Hometown News May 23, 2024

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Maksim Rohde, age 6, shot his first bird on May 4 and was so excited. He has put a lot of hours in the blind last year and this year. He was hunting

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Reality consists of differing points of view -By

Rushing to work at a hospital, a nurse was driving fairly fast and failed to stop for a stoplight. A policeman caught up with her in the next block and said, “Doesn’t that red light remind you of something?”

The nurse replied, “Oh yes, someone needs a bed pan.”

After some explaining, the bemused officer reminded her to pay attention to her driving and kindly let her off with a warning, Understanding different points of view is essential in both our personal and professional lives. It’s about recognizing that everyone has their own unique perspective shaped by their experiences, beliefs and knowledge.

For example, three people with different occupations looked at the Grand Canyon.

The archaeologist said, “What a wonder of science!”

The clergy said, “One of the glories of God!”

The cowboy said, “A heck of a place to lose a cow!”

In business, it is crucial to understand the perspectives of your customers, employees and competitors. This understanding can guide your strategies, product development and customer service. Treating different points of view with respect and consideration is paramount for both personal growth and professional success.

It starts with active listening and empathy. Truly listen to what others have to say without interrupting or planning your response while they are speaking. This shows respect and allows you to fully understand their

perspective. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with them, but understanding their feelings and viewpoint can be enlightening and can lead to better mutual understanding.

If you are unsure about someone’s point of view, ask clarifying questions. This can help prevent misunderstandings and shows that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say. By asking what their ideal product would be or how their ideal supplier could improve, you gain invaluable insights that can drive innovation and customer satisfaction. Asking open-ended questions can lead to deeper insights and may even challenge your own preconceptions.

At MackayMitchell Envelope Company, we listen to what our customers are looking for, whether it is an advertising opportunity, a unique color or an efficient billing envelope. We present options and listen to their specific needs to satisfy their interests.

Acknowledge the validity of other perspectives, even if they differ from your own. Recognition doesn’t equate to agreement, but it does foster a respectful dialogue. Embrace the diversity of opinions as a strength. Different perspectives can lead to more robust solutions and innovations.

Look for areas of agreement or shared values that can serve as a foundation for collaboration and moving forward, especially in situations of conflict or negotiation. Sometimes you may need to find a middle ground that respects different viewpoints while still achieving a common goal.

Consider how your own biases and experiences shape your perspective. Be open to learning and changing your viewpoint when presented with new information or compelling arguments. Use differing perspectives as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. They can challenge you to think in new ways and expand your horizons.

In essence, treating different points of view

Harvey Mackay

with the care they deserve is about fostering understanding, respect and collaboration. It is about building bridges rather than walls and recognizing that our shared humanity is enriched by our differences.

Embracing different points of view is a strategic advantage in life and business. It allows us to connect with others, solve problems creatively and see opportunities where others might not. To understand the full picture, you must be willing to look through someone else’s lens.

That seems like a tall order in today’s polarized climate when we can’t seem to agree on anything. But we must remember, agreement is not necessarily the desirable goal. Instead, we should focus on respectfully accepting that our differences are what make life interesting.

An old story tells of two men who were walking along the streets of London when the music of some beautiful chimes from a nearby cathedral floated through the air. One of the men remarked to the other, “Isn’t that wonderful music?”

“I didn’t hear what you said,” replied the other.

“Aren’t those chimes beautiful?” repeated the first man. But the other man once again failed to catch the words, and the first man asked yet again, “Isn’t that gorgeous music?”

“It’s no use,” replied his friend. “Those pesky bells are making so much noise that I can’t hear a word you’re saying.”

Mackay’s Moral: The wise person doesn’t just tolerate different points of view; they treasure them.

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

MEMORIAL DAY • MAY 27

• Grey Eagle/Burtrum: 8:30 a.m. St. Joseph’s Cemetery Program. 9:15 a.m. Grey Eagle Parade. 10:15 a.m. Lakeview Cemetery Program. 11 a.m. Burtrum Parade & Moses Dane Cemetery Program. See ad on page 5

• Memorial Day Service at 10 a.m. at the Melrose American Legion. See ad on page 3

FRIDAY, MAY 31

• Grey Eagle-Burtrum Lions Annual Summer American Red Cross Blood Drive from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Grey Eagle.

SAT.-SUN.: JUNE 1-9

• Prairie Days, Long Prairie. Sat., June 8 Parade at 6 p.m. See ad on page 8.

SUN.-WED., JUNE 2-5

• Fruitful VBS 2024 from 5:45-8 p.m. at Word of Life Church, Upsala. See ad on page 4.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

• Concert in the Park: Red Letter Band at 7 p.m. Long Prairie. See ad on page 8.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

• Concert in the Park: Ring of Kerry Band & Dancers at 7 p.m. Long Prairie. See ad on page 8.

MONDAY, JUNE 17

• Holy Family School's 21st Annual Drive for Education Golf Tournament starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Albany Golf Club.

ALBANY SENIORS

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

ALBANY TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.

• Planning Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.

BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall.

BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. FEET FIRST CLINIC

• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

• Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution 1st Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre.

FREEPORT CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING

• Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.

GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 8 p.m.

MELROSE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.

MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX.

• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms.

MELROSE LEGION #101 POST/AUX.

• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. (Aux. Sept.-May.)

STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

• Meets at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of the month at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany.

SUNSHINE CLUB

• Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.

ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.

SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL

• 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall.

UPSALA CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

Weekend Weather

“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

Rationing in WWII

During the time our troops were fighting overseas, they needed to be fed. When one considers that there were 16,000,000 American troops involved in WWII, that number times 3 meals per day is a really big amount of food. If these troops were at home and not overseas, many of those from a farm would be eating their own farm-raised meat and vegetables. But since they were on the other side of the world, a great deal of preservation and processing needed to be done before it was shipped. Just the fuel required to move the processed food to the shipping dock, the fuel required to move it across the sea and the additional fuel needed to truck it to the sometimes distant troop locations was hard to imagine. Running a good war is not cheap.

Rationing was the method used by the US Government to reduce domestic consumption and free up more supplies to support the war. It applied to groceries, gas, tires and other items needed by the military.

The most complaints came from the gas rationing. This consisted of an “A Card”, which allowed the purchase of only 3 gallons of gas per week, actually severely reducing the ability to get to work or the grocery store.

War Rationing Books for food were sent each month, which included 64 food stamps, which allowed the person to purchase rationed food. Stamp points for food allowed the person to buy the rationed items. For

Deadline for Next Thursday’s Paper is Monday, May 27.

Albany Senior Dining

Mon., May 27: Closed.

Tues., May 28: Chicken breast, sweet potato, pears, broccoli, bread.

Wed., May 29: Polish sausage, fried onions & peppers, sweet potato, vegetable Normandy, bread.

Thurs., May 30: Beef patty, gravy, whipped potatoes, mixed vegetables, apple slices, bread.

Fri., May 31: Sweet & sour pork, rice, oriental vegetables, mandarin oranges, bread.

Pre-registration requested to dine daily.

For more info. call 320-845-4070.

example, meat required 10 stamps per pound, butter was 16 points per pound, cheese was 8 points per pound, tomato ketchup was 15 stamps for a 14 oz. container and baby food was 1 point per jar. Many other items required a stamp allowance to purchase.

Items that were not rationed included cereal, fruit, vegetables and bread.

When the customer comes to the cash register, they first must provide the required stamps to purchase rationed items and then pay money for the items purchased.

The grocer had the person at the cash register keep the redeemed stamps in a container, separate from the cask register. At the end of the day the grocer needed to separate the food stamps from the tokens. They were then attached to a gummed sheet, which was then given to the wholesaler who took them to the bank, which then created credit for the wholesaler to buy more food for the grocery store.

It is obvious that there was a lot of time spent to redeem the stamps by the grocer. If he was running a sale on a rationed item, he would spend a lot of time and effort counting and categorizing stamps.

The system seemed to be rather messed up, but it did work. Evidently there was a continuation of the stamp programs, because in the following years Gold Bond Stamps and S&H Green Stamps were popular. However, the later programs required the customer to glue their own stamps in the books.

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

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce

Memorial Day will be observed this coming Monday. I am happy to be an American, but it would not have been possible without the men and women who gave their lives selflessly, so that all Americans could continue their way of life. One thing that bothers me just a bit, I wonder how the families feel about their loved one who died while serving their country? I also wonder what the families of the lost soldiers think of how corrupt America has become, like maybe it was for nothing?

I wonder also, how our Lord feels about the church, His Bride? I have a question for all the men reading this article. Do you remember when you saw your bride walking down the aisle? Well, 41 years ago my heart skipped a beat! She was so beautiful, I couldn’t believe that in about an hour, we would be united in marriage.

Look at Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands,

love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Christ is represented here as the bridegroom, and the church is His Bride. Jesus loved us so much that He died for us, not wanting any of us to be separated from Him. So, He washed us with His blood, to cleanse us. It’s a beautiful picture of the bride and groom on their special day. Memorial Day is coming so we can remember the day that our beloved died to protect our freedoms in America and beyond. Jesus also died, and we need to remember why He died, and love others in the same way He loved us.

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

Obituaries

Neil A. Middendorf

Neil A. Middendorf, age 77, of Freeport passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at his home in Freeport.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Entombment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at the church in Freeport.

Neil August Middendorf was born September 8, 1946, in Freeport, Minnesota to Herman and Helen (Zwilling) Middendorf. He served in the United States Army for 2 years while stationed in Germany. After his service, Neil returned home to farm with his dad and brothers. Growing up, there was always a ballgame to play with his brothers, cousins, and neighbors. Neil enjoyed all sports and bowled in a league for a number of years. After he retired, he enjoyed helping his neighbors and brothers with field work. Neil took pride in keeping the home place neat and was a good steward of the land.

Neil was a kind, quiet, and generous man who never asked for anything for himself but was always willing to help everyone else.

Survivors include his brothers and sisters, Tom (Rita) Middendorf of Freeport, Richard (Dorothy) Middendorf of Melrose, Henry (and the late, Kathy) Middendorf of Melrose, Mark (Kathy) Middendorf of Freeport, Linda (Gary) Pierskalla of Freeport, Lola (Scott) Schlapkohl of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Nita (Francis) O’Connell of Prescott, Wisconsin, Daniel (Rosie) Middendorf of Verndale, and Inez (Neal) Jones of Paynesville; and many nieces and nephews.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Nancy Middendorf; and nephew, Karl Middendorf.

Memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Freeport.

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

Esther A. Barber

Esther A. Barber passed away peacefully at the Little Falls Care Center in the early morning hours of Monday, May 20, 2024, at the age of 96. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN, at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Tim Schmeisser officiating. Visitation will be held Monday, May 27, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 P.M., at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Swanville, and again on Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 A.M. at the church. Burial will take place in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery following the service. We ask that memorials be directed to EEI in honor of her grandson, David and in memory of her greatnephew, Joey or a memorial of your choice. Caring for Esther and her family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Swanville.

Esther A. Axel was born on April 9, 1928 in Culdrum Township at the home of her parents, August and Freada (Koschnick) Axel. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Swanville, MN. She attended school at School District 60 from first through eighth grades and then Swanville High School. Her Mother had passed away in 1945 and since she was the oldest child still at home, it was left to her to help her Pa with the care of her younger siblings, Lawrence, Edna and Donald. She married Alfred Dickmann on November 24, 1947 and they moved to Pierz, MN. Alfred passed away in 1948 and she then moved back to the farm to continue to care for younger siblings; all of whom lived with her at various times after her Pa passed away on July 17, 1948. Edna and Donnie called her "Ma" well into their adult lives. She married Eddie Barber on February 28, 1949 and lived in Swanville until 1964 when they purchased a farm about 2 miles west of Swanville. Eddie passed away on June 7, 1978 and she remained on the farm until 1989, when she moved to the Swanville Apartments. She was a janitress at the Swanville School for 33 1/2 years, retiring on June 1, 2000. She enjoyed dancing the polka with her siblings at her brother Don's bar, listening to music, crossword puzzles of many kinds, reading and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She never missed an occasion to send cards to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends, reading each card so that it would have the perfect verse for the recipient.

Esther is survived by her daughter, Dianne (Bruce) Krousey; son, David "Buzz" (Jean) Barber; grandchildren, Karen and Brian Krousey and Michael and David Barber; greatgrandchildren, Jayden and Shelby Barber and Cole and Caleb Krousey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, August and Freada Axel; husbands, Alfred Dickmann and Eddie Barber; brothers, Lawrence, August (Millie), Walter (Doris) and Donald (Virginia) Axel; sisters, Erna (Walter) Dickmann, Hattie (Dick) Barton, Emma (Roy) Hanson, Amanda (Herman) Fritz, Frieda (Joe) Kedrowski, Edna (Jerry) Golombiecki; as well as son, Michael and great-grandson, Connor.

Robert N. Hoffmann

Bob Hoffmann, age 84 expired May 13, 2024, comforted by family at the St. Cloud Hospital.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the Albany Legion.

Bob was born June 4, 1939, to Louise and Victor Hoffmann of St. Joseph with several siblings. Bob served in the U.S. Navy with an Honorable Discharge in 1960.

Bob is survived by his wife Karen Shay wed. in 1963 and celebrated 61 memorable years. Bob has one sister living in Grand Rapids.

Bob tried several different jobs until deciding to build a grocery store in Avon known as Bob’s Super Market. Which he later sold to Dahlin’s when he retired to the farm.

Bob loved to hunt, play cards, and visit with anyone around.

He will be sadly missed.

Kevin V. “Op” Athmann

Kevin V. “Op” Athmann age 45 of Freeport, passed away after a courageous and dignified battle with acute myeloid leukemia on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was sent into the arms of God embraced by the love of family that surrounded him.

A Mass of

Christian Burial was held Wednesday, May 22 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany with Rev. Edward Vebelun, O.S.B. officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Kevin Vernon Athmann was born February 17, 1979 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Vernon and Diane (Massmann) Athmann. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1997. He was united in marriage to Sarah Mueller on August 18, 2001 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. Kevin was a welder/fabricator that dedicated the majority of his working career to Felling Trailers in Sauk Centre. He also worked at Rotochopper and most recently at Standard Iron. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, camping, engaging in shenanigans at the cabin, snowmobiling and four-wheeling. Kevin loved spending time with his friends and extended family, but nothing meant more to him than his wife and kids. He was always the proud dad in the front row, taking photos and videos at Kylie’s dance competitions and Peyton’s basketball games and motocross races. He was also the best pit man a son could ask for.

Florence Rausch

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Thursday, May 23, 2024 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon for Florence Rausch, 90 of Albany and formerly of Avon who died Friday, May 17, 2024 at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany. The Rev. Edward Vebelun, OSB will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services Thursday at the church in Avon.

Florence was born November 26, 1933 in Cold Spring to Leo & Hedwig (Leither) Eichers. She married Alphonse Rausch on August 29, 1956 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring. She and Alphonse raised their 8 children and farmed southwest of Avon until they retired in 1995. Florence had a special love for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was so sweet and enjoyed visiting with friends and family, visitors truly brightened her day. She enjoyed spending time playing cards, reading and working in the garden. She was always positive and always put everyone before herself.

She is survived by her children, Kenneth (Cheryl) of New Brighton; Lynn (Michael) Hesse of Waite Park; Neal (Roseann) of Avon; Kathy (Paul) Maile of Albany; Patty (Jon) Legatt of Sartell; Dana (Michael) Groetsch of Avon; Connie (Michael) Laing of Avon; Laurie (Kevin) Strobel of Lake Alfred, FL; 18 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Alphonse in 1999, brothers, Elmer, Harold, Virgil, Ted and Daniel, sisters, Leone Theisen and Mary Gertken.

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Survivors include his loving wife and best friend of 23 years, Sarah Athmann of Freeport; children, Kylie and Peyton Athmann, both at home; parents, Vern and Diane Athmann of Sauk Centre; sister, Kari (Darin) Thompson of Alexandria; grandmother, Bernice Massmann of Sauk Centre; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Kevin was preceded in death by his grandparents, Erwin “Erv” Massmann and Arnold and Irene Athmann.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.

Summertime is full of fruit, and so is the Bible! God made the Earth to bear fruit, Jesus says that when we come to Him we should bear the fruits of repentance, and the Holy Spirit produces His fruit in the lives of all who believe.

Come join us as we learn about God and the Fruit of the Spirit!

5 Tips for Staying Sane this Summer as a Mom

By Rachel Cruze

Moms, I know it can feel like when your kids get a break during summer vacation, your responsibilities shift into high gear. As a mom of three little ones myself, I absolutely love summer, but I’ve also seen firsthand that the “break” can quickly turn into doing more, not less—more playdates, more camps and more activities to fill the time. Throw in a family trip on top of that (and all the planning, packing and wrangling that goes with it), and you’ve got a recipe for a summer that’s way more stressful than it’s supposed to be.

I think we can all agree that nothing is fun when mom is stressed, and you should get a chance to relax too. So here are my tips for staying sane over the summer break so you and your family can get the most fun and joy out of the season!

1. Embrace tech-free activities

Listen, we all need to sit our kids down in front of a screen sometimes so we can have a moment of peace. I get it. But while every child’s different, I’ve seriously noticed that my kids are so much calmer and better behaved when they have less screen time. I’m not saying to make them quit cold turkey, but set some summer tech boundaries and focus on fun non-tech activities and see how much of a difference it makes. There are so many simple, budget-friendly activities out there this time of year: water play (pool, sprinklers or water balloons), bubbles, camping in the backyard or living room, summer reading at the library, nature hikes, indoor or outdoor picnics, crafts, and free events in the community.

Plus, with less temptation to keep the screen time going late into the night, both you and your kids can prioritize sleep (which really makes a big impact on everyone’s moods and overall health).

2. Resist the comparison traps

Speaking of limiting tech, this is a great time to scale back on comparing your life to everyone else’s highlight reel. Remember, your summer doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It’s okay to do a chill, affordable vacation (or staycation) instead of an elaborate trip to Disney. It’s okay to send your kids to a free art camp at the library instead of the fancy overnight camp their friends are going to. You can enjoy being together as a family and make memories that your kids will have forever without spending a lot or feeling bad if it doesn’t look like a Pinterest board.

3. Put rest on your calendar

I usually find that if I don’t schedule something, it doesn’t happen—and that goes for rest too. The busier you get, the more likely you are to put off resting and tell yourself it’s something you don’t need. Be proactive about scheduling (like actually put it into your calendar) a date night, lunch with a friend, or time to yourself. That way you can do everything you need to do ahead of time, like get a babysitter or family member to help out, to

make sure it actually happens. Also, resist the urge to do something “productive” every time there’s a lull while your kids are playing or napping, and give yourself a second to recharge instead. The vacuuming can wait.

4. Let your kids be bored Seriously. Sometimes, as moms, we put so much pressure on ourselves to never let our kids be bored. We try to jump in and give them a solution the second they start whining. But it’s okay if they’re bored every once in a while. When their days aren’t packed with activities, they have a lot more space for creativity. That’s not to say you shouldn’t ever plan anything fun, but the next time your kids come to you complaining about being bored, encourage them to look at what they have around them and see what they can come up with.

5. Give them a job

It’s a classic mom move. Your kids are saying they don’t have anything to do? Give them some chores. Age-appropriate jobs help kids learn about earning a commission (not allowance), managing money, and the power of giving, saving and spending wisely. They can save up for the stuff they really want, and it will help you out in the process.

I hope you and your family have the best summer ever!

* Rachel Cruze is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, financial expert and host of The Rachel Cruze Show. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she helps people get out of debt, take control of their money, and create a life they love. She’s an energetic and thought-provoking speaker and has been speaking to audiences as large as 10,000 since the age of 15, when she began making appearances with her father, Dave Ramsey. She’s appeared on Good Morning America, TODAY Show, Live! With Kelly & Ryan, CNN Tonight, Fox & Friends and Fox Business, and she’s been featured in Woman’s Day, TIME, SUCCESS and REAL SIMPLE. Follow Rachel on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and YouTube or online at rachelcruze.com.

Anniversary/Birthday Open House

MEMORIAL

p.m. at their address: 10431 Amigo Trail, Grey Eagle, MN 56336. Kevin and Nancy will be celebrating 70 years of life, and 50 years of matrimony.

Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game.

Dave Says -By Dave Ramsey

Dear Dave, My husband and I have been very blessed financially over the course of our lives. We make a little over $200,000 a year combined, and we currently have a net worth of around $4 million. But what do you do when you’re not motivated by that kind of thing anymore? How do you find and live out God’s purpose for your life, when you’ve already had a better life than you ever expected?

-Amanda

Dear Amanda,

I can’t tell you what your calling is, but I can say this. There’s a lot of fulfillment and joy to be found when you’re doing something that serves the people and things in your life that matter most.

If you’ve studied psychology a bit, you may remember something called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Basically, it says once your physiological and safety needs have been met, you begin to feel the need to find other things to motivate you. It sounds like you’re both hard-working, performance-driven people. I am, too. And people like us get our relaxation, and even fulfillment, away from work in different ways than most people. If I were in your shoes, I’d start trying to think about ways you can serve other people or causes you care about. Maybe there were dreams you had a long time ago, and you put them aside for your career. What really

speaks to you right now, at this stage of your life? For you, if you have kids in the house, it might mean becoming a stay-at-home mom and really pouring yourself into them. It might mean starting an animal shelter, or providing meals for people who are homebound. Everyone has dreams, and everyone’s dreams are different.

It sounds like you’ve been thinking about this for a while, so here’s my advice to you. Take a day, or even a weekend, all to yourself. Get away from everything and everyone—any and all outside distractions—and think about your future self. Bring along things to eat and drink, a bunch of notepads, pencils and a Bible. Then, before you do anything else, take a deep breath, relax and pray.

From that point on, be completely honest with God and with yourself. Open up your heart and mind to things you care about and all the possibilities. You have to have a goal that’s worthy in mind, and that’s the one thing that’s missing. But a time of thoughtful prayer—and yes, even daydreaming—may just put you closer to an answer than you’ve ever been before.

Congratulations on your success, Amanda. You and your husband truly have been blessed. But now, it may be the time to become a blessing to others!

-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.

Ask The Motor Medics®

Dear Motor Medics,

I've been having issues with my 2008 GMC Acadia. The Service Engine Soon light comes on and the Trac-Off and ABS lights come on and when they do, the message center displays reduced power and I can't drive because I have no throttle response. When I take this thing into my shop it works for them because it only happens about once a week.

-Mike in Daytona, Florida

Dear Mike,

That's a ton of stuff going on there, but I suspect they might all be connected. Over the past year we have seen no less than 20 vehicles exhibit this set of symptoms and they all turned out to be the same, a failed throttle body. The throttle body is electric and is the part that regulates how much air enters the engine. There is no cable connecting the throttle pedal to the engine as in the past. This system, as you can imagine, must be calibrated exactly and have sensors to make sure that the vehicle does not have unintended acceleration or throttle loss. When the engine computer senses a failure in any of the internal circuits the system goes into reduced engine power mode. It will need to be diagnosed to know for sure and if replaced make sure you keep a receipt for the work in case GM decides to recall it for safety reasons which could possibly make you eligible for a monetary reimbursement on repairs.

-Take care, the Motor Medics

Dear Motor Medics,

I have a 2008 Chevy Impala and when it's cold outside I get a message on the dash that reads "Engine Hot A/C off and the Check

Engine light comes on at the same time. Once the car warms up, I can shut the light off and clear the message if I cycle the ignition key. It has been doing this for over a year and my wife is getting nervous about it, so I want to get it fixed.

-Tom in Ventura, California Dear Tom,

We have seen this message a few times and although engine codes and messages should be something simple to diagnose, they don't always get diagnosed as easily as you could hope for. The system needs to be diagnosed to know for sure what's up but some of the things to check that can trip the codes are the lack of ability to read engine temperature due to a failed sensor or connection to it or an actual failure of the engine to reach proper operating temperature in a preset amount of time as determined by the engine computer software. Now the message reads Engine Hot, but that's where it gets tricky because when the engine can't reach proper temperature it's often a failed thermostat and that makes the engine run cold, not hot. A strange situation for sure but it's just one of the fun things we mechanics get to deal with every day in our shops.

-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 City • April 9, 2024

The regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph Arnzen at 7:00 p.m. on the 9th day of April 2024 in Council Chambers. Council members present were Brad Johnson, Brian Hollenkamp, Chris Browen & Roland Ahrendt. There were no council members absent. Also in attendance was Beth Ramacher and guest: John Hinman.

A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve the agenda. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2024 meeting. A second was made by Chris Browen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

John Hinman was in attendance to discuss his property which lies in both city limits and the township.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the quote of $478.74 from Woller Equipment to fix the fuel tank and gauge in the John Deere snowblower. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the purchase of a blade for the New Holland tractor for $600.00 along with a cylinder, if needed. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve the purchase of an air compressor from Neville Hardware for $749.99. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the quote from the City of Sauk Centre for street sweeping. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to have Cans R Us service Laughlin Park annually from May 1st through October 31st. A second was made by Chris Browen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A quote from Bemboom Fence was presented to fix the south fence of the tennis courts. The Council would like to see another quote before making a decision.

The sign in the parking lot was discussed. The Council requested quotes to have this redone.

A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to have Maintenance repair the two picnic tables by the Veterans Memorial. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the following dates for the Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions events: lawn mower tractor pull at the park - July 20, community appreciation at the Fire Hall – July 20, tractor pull at the park – July 21 and tractor pull at the park – September 2. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve closing Main Street on September 1 for a car show. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Roland Ahrent to approve the purchase of a key lock box for the City Hall. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve the auditor’s request to restructure the CDs. A second was made by Chris Browen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

The following first quarter 2024 reports were reviewed: Todd County Sheriff and Utility Transaction History. A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve the 1st Quarter Utility Transaction History Report. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brad Johnson to shut

off water in April for residents who are past due on utility payments. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made to increase the sewer rate by $1.50 to $44.00 per month effective June 2024. As required, a resolution stating the increase will be drafted and approved at the May meeting.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the quote from Andy Poster for photography and videography to be used on the new website. This expense will be submitted to Sourcewell for Consultant Services Reimbursement. A second was made by Chris Browen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve Resolution 2024-10: Accepting $1000 Donation from Swanville Dollars for Scholars for the Grey Eagle Fire Department. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The resolution is as follows:

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-10: A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING $1000 DONATION FROM SWANVILLE DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS FOR THE GREY EAGLE FIRE DEPARTMENT

WHEREAS, money has been donated by Swanville Dollars for Scholars; and

WHEREAS, the City Council feels that the donation will benefit citizens of the area;

1. That the City Council of the City of Grey Eagle formally accepts the donation from Swanville Dollars for Scholars for the Fire Department.

2. That the City Clerk is authorized and directed to make the appropriate revenue and expenditure budget adjustments as needed to reflect this donation and its intended use.

Adopted by the Grey Eagle City Council this 9th day of April 2024.

Discussion was held on the application for Sourcewell Community Impact Funds. More discussion to be held at the May meeting.

A motion was made by Bian Hollenkamp to approve payment of Claims #3041-3069, totaling $31,778.03 and include additional payments of the following: Grey Eagle Relief Association $24,618.23, MN Power $2503.52, Grey Eagle Relief Association $2000.00, Rahn’s $340.96, Summit Fire $250.00, MacDonald and Mack Architects $2035.00 and Quinlivan & Hughes $129.00. A second was made by Roland Ahrent and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Brad Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 8:34 p.m. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.

The next regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Council Chambers.

Beth Ramacher, Clerk/Treasurer

Drive for Education Golf Tournament

Holy Family School in Albany will host its 21st annual Drive for Education Golf Tournament on June 17 at the Albany Golf Club in Albany. Early Bird check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. with the shotgun start at 11 a.m. A dinner will be served at 5 p.m. Team and individual registrations are accepted, and all skill levels are welcome. Proceeds benefit Holy Family School curriculum and general school needs. Registration forms are available on the school’s website at https:// www.holyfamilyalbany.org.

For more information, call Aaron at 320309-3853 or Holy Family School at 320-8452011.

Dollars Available to Help Homeowners Fix Septic Systems

Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department has funding available to assist homeowners in replacing, repairing, or upgrading subsurface sewage treatment systems. The funding comes from the State of Minnesota.

The County has both grants and loans available. Eligibility for the grant requires:

• The sewage treatment system be non-compliant

• The household have low income

• The applicant to own and live on the property where the improvement is to be made

• The property is homesteaded single-family home or duplex

The grant program assists in financing the design, permit costs, and installation of an upgrade/repair/replacement of a septic system that is non-compliant.

Stearns County also has low interest loans available. Whereas the grants have income limits, loans do not. Loans can also be used to pay for any balances remaining after using grant dollars.

The total amount of money available is limited and will be distributed on a first come first served basis. Residents of Stearns County who think they may qualify and would like to apply can get more information and an application on the Stearns County website at StearnsCountyMN.gov or by calling Environmental Services at (320) 656-3613.

The purpose of these grants is to protect and restore water quality. The source of the funding is the Minnesota Clean Water Fund.

Great River Regional Library Invites Artists of All Ages to Create the Next Library Card

Great River Regional Library (GRRL) is excited to invite creative artists of all ages living in the six-county area that GRRL serves to participate in our June Library Card Design Contest! This contest offers a unique opportunity for your design to be printed and available to library users across Central Minnesota, spanning GRRL’s 32 library locations! GRRL staff will carefully review all submissions and decide on each age group’s winners. The artwork will be judged on creativity, design, and how well it communicates the message “Why do you love your library?” We will notify winners by phone in early July and plan to have the library cards featuring the winning designs available in libraries for September Library Card Sign-Up Month. In addition, we will post winning designs online at griver.org and on social media.

Contest guidelines:

• Anyone living in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright Counties may participate.

• The contest runs throughout June. The deadline is June 30, 2024 - late submissions will not be accepted. Only one submission per person.

• There will be three winners: a youth (ages 0-12), teen (ages 13-19), and adult (ages 20+) designed card.

• Submit your design in person at your local GRRL location or sent by mail. For mail,

please send to Great River Regional Library, Attn: Library Card Contest, 1300 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN 56301. Designs may also be submitted digitally by email to communications@grrl.lib.mn.us

• Download a contest form at: https:// griver.org/library-news/2024-library-card-design-contest

Great River Regional Library (GRRL) provides library services at 32 public libraries and one to-go system in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright Counties. GRRL2GO is a locker system that allows you to pick up items at the Sartell Community Center. GRRL supplies the residents of Central Minnesota with nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, programming, and information services.

A Song Funny

A couple phoned a neighbor to extend birthday greetings. They dialed the number and then sang "Happy Birthday" to him. But when they finished their off-key rendition, they discovered that they had dialed the wrong number.

"Don't let it bother you," said a strange but amused voice. "You folks need all the practice you can get."

GARAGE SALE: Huge 5 Family! May 22: 1-6pm; May 23-24: 8am-6pm; May 25: 8am-4pm. Aluminum canoe: 17ft, 1987 Grumman Eagle. Fabric, quilting, buttons, beads, crafting supplies, Teeter inversion table, exercise bike, lawn & garden, fishing, life jackets, tools, furniture, housewares, home decor, books, games, puzzles, toys, clothing: girls 8-14/16, womens small thru plus size, mens XXL, much misc. 3 miles East of Upsala, 6775 30th St. (Cty 21) Larry Erickson residence.

COUNTY LINE GOODS Occasional Sale Friday, May 31st: 8am-7pm and Saturday, June 1st: 8am-4pm. PLUS a multi family sale! Two separate sales in one yard! 15202 450th St., Bowlus. Note sale is in the backyard. 5/23P

GARAGE SALE: May 30-31: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 214 5th St. SW, Melrose. Power/hand tools, household items, garden tools, etc.

HELP WANTED: Front counter/butcher position. Apply in person at Elmdale Creamery & Locker or call for details, 320573-2607.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: To help sew bags for the veterans at the St. Cloud VA. Fabric is furnished and already cut. Contact Cindy 320-285-3901.

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

WANTED: 2 or 3 CD player. Call 320-2563775. 5/30

FOR SALE: Lund Rebel 16' boat, Evenrude 40 h.p. four stroke motor, live well, with trailer, good condition, $7,250. Call 320-285-4495. tfn

FOR SALE: Black Angus bull. Call 320250-0052.

FOR SALE: Vibo boat lift, holds 2400 lbs., $1,000. Call 320-285-4495. tfn

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

ELEVEN ENEMY ENGINES ERASER FADED FLATS INFINITE INTENT LOUDLY MEMBERS MOTHS NAKED

FOR SALE: 2017 Prime Time Crusader Lite 5th wheel RV, 32-ft., 2 slides, excellent cond., $24,500. 320-249-7694 between 8am-7pm. tfn

FOR SALE: Air compressor w/75 ft. hose, air impact wrenches, 3 CBs. 320-260-2159 MT-tfn

FOR SALE: Used Elkay undermount two bowl black granite sink; and Brizo single lever contemporary faucet system, good condition. 320-429-1255 5/23

FOR SALE: 15 gallon lawn & garden trailer sprayer with spray wand, asking $250. Call 320-732-3661.

FOR SALE: Asparagus, $2.50/lb. Call 320232-0564, Upsala.

FOR SALE: 14 ft. Lund boat, trailer, 9.9 Mercury motor, 4 stroke, 55 lb. thrust trolling motor new, new battery, $2,500. Call 320-356-7422. 6/6

FOR SALE: John Deere 317 skidloader, quick attach, 7,000 hrs, clean machine, newer tires. Call 320-630-5694.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Veterans Fundraiser: 12 pm–12 am, Todd County Fairgrounds Food, American Legion Beer Garden, Pedal Pulls, Bouncy houses, ATV-UTV Rodeo, Kids Power Wheels Race, Demolition Derby and Band – Dana and the Bottlerockets

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

• BINGO: American Legion 7 pm

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

• American Legion Burger Night 4-8 pm

• Bike Rodeo: registration 5:30 pm; safety program 6 pm. FREE Kindergarten – 6th grade. LPGE secondary school (510 9th St NE)

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

• Yoga for Fitness & Fun with Audra Zastrow 8 am, Lake Charlotte #3 pavilion

• Trinity Learning Center playground picnic 5–6 pm

• American Legion Meat Raffle 5 pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

• BINGO: American Legion 7 pm

• Dragon Willow Winery open 12–5 pm, Sangria wine slushies will be available

• Concert in the Park: Red Letter Band, 7 pm free will donation

• Long Drive In: Garfield OR IF (Ryan Reynolds family comedy)

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 9 am–4

Concert in the Park