Hometown News August 31, 2023

This unique property is a must-see with a 300-degree view of the water to the east, south, and west so you can catch sunrises and sunsets and enjoy the cool breezes that always blow across The point. With over 2,000 feet of shoreline and 3 acres of land, you will be secluded in your own quiet, natural paradise. The property has a 2.5-car garage and a boat house with a deck above. The cabin could be renovated or its existing footprint can be utilized to build a replacement. Don't miss the opportunity to build your dream home on this unique property located in Central MN.

LOOKING

Central MN Heritage Club held their 15th Annual Heritage Days last weekend in Burtrum. Pictured above is Eric Staricka demonstrating older methods used to grind corn.

Photo by Lori Young.

Hometown News

29442 120th St. Grey Eagle, MN 56336

320-285-2323

Email: htnews@icloud.com

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Published By Lori & John Young

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Free Distribution In: Albany

Avon

Bowlus

Burtrum

Elmdale

Freeport

Greenwald

Grey Eagle

Holdingford

A life without friends is a life without sun -By

I constantly preach about the importance of nurturing your network, but there’s one very important element of our networks that often takes a back seat to the business contacts we build. That is our invaluable network of friends.

For so many of us, focusing our attention on our work life is a high priority. That’s a noble goal, but what finally happens when we’re off the clock?

We need to concentrate our efforts on developing a network of friends. I can honestly say that my friends have saved me from making big mistakes, celebrated my victories and made difficult days better by just being there. And they know I will return the favor.

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

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I have dear lifelong friends, business friends, neighborhood friends, golf friends, office friends, friends where I worship. And so on. I confide my deepest secrets to some. I ask for advice from several. I enjoy activities with others. All have impacted my life in important ways.

This Arabian proverb provides the perfect definition: A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

Great literature, movies and music lyrics are full of references to friendship. The Beatles got by “with a little help from my friends.” James Taylor reminded us that when you need a helping hand, “you’ve got a friend.” Bette Midler gave us a long list of reasons

why “You’ve got to have friends.” One of the most successful and longest-running television shows of all time was “Friends,” which will probably continue to run in syndication when the stars are old and gray.

Henry David Thoreau, one of America’s most famous naturalists and philosophers, gave the following definition of friendship: “A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us. The friend asks no return but that his friend will religiously accept and wear and not disgrace the apotheosis of him. They cherish each other’s hopes. They are king to each other’s dreams.

“Friendship is never established as an understood relation. It is a miracle which requires constant proof. It is an exercise of the purest imagination and of the rarest faith.”

Friendship is so important that we celebrate it several times during the year.

February is International Friendship Month, and Old Friends, New Friends Week is the third week of May. Congress declared a U.S. holiday in honor of friends by a proclamation in 1935. Since then, World Friendship Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August (it was Aug. 6 this year). And September is Friendship Month.

It might not be a Hallmark holiday, but Friendship Month is still a great time to go over some tips on how to build, nurture and maintain great friendships.

• Be open. Share your feelings honestly. Open communication is important in building lasting friendships and an unwavering support system. And don’t forget to tell your customers how much you appreciate them.

• Be receptive. No one is perfect and there may be times when you don’t agree with your friends’ choices. Show them that you care and respect them. It’s okay to share your opinions because both sides need to practice acceptance. The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail and not his tongue.

Harvey Mackay

• Make friendships a priority. It’s easy to get busy in life, working and raising a family, but don’t forget your friends. Friendship is a responsibility – not an opportunity. Reconnect with old friends and continue to make new ones. Make friendship a habit, and you will always have friends.

• Listen. Part of being a true friend is listening to their problems and concerns without interrupting or always trying to fix things. Sometimes all they want is a receptive ear. Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say.

• Express gratitude. Don’t forget to show your appreciation for your friends and let them know how much their friendship means to you. One close friend is worth more than a thousand acquaintances.

Considering all these points, ask yourself this: If you were another person, would you like to be a friend of yours?

Mackay’s Moral: A good friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg even though you’re slightly cracked.

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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

• St. Rose of Lima Parish Fall Festival starting at 10 a.m. in St. Rosa. See ad on page 7.

• Mid Minnesota Motor Heads 8th Annual Grey Eagle Car Show from 12-3 p.m. See ad on page 8.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

• Long Prairie Area Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting at 2 p.m. at CentraCare West Campus Board Room, Long Prairie.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 5.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

• Catholic United Financial Pancake & Sausage Breakfast from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church Hall, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 7.

• Catholic United Financial Breakfast & Bake Sale from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Church, Spring Hill.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

• Melrose High School Class of 1963 Reunion starting at 1 p.m. at Meadowlark Country Club, Melrose.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

• 17th Annual Hog Roast from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Grey Eagle United Methodist Church.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

• St. John’s Catholic Church 39th Annual Craft Fair from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Swanville

School.

• 127th Annual Burtrum Bean Bake from 4:30-8 p.m. at the Burtrum Community Center.

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.

If you have an upcoming event or meeting, please let us know by email:

Weekend Weather

“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

Montana

I felt that I should follow the railroad to Montana. Montana had often been referred to as the Great American Desert, due to having an annual rainfall of from 12 to 15 inches. The Federal Government wanted to populate Montana, so the railroads were offered a bonus to extend their tracks out into the open regions of eastern Montana.

I found it interesting to learn how the western expansion was done. The tracks were laid in a westerly direction, with a town being created about every 12 miles. Remembering that there was no town previously, the towns were built by the railroad as it moved west. The towns were wooden buildings, or possibly wooden boxes, that would look like a bar, a hotel, a post office, a general store, a bank and a schoolhouse. Pictures of the towns, along with the railroad workers, were taken to show that the town was occupied and running. This was to be shown in a brochure that was distributed throughout the east coast and Europe. They were also published in the European languages. The common front picture was a team followed by a one bottom plow that was turning over gold coins. This was shown because the US Government wanted to increase the population, create a larger tax base and encourage farming.

Farming was an industry that could turn a small amount of seed into a crop that returned the seed many times over. There was only a lot of labor between the seeding and the harvesting and as far as the Government was concerned the labor was free.

Originally the immigrants lived in tents until a home was built. There were statements about the prairie being decorated at night by the kerosene lanterns showing human shadows against the tent walls.

The homestead in Montana was 360 acres and had an initial cost of a $22.00 filing fee which was for 5 years. After 5 years, the residents needed to show cultivation, improvement of the property and citizenship.

If these requirements were met, for a $16.00 document fee, the property was yours to do with as you wished.

My grandparents moved to Montana in the 1920s. I guess the first couple of years were fairly comfortable, but after that it became so dry that there were no crops to harvest. The money also became harder to find and since Pa was also a blacksmith, he soon found that he was taking a lot of machinery as payment for his blacksmith work. He didn't want to refuse to repair the farm machinery if there was no cash. He also knew if the machine was not repaired, the customer had no chance of caring for whatever crop there was. He wasn't happy. Then one day my Dad came home with 9 rattlesnake tails and Ma's German ancestry became very noticeable. After another snake occurrence the next day, she decided that they were moving back to Minnesota. “And that was that.”

The conditions in the area were so dry that most of the farmers in the area were having a meal of jackrabbits every second day. Grasshoppers became very plentiful, (but they didn't eat them.) Ma talked of a bachelor neighbor that they knew that made bean soup with 16 beans in a quart of water. No feed for the animals or food for the family - time to leave.

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

ALL STARS

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce

This article is primarily for Believers in Jesus Christ, those who have confessed their sins and repented as in turned their life around and started to follow Jesus. But if you have not done that and want to read other people’s mail, then a warning, you might be shocked beyond belief of what is in this letter to the “Readers of Hometown News.”

If you have not read through the Bible, let me encourage you to do so. Reading the Bible through gives you a new outlook on what God has in store for us. Most people, yes even believers would say that God is Love! And rightly so because that is what the Bible tells us.

1 John 4:7-8 reminds us that not only is God loving, but that He actually IS Love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” The surprising thing is that Love is not the only characteristic of God. We know that He is love because of Him showing us how to love by sending His Son to die in place of us.

The catch is that God is also Just. If a judge in court says to a murder, “I am pret-

ty sure that you are sorry for killing that person(s), so I am going to forgive you of your crime. Would he be a “good” judge? NO, of course not. It’s the same with God, in fact one day Jesus is coming back to be our judge. Jude 14-15 says “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

I read the Bible just about every day, I start in Genesis and read all the way through Revelation. I just finished reading in Revelation which talks of Jesus return and His judgement. Then I started reading in Genesis and I read of the creation and the fall of Adam and Eve, and God’s redemption. God loves us so much that He provides a way out of our miserable sin. If you are a believer, you know that one day you will be with Him in Glory, IF NOT, please accept His love today.

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

Bavarian Gardens

Formerly Hillcrest Family Restaurant & Stubby's Tavern Under NEW Ownership: Terry Torrence

HOURS: Mon.-Sun.: 8 AM-8 PM Lounge Open @ 11 AM Buffet Winners

Sunday, Sept. 3:

- Gerald Hartung

- Al Kalla

- Lisa Dobmeier

Tuesday, Sept. 5:

- Math Schmitz

- Tom Kolodjeski - Deb Stich

MONDAY: 4-8 PM

Your Choice:

• 6 oz. Hamburger Steak

Corner Pub & Grill

Freeport, MN • 320-836-2120

HAPPY HOUR: Mon.-Wed.: 4:30-6:30 PM $3.00

Thursday: All Day/Night $2.50

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

Lunch Specials: 11 AM-1 PM Fri., Sept. 1: Cheeseburger w/Fries

Next Week: Monday-Friday, Sept. 4-8

Cook's Choice

Call for the Special of the Day!

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

Toppings 50¢ each; Bacon 50¢ Slice

HIRING COOKS!

Week Nights & Weekends

TUESDAY:

All You Can Eat $10.75

FRIDAY FISH DINNER Wednesday OPEN MENU

Thursday OPEN MENU $10.50 w/Potato, Soup & Salad Bar

SATURDAY STEAK & SHRIMP

$16.99

SUNDAY:

• 1 Block off I-94 Albany Exit • 1004 Shamrock Lane, Albany

WEEKEND

FRIDAY: 5-9 PM

• Ribeye $22.95

• Teriyaki Chicken over Rice Pilaf $12.95

• Deep Fried Cod $14.95

• Chicken Fettuccine

Alfredo $13.95 or Shrimp

Fettuccine Alfredo $15.95 w/Breadsticks

SATURDAY: 5-9 PM

• Prime Rib $22.95

• Ribs $18.95

• Deep Fried Walleye $15.95

• Creamy Sweet Chili Chicken, Wild Rice, w/Breadsticks $12.95

WEDNESDAY: 11 AM-9 PM

• 1-1/2 lb. Wings $6.00

•

THURSDAY: 5-9 PM Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato

• Chicken & Ribs $15.95

• 8 oz. Ground Sirloin $

Alice Theresa Eichers

Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in St. Wendel for Alice Eichers, 91, who passed away on Friday, August 25 at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany. Rev. Gregory Miller OSB officiated and burial was at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls.

Alice was born July 31, 1932 in Richmond, MN to Michael and Anna (Braegelman) Drontle. She married Daniel R. Eichers on May 8, 1957 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. She was a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon and belonged to the Christian Mothers and the Quilter’s Group.

Her faith was very important to her. She loved quilting and crafting. She also found joy in gardening, her beautiful flower gardens, canning, fishing and playing cards. She loved watching her grandchildren. She found ultimate joy whenever she was with her family. They meant the world to her. She will be dearly missed.

Alice is survived by her children; Mark (Louella) of Avon, Theresa Cronin of St. Augusta, Jerome (Theresa) of Avon, Joanne (Joseph) Bloch of Longville and Marlene (Lloyd) Koopmeiners of Avon, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, brothers; Richard (Alice) Drontle and Edmund (Theresa) Drontle both of Richmond, sister-in-law Florence Rausch of Albany.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Daniel in 2014 and sister Rose Peltz.

LLC.

Thomas "Tom" Ecker

Thomas A.

“Tom” Ecker, age 77 of Miltona and formerly of New Munich, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at his home on Lake Miltona.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, August 26 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Inurnment was in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Thomas Arthur Ecker was born August 4, 1946 in Melrose, Minnesota to Elmer and Veronica (Schrantz) Ecker. After graduating from Melrose High School, he entered the military, serving with the United States Navy. Tom returned home to New Munich to run the family business, Ecker Feed Service. On August 14, 1971, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Funk at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. Throughout the years, they raised their five amazing children. In 2012, Tom and Kathy retired to their dream home on Lake Miltona near Alexandria.

Tom enjoyed woodworking, fishing, sailing, cooking, and making memories with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Ecker of Miltona; children, Heidi (Chris) Wrede of New Hope, Aaron (Lori) Ecker of Alexandria, Carl (Melissa) Ecker of Chanhassen, Gretta (Brian) Eder of Lake Elmo, and Megan (Dan) Stern of Portland, Oregon; 11 grandchildren, Logan Meyers, Emma, Owen, and Noah Ecker, Charlie and Nora Wrede, Georgia and Frankie Lou Ecker, Beatrice and Pearl Eder, and Scottie Stern; brothers and sisters, David Ecker of Melrose, Bill (Elaine) Ecker of Perham, Steve

(Sue) Ecker of Long Prairie, Dianne (Craig) Smith of Miltona, and Laurie (Bill) Welz of Delano; Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Veronica Ecker.

Serving as urn bearer was Logan Meyers. Serving as cross bearer was Charlie Wrede and scripture bearer was Emma Ecker.

Eugene Michael Theisen

Eugene Michael Theisen, age 76 of Evansville, formerly of Burtrum, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, August 25, 2023 at the CentraCare Care Center in Long Prairie, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Friday, September

1 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Ronald Dockendorf officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle.

Eugene was born January 14, 1947 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Henry and Bertha (Wessel) Theisen. He attended Burtrum Elementary School and graduated from Grey Eagle High School. After high school he served in the National Guard before he was honorably discharged. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Friese on July 17, 1971. Eugene, along with his two brothers, operated two dairy farms. Eugene was the mechanic who could fix and repair any machinery needed. He could overhaul any tractor back in the day. They also did some custom sawing over the years. The three brothers constructed all of the buildings on the two farms.

Survivors include his children, David (Ginene) Theisen of Sauk Centre, Christine (Bruce) Sales of Burtrum, Michael (Aleisha) Theisen of Minneapolis, Jeremy Theisen of Burtrum and Matthew (Janelle) Theisen of Woodbury; five grandchildren, Jordan, Haileigh, Ryan, Luke and Reid; two great-grandchildren, Hudson and Jayden; siblings, Leroy Theisen (Helen Schwagel) of Burtrum, Rita (Jesse) Erickson of Ottertail, Edward Theisen of Burtrum and Karen Sauer (Loren Johnson) of Ponsford; and several nieces and nephews.

Eugene was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn in 2006; parents; sister, Marcella Schloegl; brother-in-law, Warren Schloegl; nieces, Nicole Schloegl, Jodi Schloegl and Tracy Frost; and nephews, Gerald Theisen and Eric Schloegl.

Dad’s later years were spent at Henneman’s Country Care.

Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral and Cremation Services of Grey Eagle.

Mary Ann M. Engelmeyer

Mary Ann M. Engelmeyer, age 83 of St. Rosa, died peacefully on Thursday, August 24, 2023 with her family at her side at the CentraCare Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, August 28 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa with Rev. Dan Walz officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Mary Ann Finken was born November 4, 1939 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Robert and Loretta (Stueve) Finken. She was united in marriage to Roger Engelmeyer on September 30, 1958 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. The couple lived north of St. Rosa. Mary Ann worked at Fingerhut in St. Cloud and Sauk Centre until they closed the doors. She then began working at Stearns Manufacturing in Grey Eagle until 1988. Mary Ann enjoyed embroidering dish towels and pillowcases and making blankets and apple pies for her family. She also enjoyed cooking for family gatherings. Most of all, she enjoyed being there for Roger and her family.

She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Catholic United Financial, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101, and the Roving Hillbillies.

Survivors include her children, Audrey (Scott) Blasko of Afton, Dale (Debbie) Engelmeyer of St. Rosa, Diane (Leon) Stueve of Albany, Glen (Darlene) Engelmeyer of St. Rosa, Karen (Henry) Gruber of St. Cloud, Jim (Roseann) Engelmeyer of Freeport, and Laura (Galen) Stickfort of Stillwater; 22 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; brother and sisters, Wilfred “Wif” (Bernette) Finken of Melrose, Dorothy Austing of Freeport, and Donna Bueckers of St. Rosa; and sisters-in-law, Gloriann (Jerry) Thomas of Little Falls, Mary Jane (John) Klaphake of St. Rosa, and Margie Engelmeyer of St. Rosa.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Engelmeyer on September 15, 2018; parents; and great-granddaughter, Addison Wensman.

Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.

Happy September!

Expect delays on Interstate 94 Avon to Sauk Centre as roadwork begins Sept. 5

Motorists who travel on Interstate 94 between Avon and Sauk Centre, Stearns County, will encounter single-lane closures and delays as crews begin roadwork on Tuesday, Sept. 5, reports the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Crews will resurface the mainline lanes with a new layer of asphalt between Highway 238 in Albany and St. John’s Road in Collegeville, near Avon.

The project also includes access ramps at various interchanges between St. John’s Road and Highway 71/28 in Sauk Centre, along with the two rest areas near Avon—Big Spunk rest area along eastbound I-94 and the Middle Spunk Lake rest area along westbound I-94. The work requires each rest area to close for up to four days.

Work will occur Monday through Friday, sunrise to sunset, on good weather days until late October.

MnDOT advises travelers to always slow down when approaching every work zone, then navigate through with care and caution. Other reminders:

Never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones. Stay alert; work zones constantly change. Watch for workers and slow-moving equipment.

Obey posted speed limits; fine for a work

zone violation is $300.

Minimize distractions behind the wheel.

Also, motorists will encounter single-lane, head-to-head traffic, 24/7, east of Avon, as crews update the westbound I-94 bridge over eastbound Stearns County Road 75 at Collegeville through early October.

When complete, the $9.6 million project will provide smoother road surfaces and reduce maintenance upkeep and costs on I-94 between Collegeville and Sauk Centre.

For current road conditions on I-94 in Minnesota, visit 511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.

Central MN Heritage Days: Alicia (right) and son Roman Bruggenthies using a manual hand corn sheller.

St. Francis of Assisi held their 67th Annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Aug. 27. Photos by Lori Young.

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, I just discovered you and your teachings a couple of weeks ago. I’m already on Baby Step 2, and I was wondering if I should buy life insurance now or wait until I’ve finished paying off debt. I’m single with no children, and I owe a total of $44,700. I have a $25,000 company-funded life insurance policy through my employer. What do you think I should do?

-Elizabeth

have a policy worth anywhere from $800,000 to $960,000.

If I were you, I wouldn’t buy another life insurance policy at all right now. If you get married or have kids somewhere down the road, then buy it immediately. In that case, both you and your spouse should have 15- to 20-year level term policies of 10 to 12 times your individual incomes.

And never buy anything except level term life insurance. The reason? That covers you until you’re out of debt—should a spouse bring some into the picture—and the two of you have so much cash piled up that you don’t need to pay for a life insurance policy anymore. It’s called being self-insured, and that’s a great place to be.

Good question, Elizabeth!

Ask The Motor Medics®

From

Dear Elizabeth,

If you have a life insurance need, it’s not a Baby Step. It’s a necessity in your budget and something you need to put in place as soon as possible. But from what you’ve told me, you don’t have a great need for life insurance at this point. No one, except you, is depending on your income, and the $25,000 policy you have through your employer is more than enough to take care of any final expenses if something happened to you.

The main purpose of life insurance is to take care of those you leave behind when you die. If someone is financially dependent on your income, I recommend having 10 to 12 times your annual income wrapped up in a good level term life insurance policy. That means if you make $80,000 a year, you should

-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.

Albany Senior Dining

Mon., Sept. 4: Closed.

Tues., Sept. 5: Cheeseburger, baked beans, potato salad, cookie.

Wed., Sept. 6: BBQ chicken, baked potato, mixed vegetables, baked apple slices.

Thurs., Sept. 7: Pork roast, whipped potatoes, gravy, broccoli, cantaloupe.

Fri., Sept. 8: Breaded pollock, red potatoes, baked beans, fruit salad.

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

Dear Motor Medics, I have a 2005 Ford truck that I use to pull my fifth wheel camper 20,000 miles or more per year. We are retired and tour the country. We have been listening to your Under The Hood radio show for several years and as we travel, we check the website for stations to listen on and so far, have heard you on the air in 20 different states. We are true Hoodies. We heard you talking about tire pressure monitors recently and how all cars are coming out with them, but our truck is not equipped and wondered if we could install them as an accessory? We have had several close calls due to low tires on both the truck and the camper and wonder if they can be installed on both of them?

-Steve and Jennifer, Seattle, Washington Dear Steve and Jennifer, Thank you for being such die-hard Hoodies. There are aftermarket kits out there to do just what you want. These kits have many features like individual tire pressure, low or high-pressure alerts and more. The features depend on the price you pay for the unit. Many people monitor every wheel on the vehicle and trailer. The units can be very easy to install yourself and can be found at many truck stops, camping centers, and parts stores. Knowing your pressures is a great way to increase your safety.

-Take care, the Motor Medics Dear Motor Medics,

I have heard you talk about cabin air filters many times over the years so you would think that I would take the time to see if my car was equipped with one. My vents started to blow much weaker over the past few months and I just kept turning up the dial until I could not get the car to cool off. I was not able to get in right away to have it checked and I started

hearing a rattle noise under my hood when I had the defroster or air conditioning on. Once I had time to get it to the shop, they told me my air conditioning compressor had failed and it would cost $1400.00 to repair it in addition to the $15.00 cabin air filter which they will install for free with the repair. Why would a dirty air filter cause a bad compressor? Some cars don’t even have a filter.

-Myron in Valentine, Nebraska Dear Myron, The filter needs to be changed regularly or it will restrict airflow. When it gets severely restricted the evaporator core for the air conditioning may get so cold that oil in the system will not flow well and it is possible that in some cases it could damage the system. Usually, the pressure switch in the system would shut it down but we don’t know all your details. If you have a cabin air filter, check its condition regularly.

-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

Grey Eagle Township • August 7, 2023

Call to Order: Mike Rohe called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was recited.

Members Present: Mary Ann Primus, Mike Rohe, Alan Roering and John Young. Erv Herdering, Mark Erdmann, Dave Peterson and Blaine from Widseth Engineering.

Agenda Approval: A preliminary agenda was presented. Mike asked if there were additions to the agenda. John made the motion to accept the agenda, Alan made the second. All in favor. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes: John made the motion to accept the July 3, 2023 Township minutes. Alan made the second. All in favor. Motion passed.

Mark Erdmann presented signage for the BBL access and a request that it be closed to motorized boats. The Association is trying to keep the lake clean and free of milfoil and other weeds. John made a motion to put up a sign for this year and discuss the closing at the annual meeting in March, Alan made a second to that motion adding that the board would need to see and approve the signage before it is put up. Motion carried.

Blaine from Widseth Engineers was present to share some cost estimates for the potential problem areas and which should be addressed first. He also stated there may be some grant monies to help with repairs on 295th and a grant for possible tar on Arctic Drive (the portion to the lake access). 295th will be discussed again at the Sept. meeting. Brakken, Ascot, 335th Arden and 122nd will be on the list for crack filling. No discussion on Cozy Cove other than Dave P. saying it is a rustic road and should stay a rustic road.

Town Clerk’s Report: Clerk presented the claims list for July. Claims list included claims 3843-3854 for a total of $13,408.09. John made the motion to pay the claims. Alan made the second. All in favor. Motion carried. Mail included equalization training, District 8 meeting, and advertising. John made a motion to allow the clerk to attend the Dist. 8 meeting. Alan made the second. All in favor, Motion carried.

The financial report was presented, John made the motion to approve, Alan made the second. All in favor, motion carried.

Road and Bridge Report: Harold Schmitt has spoken with board members on his request to widen the driveway and whether he would need to move or replace the culvert. He will need to check with DNR to see whether it would cause any issues. Otherwise, the Board felt it would be fine for him to move the driveway. Brushing around signs needs to be done- John will contact Scherping to see if he has time to do this. John will work on patching on cement culverts. Dock on BBL- DNR has monies to install a fishing pier, just need more discussion on where and who maintains it. It was also mentioned there is money to upgrade the beach area with some playground equipment (swingset). John will share this with BBL at their annual meeting.

Additional agenda item: Discussion on the insurance coverage for the Township building, all Township buildings will now be insured at replacement cost starting next year. The amended culvert resolution was presented and will be discussed at the September meeting. The County has identified all township culverts as far as location, distance from intersection, and right -of-way and condition of the culvert.

Public Comments: None

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Alan, second by John. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Minutes not approved.

Mary Ann Primus Clerk/Treasurer

Burtrum City • August 1, 2023

Present: Jenae Ulbricht, Irene Ehlert, Juli Scherping, Romie Gessell and Brooke Thieschafer. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Ulbricht called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM

Approval of Agenda City Council: Romie Gessell made a motion to approve. Irene Ehlert supported. All in favor, motion carried.

Approval of the Minutes from June 2023. Romie Gessell stated a name misspelled and a month’s correction. Motion to approve minutes made by Romie Gessell. Seconded by Juli Scherpingi. All in favor, motion carried.

Approval of Bills City Council: Total Bills for the Month were: $4,887.65. Deposits totaling: $18,039.20. Large amount of the deposit was from The State of MN Local Aide Funding. Motion by Irene Ehlert, seconded by Juli Scherpingl. All in favor, motion carried.

Old Business: Handicap Railings at the Community Center-Men’s Bathroom have been installed. Female’s Bathroom will be installed.

Wi-Fi Community Center: Mayor Ulbricht has received the T-Mobile wifi box. She tested with a variety of usage including facetime inside & outside of the building. Worked fine. Pricing is $40 per month with T-Mobile 4G. Similar plan with Verizon was $55 per month. Having the internet would add value and allow the City Clerk to work from the Community Center a day or 2 a week. Additional costs have been cut such as the Mayor cell phone reimbursement and city website. City Council member Romie Gessell asked about the Arvig and hardwire. Mayor Ulbricht stated costs for that were about $80 per month, and there is no government break. With the T-Mobile option we would have to buy a router roughly $120. There is talk about towers going up in the area in the next year, and we could utilize an antena. T-Mobile is a month to month contract and we can cancel at any time. City Council Member Romie made a motion for a 6 month trial with T-Mobile. Irene Ehlert seconded. All in motion, motion carried.

City locks: Mayor Ulbrict hosted a volleyball tournament fundraiser at the Lions Park. With the proceeds, the Mayor has donated a portion of the funds toward the front door locks and office door locks totaling $200. Mayor found a free app to allow access to change code for a temporary time and assign it to individuals. This will work great when we have community center rentals. The Mayor did research other options for locks and the re-keying.

Romie Gessell suggested keeping it local. Mayor will get final numbers and quotes and a decision will be made at next month’s meeting. Looking for a motion to purchase 2 key doors inside, office and main door to test with wifi, which were funded by Mayor Ulbricht’s volleyball tournament and no funds from the city are affected. Juli Scherping made the motion. Irene Ehlert seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

City Sign: The city will contact the State to verify setbacks for signs. A company out of Long Prairie will be getting a quote for the signs as well as PJ Signs out of Grey Eagle. More to come. No decisions made at this time.

Office/Backroom: Screws for desk have been located. Next step is to put it together.

Grants: Todd County Housing Development grant was posted to the City’s Facebook page.

Building Permits: No permits were needed at this meeting.

Bollig Engineering: There will be a Special Meeting held on August 10th, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. at the Community Center to inform and discuss options for the city. Flyers to be made and posted on Facebook.

City Website: A work in progress. Mayor Ulbricht is writing and creating the content and Adam Ulbricht is making any edits. More to come as we progress forward. Looking to advertise to pay for the cost of the website. Website will feature forms electronically, upcoming events and dates, feature pictures, and utilities. More to come.

Road Signs: MNDot has been contacted. Unfortunately we can’t put up just any signs. MNDot has to conduct an assessment of the road. Assessment is scheduled to happen in 2-3 weeks. Nothing else can happen at this time.

Speed sign: Todd County Sheriff: current speed sign is not in working order. The Sheriff’s Office did let us know of Sourcewell to contact them about receiving a grant for the speed sign. More to come.

New Business: Picnic Table: The City is missing one picnic table. Maintenance will do an inventory and reach out to the former mayor for a poten-

tial location of the missing picnic table.

Building Art: Swanville School did hire a new art teacher. Looking to get a logo painting on the wall of the Community Center by students. More to come.

Snow Plowing: The city is having issues with the plow truck. It is in very rough shape. The city would like to look at contracting out the services vs. replacing the truck. Options could be to buy a truck for roughly $30,000, big tractor with a blade. The city will post and accept bids to contract the snow plowing. We will post on the Facebook page, Flyer, Leader, and Hometown News. Herdering is not accepting new clients for snow plowing at this time. We could potentially raise money for a new truck/tractor. No action needed at this time.

Contract Policing: Pricing for the city’s policing with Todd County Sheriff’s department may increase. County Commissioners and Sheriffs Office are in negotiations. Current pricing is 12 hours per month at $42/hour. Negotiations should be completed by the end of the month. The city will receive a written document with any changes in the

Todd County Siren: A company out of Eagle Bend will be out to service the siren in August.

Open Floor: Needing a cabinet for storage for paper products. The City Council will work on pricing and report back at the next meeting. The city is in need of a vacuum, the current one is not working. Screens in the kitchen need to be repaired. Screens need to be fixed prior to the bean bake. Mayor Ulbricht will have Maintenance bring to Grey Eagle for repair. The Mayor would like to acknowledge Debbie Strassburg, Sandy Prout, and Brenda Berling for cleaning up the kitchen. Burtrum Cabooze donated $250 to the City. Sandy Prout would like to pay for the Bean Bake Community Center Rental in one of the following years.

Adjournment: Motion by Romie Gessell, seconded by Juli Schpering to adjourn meeting at 8:04 P.M. Motion carried.

Next City Council Meeting is scheduled for September 5th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Brooke Thieschafer, City Clerk-Treasurer

MELROSE AMERICAN LEGION Post 101 265 Co. Rd. 173 SE, Melrose - 320-256-3581 • Cell 320-429-4008

Gambling Licence #01053-001 • Pull-Tabs, ETabs, & Electronic BINGO Closed

HOURS: Sundays: Closed

Mondays: 3-8 PM Line Dancing/Bar Open

Tues., Wed., Thurs.: Closed

Fridays: 3-8 PM • Sat. Closed or Special Events

Friday, Sept. 1: Burger Night DOG TAG Drawing $375

Tuesday, Sept. 5: Flag Disposal Ceremony: 6 PM Friday, Sept. 8: HORSE RACES

Catholic United Financial - Of Grey Eagle Matching Grant

Sunday,

Serving 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

St. Joseph’s Church Hall, Grey Eagle Proceeds go to our Religious Education Program.

CLASSIFIED ADS

GARAGE SALE: Huge 5 family! Aug. 30: 1-6 pm; Aug. 31: 8-6 pm; Sept. 1-2: 8-6 pm. Collectibles, Hamm's, Schmidt, Arby's, Disney, McDonalds, Avon, Barbie Tonka Jeep, LOL bus, 3 adult bikes, fishing, hunting, tools, lawn & garden, furniture, sewing, housewares, Christmas, lots of clothing: girls 8-14/16, womens 8P-plus size, mens XXL. Books, toys, games, horse equipment, much misc. 6775 30th St. (Cty. 21) 3 miles East of Upsala, Larry Erickson residence.

GARAGE SALE: Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 30-31: 7:30am-5pm; Sept. 1:? Lots of misc. stuff and 1x3x clothes! 2475 60th Ave., Holdingford.

GARAGE SALE: Melrose. August 31, Thurs.: 4-8pm; Sept. 1-2, Fri. & Sat.: 7am7pm. Multi-Family Sale. Household items, mechanic & yard tools, collectibles. 102 10th Ave SE, Melrose.

GARAGE SALE: Friday, Sept. 1: 8-5; Saturday, Sept. 2: 8-12. A little bit of every thing: books, furniture, tools, antiques & a lot more. 16991 Loppy Lane, Avon.

GARAGE SALE: September 13-15: 7am6pm. 33566 Sand Lake Road, Albany. Books, tiller, tools, craft items, antique ta bles, and much more.

FOUND: Plumber snake. Call 320-6309659.

FOUND: On Angler Trail, tube and pull rope. Call 320-815-6333.

FOUND: Smaller boat cushion with snaps along County Road 2 near Big Birch Lake landing. Call 320-423-8569.

WANTED TO BUY: Butcher cows, bulls, fats & walkable cripples: also horses, sheep & goats. 320-235-2664. SC-odB

MID MINNESOTA MOTOR HEADS PRESENTS

NOSES PANTS PILED PUFFS PULLS

Jason@Skyline Tattoo, Little Falls, MN | Sam Danna Agency, St.Paul, MN | Double R Bar and Grill, Grey Eagle, MN | Richard Rammer, Cross Lake, MN | David Motors, Grey Eagle, MN | Black Betty Plamsa Cutting, Randall, MN | BeCam & Co, Long Prairie, MN | Shady's Midway, Long Prairie, MN | DoitmyselfGarage (YouTube channel)| East Central Towing, Rush City, MN | Delicious Food Truck, Glenwood, MN | Minnewaska Meats & Catering, Glenwood, MN |

age and Office Space for lease. $8.00 per sq. ft. Heated and AC. Call Marc 320-7618062. Located at 225 34th Ave. S., Waite Park, MN. 9/21P

GIVE AWAY: Basketball hoop with backboard and pole. Call 320-249-5454.

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

FOR SALE: Farmall Super A, good paint, tires, runs good, saw rig, plow, cultivator, $2,000 or b/o. Call 320-630-5606, 320-6305545. 9/28

FOR SALE: 6 ft. whirlpool bath tub. Call 320-256-3570.

FOR SALE: Twin size bed frame, $50, with free mattress & bedding. Call 320-8594141.

FOR SALE: 2008 Salem camper, sleeps 9, queen size, new tires, AC, heat, electric, 3 bunk beds $6,000. Call 320-232-0823.

FOR SALE: Meadow hay for bedding, $10/round bale. Call 320-250-0744 or 320292-6173.

FOR SALE: Convertible, crib and mattress, 28”x52”, three years old, used very little, $75 or best offer. Call 320-760-1182, Vera Grammond.

FOR SALE: Tomatoes heirloom organically grown, 50¢ a pound. Call 320-632-3336.

FOR SALE: 14 ft. Sparten boat, Roll-a trailer, $275. Call 612-283-2718.

FOR SALE: 250 small square bales meadow hay, excellent for horses, sheep, heifers. No rain, stored in shed. Leave message 320250-3874.

FOR SALE: Fresh eggs from free range chickens. Call 320-491-0024.

HELP WANTED

Holtz Tree Service and Firewood Bowlus, MN; is seeking individual interested in Full Time Employment. Duties include outdoor work pertaining to firewood/tree work. Day shift work Monday thru Friday, no weekends. Paid weekly wage based on performance. Will train. Must have a valid driver’s license. Call or text 320-360-3512

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:

**Social Worker - Child Protection (full-time)

**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. EOE

A Sign Funny

One day Sven & Ollie, local pastors, were seen pounding a sign into the ground, that said: "DA END ISS NEAR! TURN YERSELF AROUND NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE"

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, "Leave us alone, you religious nuts!"

From the curve we heard screeching tires and a big splash...

Rev. Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks, "Do ya tink maybe da sign should yust say 'Bridge Out'?"