Hometown News January 26, 2023

Hometown News

29442 120th St.

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Competition is the breakfast of champions -By

A flock of chickens were in a yard when a football flew over the fence and landed in their midst. A rooster waddled over, studied it, then said, “I’m not complaining girls, but look at the work they’re turning out next door.”

Competition is healthy. It keeps us sharp. It makes us better. It improves quality. We should not only welcome stiff competition, but we should also actively seek it. We’ll never realize our full potential in business or athletics unless we are challenged.

Competition has made me a better businessman, a better golfer and a better person. And when there isn’t another company or business to compete with, I try to outdo myself. If that sounds simple, well, it is. I always want to be at my best and show my best side.

When legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden diagrammed his famous pyramid of success, he put “competitive greatness” near the very top for a reason.

But a problem I see all too frequently is that people are afraid of competition. Perhaps it’s because they fear losing, but I suspect a better reason is that they know they are not as prepared as the competition. They are not willing to put in the necessary hard work, training and sacrifice. They think things will be easier for them than for others, possibly because others have made things look easy.

As much as I love to come out on top, I’m too realistic to believe the “winning is everything” philosophy. Because after so

many years in business, I know that you can’t win ‘em all. But there is no excuse for not giving it your best shot. And you can be the winner more often than not.

Few of us succeed on the first attempt because we don’t know how to read the competition. Knowing what you are up against is half the battle. Does your competition have a better product, better service, better training, better financing or better location? Learn from their successes! That’s the best way to catch up with and eventually beat your competitors.

A story about how American industrialist Charles Schwab managed an unproductive steel mill appears in Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Schwab asked the mill manager for a piece of chalk and said, “How many heats did your shift make today?”

The manager replied, “Six.” So Schwab wrote a big number 6 on the floor. When the night shift came in, they saw the big number six and asked what it meant. The manager explained that the big boss was in here today and asked how many heats the day shift made and wrote the number on the floor.

The next morning Schwab toured the mill again. The night shift had rubbed out “6” and replaced it with a big “7.” Well, the day shift wanted to show the night shift a thing or two and wrote an enormous “10” on the floor. Soon that mill was outperforming all the other mills.

“The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting in above average effort,” according to the late Colin Powell, four-star general and U.S. Secretary of State. With two professions like that, Powell knew all too well about beating the competition.

The existence of competition is a good sign. No one ever set a world’s record

Harvey Mackay

competing against themself. But when there is no other viable competitor, look for ways to improve your own performance. Forget about the world record for a moment; just keep getting better at what you do.

When I wrote my “New York Times” #1 bestselling book “Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt,” I devoted a chapter to how to beat your competition. Here is a quick summary:

• If you just show up, you are a winner 80 percent of the time.

• If you show up on time, you’re a winner 85 percent of the time.

• Show up on time and with a plan, and that number jumps to 90 percent.

• Show up on time with a plan and a commitment to carry it out, and you are successful 95 percent of the time.

• And finally, if you show up on time with a plan, a commitment to carry it out and then execute it, you will be successful 100 percent of the time.

Mackay’s Moral: Competition is fuel for those who are driven to succeed.

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.”

Brian’s Painting

Interiors,

Upcoming Events

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

• Blood Drive from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 4.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

• Heartland Chapter of the MN Darkhouse & Angling Assoc. 19th Annual Banquet & Fundraiser starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. See ad on page 7.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

• Upsala Area Schools Kindergarten Round up at 8:30 a.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

• Swanville School Kindergarten Roundup at 8:30 a.m.

ALBANY SENIORS

• Meets first Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center.

ALBANY TOWNSHIP

• Meets the fourth Monday of the month

at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.

• Planning Commission meets the second 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 first Monday 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 first 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 first Monday of the month at 8 p.m.

MELROSE TOWNSHIP • Meets the first Thursday of the month

at 7 p.m. at the town hall.

MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX.

• Meets the first 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 • First Tuesday after the first 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.

Cold.

“The Good Old Days”

Various Diseases

Today we are reminded by the news reports and newspapers of the word “Covid”.

Going back 4 years, many of us would have said “what is Covid?”

But today, we hear the word many times per day, almost to the point of shutting off the news, because we have heard the stories about “Covid” before.

Much of the news reports deal with questions regarding the use of injected drugs that haven't been tested to the satisfaction of some of the public.

The disease is blamed for economic problems, business closures, unemployment, church attendance reduction, supply shortages, inflation, political and social fighting, death, etc., etc. The question that exists is was it the actual disease that caused the problems or was it simply the way it was handled by politics and press. It made the population another reason to fear. Could the disease have been handled more effectively in other ways? We really don't know, but the fact remains that how it was done and now we have to live with it.

Remembering back to 1950, the really big fear was polio. Some of us were personally affected by it, whether ourselves or our family. There was a really good chance you might get some of it's varying forms. I don't remember schools, churches or any other gatherings being shut down by the government because of it. I remember some families taking some preventive measures, but those measures were done by family decision and didn't disrupt the lives of the rest of the community. Did they work, we don't know, but it was their own personal way to create a protective wall between themselves and the disease.

Some of us remember our older

-By Tom Kuehne

relatives talking about the Spanish Flu. Why it was called Spanish Flu is really not known. It began to appear in central Europe toward the end of WWI. It spread to other countries primarily by the return of infected troops coming home after the war.

It was deadly to the point that in some of the larger cities, bodies were stacked along boulevards, waiting to be picked up and in some cases delivered to mass graves.

We currently have reduced or eliminated some of the scary diseases from history. Black Death is now spoken of as something that happened in Europe 800 years ago. Scarlet Fever has been almost eliminated. We don't often hear about diseases that we remember from school, such as Mumps, Measles, Chicken Pox, common then, but not now. Thanks to vaccinations. We still get seasonal flu, but the medical profession tries to figure out which flu is coming that year and defend us from it.

Cancer is still with us. Although almost daily new treatments are available, the variety of disease locations make finding a cure difficult due to the many facets of the disease.

Yes, there are still areas of the world that have cases of our known diseases. TB kills about 1.5 million people worldwide each year. Malaria is responsible for a million deaths each year. Cholera causes about 100,000 deaths each year. Most of the

Card of Thanks

Traeton, Preston, & Maiya Keaveny James & Monica Sagissor Mary Sagissor & John "Sparky" Schmidt Chas Atkinson & Marty Patrick Steven & Tina Lundquist Jana & Dustin Peyton

previous mentioned diseases are a result of living in dirty conditions.

What I was trying to say in this story is that we still need to be aware of the possible current diseases, but living in this world 100 years ago would really be a concern. Keep aware, be happy and keep in touch with the one in control.

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

Morrison Co. Sheriff’s Office

Accident: January 18, 2023: At approximately 10:58 a.m. received a report of a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Cable Road and Basil Road, approximately two miles east of Swanville, MN in Swanville Township.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, 37-year-old Kelly Marty of Burtrum, MN was traveling east on Cable Road behind two

other vehicles. Marty went to pass the vehicle in front of her while the vehicle driven by 28-year-old Mitchell Herzog of Long Prairie, MN also pulled out to pass. Marty lost control of her vehicle and rolled into the ditch. Marty had minor injuries and was transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital by private vehicle. No other injuries were reported.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was not assisted at the scene.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Cold Spring, MN for Larry B. Jonas, age 63, who died peacefully Wednesday January 18, 2023, at home. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The service will be live streamed at www.christcatholic.com.

There will be a visitation from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Visitation will continue Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in the church narthex prior to the service.

Larry was born in St. Cloud, MN to Sylvester and Rose (Barthel) Jonas. At the age of four Larry moved to the Lane Children’s Home in Sauk Centre, MN. After graduating from Sauk Centre High School, he moved to Mother Therese Home in Cold Spring. In 1984 he moved home to live with his mom and in 2016 moved to Sartell to live with his sister Judy, Mark, and Ryan Spies. Larry attended the Day Program at Opportunity Matters and most recently Quality Care Services.

Larry worked for Peters Store, Vogt’s, Super Valu and ended his career in 2017 at Teal’s Market in Cold Spring. He enjoyed puzzles, fishing, swimming, a good buffet, coloring, riding bike, Fishing Has No Boundaries events, Special Olympics, Gunsmoke, trickery (April Fools), and traveling. He traveled many places including, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Bahamas, and took a Caribbean Cruise.

He is survived by his siblings, Carol (Sam) Tschida, Paul (Michelle), Pete (Tina), Mary Jo Jonas (Paul Sandell), Therese (Steve) Todd, Judy (Mark) Spies, Linda Jonas-Brown; 18 nieces and nephews and 16 great nieces and nephews who adored him.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Services are with the Wenner Funeral Home, Cold Spring, MN.

Susan Kuchinski

Walter H. Beuning

Susan

Kuchinski, 79-yearold resident of Swanville, MN died Tuesday, January 17 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg with Father Jimmy Joseph officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 A.M. at the church on Tuesday. The burial will be held in the parish cemetery.

Susan Schmelzer was born on May 7, 1943 in Little Falls to the late John and Coretta (Fimon) Schmelzer. She grew up in Little Falls where she attended St. Francis High School and graduated with the class of 1961. She was united in marriage to Robert Kuchinski on July 29, 1961. After their marriage, the couple moved to Thompsonville, CT, due to Robert’s job with Crestliner Boats. The couple returned to the Little Falls area in 1964 and lived in Flensburg for 10 years before buying their farm outside of Swanville. Along with raising her family, Susan worked many jobs throughout her life including Hoveys Steakhouse, Land O’ Lakes Creamery, Switch Board Operator at St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Hearthside Restaurant, Herzog Roofing and Banta Publications in Long Prairie. For over 20 years, the couple also operated an egg-laying facility with over 60,000 chickens. Susan was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, where she taught Catechism, cooked for funeral luncheons and sang in the choir for 40 years. Susan enjoyed learning new things, playing cribbage, crossword puzzles, and she was a very avid reader. She also enjoyed going on nature walks, deer hunting, fishing trips to Canada, tending to her bird feeders, vegetable and flower gardening, and her daily 'cat scans.' She treasured her time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. Susan was a wonderful cook making the best caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, and many other family-favorite dishes. She always made sure everyone else had their plate ready before she would eat.

Susan will be remembered as loving wife, mother and grandmother by her husband, Robert Kuchinski of Swanville; children, Robert, Jr. (Charlotte) Kuchinski of Rangely, CO, Sandy (Dan) Oehmke of Welch, Nancy (Kevin) Smude of Robbinsdale, Tom (Rhonda) Kuchinski of Crystal, Kris (Jeff) Daniels of Ramsey; grandchildren, Patrick, Katie, Joey, Drew (Sydney), Angie, Elizabeth, Aaron, Benjamin and Corey.

Susan is also survived by her nephew, Jim Schmelzer, and nieces, Linda (Karpinski) Arnold and Carol (Karpinski) Damhof.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Coretta Schmelzer; siblings, Jack Schmelzer, Barbara Schmelzer, Joe Schmelzer, Mary Lou Karpinski and an infant brother, James Schmelzer.

Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Susan.

Walter H. Beuning, age 84 of Freeport, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at the Little Falls Care Center in Little Falls, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, January 23 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Inurnment was held in the parish cemetery with military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Walter Henry Beuning was born February 21, 1938 in Freeport, Minnesota to George and Ida (Klein) Beuning. He graduated from Melrose High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Walter was stationed in Europe where he provided support for the Vietnam Conflict. He served for over three years and was honorably discharged in 1965. He was united in marriage to Lourdine Beste on January 16, 1965 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. He worked as an implement mechanic most of his life. Walter was a founding member of the Stearns County Pioneer Club and was very active.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Freeport Fire Department from 1974 through 1994, Stearns County Pioneer Club, Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion Inc., Minnesota Chapter 15 IH Collectors Club, and the Young at Heart Club. Walter enjoyed walking and biking on the Wobegon Trail and collecting tractors.

Survivors include his wife, Lourdine “Loura” Beuning of Freeport; children, Barb Beuning of St. Cloud, Ken (Joyce) Beuning of Andover, Sandy Beuning of Waite Park, and Kevin (Lisa) Beuning of Albany; grandchildren, Trevor, Anne, Grace, Joe, Monica, Thomas, Jennifer and Cody; and siblings, Edward Beuning of Waite Park, Clara Williams of Melrose, Arthur Beuning of Avon, Leo Beuning of Idaho, and Carol Edgington of Florida.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother, Rosie Cheyne and Virgil Beuning.

Memorials are preferred.

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

Deloris Ruth Holmquist

Deloris Ruth (Finch) Holmquist passed away surrounded by family on January 15, 2023 at the Long Prairie Nursing Home. A memorial service was held Saturday, January 21, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Long Prairie. The Rev. Bert Holmquist officiated. She was born to Roy and Alice (Lawrence) Finch on August 6, 1934 in Long Prairie. She married Marvin Leonard Holmquist Sr. on September 13, 1951 in Long Prairie at the Baptist Church parsonage. Together they raised a family of 10 and had a lasting marriage of 64 years.

Early in their marriage they lived a few different places; South St. Paul, Herman, Osakis and Alexandria. Living in Herman was the most memorable to her. They then settled on a farm in Little Sauk Township in 1956. Their last move, in 1976, was to a farm also in Little Sauk Township. Deloris lived there until 2014 when she was placed in the nursing home due to declining health. Deloris was known as a talented baker and cake decorator. She made many birthday and wedding cakes for family and friends. For many years, she was active in the Round Prairie Church. She was treasurer and helped with the vacation Bible school and other church functions. Deloris loved music and was an exceptional singer. There are many loving memories of her boisterous voice singing hymns in church; the enjoyment we all had playing cards and board games with her, the homemade baked goods, her love of fried chicken, and the occasional completed homework assignment.

Deloris is survived by her children, Marv Jr. of Sauk Centre, Danny (Maxine) of Verndale, Gary (Cathy), Ronnie (Vicky), Virginia Holmquist, Polly (Kevin) LaForge, Mindy (Neal) Miller, Marty (Sarah) all of Long Prairie, Michael of Little Falls and Michelle (Tom) Roubinek of Woodbury; 20 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and 4 greatgreat-grandchildren; her brothers Carroll, Hank and Wade; her sisters Harriet Holmquist, Sara Thorson, Barb Thorson, Judy Petre and longtime family friend Robert Otte of Sauk Centre.

She is preceded in death by her husband Marvin Holmquist Sr., parents; brothers Lawrence, Roy, Dennis, Rodney and Michael and sisters June Jehlicka, Malore Harris, Cassandra Goetsch.

Community Chorus Offers Opportunity to Showcase Musical Talent

The Grey Eagle Community Chorus will host a spring music event and is looking for participants. Anyone who would like to showcase his or her musical talent is encouraged to sign up. The event is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 16 in the afternoon at the Grey Eagle United Methodist Church.

Participation is open to vocalist and instrumentalist. If you sing, sign up as a soloist, or ensemble group: duet, trio, quartet,

etc. If you play an instrument, sign up as a soloist or a combination of instruments. The chorus has a couple of excellent piano accompanists who will be available. The Grey Eagle Handbell Choir will be a part of the program as well.

To sign up for participation in the event contact either Robert Kutter at 320-4915604 or bkutter@meltel.net; or Carol Duke at 386-466-4380 or cduke@meltel.net.

The deadline for signing up is April 10.

Upsala Area Schools Kindergarten Roundup

Upsala Elementary School will be holding its annual Kindergarten Roundup on Friday, March 3, 2023. Registration for the class of 2036 will begin at 8:30 AM for all children who are interested in attending kindergarten at Upsala Elementary School starting in the fall of 2023. Parents should bring their child’s birth certificate and immunization record when they come on this day.

Kindergarten Roundup is for both par-

ents and children and will run from 8:3011:30 AM. Parents and children are also invited to stay for school lunch, which will be served at 11:00.

Area families or families interested in learning more about the kindergarten programming offered at UAS are invited to attend. Please call the office with any questions 320-573-2174. Hope to see you on March 3rd.

Swanville Senior High Student of the Month

January is National Mentor Month, and throughout the month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is using various platforms to show appreciation all of the volunteer mentors who make the program’s various initiatives possible and support the agency’s work of creating one-to-one mentoring relationships for local youth.

Some of the agency’s growing initiatives are the school-based mentoring initiatives. BBBS of Central Minnesota has school-based sites in St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids-Rice, Sartell-St. Stephen, Holdingford, Pierz and Foley, and both adult Bigs and High School Bigs serve as mentors to elementary and middle school students in those same school districts. The Bigs take time out of their day each week to meet with their Little at their school to do arts and crafts, play sports, do homework, or just hang out.

The newest school-based initiative started in August in Holdingford, and there are already 12 High School Bigs (mentors)

matched with a Little (mentee), and more high school students are currently working through the interview process to become a mentor. The BBBS of Central Minnesota staff appreciates all 12 Holdingford Bigs for stepping up right away and volunteering to mentor kids and make a difference in the Holdingford community.

The Holdingford school-based Bigs include Lindsay Ford, Emma Gertken, Emily Hartung, M’Lynn Thompson, Kirstyn Sand, David Johnson, Emily Ottman, Erin Hartung, Gracie Philippi, Paige Fiedler, Jadielyn Rudolph and Renee Rudolph.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota currently has more than 100 children waiting for a mentor, including children at all six school-based sites. To learn more about the various mentorship options or to find out how you can make a difference in the life of a child, please call (320) 253-1616 or visit BigDefenders.org/ways.

Swanville Junior High Student of the Month

Swanville Public School is pleased to announce the December Junior High Student of the Month, eighth grade student Allison Bernadot. Allison is the daughter of Christi and Bryan Allen. She enjoys playing volleyball and basketball. She plans to attend college to become a lawyer and to continue playing volleyball. Allie’s favorite thing about school is participating in gym and art, and her advice to other students is “Just because someone says you can’t do something doesn’t mean you can’t do it, do your best and try to achieve it.”

Allie has played volleyball, basketball and softball since seventh grade, and also participating for many years in elementary sports. She is consistently on the Honor Roll. Outside of school, Allie is involved in church events and youth group activities.

Social Studies teacher Tom Bzdok says, “Allie is a wonderful student to have in class. She sets high academic standards for herself and works hard to achieve them. She is a very mature young lady who never complains or makes excuses when things do not go as planned. Allie always has a smile on her face and puts everyone around her in a joyful mood. Allie is well liked by her classmates because she is kind and friendly towards everyone. Allie is the type of student who will make the right decisions in life and is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. Congratulations Allie!”

Swanville Kindergarten Roundup

Swanville Kindergarten Round Up will be held on Tuesday, March 7 from 8:3011:00 a.m. at the Swanville School. for families who have children entering kindergarten Fall 2023.

Please bring immunization forms. We are very excited to share our school with you! Please contact our school office at (320) 547-5100 to register your child.

Swanville Public School is pleased to announce the December Senior High Student of the Month, senior Lucas Miller. Lucas is the son of Jeff and Renee Miller. He enjoys playing sports, working with kids and coaching youth sports. Lucas plans to attend college and is considering a career in education or occupational therapy. He participates in a variety of school activities, including playing football, basketball and baseball since seventh grade, He has lettered in all three sports and received conference awards for both academic and athletic achievements. He was in band in grades seven through eleven. He was a member of the trap shooting team as a sophomore and has participated in theatre his sophomore and senior years. He served on student council in eighth grade and then since tenth grade.

Outside of school, Lucas coaches youth basketball, went on a church mission trip in 2019, and has volunteered his time and talents with Vacation Bible School since 2017. He has volunteered at SAB meat raffles. His favorite thing about school is being able to see his friends, learning new things and

playing sports. His achievements include being on the A Honor Roll since seventh grade, being on the Morrison County Basketball Team and the Prairie Conference All Conference team in school year 21/22.

Diane Schleicher, Kindergarten teachers says, “I am honored to be able to say a few words about Lucas Miller. He has been a teacher ‘s assistant in my classroom for the last year. Lucas makes a favorable impression on the students and staff members and easily gains acceptance by others. He is always willing to go the extra mile to benefit the students. Lucas has earned the student’s respect by setting goals, limits and by being a positive role model.”

Special Education teacher and coach Adam Gerads adds, “I would like to congratulate Lucas Miller on being named Student of the Month! Lucas challenges himself in the classroom taking many college courses where he excels. Lucas has always challenged himself in everything he does and strives to do the best he can. What makes Lucas’ success in the classroom more impressive is that he is a three-sport athlete, he is involved in student council, and he volunteers many hours within the school and the community. Lucas is a very well-rounded kid who will be very successful after graduating high school this coming Spring. Congratulations on this well-deserved award!” Lucas’ advice for other students is “Work hard and do your best in everything that you do.”

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce

“How are you doing?” I asked. The response was “OK.” My reply to that was, “How are you really doing?” I was the Facilities Manager at a Bible Camp and the lifeguard was sitting on the fence near the shuffle board game, waiting for supper. She was all by herself and probably wanted it to stay that way. God has given me a gift of discernment so, I walked up to her and asked how she was doing. After I asked her how she really was, she started to cry and proceeded to tell me some of the things that weighed her down emotionally.

Life is full of troubles, some come from our own doing. Others simply are there because we live in a fallen world. John 16:33 says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” So, my question for all you readers is, “How do you cope with the trouble in your life?"

My granddaughter posted something on Facebook today that has incredible insight. Psalm 62:1-2 “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. “

When I was much younger, and immature, I hated when people would throw Bible verses at me like it was the cure-all. So, can I just say… I know that the troubles of this world are many and very hard. Many times we need to struggle through them to get to the other side. In many situations, its through the struggle that we begin to see Jesus working. So, if I can encourage you, hang on to God’s Word and other godly people.

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

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, Earlier this month, my husband and I both were laid off from our jobs within a few days of each other. The layoffs were not our fault. The company is letting several people go as a costcutting measure. We cashed in an annuity because our finances have been tight, but the good news is he began training for a new job last week. We don’t have children, so I am interviewing or filling out applications every day. Should we use the cash from the annuity to live on until things are stable again, or should we use it to pay off debt?

-Anjanette

Dear Anjanette, If you haven’t done so already, contact your creditors and explain what happened. Let them know the layoffs weren’t because either of you did anything wrong, and that you’ll get current with them as soon as possible. This is a scary situation you’re facing, so make sure you two keep the lines of communication wide open and encourage each other while you’re solving this problem.

The good news, though, is it sounds like things may be looking up. Support your husband all you can as he takes on his new job, and make sure you continue looking for

work, too. A little extra money never hurts, so temporarily taking on a part-time gig while you’re looking for a permanent position isn’t a bad idea, either.

Of course, you need to be honorable and pay your debts if possible. But that may have to be put on hold for a while. Right now, the important thing is keeping food in the house and the lights and heat on. Hug each other, stay determined and keep each other’s spirits up. You’re a team, and you’ll get through this. Always remember, too, that prayer’s a good thing.

-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., Jan. 30: Chicken chow mein, rice, Asian vegetables, mandarin oranges, egg roll.

Tues., Jan. 31: Ham & potato soup, 1/2 chicken salad sandwich, apple slices, cookie.

Wed., Feb. 1: Meatloaf, potato medley, vegetable Normandy, pears.

Thurs., Feb. 2: Hot pork on bread, whipped potatoes, gravy, peas, applesauce.

Fri., Feb. 3: Shrimp, baked potato, steamed broccoli, peaches.

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., Jan. 30: Breaded chicken sandwich, potato, vegetable, dessert.

Tues., Jan. 31: Tater tot hotdish, dinner salad, garlic bread, dessert.

Wed., Feb. 1: Cook's choice.

Thurs., Feb. 2: Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetable, dessert.

Fri., Feb. 3: Pulled pork sandwich, potato, vegetable, dessert.

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

Ask The Motor Medics®

Dear Motor Medics,

I just bought a 2010 Ford Explorer and it's the first 4x4 I've owned that has electric shift on the dash instead of the floor. I'm more of a manual shift kind of guy but now that I'm a bit older I've traded the full size F350 for something a bit smaller. It was the wife... She made me do it. My question is how well do the electric shift units work? It just seems like it would be weaker in my opinion, and I have yet to be able to get it to shift into 4x4 low range. It didn’t come with a manual but how hard can it be? Just push the 4x4 button, or am I missing something? Love the Under The Hood show guys!

-Ray in Lykens, Pennsylvania Dear Ray, Sorry about your loss, the big truck that is, but that Explorer is also a good rig. The electric 4x4 has been around for many years and it's just the shifting mechanism that's electric. Kind of like remote control if you want to think of it that way. Just select what you want, like on the TV, and that's what you get. To engage the low function, it is a bit more involved. While this one can go into 4x4 high while on the highway the low needs to be parked, in neutral and foot on the brake. If that won't work, it's off to the repair shop.

-Take care, the Motor Medics Dear Motor Medics,

Guys I'm having a problem with my wheels on my Chrysler 300 leaking air on a daily basis. I lose around 5 pounds of pressure almost daily and it has been annoying going to the store everyday to put air in them. I've tried going to the tire store 4 times where they looked for leaks and found none. On the fourth trip they suggested taking off the tires, cleaning the bead and sealing them with

bead glue for tires which should fix any leaks I could have. They also replaced all 4 valve stems. Guess what, it didn't fix a thing. What could be leaking? the tires only have 10k miles on them and look perfect.

-Troy in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska Dear Troy, Welcome to the leaky wheel club. If they’ve checked all the items, you have listed then it only leaves the wheels. While a wheel may look good it can become very porous with age and that can lead to leakage. And when we say leakage, we mean right through the actual surface of the wheel on all areas not just the tire sealing surface. While you can't see it, there are microscopic pores in the wheel that you could see under a very high-power microscope. To the air it might as well be a screen door. The only fix we have ever seen is a set of new or used replacement wheels once this has occurred.

-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.

Food Funny

- The bonbon group

- The salty-snack group

- The caffeine group

- The "What-ever-the-thing-in-the-tinfoil-inthe-back-of-the-fridge-is."

Todays Thought

What's

From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.

Identity Theft Awareness Week Jan. 30 - Feb. 3

By Kimberly Cook, General Crime & Violence Prevention Coordinator, Hands of Hope Resource Center

Has someone used your personal information to open accounts, steal your tax refund, or file fake health insurance claims? That’s identity theft. It can happen to anyone, but simple steps can help lessen the chance it will happen to you.

Identity (ID) theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud.

The identity thief may use your information to apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services. These acts can damage your credit status and cost you time and money to restore your good name.

Keep an eye out for identity theft by

Notes from the Capitol By State Rep. Paul

reading your statements from credit card companies or banks and credit unions and checking your credit reports for suspicious activity. Never give out personal or credit card information over the phone to anyone you do not know.

If you would like more information on Identity Theft, Hands of Hope Resource Center through the Violence Prevention Program, provides community education for all ages, on a wide variety of topics. Best of all, it is free!

If you shop online, receive telemarketer or robocalls, or would like more information on scams and fraud, give Hands of Hope Resource Center a call and ask about having a presentation for your group or organization (320) 732-2319.

Public Comment Sought for Morrison County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan

Morrison County has completed an updated draft of the of its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and is now seeking public feedback. Like all Minnesota counties, Morrison County is vulnerable to a variety of potential natural disasters, such as tornadoes, windstorms, severe winter storms, flooding, drought, and extreme temperatures, which threaten the loss of life and property in the county. Planning for natural disasters minimizes the impact of these events that can cause vast economic loss and personal hardship.

All county residents, as well as other interested stakeholders (those in neighboring counties, tribal nations, or working with affected agencies) are strongly encouraged to review and offer feedback on the interactive website, PDF of the draft plan, and proposed local mitigation actions. The review and comment period is open for a period of 15 days through February 6, 2023. The public can access the plan using the following links:

Morrison County HMP Website (z.umn.edu/ MorrisonHMP)

Mitigation Action Charts (https://morrison-county-hmp-umn.hub.arcgis.com/pages/mitigation-actions) Public Comment Feedback Form (https://z.umn.edu/MorrisonSurveyHMP)

The Morrison County HMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that covers Morrison County, including the cities of Bowlus, Buckman, Elmdale, Flenburg, Genola, Harding, Hillman, Lastrup, Little Falls, Motley, Pierz, Randall, Royalton, Sobieski, Swanville, and Upsala. The Morrison County HMP also incorporates the concerns and needs of townships, school districts, and other stakeholders participating in the plan.

Update of the plan has been under direction

of Morrison County Emergency Management in cooperation with U-Spatial at An Equal Opportunity Employer the University of Minnesota Duluth and representatives from county departments, city and township governments, school districts, and other key stakeholders. Together, the planning team worked to identify cost-effective and sustainable actions to reduce or eliminate the longterm risk to human life or property from natural hazards. Examples include improvement of roads and culverts that experience repetitive flooding; construction of safe rooms in areas where residents and visitors are vulnerable to tornadoes and severe storm events; burying powerlines that may fail due to heavy snow, ice or wind storms; ensuring timely emergency communication to the public through warning sirens and mass notification systems; and conducting public awareness and education campaigns to help people be prepared to take safe action before, during, or following a hazard event.

Hazard mitigation planning helps Morrison County and other jurisdictions protect their residents. Working with local communities through the process helps identify vulnerabilities and develop strategies to reduce or eliminate the effects of a potential hazard. In addition, increasing public awareness of natural disasters and encouraging personal preparedness helps to create a community that is resilient to disaster, and breaks the cycle of response and recovery. Updating the plan further allows Morrison County and its jurisdictions to be eligible to apply for future FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant program funding for projects that help to reduce or eliminate the impacts of future natural hazard events.

Community feedback is vital to the success of the plan. Morrison County invites public review and feedback of the draft plan prior to submitting it to the State of Minnesota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review.

Feedback may be provided via the online comment forms or directly to Morrison County Emergency Management.

For more information, contact Victoria MacKissock, Morrison County Deputy Emergency Management Director at 320-6320195 or email: victoriam@ co.morrison.mn.us.

The new session of the Minnesota Legislature is already in its fourth week, and it’s a start that I’ve not witnessed before during my time at the Capitol. Usually, not much happens during the first few weeks on the floor of the House or the Senate because it takes time for prospective bills to work their way through the committee process and be ready for floor action.

Not so this year, as the first bill, one pertaining to tax conformity, was passed during week two. Not to be confused with tax reductions, this bill simply conformed Minnesota’s tax code to the IRS in the area of exempting state income tax on funds received mainly from various federal pandemic programs. The bill was put on a fast track to allow time for the Dept of Revenue to update its software in time for this year’s tax filing.

A bill that was the DFL majority’s top priority, House File (HF 1), was also fast tracked through committees and heard on the floor this past week. It’s the Protect Reproductive Options Act, the bill dealing with abortion. It was passed after four hours of emotional debate on a nearly straight party-line vote. One DFLer joined all Republicans in voting against the bill, but it passed on a 69-65 vote. Supporters of the bill say it enshrines these protections in state law, while Republicans said it goes way beyond that, calling it the most liberal abortion law in the nation. The bill guarantees the right to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, with no age restrictions, and no assurance that parents of minors must be notified.

The bill is expected to be heard in the Senate this week.

Letter to the Editor

Another bill that will surely create strong debate is scheduled to be heard soon in the House. It’s HF 7, a bill that mandates that, by the year 2040, all electricity utilized by Minnesota residents come from renewable sources. I think this bill moves the needle too far, too fast. We are a long way from being able to rely strictly on wind turbines and solar panels for our total electric generation capacity. Think of our weather conditions during this month of January, with very little sunshine and not much wind, either. On many of these gray winter days, renewables generated little power, with the vast majority coming from coal and natural gas.

We as a society rely heavily on electricity. We can’t put gas in our cars or keep our business systems functioning without power. And here in Minnesota, the loss of electricity could become a life-threatening situation. I think we need to maintain a variety of generation sources. Renewable are fine as part of that mix, but because they are intermittent, renewables need to be backed up. And, until we have cost-effective and efficient battery storage of power, we need to maintain the baseload capability that coal, natural gas, and nuclear provide.

On the topic of ag and farming, I serve as the lead Republican on the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee. Our first few meetings have mainly dealt with updates on the various programs overseen at the state level by the Dept. of Ag. New this year is that broadband has been added to the committee’s jurisdiction. We heard a report from the Office of Broadband on how $100 million in grants was recently awarded, with another $67 million to soon follow. Several projects in our district were on the list, including one for southern Pope County, one in western Stearns County, and one including Stevens and Grant counties.

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.

Personal Beliefs Are Personal

By Sherry Kutter, Grey Eagle

Do we really want to impose our personal beliefs about what we can and cannot do with our own bodies onto others? Could it come back to bite us? Could others use their beliefs to control and harm us? Yes.

Consider the Bible verse that says "if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off". It is always a matter of interpretation. This would be especially tough for abusive men and lying politicians.

Each of us has areas of our lives we could improve or correct. Let’s focus on how our own lives reflect our personal beliefs and allow others to do the same. Are we always honest, compassionate and kind to the poor?

If those values are part of our beliefs then let's work on them.

Our personal beliefs are exactly that. Personal. Let’s keep it that way, please.

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

WANTED: Good used van, low miles, reasonable. Call 320-267-5632. RBftn

WANTED: Family looking for dairy farm. Please call 320-360-6589. 2/2

FOR SALE: 1997 Ford pickup, 2 wheel drive, needs work, $1000. Call 320-2675632. RB-ftn