structure has changed.
The original cars needed to be started with a crank, and had no heater, defroster or air conditioning. The turn signal was a left arm out of the driver’s window, being kept straight for a left turn and bent upward at the elbow for a right turn and hanging downward to show an upcoming stop. In later years, brightened taillights did the signaling for stop or turn. Not only is today’s method more obvious, but cold in the car is reduced by not having to roll the window down, but there has been less occurrences of frost-bite on the drivers left arm. (That was sick! )
After starters became standard equipment, the starter button was on the floor, pushed by the left foot. This allowed the left foot to do some of the work that the hands do today.
Harvey Mackay continued from pg 2 members race to see who could stuff and seal the most envelopes in a given time frame.
The difference was stark. Our new envelope significantly outperformed the traditional one, and seeing this difference in real time made a huge impact on our prospects. They could immediately grasp the efficiency gains and cost savings they would achieve by switching to our product. This live demonstration turned skeptics into believers, and we secured several key accounts as a result.
Showing a product in action can be far more persuasive than the most eloquent description. People need to see with their own eyes how your product or service can make a difference in their lives.
Mackay’s Moral: Trust is built with consistency; if you want to demonstrate sincerity, let your actions speak louder than your words.
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.”
There was also a button on the left side of the floor to switch the headlights from bright to dim for oncoming traffic.
Antifreeze or alcohol were not yet used in the engine cooling system, so in the cold weather the water needed to be drained from the engine and radiator. To start a cold engine, boiling water was poured into the radiator, which also warmed the frozen engine. If the trip required a stop of an hour, the hood or engine was covered with a horse blanket to preserve some of the heat. It was not uncommon to see cars stopped along the road because the water cooling the engine was boiling.
One can understand why it took a few years for the automobile to take the place of horses. The horses were already there. They had many other uses other than simply transportation. The wagons were also already there. The investment in a car was avoided and the horses were more reliable and didn’t need to be fed with gasoline that required spending money.
From the time of the original cars that were basic transportation to today’s dependable, luxurious, quiet transportation machines there has been unbelievable changes. But I still think the dimmer switch should be operated by the left foot.
For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at kuehneins@gmail.com.
If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343
From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
Have you ever been “down in the dumps”? Discouraged for no apparent reason? There might even be a reason, sometimes it’s multiple reasons. There could be a family issue, or financial, the loss of a loved one, or even a friend who has distanced himself from you. There are many things that can cause us to be down.
Philippians 4:6-8 has been very encouraging to me through the years. It may not fix all the problems, but it will change the way I look at the discouragements of life. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This text does not shame anyone for our feelings of anxiety! That’s not its purpose. The last part
Feb. 11:
of verse six says, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Paul (the writer of Philippians) is giving us another option. Instead of being anxious, be in prayer about it… with THANKSGIVING! Verse seven then says that the “PEACE of God, which is outside our understanding, will guard our hearts and minds… in Christ Jesus.”
We cannot stop at verse seven, however, Paul gives us other things to think about instead of the negative that seems to permeate our lives. He says to think about things like this…” whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.” The first part of Philippians 3:1 says “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!”
Listen friends, be intentional about rejoicing, and thinking about whatever is excellent and praiseworthy!
-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916
Lila
L. Beilke
Lila L. Beilke, age 85 of Cold Spring, formerly of Spring Lake Park, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 7 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre with Sandy Vait officiating. Inurnment will be held in Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre.
Lila Laverne Pyles was born April 6, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Jacob, Sr. and Elnora (Cheadle) Pyles. Lila graduated from Spring Lake Park High School in 1957. She was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Beilke on June 16, 1962 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Lila worked as a waitress at Country Kitchen and other restaurants for many years. Lila also worked at Minco where she made thermometers and later worked at Print Craft in New Brighton prior to her retirement.
She was an excellent seamstress and made many quilts for her family. Lila was the family wedding cake maker, making cakes for all of her nephews and nieces weddings. She enjoyed gardening, playing BINGO, and taking an occasional trip to the casino.
Survivors include her husband, Bob Beilke of Cold Spring; children, Richard (Diane) Beilke of St. Paul, Jay (Rachel) Beilke of Sauk Centre, Kayle (Jamie) Beilke of Ramsey, Tracy (Mark) Karasch-Feela of Sauk Centre, and James Beilke of Sauk Centre; 12 grandchildren and 21 greatgrandchildren; brother, Donnie (Peggy) Pyles of Cold Spring; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Lila was preceded in death by her parents; son, Robert Beilke, Jr.; great-granddaughter, Kinsley; sister, Julie (Albert) Gamradt; brothers, Ernie Pyles, David Pyles, and Jacob Pyles II; and son-in-law, Lyle Karasch.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Jeffrey M. “Jeff” Rieland
Jeffrey M.
“Jeff” Rieland, age 57 of Melrose, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Friday, January 31, 2025 at his home in Melrose, Minnesota. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, February 7 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church.
Jeffrey Mark Rieland was born on November 10, 1967 in Melrose, Minnesota to Celestine “Cel” and Lois (Miller) Rieland. He was united in marriage to Doris Boecker on July 24, 1993 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. Jeff drove semi for E. F. Trucking for over 30 years and in 1994, purchased the farm which will be passed down to his sons. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. Jeff enjoyed farming, fishing, watching his sons play sports, and loved being the best grandpa to his pride and joy, granddaughter, Harper Grace Rieland. He enjoyed spending time with his family at the lake and being captain of the pontoon.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Rieland of Melrose; sons, Grant (Allison) Rieland of Melrose, Austin Rieland of Melrose, and Samuel Rieland (Kinsey Wensmann) of Melrose; granddaughter, Harper Grace Rieland; brothers and sisters, Mary Pohlmann of Freeport, Jerry (Louise) Rieland of Freeport, Theresa (Ralph) Shay of Albany, Julie (Mark) McCalmant of Albany, Lucy (Mike) Bauer of Melrose, Greg Rieland of Litchfield, and Paul (Amanda) Rieland of Burtrum; father and mother-in-law, Elmer and Julie Boecker; brothers and sister-in-law, Roger (Stephanie) Boecker, Joan (Tom) Wiechmann, and Ron (Heather) Boecker; and many nieces and nephews that will miss him dearly.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Paul Rieland; and niece, Tara Pohlmann.
Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.
Minnesota Darkhouse & Angling Association Heartland Chapter donated $1000 to the Eagles Nest in Sauk Centre. Pictured (from left) Ed Atkinson Heartland Pres., John Eagles Nest, and Gerald Wiechmann Heartland Board Member. Submitted by Ed Atkinson.
Upsala High School 2024-2025 Fall Semester
Honor Roll
A Honor Roll• Grade 12
Evelynn Aleckson, Lilieana Daniel, James Jensen, Hailie Luedtke, Allie Maciej, Corryn McDermond, Samantha Pilarski, Jack Primus, Beau Ripplinger, and Lois Wardlaw.
A Honor Roll • Grade 11
Aiden Brannan, Hannah Heesen, Holly Johnson, Meeli Krueger, Desiree Kuhl, Brayden Leners, Isaiah Sobiech, and Jack Sowada.
A Honor Roll • Grade 10
Lucylee Aleckson, Lynn Arvig, Abigail Carlson, Vincent Eggert, Annalee Gerads, Caleb Guthrie, Quinn Guthrie, Jack Jensen, Lydia Kokett, Landon Krebs, Samuel Laliberte, Calvin Leners, Zoey Leners, Genevieve Mrozek, Alexa Pilarski, Carson Primus, Anne Ripplinger, Matthew Tschida, Emily Wiechmann, and Nicholas Young.
A Honor Roll • Grade 9
Braxton Ailie, Trygg Aleckson, Avery Hallermann, Addisyn Hovland, Bianca Mrozek, Evan Pipenhagen, Owen Sobiech, Richelle Thompson, Dalton Welinski, Ethan Young, and Elyn Zinniel.
A Honor Roll • Grade 8
Jakson Blenker, Madison Goebel, Anika Jensen, Owen Klug, Benett Pilarski, Emily Ripplinger, Bryce Roerick, Owen Servatius, Carter Steinhofer, and Isabella Warga.
A Honor Roll • Grade 7
Ella Achmann, Noah Gerads, Auden Hovland, Morgan Ripplinger, and Haley Roske.
B Honor Roll • Grade 12
Dominic Eggert, Keaton Gudvangen, Dakotta Hartsock, Eli Johnson, Brayden Mack, Kira Poppenhagen, Isabel Ripplinger, Eli Roerick, Dakota Soltis, and Joseph Steuck.
B Honor Roll • Grade 11
Vance Benson, Dominic Blais, Jacob Brinkman, Isabelle Klug, Courtney Roske, Lucy Scepaniak, Mackeel Wenker, and Victoria Wiechmann.
B Honor Roll • Grade 10
Emily Ashbrook, Lucas Gerads, Nolan Kuepers, Brenden Mack, Jack Peterson, Addie Scepaniak, and Owen Smith.
B Honor Roll • Grade 9 Skyler Landowski, Raven Nienaber, and Aubree Roerick.
B Honor Roll • Grade 8
Suzette Guthrie, Emmalyn Harren, Natalee Hoffman, Edward Horvath, Bradon Lange, Brogan Mack, Ori Prokott, Isaac Roerick, William Schafer, Aaron Schneider, Owen Schulte, and Nick Warner.
B Honor Roll • Grade 7 Drew Benson, Andrew Eggert, Karsen McLaughlin, and Alec Morrison.
Swanville Senior High Student of the Month
Swanville Pub-
lic School is pleased to announce the December Senior High Student of the Month, junior Brody Kircher. Brody is the son of Chris and Nichole Kircher. While at school, his favorite part of being there is being with friends and learning new things. He enjoys hunting fishing and playing any and all sports. After graduation he is undecided but leaning toward becoming an electrician. Brody has participated in football, basketball, baseball and trap during his time at Swanville. Brody is the recipient of the ExCel award and has been all conference in basketball and football. Outside of school Brody participates in his church youth group and helps with Vacation Bible School. He gives much of his time to helping the Swanville Activities Boosters organization. A favorite volunteer memory is visiting assisted living homes with the football team. Brody is consistently on the A Honor Roll and has lettered in all of the sports he participates in.
Liza Hasse, Math instructor says, “It has
been a pleasure working with Brody over the years. He consistently demonstrates kindness, care, and a willingness to help others. In class, he submits all his work promptly and takes the time to learn from his mistakes. This year, he has pushed himself by taking on the challenge of college-level math courses, where he has achieved success.”
Brody’s advice for other students is “all the work that the teachers give you is not to punish you, but to get you to learn and make the better version of yourself. Do your work righ away, don’t wait and get behind.”
One thing that really makes Brody unique is he always puts everyone else first and always treats people how he would want to be treated.
Chantelle Frie, English Language Arts teacher says about Brody, “Brody has proven himself time and again as a diligent, responsible, driven, and respectful young man. Brody has high expectations of himself and he drives others around him to strive for greatness as well. Brody’s performance in the classroom and in athletics demonstrates his skills and determination. Brody’s creativity and sense of humor help him solve problems in a creative way and rebound from setbacks. Brody is setting himself up for success in whatever he chooses for the future, and he’ll enrich the experiences of those around him along the way. Congratulations, Brody, on the well-deserved recognition of student of the month.”
Swanville Junior High Student of the Month
Swanville Public School is pleased to announce the December Junior High Student of the Month, ninth grade student Morgan VanHeel. Morgan is the daughter of Amanda Peterson and Shawn VanHeel. She enjoys sports, hanging out with friends, going on walks and reading. She plans to attend college but is unsure of what her focus will be. Morgan’s favorite thing about school is getting to learn new things while being around her friends. Her advice to other students is “Always be kind.” Morgan is involved in basketball, volleyball and softball since sixth grade. She also became
involved with theatre this year. She is consistently on the Honor Roll and has been selected as the student of the month previously. Outside of school, Morgan is involved with her church and likes to help out the community when needed. One unique thing about Morgan is her love of the outdoors and that she has a lot of energy!
Social Studies instructor Tom Bzdok says, “Morgan is a hard working and dedicated student who takes great pride in achieving her best. Her commitment to her grades reflects not only her strong work ethic, but also her determination to succeed. In addition to her academic efforts, Morgan is a positive influence on her classmates, always offering encouragement and support when needed. Her upbeat attitude and willingness to help others create a welcoming and motivating atmosphere for everyone around her. Morgan truly exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated and thoughtful student, and deserves this recognition for all her efforts.”
Sign up for firearms safety certification
Though most hunting seasons are more than seven months away, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages anyone who plans to take a firearms safety class to sign up now.
Firearms safety certification is required of anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979, to purchase a hunting license in Minnesota. It’s recommended for anyone who hunts, even if by law they don’t need to be certified. People who are certified are less likely to be injured, or worse, in a firearms-related hunting incident.
Card of Thanks
We would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks on the passing of our mother, Anna “Annie” Hellermann.
Special thanks to Fr. Oswaldo; Fr. Mitch Bechtold; Deacon Ernie; David Primus and the resurrection choir for all the beautiful music; the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who honored Grandma’s last request to sing “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman;” Helen and Donnie Van Drehle along with the funeral group and the American Legion for the meal. Thank you to Austin’s Floral for the beautiful spray; Patton Schad Funeral Home for their wonderful assistance, especially Linda, Mark, Ralph and Kelly; and JoAnn Boeckermann and Mary Hollenkamp for serving a luncheon at the visitation. Thank you to CentraCare staff, especially Dr. Patrick Heller and Trista Klaphake, for always being available for all her special needs as they would arise; Cura Care Center of Melrose (Pine Villa) staff, especially nurses, aides, activities, housekeeping/laundry, kitchen and maintenance for their extra pampering and a listening ear and providing empathy. It never went unnoticed in Mom’s eyes. You played an important role in her life. We are so grateful for her last day.
CentraCare Hospice was so prompt, especially chaplain Carolyn, nurse Hannah, massage therapist Brenda and music therapist Erin. You all assisted in making it a Heavenly journey.
Special thanks to all who took time to be present for our mom. Those visits meant the world to her. Paul and Diane, thank you for purchasing the van and for all the special outings she was able to attend, especially her last casino visit and her last Christmas outing with her family.
We appreciated family, friends, neighbors and community members for all the beautiful flowers, memorials, cards, food, prayers and kind words of sympathy.
The Family of Anna Hellermann
Donald and Debbie Hellermann
Dale and Debbie Hellermann
Gary and Jean Hellermann
Denise and Steve Rieland
Diane and Paul Brickweg
The DNR and its volunteer firearms safety instructors put on hundreds of classes each year and certify more than 23,000 students. However, classes tend to fill quickly and people who put off signing up might not be able to find a class close to home. Those who wait too long might have to wait for next year to get certified.
“It’s becoming increasingly common for us to receive calls from people during late summer and early fall who are panicked because they can’t find an open firearms safety class,” said Capt. Jon Paurus, DNR Enforcement education program coordinator. “There are a lot of open classes on the calendar now, but that number will diminish as the year goes on. We urge people to make a plan and sign up now.”
For more information about firearms safety certification and the class calendar, visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/safety).
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, My mom is 76, and the only debt she has is about $60,000 left on her mortgage. She has $600,000 in retirement accounts, plus a long-term care insurance policy. But she has just $25,000 in a money market account with check-writing privileges for everyday bills and purchases. To be honest, this worries me. She has always lived within her means, so am I wrong to be concerned? She has also been talking about paying off her mortgage, and I’m not sure how I feel about that, either. I’d love your opinion.
-Kelly
Dear Kelly,
You sound surprised that she’d still be in the stock market at her age. In my mind, that’s not a bad thing at all. It might not be what the typical financial planner would tell you to do, because for the most part they’ll try to get you to be super-conservative with your money as you get older. But from the way you’ve described things, it sounds like she’s not planning on using this money, but using the income from the money. If that’s the case, she won’t whittle it all down to nothing. So, if she’s in good mutual funds—not single stocks—I think she’ll be just fine.
Now, let’s talk about the mortgage. I would absolutely recommend she go ahead a pay it off. If she can do that at age 76 and still have $540,000 left, that’s the way to go. Let’s
pay off the house, and then she can start taking her income off a percentage of the remainder. She won’t need much with the house payment out of the way, because she won’t be sending money to the bank to pay anymore.
-Dave
Dear Dave,
My wife and I have been talking about paying off our mortgage in the next two or three years. Do you think we should make this happen by paying extra toward the house, or invest that money on top of the 15% we’re putting into retirement?
-March
Dear March, If I were in your shoes, I’d pay extra on the house. On the other hand, you’re not really doing a bad thing by putting the extra cash it into retirement, either.
But here’s the deal. No matter how well you plan, you never know exactly what will happen over the upcoming years of your life— or the life of your investments. You might think you know. You may even believe you’ve taken every possibility into account. The hard, cold truth, though, is even the best and smartest plans don’t always work out the way we think they will—or the way we want them to.
And if something unplanned or unforeseen happens, it sure would be a nice thing to own your home free and clear, wouldn’t it?
-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., Feb. 10: Western chili, sandwich, fruit cup, cookie.
Tues., Feb. 11: Chicken rice casserole, green beans, peaches, bread.
Wed., Feb. 12: Hamburger tomato casserole, peaches, corn, bread.
Thurs., Feb. 13: Salisbury steak, paprika potatoes, broccoli, bread.
Fri., Feb. 14: Chicken alfredo, noodles, mixed vegetables, cake.
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 bought a new truck with a turbo engine, and it has a “wet” timing belt. I have had the truck for three years and it just passed 100k miles. I have been told that it would be a good idea to change it at this mileage. I was taken back a bit when my dealership suggested this as I didn’t even know that my truck had a timing belt, more less a “wet” timing belt. I have owned several timing belt equipped cars in my lifetime but never one with a “wet” belt. I was told that it is a major operation to change it and that the engine is an interference engine and will be heavily damaged if it were to break. Can you explain how this belt differs from a regular timing belt and if I really should be looking at a replacement at this time?
-Darrin in Hallsville, Texas
Dear Darrin,
We tell our listeners they should ask when they buy a vehicle if it has a timing belt or a chain so they know if they will need to be scheduling a maintenance budget for replacement. Wet belts are contained within the engines and are covered in oil as they run, which helps cool the belt. Some of these engines have the belt on the rear and require major operations to access them and that along with the expense to replace is how they differ.
-Take care, The Motor Medics
Dear Motor Medics,
My car has had a catalytic convertor fail. I first got the code a couple months back and had it read at AutoZone, and they cleared it, and it came back in two weeks. I bought a code reader and have been clearing it myself and it will stay off if I drive on the highway primarily more than the city. Do I need to replace it, or
can I just keep driving it this way and clearing the codes?
-Tom in Missouri Valley
Dear Tom,
When a catalytic converter gives a code, and it stays off longer on the highway than the city it is usually a good indication that the unit has failed. The extra heat of highway driving helps keep it lit. It is not a guarantee though. Other things like oxygen sensors or a vacuum leak or any other sensor or engine condition can cause it too. Make sure that the engine is running in top shape before condemning a converter. If the car has not lost any power and does not have a flashing check engine light, then you could technically drive it, but service is advised. If it has low power, it means that it is getting plugged and that can cause a lot of other issues so replacing it is a must. Keep this in mind though. If the engine is burning oil or coolant it will damage a new convertor.
-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.
Local Municipality Minutes
Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com
Burtrum City • January 7, 2025
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:06 P.M by Mayor Ulbricht. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. City Council Members in attendance: Mayor Jenae Ublbricht, Romie Gessell, Sara Macho, Irene Ehlert and Juli Scherping. City Clerk, Brooke Thieschafer.
Approval of Agenda: Ehlert added Mayor Vacancy to New Business. Ehlert made a motion, Sara Macho supported. All in favor, motion carried.
Approval of the Minutes: Macho made a motion to approve. Ehlert supported. All in favor, motion carried.
Approval of Bills: Macho made a motion to approve. Gessell supported. All in favor, motion carried.
Todd County Sheriff’s Report: City Clerk went over the monthly report and 2024 report.
Bean Bake: No cabinet at this time. Ron and Sandy will get a date together to clean out.
Kitchen Clean Out: We need the size of the sink to the Construction Guy. Sink will stay the same location.
Kitchen Auction: To follow after Kitchen Clean
AED Refill: City Clerk will reach out.
Match to Match - Bathroom upgrade. Everything updated remove one toilet out of the women’s bathroom, faucet, top coat, fencing around play ground and hoops. Increase to $50K. Contact MnDOT on the road resurfacing. Brooke will have updated.
New Business:
a. 2025 Raises: City Clerk to increase monthly salary 3.0%. Effective February 2025 monthly wage will be $670.
b. Moving City Sign: The council has decided to relocate the Welcome sign. We will contact a couple other landowners for permission to. Ehlert made a motion and Scherping supported. All in favor, motion carried.
c. Attorney Contract with Quinlivinan & Hughes: Gessell made a motion and Ehlert supported. All in favor, motion carried.
d. Local Weed: Terri Velkamp will be the weed inspector.
e. Mayor Vacancy: Mayor is relocating. Plan is to move at the end of May. Mayor Jenae Ulbricht gave official Resignation effective Resolution 1-7-2025. Ehlert made a motion to appoint Romie Gessell as Mayor. Scherping support. All in favor, motion carried. Gessell made a motion to appoint Ulbricht to City County effective February 4th, 2025. All in favor, motion carried. Put out applications for an open city council seat.
Brooke Thieschafer, City Clerk
Swanville City • January 7, 2025
The Public Hearing was called to order at 6:45, January 7, 2025. The Purpose of the Public Hearing is to hear input from the residents of the City of Swanville on the proposed Cannabis Zoning Ordinance. Members present: Mayor Lange, Jim Molitor, Norm Carlson and Tony Maciej. Also, present Carter Loven. Council looked over the ordinance. After questions were heard and answered, Mayor Lange then closed the hearing and opened the regular council meeting.
Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held in the Swanville Center on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The meeting called to order 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: Sandy Lange, Norm Carlson, Tony Maciej, and Jim Molitor. Also present: Carter Loven and Lonny Hutchins.
Mayor Lange welcomed Carter Loven as the new council member voted in November taking John Dragseth position. Loven then took the Oath of Office.
Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held Tuesday, December 3, 2024 were reviewed. A motion was made by Jim Molitor to approve the minutes. Norm Carlson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
matter otherwise the mayor will get in contact with the county engineer on the process needed to obtain the permit. The water meter readers installation is having some difficulties being the time of year. This will be the final week of installations. Some residents will have to wait until spring. There are about 39 not completed as of now.
Council members were in agreement to take funds from the 4M account and payoff the loan at the First State Bank for the North Berkey Project. The clerk will get the final figure from the bank and the mayor will transfer the funds for the payoff.
North Berkey 1st Addition updated covenant and purchase agreement was presented to the council. After discussion, Tony Maciej made a motion to accept the new updated North Berkey 1st Addition covenant and purchase agreement. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried. There is interest in building a duplex in the new addition. The council is in agreement there should only be single family dwellings at this time.
There will be a Public Hearing at 6:30 pm on February 4th before the regular monthly meeting to let residents and businesses know the update of funding from the Central MN Housing Partnership. The hearing will be advertised in the paper and flyers around the city will be put up.
The Cannabis Zoning Ordinance was again discussed. After discussion, Jim Molitor made a motion to accept Cannabis Zoning Ordinance 25-0107, an amendment to section 5.4.0 of the city code and sections 5.9 and 6.17 of the zoning code. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Lange presented to council the Morrison County Humane Society agreement. After discussion, Tony Maciej made a motion to sign the Humane Society agreement. Norm Carlson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
This being the first meeting of the year, the following organizational actions were made:
1. Jim Molitor will be acting Mayor in the absence of Mayor Lange.
2. The First State Bank of Swanville will be the designated depository of the City.
The Morrison County Record will be the designated official newspaper of the City.
3. The regular meeting date for the City Council meeting is the first Tuesday after the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. Special meeting only after proper notification and publication.
4. The Bond of the City Clerk/Treasurer will be set at $12,000.00.
5. Assigned duties to the following Council Members and Citizens of the Community:
Community Center: Julie Hollermann & Carter Loven
City Park: Lonny Hutchins and Julie Hollermann
Streets and Sidewalks: Tony Maciej and Lonny Hutchins
Springbrook Cemetery: Julie Hollermann and Lonny Hutchins
City Weed Inspector: Jim Molitor and Lonny Hutchins
Rep: Sandy Lange and Tony Maciej
6. City Attorney: The law office of Quinlivan & Hughes
7. City Engineer: Moore Engineering
8. Representative on the Senior Center Board: Norm Carlson
9. Planning and Zoning Committee: All of City Council Members and Lonny Hutchins.
10. Well Head Managers: Lonny Hutchins and Jim Molitor
A motion was made by Tony Maciej to accept these actions as listed. Jim Molitor seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Salaries for Employees and Council Members for 2025:
1. Mayor’s salary: $2,000.00 annually+$20.00 per hour for special meetings (1 hour min pay).
2. Council Members salary: $900.00 annually+$20.00 per hour for special meetings (1 hr min pay).
Jim Molitor made a motion to raise the clerk/ treasurer salary and city maintenance worker salary a 2.5% cost of living raise. Tony Maciej seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, Mayor Lange abstained. Motion carried. This raise in reflected in the following
3. Clerk/Treasurer salary: $1691.25 monthly+$20.00 per hour for special meeting (1 hr min pay) + the ESST 48 hrs sick pay.
4. Maintenance Worker Salary: $47,939.50 Annual wage+60% health care+disability ins & 3 weeks paid vacation and cell phone monthly fee.
5. Substitute Maintenance Man Salary: $20.00 per hour
Jim Molitor made a motion to raise substitute salary to $22.00 an hr. Carter Loven seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, Tony Maciej abstained. Motion carried.
6. Park & City Centers Cleaner: $15.00 per hour
7. Summer part-time worker: $15.00 per hour
8. Mileage at present $.67 a mile. Tony Maciej made a motion to raise the mileage rate to $.70 a mile to match states rate. Norm Carlson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
If a motion was not made for a salary it will remain the same as last year.
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. Norm Carlson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Swanville Center. The Public Hearing will begin at 6:45 pm for the Central MN Housing Funding.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Norm Carlson and seconded by Carter Loven to adjourn. All members voted in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned 8:30 pm.
Julie Hollermann, City Clerk/Treasurer
The treasures report was given. A motion was made by Jim Molitor and seconded Tony Maciej to approve the treasurer’s report. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Lange gave an update on the water project: Traut Wells will be out drilling on the new second well. The approach off of State Highway 28 will need a permit. The mayor will check with Land Pride to see if they take care of this
House Fire: February 1, 2025: At approximately 3:20 p.m. the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a residential fire at the address of 21453 430th Street in Krain Township. The caller reported smoke on the main floor and flames coming through the windows of the second floor. The caller and sole resident, Irene Schmitz, 81, Freeport, also reported everyone was out of the home. When a Stearns County Deputy arrived on scene, they observed the home to have flames coming from the roof and windows. The home was partially heated with a wood stove. Schmitz reported adding some wood around 1:30 p.m. and noticed smoke in the kitchen area shortly after 3:00 p.m. She went outside to investigate further and noticed flames on the second story above the kitchen area. The Freeport Fire Department responded to the fire and requested assistance from the Holdingford Fire Department, the Albany Fire Department, and Melrose Ambulance. There were no injuries as a result of this fire. The residence is owned by Isidore Schmitz, 68, of Freeport, and appears to be a total loss. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was notified.
Crash: February 4, 2025: At approximately 6:09 p.m., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a crash with injuries near the intersection of County Road 10 and 360th Street, in Albany Township. Initial Dispatch information was that there had been a T-Bone crash at this intersection and one of the vehicles was smoking. It was also reported that one of the drivers had not exited their vehicle. Upon arrival at the scene, Stearns County Deputies learned a blue 2007 Ford Fusion driven by Hunter Johnson, 19, of Cold Spring, was traveling eastbound on 360th Street, when he ran the stop sign at 360th Street and County Road 10. Johnson stated his brakes failed and he could not stop. Johnson then struck a 2022 Jeep Cherokee driven by Leann Platz, 54, of Holdingford, as she was traveling northbound on County Road 10. The vehicle was struck on the driver’s side rear door causing the vehicle to launch into a field a few hundred yards northeast of the intersection. Platz was transported to the Melrose Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Johnson was treated at the scene. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Albany Police Department, Avon Police Department, Albany Fire Department, and Mayo Ambulance. The crash remains under investigation.
WANTED TO BUY: Butcher cows, bulls, fats & walkable cripples: also horses, sheep & goats. 320-235-2664. SC-odB
VOLUNTEERS WANTED: For Meals on Wheels in Albany for routes in Holdingford, Albany, Avon & St. Joe. Please call 320845-4070 or visit our website at ccstcloud. org and click on link Volunteer request form. We need help in our kitchen, and delivering meals.
WORK WANTED: Manual labor work, farm, home, handy man, tree cutting, garden, misc. Will work for cash or trade. 320874-1723 2/13
Grey Eagle/Burtrum Lions Club is collecting old glasses, phones and hearing aids to refurbish and distribute around the world. If you have any please drop off at Neville Hardware, Grey Eagle.
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: Rescue and domestic animals: raccoon, skunk, opossum, goats, sheep, horses, chicken, ducks, etc. hobby farm home. 320-874-1723
WANTED: Geo Tracker, good shape, reasonable price. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
FOR SALE: 6x8 2 wheel trailer, tilt metal bed, wooden sides, $500 or BO. Call 320360-0343. Tk
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
FREE KITTENS: Tri-colored black white gray with tiger stripes. People friendly & litter box trained. Call 320-874-1723.
FREE RABBITS: Gray, black, white, solid and mixed color. Netherlands & Dutch. Call Craig 320-874-1723. 2/13
FOR SALE: Whirlpool refrigerator 1 1/2 years old asking $500. Call 320-249-0249 or 249-6624.
PUPPIES FOR SALE: Mixed breed, vet checked at two months asking $160. Call or text Cole for more info. 320-493-7189.
FOR SALE: 2019 Polaris Ranger 900XP, EPS, stereo, low miles, nice condition $17,900. Call 320-584-5405.
FOR SALE: Epiphone Les Paul w/HSC, smoke wagon finish, like new, $650. Call 218-428-8010.
FOR SALE: Drive brand fully electric hospital bed, twin XL like new, with guard rails, purchased new for $1800 from Corner Home Medical, $350. Call 612-597-2998.
