Hometown News
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If you know something is true, trust your gut -By Harvey Mackay
A donkey and a tiger got into an argument. The donkey believed the grass was blue, while the tiger said the grass is green. This went on for days. Finally, they went to the lion to resolve their argument.
The donkey felt the tiger should be punished for not believing him that the grass was blue. So, the lion announced, “The tiger must be silent for three days.”
As the donkey ran away happily, the tiger asked the lion, “Why are you punishing me when you know the grass is green?”
“Yes, the grass is green,” said the lion. “This has nothing to do with that. Your punishment is because you are a brave, intelligent creature who has wasted your time arguing over something trivial, and now you have wasted my time just to validate something you know is true.”
The biggest waste of time is arguing with a fool. There will always be someone to argue with you. When ignorance screams, move on. Trust your instincts. Don’t second guess yourself.
Trusting your gut is an invaluable piece of advice, especially when it comes to believing in what you’re doing. As I often say, the most successful people aren’t just in a job for something to do; they’re in their work to do something meaningful. When you trust your instincts, you’re more likely to be aligned with your true purpose and values, which can lead to greater satisfaction and success in your endeavors.
Trusting your gut when you know something is true is a powerful approach. Your instincts are often shaped by your accumulated
FRI.-MON., JULY 25-28
knowledge and experiences, even if you don’t consciously realize it. When you have confidence in your understanding and your intuition aligns with the facts, it can lead to more decisive and effective actions.
By trusting your gut, you are acknowledging the depth of your insight and allowing it to guide you. This can help you make decisions that are not only rational but also resonate with your inner values and beliefs. When your instincts and the truth align, let them lead you confidently toward your goals.
Acting on your instincts is hardly a new concept. Greek philosopher Socrates addressed the topic a couple millennia ago: “I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.”
So by trusting your gut instincts, you too can be a seer or prophet! When you have a dream that you can’t let go of, trust your instincts and pursue it. But remember: Real dreams take work. They take patience, and sometimes they require you to dig down very deep. Be sure you’re willing to do that.
Your instincts are a powerful guide –listen to them, and they can lead you to your most fulfilling work.
Trusting your instincts is a crucial skill in both personal and professional life. Your gut feelings are often based on a deep understanding of your experiences, values and knowledge, even if you aren’t consciously aware of it. When you learn to trust these instincts, you can make decisions that are more aligned with your true self and goals. This can lead to more authentic and effective outcomes.
When your information is solid and your instincts are clear, second-guessing is often a detour from your path to success.
Second-guessing yourself can be counterproductive, especially when you have
good information, and your instincts are aligned with the facts. When you constantly question your decisions, it can lead to analysis paralysis, where you become so caught up in evaluating every possible outcome that you end up making no decision at all. This hesitation can cause missed opportunities and undermine your confidence.
Moreover, second-guessing can erode your trust in your own judgment and abilities. When you have gathered the necessary information and your intuition supports your decision, it’s often best to move forward with confidence. Trusting yourself can enhance your decisiveness and empower you to act more effectively in both personal and professional situations.
One of my favorite, but unlikely, modern philosophers, Yogi Berra, offered this gem: “Keep trying. Stay humble, Trust your instincts. Most importantly, act. When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
Mackay’s Moral: Your instincts are your inner compass; let them guide you to your true north.
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.”
Upcoming Events
• Upstage Players Presents The SpongeBob Musical at the Upsala High School Auditorium. July 25, 26, 28 at 7 p.m.; July 27 at 2 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
• St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Pulled Pork & Corn Feed from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Swanville Lions Park. See ad on page 3.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
• Upsala Lions 35th Annual Hog Roast & Corn Boil from 5-8 p.m. at the Upsala Recreation Building. See ad on page 7.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
• Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting at 2 p.m. at CentraCare West Campus Board Room, Long Prairie.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6
• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9
• 37th Annual Grey Eagle Fire Dept. Corn on the Cob & Pork Feed from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Grey Eagle Fire Hall.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12
• Freeport Lions Club American Red Cross Blood Drive from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center.
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
• 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. al-
ternating 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.
Weekend Weather
Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336
“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne
Binders
Farmall
tractors were certainly a popular tractor on farms in the past. My memory of the F-12’s and the F-20’s that we worked on in shop class in high school were replaced by the more modern Farmall H’s and M’s. In my early years on the farm, they were very widely used, however our farm had John Deere equipment. Since part of our land was about a mile away by road, I wished we had a Farmall or Minneapolis Moline, because they went faster on the road. We moved loads of grain and hay on the road with a John Deere H because the other tractor was operating the equipment in the field. The H went about 9 mph on the road. As a young fellow, hauling loads on the road at 9 mph was embarrassing.
Farmall tractors had a long history. The first farm machine that began as a McCormick was a reaper, which replaced the need to cut the grain with a sythe, which was back in the 1830’s. McCormick ultimately became part of International Harvester in 1902.
In the 1920’s, International Harvester really began to become well known. They started to build farm tractors, trucks and pickups, vehicles called the Travel-all and Scout, which were popular for many years. They also built industrial loaders and heavy trucks for construction and over the road trucks and tractors. Their diesel engines
Pork & Corn Feed
were considered first class. They expanded their offerings to include home appliances and yard equipment called Cub Cadet. For many years International Harvester was one of the larger industrial manufacturers in the United States.
In the 1980’s, International Harvester was in decline. They sold the farm equipment line to Case, which became Case-IH. They also sold off their heavy equipment, truck and engine lines to Navistar Corp. It became a company that will be part of the past.
I personally became aware of International pickups years ago, when I spent a great deal of time cutting wood. I needed a pickup that I could drive through wooded areas with no roads, a vehicle that I could pull over a tree with a chain and cable, a vehicle that would haul a cord of wood and not be concerned about scratching the paint. I owned two of them. Both were not concerned about the drivers comfort. It was like driving a tractor with small wheels that were able to inform the driver of any and all of the bumps on the trail. They were made to do work and that is what they did.
They were often called “Binders”, which may have been a reference to the relationship to the original McCormick harvesting machine. For those in the day, if you said you drove a Binder, your listener immediately knew what you were talking about.
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
I’m not sure if anyone struggles with this or not, I’m sure I’m not the only one. It seems like I go from one event to the other. Everything I do or think about is what’s coming up. It might be Sunday’s service, am I ready for that, or a funeral, or a Bible Study, or if I’m in the garage working on a project I would be thinking about the next step. It seems like I don’t really enjoy the step I’m in; it is only part of the process to get to the end of the day or done with the activity I’m preparing for. Now, as an ex-contractor, I needed to think of the next step, am I going to have enough material on the job for the next day’s work? Some of that is good but when it becomes worry or obsession, that is where I need to stop and think about what God is do-
Albany Senior Dining
Volunteers Needed! Call 320-845-4070
Mon., July 28: Polish sausage, fried onions & peppers, baked potato, vegetable Normandy, bread.
Tues., July 29: Chicken patty on bun, green beans, sweet potato, chocolate pudding w/whipped topping.
Wed., July 30: Baked pork chop, whipped potatoes, gravy, peas, bread.
Thurs., July 31: BBQ ribs, potatoes O’Brien, corn, sugar cookie, bread.
Fri., Aug. 1: Tuna noodle casserole, carrots, pudding, bread.
Pre-registration requested to dine daily.
For more info. call 320-845-4070.
ing in my life. Give Him the praise in the moment, sit back and give Him thanks and honor, maybe even sing a hymn or praise song.
One really good text for all of us to think about is in Matthew 6:31-34 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
My encouragement for this week is, take time and spend with God. He is the only thing you need right now. Some might say, take time to smell the roses, I think I might say rest in Him. Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916
MELROSE AMERICAN LEGION
THURSDAY: 5-9 PM
Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato
• Chicken & Ribs $17.95
• 8 oz. Ground Sirloin $15.95
• Creamy Sweet Chili Haddock w/Wild Rice $17.95
TUESDAY: 5-9 PM Burger Night $3.00 1/3 lb. Fresh Ground Hamburger on Brioche Buns! Dine In w/Beverage Purchase
FRIDAY: 5-9 PM
Salad Bar & Choice of Potato
Ribeye $26.95
Teriyaki Chicken over Rice Pilaf $14.95
Deep Fried Cod $16.95 • Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo $15.95 or Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo $17.95 w/Breadsticks
WEDNESDAY: 11 AM-9 PM Domestic Beers: 2 for $6
• 1-1/2 lb. Wings $7.00
• $7 Baskets
Your Choice: Shrimp Basket, Angus Slider Basket, 1/4 Chicken Basket, Nachos or Quesadillas w/Beverage Purchase Specials to go $1.00 charge
SATURDAY: 5-9 PM Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato • Prime Rib $26.95 • Ribs $20.95
• Deep Fried Walleye $17.95
• Creamy Sweet Chili Chicken, Wild Rice, w/Breadsticks $14.95
Luetta Mae Rohde
Memorial Service will be at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Grey Eagle, Friday, July 25, 2025 at 11 a.m. for Luetta Mae Rohde, 86, who went home to be with the Lord on July 18, 2025. Pastor Michael Bitz will officiate and burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Grey Eagle.
Luetta was born on August 5, 1938 in Adrian to Howard and Martha (Stumpf) Canfield. She and her family moved to Grey Eagle in 1948. Luetta married Gerald “Bud” Rohde on November 16, 1957 in Grey Eagle. After they were married, they moved to Nashwauk until 1980, and then moved to Burtrum. Luetta was a homemaker and enjoyed taking care of her family. She also enjoyed gardening, quilting, crocheting, bird watching, reading, going to parks, museums, and the casino. Luetta loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Luetta is survived by her children, Jeannie Thompson of Burtrum, Cindy (Ron) Bruggenthies of Burtrum, Wayne Rohde of Burtrum, Shelly Henderson of Minneapolis, and Kevin “Buddha” Rohde of Burtrum; daughterin-law, Sharon Rohde of Grey Eagle; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; siblings, Norman Canfield of Wisconsin, Anna Meagher of Grey Eagle, Leonard “Butch” Canfield of Nevada, Sylvia (Gene) Hoffman of St. Cloud, and Liz Van Lith of Buffalo; sisters-in-law, Linda Rohde and Pat Rohde both of Grey Eagle; and brother-in-law, Lonnie Leebens of Slayton. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bud in 2018; children, Sharon Lynn and David; siblings, Delores (Giles) Graber, Delmar (Dee) Canfield, Lorenz (Marlene) Canfield, Gloria (Jim) Clear, Marian Leebens, and Louise (Roger) Walter; sister-in-law Arlene Canfield; and brothers-in-law, Jim Meagher and Turk Van Lith; and son-in-law Ernest Henderson.
Exclusive
Richard Leo Sturm
Richard “Rick” Leo Sturm, age 67, of Albany, passed away at home on July 10, 2025.
Richard was born on October 26, 1957, to Richard and Wilma (Adams) Sturm at the Fairmont Hospital. Rick married Pam Salzl on April 18th, 1998. Rick loved music from an early age. He was taught to play the piano by his mother, Wilma, and to express his gratitude, he taught himself how to play the electric guitar, alerting everyone within earshot how talented he really was. Rick ultimately joined an 80s rock band, growing his hair long and curly and playing all over central MN at various bars and nightclubs. With the guitar, came the cars. All his life, Rick was a motorhead; he loved his fast cars, especially American muscle. Rick had owned and repaired an assortment of Mustangs and a Barracuda over the years. Four wheels turned into two eventually, his latest Harley Davidson CVO was his pride and joy. When he had free time and the weather was good, except for a couple of those unexpected thunderstorms and a little bit of hail, he was out touring the countryside on the Harley. When Rick wasn’t out and about on the bike, he enjoyed small gatherings with friends and family, sipping on a little Pendleton and enjoying the moment.
Per Ricks’ wishes, he will be cremated, thank goodness, because he would be rolling in his grave if his hair and beard weren’t trimmed just right for a viewing. A Toast to Rick, no pun intended, for family and friends will take place later this fall.
Rick was preceded in death by his father, Richard, at a very young age.
Rick is survived by his loving wife, Pam Salzl, his daughter Amanda Salzl, sons Richie (Katie) Williamson and Sean Williamson, his siblings Jaci (Ken Prior), Kandis (Dave Blomker), Bob Sturm, and Mike (Kat) Sturm, his mother Wilma Sturm, and his many nieces, nephews, and grandkids.
Bernice B. Petrie
A funeral service was held Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at the American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie for Bernice B. Petrie, 92. Bernice was a resident of Long Prairie, MN. She passed away July 15, 2025, at the Long Prairie Care Center. Rev. Ethan Fearing presided.
Bernice Petrie was born on June 24, 1933 to Gottlieb and Elsie (Schaeffer) Lang on a farm near Freeman, SD. Throughout her life she devoted herself to her family and her community. She married Blaine “Shorty” Petrie on July 7, 1989. She worked alongside her husband in the auto salvage business at Petrie Wrecking Company and in retirement they enjoyed many years of travel together. She was a member of American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie.
Bernice had a nurturing spirit that was there to aid others in any way she could. She was known for her “green thumb” as she loved gardening and flowers. She also loved crocheting and making quilts. She enjoyed her coffee as long as it was not too strong. Bernice would open her home to many friends and family. They were often welcomed by the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread. With her excellent “made from-scratch” cooking and baking, she made certain that no one left hungry. Decorating Christmas cookies with her children and grandchildren created many fond memories.
Bernice is survived by her husband Blaine Petrie of Long Prairie, MN; her sons David (Marsha) Redman of Burnsville, MN; Steve (Stormy) Redman of Buffalo, MN; Randy (Kathy) Redman of Britt, IA; Kurt Turner (Sharon) of Eden, VT; her step children Steve (Pat) Petrie of Long Prairie, MN; Mark Petrie of Long Prairie, MN; Belinda Petrie (Mark) of Chippewa Falls, WI; Keith Petrie (Michelle) of Long Prairie, MN; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and greatgreat grandchildren; her brothers Larry (Karen) Lang of Rockwell, IA; Allen (Chris) Lang of Kanawha, IA; special niece, who Bernice referred to as the daughter she never had, Michelle Glenz of Spicer, MN; and many other cherished nieces and nephews.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents Gottlieb and Elsie (Schaeffer) Lang; sister and brother-in-law Eleanor and Russ Halter; brother and sister-in-law John and Ruth (Church) Lang; step son Greg Petrie.
Peggy Beth Karnes-Ross, age 71 passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, after a long battle of lung cancer and leukemia in Burtrum, MN. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Lillian Building in Osakis, MN.
Peggy was born January 17, 1954, to Calvin and Exelda (Zelda) Karnes in Little Falls, MN. Growing up she lived in Grey Eagle, Sauk Centre, Osakis and was the third oldest out of nine children. After high school she attended Alexandria Technical College and graduated with a degree in License Practical Nursing. Following college, she worked as a nurse at Osakis Community Home for 23 years and then moved onto Knute Nelson in Alexandria, MN. For eleven years she worked at Lutheran Social Services as a house coordinator for the disabled, from there she retired in 2023.
Peggy took joy in many hobbies and spending time with her family. In her early years she loved having a large garden and canning. She strived to make sure that her kids and grandkids knew that she loved and cared about them deeply. Fishing, swimming, baking, cooking, and sleepovers were some of the things she enjoyed the most with her grandkids. Peggy always wanted to make sure her family was together and cherished her time spent with her siblings and enjoyed her sister’s luncheons. Recently she had been spending time feeding and watching the birds and admiring all the plants and flowers outside.
Peggy is survived by her children Tina Karnes of Melrose, Al Arvidson of Alexandria, Denny Arvidson of Alexandria, Teri (Chris) Bense of Burtrum; grandchildren Toshia, Dalton (Jaclyn), Shantel (Kyle), Brandon, Zoey, Tyler, Landon, Jake, Brooklyn (Colten), Sierra, Ryker, Jase Bense; great grandchildren Aaliyah, Nevaeh, Blaize, River; and siblings Connie Hutchens, Kathy Johnson, Lisa (Bob) Colsen, Lonnie (Pat) Karnes, and Julie Carner.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Zelda; sisters Sandy Karnes and Jean Rosch; brothers Calvin and Oscar Karnes; brother-in-law Tesmer Johnson.
Todays Thought
It helps if you imagine auto correct as a tiny little elf in your phone who’s trying to be helpful but is in fact quite drunk.
Photo by Lori Young.
Grey Eagle-Burtrum Lions Club held their annual Tractor Pull on Sunday, July 20 with a record of 230 pulls.
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle FFA helping at the Grey Eagle-Burtrum Lions Club Tractor Pull food booth on Sunday, July 20. Photos by Lori Young.
The 44th Annual Sacred Heart Partish Festival & Parade: Cake Walk.
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 husband and I recently began trying to get out of debt and live on a budget. I love your plan, but he’s having a hard time getting adjusted to keeping track of things. He loves to eat out during the week. I don’t mind this once in a while, but it has gotten to the point where it’s disrupting our budget and our finances. The truth is, it’s getting tough to keep our heads above water financially. I think a lot of this behavior may be stress-related. He recently was forced to take a pay cut at his company, and I’ve been working part-time since then to help us get by. I know he’s hurting and angry about things at his job, but how do I approach him about this?
-Emily
Dear Emily,
It’s a tough situation, isn’t it? I’m no psychologist, but I do know people can do all kinds of things when they’re stressed out because of money problems or difficult situations they can’t control. I’m sure taking a salary cut was a blow to his self-esteem. Lot of times guys, in particular, can come to associate their sense of self-worth with their
jobs or how much money they make. That’s not a healthy thing. But when behaviors begin having negative impacts on your family or finances, it’s time for a wake-up call.
Your husband is probably a great guy. And everyone deserves a little bit of grace when they’re going through a tough time. But honestly, I think you’ve maybe been a little too nice in your reactions to the situation. You’re kind of acting like an indulgent mother dealing with a little kid, and that’s not a good way for a wife to relate to her husband. No one should have to get a job just so their spouse can go to restaurants all the time. Plus, if you’re seriously trying to get control of your money, the only time either of you should see the inside of a restaurant is if you’re working there to earn extra cash.
A married man has several responsibilities in life. And one of the most important ones is taking care of his family. Your husband is down right now. He’s feeling bad about himself as a man and a provider. But that doesn’t mean he gets to have a pity party for months on end. Especially when the cost of that party is putting you both in financial jeopardy.
What your husband needs right now is a change of heart and lots of encouragement. He also needs his eyes opened to what his behavior is doing to your finances and your relationship. You said you love my plan, right? Sit down with this guy, and have a caring, loving conversation about what you’re seeing and what’s going on. Let him know, first and foremost, that you love him and you’re worried about him. Let him know you want to help. But you’ve also got to show him the numbers. Let him see, in black and white, the results of his actions.
You two can work through this, Emily. Just hold his hand and be there for him. Hug on him a lot, and let him know you’re proud of him. And let him know that together, you guys will get through this and make things better.
-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.”
Ask The Motor Medics®
From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.
Dear Motor Medics, I travel many miles each way to work each day and share the road
with a lot of large long-haul trucks. It seems that they always think they own the road. They are either going too fast or too slow or cutting me off or any other number of things that seem just plain rude to me. Why can’t they be more like other vehicles on the road? Not to say that all other vehicles are perfect drivers, but it just seems as though the trucks are worse.
-Dan in Bennington, Vermont
Dear Dan, Trucks can’t be like cars because they are not cars. Most truck drivers are very courteous and with a little help from you they can be even better drivers. You must remember that even the largest SUV, is a high-performance sports car when compared to a multi-ton truck. When you pull onto the interstate you can adjust your speed to stay clear of the trucks much faster than they can. Don’t expect them to move quickly for you and never position yourself directly in front of a truck, if you stop quickly, they can’t. Also, If you feel you are being cut off often where are you driving, If you can’t see their mirrors then the driver can’t see you. Don’t hog the passing lane going the speed limit either. They are slow uphill and fast down so share the road and leave the enforcement to the officers.
-Take care, the Motor Medics
Dear Motor Medics, It’s time to buy a new car, Fred has been a good van but it’s time to give him a rest. Yes, I call my van Fred. We name all our vehicles because they always have personality. We drive a 2010 Caravan, and we made it 245,000 miles. Not bad for all original
components. We do listen to your show and follow your maintenance advice of course. We finally had the air conditioning fail and decided it was the end for Fred. We just want to know one thing. We always felt safe in Fred but never had a collision or factual evidence to back the safety up so how do we go about finding out how safe our new vehicle will be? I’m not sure yet if our new vehicle will be new or a couple years old.
-Barbara in Mason City, Iowa
Dear Barbara,
Sorry to hear about Fred. Sounds like he treated you well. When looking for another vehicle we suggest that you check out the website www. safercars.gov where you can find and compare vehicle safety ratings. The NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has certain testing specifications posted there that will aid you in making a decision based on safety factors. Reliability is also important when purchasing any vehicle so don’t forget to look to providers such as consumer reports to help you get informed before making a final decision about a vehicle.
-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.
Card of Thanks
The family of Mary Ann Butkowski would like to offer our sincere thanks for the prayers, and support in the passing of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
A special thank you to Fr. Mitchell Bechtold and Fr. Oswaldo Roche for her spiritual care and mass. For Cura of Melrose Care Center for the great care over the past years. To Linda and the crew at the Patton Schad Funeral Home. Thank you to Helen VanDrehle and the St. Mary’s Church group for providing the lunch. Thank you to everyone who provided us with food, flowers, cards and gifts.
A special thank you to the Centra Care Hospice group, Mary Ann loved each of you in a special way.
In lieu of thank you cards, a donation will be made to Centra Care Hospice. The Family of Mary Ann Butkowski
To Submit a Card of Thanks the cost is $5.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ for each additional word. MUST BE PREPAID. Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336.
Local Municipality Minutes
Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com
Grey Eagle Township • July 7, 2025
Call to Order: Mike Rohe called the meeting to order at 8:00 pm. The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Present Board: Mike Rohe, John Young, Alan Roering and Christine Gagne. Also Present: Erv Herdering, Michael and Julie Wehlage
Agenda Approval: Mike presented a preliminary agenda and asked for additions or corrections. John moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: Mike presented the minutes from June meeting and asked if any corrections. John moved to approve the June 2, 2025 minutes, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Michael and Julie Wehlage appeared before the board as required by Todd County Planning and Zoning in regards to their request for a permit and variance on their property at 30422 Aspen Drive.
John made a motion to sign an acknowledgement that the Wehlage’s have appeared before the board at their meeting and discussed their plans with the board, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion passed.
Town Clerk Report: Christine presented June claims totaling $34,683.25. Alan made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried. Correspondence (mail and emails) were reviewed.
Christine presented the report from the Minnesota State Demographic Center showing an April 1 2024 population estimate of 553 and household estimate of 249.
Alan made a motion to approve the demographics report as provided by the Minnesota State Demographic Center, seconded by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Christine reported the financials for the month of June, 2025: -Beginning balance: $277,001.20 -Receipts:
$4,043.93 -Disbursements:
$83,269.84 -Ending Balance: $197,775.29 -Investment Balance: $188,069.48 -Indebtedness Balance:
$388,196.12
Alan made a motion to accept the Cash Control Statement, seconded by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Road and Bridge: John made a motion to approve the bid from Jeremy Scherping for tree trimming, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Discussion by the board and with Erv Herdering regarding the maintenance for the boat landing, Cottonwood Dr., Angler Trail and 295th. The board decided to consult with Frieler Tree Farm
Upstage Players to perform SpongeBob
and Tree Top to determine the best plan going forward in regard to trees on 295th. Erv has been busy after the recent rains and is catching up on township projects.
John made a motion to approve the project that Cody Hatten proposed to create a ditch and expand the surface of the access road at his expense and the Township will cover the cost of the necessary crushed tar. Seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Public Comments: Mike asked for public comments. None
Adjournment: John moved to adjourn, seconded by Alan, Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:03 PM.
Minutes pending approval as of July 7th, 2025
Submitted by - Christine Gagne, Clerk/Treasurer
RJ's Country Store
28916 County Rd. 17 - St. Rosa 320-836-2583
Gas/Diesel/Premium • Propane Exchange Groceries • Pep's Pork • Schaefer's Market Harry's Pizza • Bait • ATM
Outdoor Services
are
to present their summer production of The
based on the beloved animated series by Stephen Hillenburg. With original songs by artists such as David Bowie, Panic! At the Disco, and Sara Bareilles, this high-energy musical explodes with color, heart, and hilarious hijinks. When Bikini Bottom faces imminent doom, it’s up to SpongeBob and his unlikely crew to save the day—with friendship, courage, and just a little bit of jellyfish jelly.
The production features a dynamic cast,
Brian’s Painting
Interiors, Exteriors, Staining, Varnishing Brian Middendorf 320-293-9939 40 Years Experience
an amazing light show, and uplifting themes that make this show a must-see event for all ages. Performances will be held at the Upsala High School Auditorium on July 25, 26, and 28 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM), and July 27 at 2:00 PM (doors open at 1:30 PM). Tickets are available at the door. Seating is first come, first served.
Local Library Events
Grey Eagle Library • 320-285-2505
LOCAL HISTORY SERIES PART II:
Grey Eagle Area Lakes: Grey Eagle Area Lakes will be the second of three history talks by local writer Robert Kutter. This event will be about the lakes in the Grey Eagle area. These talks include some history and current photos of people and places. Join us if you have questions about the area history or have some personal history to share. For teens and adults. Sponsored by the Grey Eagle Library Association. Wednesday, Aug. 13: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Sauk Centre Library • 320-352-3016
Exploring Fun: Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Swanville Library • 320-547-2346
Storytime and Fun with ECFE: Join us for a fun afternoon in the park with Early Childhood Family Education. We’ll have stories, games, and information for families. For preschool and school-age children and their families. Thursday, Aug. 7: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Come play Table Tennis with us!: Step into a Popup Ping-Pong Park and enjoy a fun, accessible way to play, connect, and unwind— whether you’re a seasoned player or just picking up a paddle. The Temporary Table Tennis Trailer (TTTT) brings an artist-focused, mobile pingpong experience to you. Offering spontaneous matches combined with encouragement to consider sport as artistic performance through play and conversation, the TTTT creates a welcoming space for all ages and skill levels. This program was made possible with Arts & Cultural Heritage Funds from Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. Saturday, Aug. 9: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Upsala Library • 320-412-2048
Exploring Fun: Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.
The Upstage Players
thrilled
SpongeBob Musical,
FOR RENT: Seadoo Spark Trixx or GTX jet ski rentals, on trailer, take anywhere. Call 320-200-0300. S-8/28B
WANTED TO BUY: Butcher cows, bulls, fats & walkable cripples: also horses, sheep & goats. 320-235-2664. SC-odB
WANTED: Geo Tracker, good shape, reasonable price. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
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: Machinery for scrap or salvage specializing in combines and old buildings. Call 320-292-8993. 7/31
FOR SALE: 1984 red Corvette, top comes off, 105,000 miles, automatic, $10,500 or B/O. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
FOR SALE: Craftsman 6” jointer with cabinet, excellent condition, Model #10320620, $400. Call 320-766-3119. DC-tfn
FOR SALE: Criterion 7 cu. ft. chest freezer, $50. Grey Eagle 320-429-0636. 7/24
FOR SALE: New in box foldable exercise bike, 16 pressure levels, arm exercise, paid $137, will sell for $100. Call 320-360-0343. TK
FOR SALE: 1983 Ford Mustang GLX convertible, 60,000 miles, automatic, white w/ white leather interior, 3.8L, V6, kept in garage, excellent condition, $9,000. Call 320766-3119. DC-tfn
FOR SALE: Victory 10 mobility scooter, battery powered, like new, purchased May of 2024 new for $2,500, used very little and now I can no longer physically use it, $1,900, includes fabric cover. Call 320-7601162. 7/24P
FOR SALE: 3 fire rings, $50 each. Call 320-573-3939. 7/24
FOR SALE: Vibo boat lift, canopy cover needs replacement, $750. Call 320-7663119. DC-tfn
FOR SALE: 16 ft. Palm Beach 1997 pontoon with trailer, 25 hp. Evinrude, depth finder, trolling motor, awning. Call 320-2559519. 7/31
FOR SALE: 6x10 camper/fish house, redone interior, two fold down beds, new axle, LP heater, four fishing holes. 320-255-9519 7/31
FOR SALE: 8x20 Berkon fishhouse/camper, infloor heat, forced air, loaded, $22,500 or reasonable offer. Call 320-232-0211.
FOR SALE: 2018 Ice Castle fish house OutLaw Edition $22,500 or best offer. Call 320-630-2391 with inquiries. 7/31
FOR SALE: 2011 Keystone Springdale 26’ travel trailer, non-smoking, no pets. Call 320-685-3610.
FOR SALE: 16 ft. Lund fishing boat, 55 hp Johnson, console steering, trolling motor, 3,000 lb. axle on trailer, excellent shape, $1,800. Call 320-630-5606.
FOR SALE: Thor Class A RV, 2017 ACE 27.2, Ford F53/F550 chassis, Triton 6.8L eng., good cond., 37586 miles, 2 slide-outs. Text email address to 320-249-7694 for photos, Carfax report. WD-tfnB
DOWN SILO LLC
• Take down & cleanup of silos in congested areas
• Mobile Concrete Crushing
• Fully Insured 507-236-9446 topdownsilo.com
FOR SALE: Bass Lake property, 171 ft. of lake shore, septic complaint, water, electric, partially furnished mobile home, 2.84 acres. $235,000. Keith 320-293-1567.
FOR SALE: ‘72 Lund boat and Spartan trailer, many extras, 15 hp Evinrude. Keith 320-293-1567.
FOR SALE: Pressure cooker NIB, $28. Space heater $10. Rabbit trap $15. TV table $15. Call 320845-2266.
a full-time position in Melrose, MN
Maintenance
Tech II
Stainless Steel Welding experience preferred, not required 7AM - 5PM
Competitive
To apply,visit www.proliantdairy.com and click on “Careers” Successful completion of pre-employment physical and drug test
FOR SALE: 2008 CanAm Spider, 16,500 miles, $7,000 or BO. Call 320-290-1114.
FOR SALE: Master Tow Tilt-Bed car dolly. New in 2024, used 1 time, complete with rachet straps, light kit & tongue jack. Text email address to 320-249-7694 for photos.
Todays Thought
I like to make lists. I also like to leave lists on the kitchen counter and then guess what’s on the list when I get to the store. Fun game.
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
Funny
A lawyer dies in a car accident on his 40th birthday and finds himself greeted at the Pearly Gates by a brass band. Saint Peter runs over, shakes his hand and says “Congratulations!”
“Congratulations for what?” asks the lawyer.
“Congratulations for what?!?” says Saint Peter. “We’re celebrating the fact that you lived to be 160 years old.”
“But that’s not true,” says the lawyer. “I only lived to be forty.”
“That’s impossible,” says Saint Peter. “We’ve added up your time sheets.”
