Operation Round Up® Distributes to Local Organizations, Causes

Stearns Electric’s Operation Round Up® Program contributed $58,573 to 80 area organizations in March. Through the Operation Round Up® program, Stearns Electric Association gives its member-consumers the opportunity to give back to the community by rounding up their electric bill to the nearest dollar.

Since the program’s inception in 1993, Operation Round Up (ORU) and Stearns Electric members have awarded over $2.9 million to nearly 5,300 local non-profit organizations and community service programs. The rounded-up funds, no more than $11.88 per year, per member, are placed in a trust fund that is administered by the Stearns Electric Association Trust Board.

Trust Board Directors met on March 15 to review applications and funding requests. Eighty organizations were selected to receive funds totaling between $200 to $1,750 in this round of contributions. They are:

Albany Area Community Education, Albany Area Community Senior Center, Albany Food Shelf, Albany Post Grad Party, American Legion Auxiliary, Anna Marie’s Alliance, Apollo High School, Avon Food Shelf, Inc., Avon Hills Folk School, BBE Area Food Shelf, BBE Post Prom, Becky’s Troop Care Packages, Cathedral High School, Catholic Charities Emergency Services, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, Clearwater-Clear Lake Food Shelf, Cold Spring Police Department, Community Connection Sauk Centre, Crow River Trail Guards, Eden Valley Food Shelf, Eden Valley Valley Daze, Eden Valley-Watkins High School Post Prom, Elevate Pregnancy and Family Resource Center, Freeport Family Fishing, Freeport Recreation Community Care Center, Gold Smiles Senior Citizens, Grace UMC Discretionary Fund, Green Acres Animal Rescue, Hearts & Hands Food Shelf, Holdingford Area Food Shelf, Holdingford Post Prom, Kimball Community Education, Kimball Food Shelf, Inc., Knights of Columbus 5548 – Coats for Kids, Little Falls Grad Bash 2023, Long Prairie Food Pantry, LPGE High School, Mary of Lourdes Schools, Mel- rose Area Food Shelf, Melrose Graduation Party, Morrison County Food Shelf, Osakis After-Prom, Osakis Fire Department, Osakis Trap Team, Outreach Food Shelf, Paynesville Area High School, Paynesville Community Service Center, Paynesville Green Roof Area Center, Paynesville High School, Resurrection Lutheran Church, ROCORI Area Food Shelf, ROCORI Senior Center, ROCORI Senior Graduation Party, Royalton High School, Sartell FIRST Robotics Team, Sartell High School Grad Party, Sartell Police Department Reserves, Sartell-St. Stephen High School, Sauk Centre American Legion Club, Sauk Centre High School, Sauk Centre High School LockIn, Sauk Centre Lions – Fairy Lake Association, Sauk Centre Sno-Cleats, Inc., SRRHS Graduation Celebration, St. Ann’s Mission Group, St. Anna Sportsman’s Club, St. Cloud Area Senior Fun Singers, St. Cloud Tech High School, St. Gabriel’s Hospital Advocates, St. John’s Community Park, St. John’s Preparatory School, St. Joseph Community Food Shelf, St. Stephen American Legion Post 221, Swanville First Response, Swanville High School, Swanville High School Post Prom, The Salvation Army, Upsala PCN, WACOSA, and Whitney Senior Hand Quilters.

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Dave Says -By Dave Ramsey

Dear Dave, I’m about to start paying off debt in Baby Step 2, but there’s a motorcycle loan my ex-girlfriend took out for me. I crashed the motorcycle and sustained some injuries. After two months of litigation, I received a settlement of about $15,000 that was just enough to cover the loan. Do I use the settlement money toward my debt snowball, or should I pay her back so I can get her out of my life for good?

Dear Arnold,

-Arnold

Pay her back. Anything else would be unfair. And, on top of that, it’s just the right thing to do.

The whole move of her taking out a loan to buy you a motorcycle was kind of dumb anyway. It was dumb on her part, and it was dumb on your part. And you can see why it was now, can’t you? It has left you in a lurch emotionally and relationally. We’re not talking about a random chunk of cash here. This money was for the motorcycle, from the motorcycle and about the motorcycle. So, you just pay her back, and that’ll clear things up.

I’m sorry the relationship didn’t work out, brother. But I’m glad you’re taking steps to be in control of your finances. And I hope making things right where the bike is concerned will bring you a little peace of mind.

Dear Dave,

-Dave

My husband and I are on Baby Step 2. Among our debt is about $14,000 in student loans. I think we should roll the student loans in with the rest of our debt snowball, but he wants to wait and see if the government will pay it off. What do you think we should do?

Dear Kristy,

-Kristy

I’m sure your husband’s a great guy, but I think he’s being a little naïve. I don’t believe this whole student loan forgiveness thing is going to happen. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. And if that time comes, I’ll admit it. But to me, this is just another ploy—another carrot being dangled by politicians.

I’ve lived through several presidents— from both parties—who promised to give me prosperity. So far, none of them have delivered. Any success my wife and I have experienced has come as a result of God’s blessings, our hard work and a stubborn refusal to give up.

Virtually none of the millionaires I’ve studied over the past 30 years got to where they are by looking to the government to take care of them. Instead, they left the cave every morning, killed something, and dragged it home. Believe me, there’s a high correlation between people’s ability to build wealth and the belief that their destiny is in their hands— not the government’s.

If you sign for a loan—any loan—you have a moral and legal obligation to repay the money. Go ahead and roll the student loan debt into your debt snowball. Continue taking charge of your finances and your lives!

-Dave

* Dave Ramsey is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

Dear Motor Medics, I have a 2004 Ford F150 truck, and I've lost the 4-wheel drive. The front end of the truck started to grind for a while before it finally stopped completely. The transfer case does seem to be working because the front driveshaft turns when in 4-wheel drive and does not when it is in 2-wheel drive. Can you guys lead me in a direction of diagnosis that might help feel more secure in what I am told at the repair shop?

-Bernard in Enid, Oklahoma

Dear Bernard, We make plenty repairs to the 4-wheel drive systems on these trucks. there is a common problem that starts with a grinding then ends up with a failure. The system uses vacuum to engage and disengage a locking mechanism on the front hubs. When in the 2-wheel drive, the vacuum is applied and the hubs release. The system uses a small vacuum hose to do this that is activated electrically. That hose has a common fault which causes it to be rubbed through and when it does the system is only half engaged. This is like trying to put a transmission into gear without using the clutch. Eventually the gear grinding eats the teeth off the hubs. To repair it the hubs and the actuators need to be replaced and the vacuum line needs to be repaired and protected to prevent future issues. This is just one possible cause of trouble.

-Take care, the Motor Medics

Dear Motor Medics, I've had an ongoing issue with my 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The check engine light has been coming on and I've had it scanned several times and I got a code which says I have a failed thermostat. So here is the problem. I replaced the thermostat myself then had my local auto parts store who read the code clear it and now less than a week later the light is back on with the same code. I have good heat and the temp gauge reads in the normal range. Have you ever seen this before?

-Mark in Manhattan, Kansas

Dear Mark,

We have seen this, and one possibility is that the thermostat has failed a second time either due to a faulty part or there is something else wrong in the system which is making it think you have a failure. One of these possibilities is a failed temp sensor on the cooling system or possibly the connector going to it. When we make this repair which we do very often, we replace the sending unit and its connector pigtail, and the thermostat then clear the codes and verify operation. Some people opt to just do part of the repair but then find they need to go back and do the rest and end up spending more money. Diagnosing the system is fairly straight forward for a repair shop with a scanner, a multimeter and temp probe. Hope this helps you out.

-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.

Albany Senior Dining

Mon., May 1: Goulash, green beans, apple slices, breadstick.

Tues., May 2: Grilled chicken sandwich on bun, pasta salad, cucumber/tomato salad.

Wed., May 3: Hamburger commercial over bread, whipped potatoes, broccoli, pears.

Thurs., May 4: Shrimp, rice, vegetable Normandy, mandarin oranges, roll.

Fri., May 5: Special of the day.

Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.

Upsala - All Ages

BREAKFAST: Mon.-Fri. 7-10 a.m.: Walk in & dine. Take out available, call ahead.

Mon., May 1: Cheeseburger, fries, vegetable, dessert.

Tues., May 2: Meatloaf, cheesy potatoes, vegetable, dessert.

Wed., May 3: Orange chicken, rice, egg roll, dessert.

Thurs., May 4: Country fried steak, mashed potatoes, vegetable, dessert.

Fri., May 5: Cheesy beef hotdish, vegetable, dessert.

Pick up or eat in by 11:30 a.m. For meals, call a day before: 320-573-4435.