Hometown News August 10, 2023

Hometown News

29442 120th St.

Grey Eagle, MN 56336

320-285-2323

Email: htnews@icloud.com

Website: www.hometownnews.biz

www.facebook.com/hometownnews

Published By Lori & John Young

Advertising & News Deadline

MONDAYS • 5 PM

The Hometown News is a free weekly publication, which is published and distributed every Thursday.

Free Distribution In: Albany

Avon

Bowlus

Burtrum

Elmdale

Freeport

Greenwald

Grey Eagle

Holdingford

Make your selling compelling -By Harvey Mackay

A storekeeper had for some time displayed in his window a card inscribed “Fishing Tickle.”

A customer drew the proprietor's attention to the spelling. “Hasn't anyone told you of it before?” asked the patron.

“Oh, yes,” the dealer said placidly, “many have mentioned it. But whenever they drop in to tell me, they always buy something.”

capitalized on this, as they give their season ticketholders and fans experiences to be with and around the teams and athletes. Maybe it’s a meet and greet, a chance to watch practice or be on the field for pregame warm-ups. How about batting practice or a shoot-around? In a competitive sports market, these experiences are invaluable.

Use Props. There is no better example of salespeople using props than state fairs. Product pitchers demonstrate knives, cookware, cleaners, mops or some product that you can’t live without. Always remember: A mediocre salesperson tells. A good salesperson explains. A superior salesperson demonstrates.

the car and announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. John Henry James has arrived!” James would enter with his sample case and say, “I do believe we’re going to do some business today.” And he was right.

Likeability. To be successful at selling, you have to make customers like you. People do business with people they feel comfortable with. Beyond offering freebies and gimmicks, make your service so memorable that the customer can’t imagine going anywhere else.

Meire Grove Long Prairie Melrose New Munich St. Anna St. Rosa Sauk Centre Swanville Upsala

Sales: Lori Young

Office: 320-285-2323

Cell: 612-597-2998

Email: htnews@icloud.com

Website Design: John Young

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Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336

Intentional spelling errors in advertising are nothing new. Snickers is one of my favorite candy bars (when my wife lets me have one), and I remember when they ran ads featuring spelling errors. One ad read: “Oh Deer Its Hard To Spel When Your Hungry. If you keap making typing mistakes grab yourself a Snickers fast.” Then they pictured a candy bar that read “Snikkers.”

Over the years I’ve collected many creative, out-of-the-box sales ideas that I think are winners:

Personalize things. Stores that accommodate customers who want products personalized are nothing new, but the trend continues to grow. Pet gear, luggage, phones, even donuts specifically geared to a customer are popular in-demand gifts.

Break a record. Nathan’s annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest gets a huge audience to see how many wieners the participants can down in a brief time. The “My Pillow guy” handed out pillows at a sporting event and had the world’s largest pillow fight.

Establish new experiences for customers. Sports teams have really

Catchy and ubiquitious ads. Advertising is everywhere. We’ve all seen ads in bathroom stalls and ads on supermarket floors, and we read them! I chuckled at an ad for a handyman that read, “I can fix anything your husband can. And I’ll do it now.” A variation on that ad reads, “I can fix anything that your husband breaks.”

Contests have been around forever. The crazier, the more outrageous, the better. And just about any product can be featured as a prize: tickets to a hot show, a shopping spree, dining experiences, trips, even envelopes for life! Among my favorites – a year’s worth of ice cream. I’d enter that contest any day!

Sell benefits, not features. In other words, don’t sell me books, sell me knowledge. Don’t sell me insurance, sell me peace of mind. Don’t sell me clothes, sell me style, attractiveness and a sharper image. Don’t sell me a computer, sell me the time I will save. Don’t abandon me as soon as the sale is complete, keep in touch with me so that I know I am your best and favorite customer.

Have a unique calling card. One of the greatest salesmen I ever heard about was John Henry James, a large and tall man who made his sales calls in a chauffeur-driven limousine. At each stop, the chauffeur would jump out of

Joe is a small-town barber. Joe knew his clients’ preferences after decades of service and he always charged his clients fairly. A national-chain haircut salon opened just across the street. It had shiny new fixtures, neon signs, young and attractive personnel AND they were offering haircuts for $10.

Joe watched as traffic poured into the newcomer and wondered how he was going to compete with that. Should he put up a sign “Haircuts $9.99”?

After some thought and reflection on his business, Joe posted a large sign outside of his shop: “We fix $10 haircuts.” He pointed the sign directly at his competitor’s front door. Mackay’s Moral: As the saying goes, you don’t sell steak, you sell the sizzle.

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

• Mid Minnesota Motor Heads Car Show from 12-3 p.m. at Eagles Healing Nest, Sauk Centre.

• Upsala Heritage Day. Parade at 4 p.m.

• 35th Annual Grey Eagle Fire Dept. Corn on the Cob & Pork Feed from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Grey Eagle Fire Hall. See ad on page 5.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

• Church of Seven Dolors Parish Bazaar starting at 10:30 a.m. in Albany. See ad on page 7.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15

• Freeport Lions Club American Red Cross Blood Drive from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17

• The Great Pushback by Guest Speaker Shahram Hadian at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Covenant Church, Upsala. See ad on page 7.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23

• Grey Eagle Senior Center Meeting at 4 p.m. Potluck & Bingo to follow.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24

• Avon Women of Today Red Cross Bloodmobile from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at the Avon Community Church.

SAT.-SUN., AUG. 26-27

• 15th Annual Central MN Heritage Club Heritage Days, Burtrum.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

• Big Swan Lake Improvement District Annual Meeting at 10 a.m. at the Hub Supper Club, Burtrum.

If

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27

• St. Francis of Assisi 67th Annual Fall Festival in St. Francis.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

• St. Rose of Lima Parish Fall Festival starting at 10 a.m. in St. Rosa.

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.

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 at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of the month 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 first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

Weekend Weather

Saturday

“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

South Dakota 1

Many of us have taken a car ride through South Dakota. We were impressed by the seemingly endless fields of corn and grain. To some of us it looked like a farmer's paradise. What appears now is not as it has always been.

Originally, South Dakota was predominately a rolling prairie, populated by prairie chickens, buffalo, coyotes, wolves, badgers, deer and prairie dogs. There were some Native Americans, which were usually near rivers as their water source. The tribes usually lived peacefully with their neighbors. However some disagreements occasionally arose over socialization of the younger people and occasional love of someone from another tribe, who was not acceptable by the parents of the parties involved. The main food source was buffalo, which were plentiful throughout the state. They also included the nuts and berries which were easily found in the low lands and river bottoms.

These Native Americans raised their children to live in tee pees, which were occasionally moved to be closer to food sources, or possibly more shaded or sheltered areas. They lived as their ancestors lived and actually were quite comfortable. They were

able to live near food sources and able to use the animal skins for clothing and warmth. They carried on traditional gatherings and social events for entertainment and community involvement. Their lives were quite complete within their social structure.

Then came the white man. The first change of life was to bring our religion to the “savages,” many of them already recognized a superior power, but needed to become civilized by being taught Christianity. White men then began to invade their lands, trapping the beaver, which the Native Americans needed for food and clothing. The Native Americans harvested only whatever beaver were needed, but the white man harvested thousands of them to sell the hides to traders that sold overseas. They also allowed the carcass to be discarded, while beaver was considered a needed Native American food source. We all know how the buffalo herds that seemed endless, were virtually eliminated by white hunters, who in some cases saved the hides and usually left the carcass to rot on the prairie. Some buffalo were eliminated as a sporting event, using the reason to protect the railroads from the buffalo herds. Buffalo again was a major food source for the Native Americans.

As is obvious, the Native Americans were seeing their food sources being eliminated by the white man. They felt that these invaders were destroying their family and tribal food supply. Whites also began to invade the lands taking ownership of the land that Native Americans considered their hunting land, as it had been for thousands of years. Ownership of land was not a concept that the Native Americans understood. They were taught that the land was controlled by the “great spirit” and as such, a human did not have ownership of the land. They, feeling that land ownership wasn't possible, had a hard time understanding that a piece of paper could give anyone the

right to keep others off of part of the great land.

The Native American is losing his ability to feed his family and provide them with clothing and shelter. As a result, they felt it to be his duty to attempt to eliminate those that were trying to destroy his life and pride.

Next week, we will look at the Americanization of South Dakota.

For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at tom@swanvilleinsurance.com.

If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343

Corner Pub & Grill

Freeport, MN • 320-836-2120

Nightly Specials

Dine In Only - With Beverage Purchase

Monday: (5-9 pm) $3 Build a Burger Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onions (raw/fried), Mushrooms, Jalapenos, Sauerkraut, Cheese (Swiss, American, Pepper Jack) Toppings 50¢ each; Bacon 50¢ Slice

Tuesday: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

3 Chicken Strips w/Toast & Fries $7.50

6 Drummies w/Toast & Fries $7.50

Walleye Wednesday: (5-9:30 pm)

Walleye Fingers w/Fries $8.50

Thursday: (5-9 pm) Taco Wrap $8.50

Bavarian Gardens

Lunch Specials: 11 AM-1 PM

Fri., Aug. 11: Cheeseburger w/Fries

Mon., Aug. 14: Beef Noodle Soup w/Beef Sandwich

Tues., Aug. 15: Baked Chicken Dinner

Wed., Aug. 16: Rodeo Burger w/Fries

Thurs., Aug. 17: Liver & Onions

Fri., Aug. 18: Cheeseburger w/Fries

Friday: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

• 6 oz. Steak $12 • Add 3 Shrimp $15

• 6 oz. Butter/Garlic Steak $12

• Add 3 Shrimp $15

• 6 Shrimp $9.00

• Served with Baked Potato

Saturday: (4-8 pm) 1/4 lb. Hamburger $2.50

WEEKEND

Mark A. Gessell

Mark A.

Gessell, 61-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, FL, formerly of Swanville, MN, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, MN. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1-5 PM on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at The Hub Supper Club in Burtrum, MN. A private burial will take place at a later date. Mark will be taking his final bike ride from Swanville to The Hub starting on Main Street by the park. He will be honorably escorted by Gary and Putsy Pogatchnik and friends. Kickstands up at 12:45 PM sharp. Caring for Mark and his family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Swanville, MN.

Mark was born on April 5, 1962, at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN to Frank and Helen (Matheis) Gessell. He grew up in Swanville, MN and attended Swanville High School. Mark married Laurie Johnson and they had two children; Brent and Shawna. Later, he married Kathryn Hubner and they had two children; Megan and Jayme. Mark enjoyed traveling on his motorcycle and his travels took him to Florida. He was always ready to bike with friends. Mark also enjoyed doing charity rides to collect used disabilities equipment for Vets. He repaired motorcycles for people that had little money to pay. He never missed putting on dinners for birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations of all sorts. For the past four years, people down on their luck always had a place to stop by or spend the night. He never collected much but always had food and shelter to share. His place was a man cave for anyone to stop by and they did at all hours of the day and night. Mark saw the world differently and joyfully.

Mark is survived by his parents, Frank and Helen Gessell of Swanville, MN; children, Brent Gessell of Swanville, MN, Shawna Johannes (Steve) of Burtrum, MN, Megan Stromley of Carver, MN, and Jayme Gullickson of Detroit Lakes, MN; 10 grandchildren; sisters, Gina Dwyer (Kenny Wachmann) of Sartell, MN, Dana (Paul) Hanowski of Swanville, MN, Shari (Karl)

Pung of Burtrum, MN, and Kristi Anderson of Little Falls, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends from all over.

Mark was preceded in death by grandparents and son-in-law, Gabe Gullickson.

Hayden W. Edstrom

Hayden Walter Edstrom, born on April 15, 2004, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, left this world tragically on August 4, 2023, in a car accident. He was a bright light in the lives of all who knew him and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Hayden was raised by his loving mother, Holly Pilarski (Edstrom), and Larry Pilarski. Together, they nurtured him in Upsala, Minnesota, where he thrived in high-school basketball. An exceptional athlete, Hayden's passion for sports extended to cheering on and supporting his younger siblings in all of their activities. His infectious laugh, generous heart, and magnetic personality attracted children and adults alike, creating a lasting impression on all who crossed his path.

One could always spot Hayden in a crowd by his wild printed shirts, which perfectly matched his vibrant spirit. His ability to bring laughter and charm to any situation made him a joy to be around, sprinkling a trail of smiles wherever he went.

Hayden is survived by his loving mother, Holly Pilarski (Edstrom) of Sauk Rapids, and his father, Larry Pilarski of Upsala. He leaves behind three younger siblings, Samantha, Alexa, and Benett Pilarski, all from Upsala, who he adored and cherished. His grandparents, Todd and Arlene Edstrom of Sauk Rapids and Joan Pilarski of Albany, were significant influences in his life, providing him with love and support.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bill Pilarski.

Funeral services to honor and celebrate Hayden's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Atonement Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, followed by burial. The visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and one hour prior to the services on Friday at the church in St. Cloud. All who loved and knew Hayden or the family are welcome to attend.

As we say our final goodbyes to Hayden, we hold dear the memories of laughter, warmth, and love which he shared with everyone around him. He touched the hearts of so many, and his spirit will live on in the hearts of those he left behind. May we find comfort in the beautiful memories we share of him.

Rest in peace, dear Hayden. Your memory will forever be a blessing to us all.

"With tears, we cry each day, in angel's arms, you were carried away. Our memories of love and laughter shall not fade, for inside our hearts, you'll always stay."

Dale: 320-493-6329

Implementation of legalized marijuana comes with questions

Several new laws took effect with the calendar turning to the month of August. That can happen several times a year, typically in January, or July, and many of those new laws don't have a huge impact on the lives of most Minnesotans. However, that's not the case this time as recreational marijuana use has now become legal in our state. The law was pushed through by the DFL majority, and it leaves many questions unanswered at the same time it takes effect.

To me, the biggest one looking for an answer is where it can be smoked. The law lists several areas where it will now be legal, but the caveat is that it cannot be done in the presence of minors. That's a gray area, which means it's up to local jurisdictions to pass ordinances prohibiting its use in public areas where young people may be. We already have rules in place saying where cigarettes cannot be smoked in public, and it would seem logical to ban the use of marijuana in those same areas.

With the exception of tribal ground, cannabis will not be available for sale over-thecounter in Minnesota for many months, probably well into the year 2025. With possession now being legal, that means the black market will flourish for the next year and a half, with no competition from legal shops set up to sell it. And when that does happen, the state will be imposing a 10-percent tax on each sale, in addition to the sales tax, which will add another layer of cost to the final cost. The sales tax rate in Greater Minnesota is currently 6.875 percent, but in the metro area it was increased this past session by the Legislature another full

percentage point to help fund transit and housing. That probably means black market purchases will remain cheaper than those made legally, and that the legalization of cannabis will not make the black market go away.

Employers are now grappling with how to change their policy manuals in regard to cannabis use. Marijuana can stay in a person's system at detectable levels for weeks after using it. After that long a time, it may not be enough to impair one's ability to drive, for example, but it's still going to register on a drug test. So, how do we deal with that in terms of allowing some level of THC but not enough to cause impairment? And then add in the situation where drivers with CDL licenses have a zero tolerance, along with those who serve in public safety or transport children, and more decisions need to be made.

Although the legislation makes clear that marijuana consumption by minors will still be illegal, it takes away any punishment for its use. That leads many to believe that, in effect, we made it legal for those under the age of 19 to use it. There was a rush to decriminalize cannabis use for all minor offenses, but we also took away any penalty for young people who use it.

Minnesota now joins the list of states that have legalized recreational use. Other states who did this earlier, such as Colorado, served as the experiment on how to do this in the best way possible. One aspect of the Colorado law gave counties the ability to opt out of the legalization. Minnesota chose not to do this, but did give local governments the power to regulate where it could be used. That will take place over the upcoming months as cities enact their own rules to keep second-hand smoke away from those who don't want it.

You can always call my office at (651) 296-4317, my home phone at (320) 239-2726 or email me at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn if you need additional information.

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce

Have you ever considered the mouse trap? No, I haven’t lost my marbles…lol. Pretty simple construction really; the small slab of wood, the dinner plate, the guillotine, the spring, and the lever thingy. What would you say if I told you that the “Mouse Trap” made itself? Now you really know that I have lost my marbles. You may ask, how do you know it will work, or how did the spring get in just the right place, or why did it think of creating itself to begin with? All these questions are good to ask, for all of creation.

How can anyone think that creation just happened, or it started with an explosion and a cell evolved into humans through an enormous amount of time. The mouse trap, I know for certain, that if you gave it enough time, could not create itself. It was designed and constructed by someone who knew what they were doing.

Take the human body for instance. Just look at how complex it is! The System of organs, Musculoskeletal system, Cardiovascular system, Expiratory system, Nervous system, Digestive system, Urinary system, Endocrine system, Lymphatic system, Reproductive system, Integumentary systems all working together in a very complex and specific way. Now, how can anyone say that we or anything

else that was made to support life, evolved from nothing?

I believe the Bible and every Word of it brings glory to Jesus. When it says in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," I believe that God created everything that exists. Out of nothing. For His glory.

I love it in the book of Job, when Job was getting grumpy because so many things were going wrong in his life. God responds to him in sort of a sarcastic way… Job 38:3-4 “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.”

Give God the praise in all things, He is the One who created all things, even you! And so, He loves you so much that He died for you, instead of you, so you can spend eternity with Him. Now that’s Truth and Hope that you can hang on to!

-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916

Maggie Larson, age 8, caught this 20” northern pike on Middle Spunk in Avon, MN.

Submitted by Dan Larson.

The new mural on the Holdingford Museum building. Photo by Lori Young.

Sully Van Vleet caught a nice Pumpkin Seed, Hoffman’s Bay on Big Birch Lake. Submitted by Hans Mische.

Sudoku

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, Is there any flexibility in your rule about not spending more than 25% of your takehome pay on rent or monthly mortgage payments? I live downtown in Washington, D.C., and I’m finding it’s pretty hard to do here. I make about $90,000 a year, but I’m spending a little over $2,000 a month in rent. Rent is my largest expense by far, and I don’t spend a lot of other money, so I’m still able to save a little and do other things. Can you give me your opinion about this approach?

-Tanner

Dear Tanner, True, I advise people to spend no more than 25% of their take-home pay on housing. Math still works in every city and state in the country. You don’t get a pass on math just because you live in Washington, D.C., even though Congress and a lot of other people there think you do.

But there’s really nothing magical about 25%. The purpose behind it is, I don’t want you to be house poor. If you find yourself still able to save and invest because you keep other financial aspects of your lifestyle so low, then you’re okay. The problem with most people starts when they’ve got a high cost of housing,

and those payments put a real squeeze on their budgets. It doesn’t leave them enough room to save up to buy the next car, so that car becomes debt. The same thing happens with Christmas and vacations and everything else. They don’t have enough extra money to save for things because a huge chunk of their income is flying out the door every month wrapped up in rent or a house payment.

Now, you’re telling me your situation works for you because you’ve made room in your budget and live a very frugal lifestyle by choice. That’s cool. I’m not mad at you about that. But here’s the thing: Whatever you spend on rent disappears. And the more money you burn, the less you’ve got on hand for other things.

I’m not exactly sure how you adjust that in your situation. Maybe you move outside the city and commute, or perhaps you add a roommate into the equation. Or, maybe you’re fine with how things are and that’s the way you want to live. That’s okay too. But my reasoning behind the 25% figure—which is actually more of a guideline than a rule—is so you don’t become house poor. I want you to be able to save, invest and give generously. Plus, I want you to own your own home one day.

And you won’t be able to do that if everything you make is going toward big payments!

-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.

Brian’s Painting

Ask The Motor Medics®

From

Dear Motor Medics, I have a question about mufflers. Let me start by saying I am 72 years young and drive a 2003 GMC ¾ ton diesel truck. This thing is mint, and I have about every gadget known to man installed on it. What I have not done is modify the exhaust. I deliver RV trailers cross country with it, and I wonder if adding a different exhaust may help with mileage. I see so many muffler systems on the road and some are so loud that I can hear them as they drive by with my windows up and air and radio on. I don’t want to have a muffler that overpowers me. Is there such a thing as a performance muffler system that is also quiet?

-Dan in Fargo, North Dakota

Dear Dan, Yes there are mufflers that are quiet and add performance. With diesel engines, a freeflowing exhaust system can make a difference in both power and mileage, especially if used in conjunction with a power programmer which we will talk about often on our talk radio show. An exhaust system alone can also give you a boost and bigger and louder is not always king. Check on the diesel truck forums and see what is working for others with the same model truck. You will find many systems that provide both the added power you desire while keeping the noise level you want inside as well.

-Take care, the Motor Medics

Dear Motor Medics, I found myself in a strange situation at my house late at night with no one to help me. I had driven to work earlier and when I tried to turn my car off, I thought I felt the key hang up a bit like it was going to stick and not turn off, but it did. I went to lunch, and it was no problem but when I got home it did stick and would not turn off past the accessory position. I did not know what to do so I left my key in the car overnight and I was uncomfortable with that. I took it to a

shop where they were able to fix it for me, but it was not in my budget at this time. Is there anything I could have done to at least get the key out?

-Susan in Denver, Colorado Dear Megan,

Yes, there is a way to get the keys out of most cars when the ignition won’t turn off like yours did. It can be as simple as pressing a hidden button at the bottom of the steering column or on the console. Other cars require removing a panel to access the button and most can be accessed quickly. The internet has some great articles about how to access the hidden buttons. Look up how to do it and if you have this problem again, you’ll be able to get the key 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., Aug. 14: Liver & onions or hamburger patty, whipped potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables..

Tues., Aug. 15: BBQ pork on bun, tater tots, 3 bean salad, apple slices.

Wed., Aug. 16: Pizza casserole, green beans, garden salad w/Italian dressing.

Thurs., Aug. 17: Potato & egg bake, spiced pears, muffin/pastry.

Fri., Aug. 18: Pork chop, whipped potatoes, gravy, squash, applesauce. Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.

A Drive Funny

The family's teenage son had just received his brand new drivers license.

To celebrate, the whole family trooped out to the driveway and climbed into the car for his inaugural drive.

Dad immediately headed to the back seat, directly behind the newly minted driver.

"I'll bet you're back there to get a change of scenery after all those months of sitting in the front passenger seat teaching me how to drive," said the beaming boy to his old man.

"Nope," came dad's reply, "I'm gonna sit back here and kick the back of your seat while you drive, just like you have been doing to me for sixteen years."

Local Municipality Minutes

Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com

Upsala City • July 3, 2023

Call to Order/Attendance: The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:02 P.M. The pledge of allegiance was said.

On roll call members present: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Council Members Wendy Rene, Alan Gunderson and Mitch Lange. Absent: Lana Bartells. Staff present: Public Works Director Mike Tschida, and City Clerk-Treasurer Jane Popp.

Minutes: Lange moved to approve the regular city council meeting minutes from June 5, 2023, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda items: Rene moved to approve the agenda as presented, 2nd by Gunderson. Motion carried unanimously.

Department Reports: Fire Department Report: Chief Nick Johnson updated the council that they had pump training and one fire call.

First Response Team: Vice President Danielle Haus reported nine calls for May. The First Response has chosen to remain with the city.

Maintenance Report: Tschida reported on water and sewer levels as well as the various tasks done throughout the city. The Water & Sewer is hooked up in the city park bathrooms.

Rene moved to approve to proceed pond management estimate from Team Lab, 2nd by Gunderson. Motion carried unanimously.

City Office Report: Popp reviewed the July Calendar. Popp stated that she attended the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in Duluth.

Planning Commission: Larry Bartells suggested some possible revisions to the city building ordinance.

Heritage Days: Everything is set and ready to go.

New Business: Due to the recent dry weather conditions and our declining water levels Morrison County has been moved to a severe drought stage. The City of Upsala is implementing a total watering ban except for gardens and newly seeded grass. We will continue to monitor the dry conditions and keep residents updated. We appreciate your cooperation.

Donation from Upsala Lions Club for Heritage Days Fireworks Resolution 7-03-2023-1 Rene moved to accept resolution 7-03-2023-1, accepting the donation from the Upsala Lions Club for $3,000 for Heritage Days fireworks, 2nd by Gunderson. Motion carried unanimously. Donation from Upsala American Legion for Heritage Days Fireworks Resolution 7-03-2023-2 Lange moved to accept resolution 7-03-2023-2, accepting the donation from the Upsala Lions Club for

$2,500 for Heritage Days fireworks, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Upsala Dollars for Scholars Gambling Permit for Bingo. Lange moved to approve the Upsala Dollars for Scholars Gambling Permit for Bingo to be held on August 13, 2023, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Upsala Ball Park Association Gambling Permit to hold a Raffle January 27, 2024. Rene moved to approve the Upsala Ball Park Gambling Permit to hold a raffle January 27, 2024, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

City Hall IT Estimates. Rene moved to advance the install for firewall and monthly monitoring at City Hall from The Source Computing Group, Inc., 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

Acknowledgements: To the Upsala Lions Club for the donation for Heritage Days fireworks, the Upsala American Legion for the donation for Heritage Days fireworks; to Sourcewell for the $50,000 grant for Upsala city vehicles.

Financials: Rene moved to approve the bills as presented, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously. Updates/FYI: Next regular City Council meeting will be August 7, 2023. July 13th from 9:00-9:30 Coffee with a Council Member at the Community Center.

Adjourn Gunderson moved to adjourn at 9:13 pm, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Popp, Clerk/Treasurer

Stearns Co. Sheriff’s Office

Crash: August 5, 2023: At approximately 12:49 p.m., the Stearns County Sheriff's Office received a call of a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of County Road 167 and Long Lake Road, which is approximately two and a half miles northwest of the city of Freeport.

When deputies arrived, they located a 2012 Buick Verano, driven by Dorothy Austing, 80, of Freeport off road. Deputies also located a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Brian Nightingale, 34, of Holdingford, parked on the side of Long Lake Road. Upon further investigation it was determined Austing was traveling southbound on County Road 167 and Nightingale was stopped on Lake Road. Nightingale then entered the intersection striking Austing’s vehicle.

Austing was transported to the Melrose Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Minnesota State Patrol and Freeport Fire and Rescue.

Grants Available to Make Needed Home Repairs

Douglas County HRA has grants available for eligible homeowners to make needed home repairs in Douglas, Pope and Todd Counties. These are funded through USDA Rural Development and MN Housing. Douglas County

HRA is the approved servicer of Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant and Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency Rehab and Emergency/Accessibility Loan Programs, and Todd County is part of the service territory. Essentially, these are grants, forgiven after a set number of years as long as the homeowner

Morrison Co. Sheriff’s Office

Crash: August 4, 2023: At approximately 3:24 a.m., their office received a report of a possible crash that was reported through a cell phone crash alert feature, near the intersection of 30th Street and Dairy Road, in Elmdale Township, just east of Upsala, MN.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel arrived on scene confirming a single vehicle crash with a single occupant that was unresponsive and did not have a pulse. Life-saving measures were performed on the driver but were unsuccessful.

During the course of the investigation, it appears that the driver of the vehicle was westbound on 30th Street and entered the ditch on the south side of the road. The vehicle, a Buick Regal, traveled approximately 100 yards in the ditch before driving back on the roadway. The vehicle then crossed both lanes of traffic and eventually rolled in the north ditch, just west of Dairy Road, before coming to a stop.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Hayden Edstrom, from Freeport MN, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Hayden during this difficult time. We express our gratitude to all the emergency personnel who responded to this scene. Their commitment to serving the community, even in the face of adversity, is commendable and deeply appreciated.”

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Upsala First Response Team, Upsala Fire Department and Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service.

remains on the property that improvements are made.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be 18 of age or older and occupy and own the property

Be current on any mortgage payments, if applicable, and current on Property Taxes

Have proof of home insurance

Have assets less than $25,000

Must meet current income limits set by each funder

Funding is available for:

Mechanical Improvements such as electrical, plumbing and heating

Structural Improvements such as roof replacement, foundations, floors, and stairs

Energy Improvements such as windows, doors and insulation

This list is not a complete list of available improvements, there are may be more!

These funds are available and ready to be used! They are a hand-up for people who would otherwise not be able to afford to make these improvements.

For more eligibility requirements and additional program information, please contact Janelle Bennet at 320-762-3848, or email rehabcoordinator@douglascountyhra.org.

CHURCH OF SEVEN DOLORS

151 Second St. S., Albany, MN

PARISH BAZAAR

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2023

10:30 AM: POLKA MASS

Music by “The Nite Owls”

11 AM-1:30 PM:

Homemade CHICKEN & HAM DINNER

Parish Center & Holy Family School Basement

Take-Outs Available • Handicapped Accessible

ENTERTAINMENT:

GENE OSTENDORF BAND

11 AM-3:00 PM

TWO FOR THE ROAD

3:30-6 PM

3:00 PM: QUILT AUCTION

Hand-Made

FOOD & BEVERAGES

11 am-7 pm

Auctioneer: Dan Winter

FUN & GAMES • KIDS GAMES

Wheel of Chance, $100 Cash Wheel, Pull Tabs, Cake Walk Dunk Stand, Chug-A-Lug Train Rides, Plinko, Fish Pond, & More!

6:00 PM: GRAND RAFFLE DRAWING

$2,000 Grand Prize

CASH RAFFLE DRAWING

$20,000 Grand Prize: Tickets Available at the Parish Office & Magnifi Financial-Albany

AUGUST BARGAINS of the MONTH®

CLASSIFIED ADS

FOUND: Plastic box with some numbers and misc. inside near the Rock Tavern. Stop by Neville Hardware, Grey Eagle to claim.

GARAGE SALE: Fri., Aug. 11th: 8-5; Sat., Aug. 12th: 8-3. Multifamily: household, clothes, holiday decor, toys, heaters, crafts & more. 301 Pearl St. E., Grey Eagle.

GARAGE SALE: Thursday at noon thru Saturday: Aug. 10-12th. Something for everyone, lots of great things. 519 1st Ave. SW Melrose.

WANTED TO BUY: Dairy Heifers and Cows. 320-894-7175. SC-evB

WANTED: ISO used walk in cooler. Call 320-584-5608.

FOR SALE: '84 Corvette, top comes off, $9,500 or b/o. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn

FOR SALE: Oak 4x4s 8, 10 & 12ft. lengths. Pine 2x3s 6-14ft. long. Sauk Centre or Grey Eagle locations, 320-248-2146. 8/24

FOR SALE: 55 gallon plastic barrels, $8 each. Call 763-229-5275.

FOR SALE: White Tecumseh 11 hp electric start snow blower engine, runs great. Call 320-290-4539.

FREE: White GE refridgerator 30x20x64 Model TB14SCB. Call 517-512-3342.

FOR SALE: 4 HP 63XL ink cartridges $15 each. Dell 1320 Lazer toner $10 all. Brother ink cartridges $10 all. 320-815-1768

FOR SALE: Cuisinart popcorn popper $25. Call 320-815-1768.

FOR SALE: 12 NIB Carbon Hunter arrows, B/O. Call 320-260-4551.

Todd County HHS Employment Opportunities

Todd County HHS is looking for reliable, service oriented individuals to serve the citizens of Todd County for the following positions:

**Child Services Manager

**Child Services Supervisor

**Social Worker – Adult Services/ Adult Protection (full-time)

**Eligibility Worker (full-time)

**Office Support Specialist II (seasonal, part-time)

To learn more about these openings and how to apply visit the official Todd County website at https://www.co.todd.mn.us

Questions may be directed to Todd County Administration: (320) 732-6155.

FOR SALE: 2004 Harley Davidson Road King Custom, red, 3544 actual miles. Call 320-894-9118.

FOR SALE: Like new Riccar Retriever vacuum, specially made for pet hair removal, includes all tools, new $1100, will sell for $375. Call 320-360-0343. TK

FOR SALE: 2017 Oasis 26' camper like new, well kept, sleeps 10. For more info. call 320-339-5260.