Hometown News May 4, 2023

Hometown News

29442

Grey Eagle, MN 56336

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Confrontation can clear the air -By Harvey Mackay

Lucy is chasing Charlie Brown in a “Peanuts” cartoon yelling, “It’s no use running! I’ll get you! I’ll knock your block off!”

Charlie then turns around and says, “Wait a minute! Hold everything! We can’t carry on like this! We have no right to act this way … The world is filled with problems …. People hurting other people … people not understanding other people … Now, if we as children can’t solve what are relative minor problems, how can we ever expect to …”

In the next frame Lucy punches Charlie Brown and explains to her friend, “I had to hit him quick … he was beginning to make sense!”

Unlike most of us, Lucy clearly is not afraid of confrontation. I suspect that most would prefer to avoid confrontation. It is more in our nature to get out of the way.

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who saw his share of confrontation on the field, said, “I don’t like confrontation.” He’s on Team Charlie Brown.

But NFL coaching great Bill Parcells disagreed, saying, “I think confrontation is healthy, because it clears the air very quickly.” Score one for Team Lucy.

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Confrontations can be difficult but are a very essential aspect of relationships. The most essential aspect of confrontation is honest communication, clarity and confession.

When confrontation is handled properly, it establishes clear lines of communication. It should never be about punishing or humiliating people. You want to express yourself without blaming others.

Duke University basketball Hall-of-Famer Mike Krzyzewski said, “Confrontation simply means meeting the truth head on.”

It starts with overcoming your fear of confrontation. Most of us think of confrontation in negative terms – people who are assertive,

aggressive, hostile and so on. We’re focused on the outcome instead of the issues. One of the best ways to overcome your fear of confrontation is to prepare for it. What do you want to say? Think about what you want to accomplish from the conversation. What is your goal? Do you want to make a specific point?

If you enter any confrontation in attack mode, chances are you’re not going to get a satisfactory result.

Glenn Van Ekeren in his book “Little Leadership Lessons” outlines some simple yet profound considerations he has found useful that I would like to expound on.

Be factual. Do you have the complete story, including the other side? If not, ask and then listen. Avoid rumors and perceptions.

Be fair. Confrontation is not a ticket for personal attack. It should always be about the issues. Accept responsibility if you were in the wrong. Don’t make it into a competition. Look for solutions together. Keep in control of your emotions.

Be firm and honest. Too often people hide their feelings and bite their tongue because they don’t want to offend anyone. Wrong approach. Tell it as you see it – with tact and compassion. People will appreciate your honesty.

Be respectful and polite. Be approachable, pleasant and non-argumentative. Let people know you appreciate and care about them. Be calm. Don’t lose your cool. I repeat, don’t make it personal.

If all else fails and the other person isn’t willing to have a constructive conversation, it’s ok to simply walk away and revisit things at a later time when both parties have had time to mull things over.

Of course, there are occasions when immediate action is required, as illustrated by this story. This is the transcript of an actual

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THURSDAY, MAY 4

radio transmission between the British and the Irish off the coast of Kerry in October 1998:

IRISH: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South, to avoid a collision.

BRITISH: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

IRISH: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

BRITISH: This is the Captain of a British navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

IRISH: Negative. I say again. You will have to divert YOUR course.

BRITISH: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS BRITANNIA, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE BRITISH ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, I SAY AGAIN, THAT IS 15 DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.

IRISH: We are a lighthouse. Your call. Mackay’s Moral: You can’t change what you refuse to confront.

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Upcoming Events

• MN State Capital Historic Renovation Tour.

• 70th National Day of Prayer starting at 12 p.m. at the bell by the Grey Eagle City Fire Hall.

THURSDAY, MAY 11

• Red Cross Bloodmobile from 12-6 p.m. at the Avon Community Church.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

• Smart Driver Class from 12-4 p.m. at Word of Life Church, Upsala. See ad on page 6 FRI. & SAT., MAY 19-20

• American Legion Auxiliary of Melrose distributing Poppy's in Melrose & Freeport.

FRIDAY, MAY20

• Upsala American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Day at Upsala area businesses.

MONDAY, MAY 29

• Upsala Legion Post 350 Memorial Day Commemoration Program at 10 a.m. at the Upsala Area Schools Gymnasium.

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

If you have

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

Grasshoppers

Sometimes when we read or are told about historical agricultural happenings, the story will include references to grasshoppers and the destruction to farm crops that they cause. I recall years on the farm when there were enough grasshoppers to do some damage to grain crops, yet there was enough grain left on the stems to make it worth harvesting. It seemed that if it was a dry year, more grasshoppers would appear.

As a kid, it was felt that grasshoppers were both good and bad. They were a pest, in that they, whether out of curiosity or just stupidity, would land on your body and create a really creepy feeling. The good thing about the grasshoppers was that they were good bait for sunfish. They were fun to catch and when they were presented to the fish, while still wiggling their back feet, the action was really hard for the fish to resist.

Going back to old Bible stories, there were years when grasshoppers eliminated virtually anything in the field that was or is currently green. They attacked the fields in swarms that were referred to as being similar to a dust storm. Those flying into the field and those hatching from previous year's eggs made a great number of crop destroyers.

There was a time in Minnesota when the grasshoppers threatened total destruction of the crops. In 1857, grasshoppers suddenly appeared, ate up almost everything and disappeared. They were gone until 1873 when they moved into the western part of the state destroying the crops. This crop destruction

continued until 1877.

In 1877 the residents of Minnesota began a united effort to get rid of the grasshoppers. Minnesota residents approached the Governor to proclaim a day of fasting and prayer. This was done and the result was that prior to and after the prayer day grasshoppers disappeared. No one was certain of where they went, they were just gone. The 1877 harvest was extremely successful, especially in the areas that were worst hit from the previous plague. This area was south and west of a line from Fargo to the Mississippi River and then south to the Iowa border.

Since at that time there were not any preventive spraying practices available to rid the area of the pests, the local residents attempted some rather unsuccessful solutions to the problem. One method was to make furrows around the grain fields, drag a rope over the field, thereby causing the grasshoppers to attempt to escape ahead of the rope until they reached a furrow, when dirt was thrown on them to get rid of them. It worked, but not well enough to help the crop loss. Another solution was created, which included a tractor and barrels filled with tar being driven over the field. This caused the grasshoppers to fly up and get tangled in the tar. Other methods included humans with flails, burning the fields, and placing grasshopper-eating flocks in the fields. It was successful but was no-way large enough to reduce the infestation.

Hopefully this plague is gone, farmers don't have a need to have more bugs to worry about and most of them don't have time to bait sunfish with grasshoppers or spend time cleaning fish.

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

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From the Desk of Pastor Bruce

Some people just don’t get it! I was reading John 11 a few days ago and was getting very frustrating. Now, I need to probably start by saying that I believe the Bible, every Word. I believe that God created the universe and everything in it in six days; I believe that Jonah got swallowed by a big fish and three days later the fish vomited him on shore; I believe that Jesus heals; and I believe that He died on the cross for me.

So, toward the end of Jesus' life the chief priests and Pharisees were looking for ways to kill Jesus. You would think that they would be encouraging Him to continue healing, but NO! In John 11 Lazarus is sick so his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent for Jesus so that He would heal their brother. Jesus delayed, so that the Glory of God would be displayed.

Then Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus had fallen asleep, meaning that he was dead, and that they were going to go to Judea to be with Mary and Martha. Thomas said, well, let’s go with him and die with Him, too. They had just come from Judea and the chief priests wanted to kill Him. When they got to Bethany, Martha went out to meet Jesus. She said that if He had been there then her brother would not have died.

Jesus told her “I am the Resurrection and

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the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” I am so proud of Martha… She answered, “Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”

Jesus went to the grave and raised Lazarus from the dead. Most of the people were rejoicing but some… get this… went and told the Pharisees all that He had done, knowing that they wanted to kill Jesus. Interesting, the same experience happened to everyone but there were several different responses. This same thing happens today. Many do not believe in Jesus or in His Word. But they see His creation every day, and yet they do not believe. They have closed their eyes to a loving God, reality. Which kind of person are you?

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

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Freeport, MN • 320-836-2120

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

Thursday: All Day/Night $2.50

HIRING COOKS!

Week Nights & Weekends

Nightly Specials

Dine In Only - With Beverage Purchase

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

Toppings 50¢ each; Bacon 50¢ Slice

Tuesday: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

3 Chicken Strips w/Toast & Fries $7.50

6 Drummies w/Toast & Fries $7.50

Walleye Wednesday: (5-9:30 pm)

Walleye Fingers w/Fries $8.50

Lunch Specials: 11 AM-1 PM

Fri., May 5: Cheeseburger w/Chili or Fries

Mon., May 8: Chicken Wild Rice Soup

w/Chicken Sandwich

Tues., May 9: Baked Chicken Dinner

Wed., May 10: Spaghetti Dinner

Thurs., May 11: Meatloaf Dinner

Fri., May 12: Cheeseburger w/Chili or Fries

Thursday Wraps: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

Grilled Chicken $9.00;

Crispy Chicken $8.50; Buffalo Chicken $8.50;

Taco $8.50; Philly Steak $8.50

Friday: (5-9 pm) Choice of:

• Hamburger Steak $10

• 6 Shrimp $9.00

• Add 3 Shrimp $12

• Served with Baked Potato

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

Toppings 50¢ each; Bacon 50¢ Slice

Chicken, Ham, Shrimp, Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Dressing, Vegetable, Soup, Salads, Dessert Groups of 10 or More, Please Call for Reservations.

Double “R” Bar & Grill

Eagle • 320-285-2965

www.doublerbarandgrill.com

WEEKEND SPECIALS

Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato

• Deep Fried Cod $14.95

• Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo $13.95 or Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo $15.95

TUESDAY: 5-9 PM

Burger Night $3.00

1/3 lb. Fresh Ground Hamburger on Brioche Buns!

Dine In w/Beverage Purchase

Happy Hour Mon.-Fri.: 3-5 PM

$100 Off Adult Beverage

• Prime Rib $22.95

• Ribs $18.95

• Deep Fried Walleye $15.95

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

WEDNESDAY: 11 AM-9 PM

• 1-1/2 lb. Wings $6.00

• $6 Baskets Your Choice: Shrimp Basket, Angus Slider Basket, 1/4 Chicken Basket, Nachos or Quesadillas w/Beverage Purchase Specials to go $1.00 charge

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SUNDAY: 3-8 PM

• Steak & Shrimp $19.95

• 10 oz. Pork Chop $13.95

• 1/2 Chicken $10.50

• 1/4 Chicken $8.50

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

• Chicken & Ribs $15.95

• 8 oz. Ground Sirloin $13.95

• Creamy Sweet Chili Haddock w/Wild Rice $15.95

•

Obituaries William F. Massmann

Judith Vos

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held

Wednesday May 3, 2023 at All Saints Catholic Church (St. Mary’s Campus) in Holdingford, for Judith Vos, age 75 of Grey Eagle, who passed on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Reverend Gregory Mastey officiated. Burial took place in the parish cemetery.

Judi was born on June 24, 1947 in Grand Rapids, MI to Fred and Dorothy (Nelson) Buehler. She graduated from high school in La Mirada, California before earning a Bachelors of Arts in education. Judi married James Vos on February 12, 1966 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra, California. She was an active member of the Daughters of Isabella and Christian Women.

She enjoyed sewing, reading, and cooking, but what she treasured most was riding on the back of James motorcycle and spending time with her family.

Judi is survived by her loving husband, James; children, James Vos, Jr. of St. Cloud; Kimberly (Steven) Beery of Rochester; Christopher (Sandra) Vos of Gilbert, AZ; and David (Nicole) Vos of Sartell; son-in-law, Jason Quinn of Winona; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandchild on the way; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Laurel Quinn in 2021; brothers, Donald Buehler and John Buehler.

Bernadine A. Waldorf

Bernadine

William F. “Bill” Massmann, age 83 of Melrose, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at the CentraCare Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, April 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Arockiya Newton officiating. Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Melrose with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

William Felix Massmann was born on June 27, 1939, and was one of ten children born to Felix and Elizabeth (Eickoff) Massmann in New Munich, Minnesota. Bill grew up on the family farm. A few years after graduating from Melrose High School, Bill joined the army and served for two years. After service, Bill worked at DeZurik in Sartell, and then worked as a mail carrier at the Melrose Post office for over 35 years.

Bill married Karen (Kemper) on July 29, 1967 and they had four children. They raised their children on a hobby farm in Melrose. Bill retired from the Post Office in 1999. He enjoyed farming, playing cards with friends, watching sports, listening to old-time music and spending time with his grandchildren. Bill enjoyed joking around with everyone he knew and his sense of humor will be greatly missed.

Bill was an usher at St. Mary’s Church, and a member of the Board of Education for St. Mary’s School. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Honor Guard. He enjoyed volunteering at the Melrose Food Shelf with his wife, Karen.

Survivors include his wife, Karen of Melrose; children, Cindy Massmann (Mike) of Champlin, Paul Massmann (Howard) of Minneapolis, Brian Massmann of Melrose, and John (Melissa) Massmann of Albany; grandchildren, Dakota Massmann (Jade) of Melrose, Adrian Massmann (Haley) of Freeport, Emmett Massmann of Melrose, Ryan Massmann of Albany, and Hailey Massmann of Albany; one great-grandchild, Colt Massmann, and another great-grandchild expected in July; brothers and sister, Fred (Beatrice) Massmann of Sauk Centre, Hugo (Virginia) Massmann of Melrose, and Mary (Clem) Kremers of Rockville; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sandra Massmann, Jeanette Hoeschen, and Joan Weyer; and brothers, Julius, Godfrey, and Clarus “Larry” Massmann.

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

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A. “Bernie” Waldorf, age 84 of Upsala, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, April 27 at Upsala Senior Living in Upsala, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 4 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. David Grundman officiating. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday at the church in Freeport.

Bernie was born in Little Falls, MN to John and Julia (Biermaier) Riemer on August 23, 1938. She was the youngest of nine children. She graduated from Little Falls High School in 1956. Bernie was enrolled in nurses training at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls and continued her training at Miller Hospital in St. Paul. She married Eugene Waldorf on April 25, 1959, in Little Falls, MN. In addition to partnering with her husband in raising their six children, Bernie worked in administrative jobs at Honeywell Corporation and the National Marrow Donor Program. She received her Associate of Arts degree in Interior Design from Lakewood Community College and held positions at Boldt Paint and Wallcoverings and Ethan Allen.

For sixteen years, Bernie supported Gene in his political career in the Minnesota State House of Representatives and later, Minnesota State Senate. Among many things, Bernie had a knack for remembering faces and names and providing hospitality for groups on multiple occasions.

Bernie was a voracious reader, enjoyed sewing, quilting, interior decorating and getting to know her neighbors. She loved to travel and enjoyed participation with Gene in the Mississippi River Road Commission. She liked to golf, play cards and appreciated family weddings where she and Gene danced the night away. In a stance of enduring hopefulness, Bernie never chose to “scratch her Yahtzee." As a young mother, Bernie sewed costumes for school programs and taught Girl Scouts how to sew and cook. In later years, she gifted her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with handmade quilts.

Bernie’s community service included volunteer work at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Minneapolis), St. Casimir’s Catholic Church (St. Paul) and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Grey Eagle). Her many roles included trustee, parish council member, faith formation instructor, lector and Eucharistic Minister. Gene and Bernie also designed and sewed seasonal liturgical banners that hang in St. Joseph’s Church in Grey Eagle. Early in their married life, Bernie and Gene were involved with Cursillo; throughout their lives the two imparted their love of God and responsibility to serve with their children, extended family, and others. For many years, Bernie and Gene traveled the U.S., speaking in Catholic parishes about Sacrificial Giving.

Along with Gene, Bernie was active with the Big Birch Lake Association (BBLA), including putting out loon nests and checking for invasive species on the lake. In 2019, the two received the BBLA Friends of the Lake Award for their 27 years of service to the organization. When they weren’t involved in BBLA activities, Bernie and Gene enjoyed sailing and swimming at Big Birch, meals at the Double R with friends and family and entertaining guests at the lake.

Bernie is survived by her six children, Jeanne (Dean) Peterson of Upsala, Paul (Barb) Waldorf of Oakdale, Sr. Bridget Waldorf, SSND of Dallas, Texas, Renee (Jody) King of Sartell, John (Katie) Waldorf of Sunrise, and David Waldorf of Minneapolis; 14 grandchildren, Curt (Lisa) Peterson, Matt (Lauren) Peterson, Christy (Adam) Wehlage, Anna (Tyler) Wolbeck, Amy Waldorf (Charles Sweigert), Greg (Maddi) Waldorf, Megan Waldorf, Elizabeth Waldorf, Joshua Waldorf, Joanna Waldorf, Ben Waldorf, Anthony King, Zachary King, and Samantha King; 12 great-grandchildren, Addie, Milo, Oliver, Emmett, Hazel, Rohan, Luetta, Phoebe, Jack, Charlie, Calvin and Charles; brother and sisters, Betty Plumer of Oklahoma, Dorothy Feakes of Forsyth, Montana, Fred (Jean) Riemer of Phoenix, Arizona, and Jeanette (Lester) Kotula of St. Paul, and many other relatives.

Bernie was preceded in death by her husband, Gene on February 29, 2020; parents, John and Julia Riemer; brothers and sisters, Joseph and his wife, Beverly Riemer, Christine and her husband, Dan Brown, Tom and his

wife, Marge Riemer, Longinous (Lon) and her brothers-in-law, Glenn Feakes and Harold Plumer; and many other beloved extended family members.

Memorials are preferred to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).

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

Donald P. “Don” Zemler

Donald P.

“Don” Zemler, age 73 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 28, 2023, after a three-year battle with multiple myeloma.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 5 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the PattonSchad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 6:15 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Donald Paul Zemler was born February 2, 1950 in Fulda, Minnesota, to Herman and Agnes (Baechler) Zemler. Don grew up on the farm –milking cows and growing potatoes – with his ten brothers and sisters. He graduated from Fulda High School in 1969 and furthered his education at Southwest State University, earning his teaching degree in 1973. He was united in marriage to Marsha Neidecker on July 19, 1975 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

Soon after their marriage, Don and Marsha settled in Bellingham, Minnesota, where Don taught high school math and coached football and baseball. In 1981, they moved to Sauk Centre, where Don taught geometry, trigonometry, and computer science until retiring in 2007. He was an active leader and negotiator with his union, the Minnesota Education Association. A muchloved coach of girl’s volleyball and then the founding coach of Sauk Centre’s girls softball program, Don and Marsha led their team to the state tournament in 1999. During summers, Don worked as a crop adjuster, and following his retirement from teaching, became an year-round adjuster and claims auditor for RCIS/Zurich. He found great fulfillment in checking out crops and visiting farmers around Minnesota - and even traveling to Nebraska and Texas - and in teaching skills to newer adjustors.

Don’s greatest joys were his children and grandchildren. He loved puzzles and card games. He was often found in the backyard, playing football or softball with the kids. An avid outdoorsman, summers were spent at the lake fishing. Every fall, he looked forward to hunting season, and had special memories of times with his brothers, nephews, sons, neighbor boys, and grandsons going after pheasants, ducks, turkeys, and most importantly deer. Even as his health was declining, he was proud to bring home his largest buck ever in 2021.

Survivors include his wife, Marsha Zemler of Sauk Centre; children, Marie (Sherman) Zemler Wu of Boston, Massachusetts, Matthew (Ingrid) Zemler, Sr. of Duluth, and David (Hnou) Zemler of Saint Paul; grandchildren, Ryah (Miryah), Elliot, and Tilly (Matilde) Zemler Wu, and Matthew, Jr., Jasper, and Crosby Zemler; brothers and sisters, Sr. Rosemary Zemler of Rochester; Rita (Dale) Bunkers of Chester, South Dakota, Richard (Irene) Zemler of Laverne, and Maggie Heath of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Edward (Elaine) Zemler, Joan (Herb) Remiger, Fred (Diane) Zemler, Tom Zemler, Jim (Jeni) Zemler, and Barb Bunkers; and brother-inlaw, Calvin Heath.

Memorials are preferred.

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

Orianna Barthel

Orianna Marie was born on September 10, 1935, the daughter of Ora and Hattie (Eggerth) Mabry of Minneapolis, Minnesota. On November 10, 1951, Orianna married Pete Barthel. Their union was blessed with three children: Richard "Junior", Robert "Bob" and Marilyn "Punk".

While the kids were little, Orianna, volunteered her time as a den mother for cub scouts and engaged with the kids of the 4H group. She would join the ladies at the St. Ann’s mission. She enjoyed being a member of the VFW and legion auxiliary, the church kitchen clans, and having coffee with friends. Her garden and flower beds were always bountiful with beautiful things. Orianna and Pete spent many years wintering in Texas meeting new people along the way and getting away from the Minnesota winters. Orianna loved kids! Being a grandma was the best. She spent many hours with her grandkids and others being the babysitter, making memories to last a lifetime. After her grandkids got older, Orianna started her own catering business. She would spend the next 17 years preparing meals for various events and gatherings. Her cooking and baking skills were outstanding, and “you name it she could make it” was her trade.

Orianna loved most of all being around her family and friends. She always had an open-door policy, even when the kids were younger, many friends and family would trickle through the door “Pull up a chair” and a hot meal could be in front of you in minutes, with a pillow and made bed to rest your head on later if you needed it. She was a generous and loving woman, who loved to spoil others.

On April 13, 2023, Orianna took her last breath here on earth and entered heaven. She was welcomed there by her husband of 66 ½ years, Richard “Pete” Barthel Sr.; son, Robert; parents, Ora and Hattie Mabry; siblings, Arlan Mabry, Kathleen Horn, Marilyn Lynch, Alton Mabry, and Gerald Mabry; son-in-law, Jim Proell.

She leaves behind her children, Richard “JR” (Betty) Barthel, Marilyn Proell, and daughter-inlaw, Cathy Barthel; seven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; six plus one on the way great-great-grandchildren; and many friends along the way.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the St. Mary’s of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie, Minnesota at 11:00 AM. Visitation will take place that day one hour prior to the mass. Burial will be at the church cemetery.

Arrangements are with Iten Funeral Home.

New Hours: Mon.-Fri.:

David P. Bierschbach

David P. “Dave” Bierschbach, age 50 of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 1, 2023 at the CentraCare Hospital in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 11 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

David Paul Bierschbach was born August 13, 1972. He resided in Long Prairie with his family until moving to Melrose in 1976 when he was just 4 years old. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1990 and continued his education at St. Cloud State College. Thereafter he worked in the flooring industry, laying many carpets and floors. For the past many years he has mainly been working in the Alexandria area. Recently he began employment at Ag Tech Drainage in Sauk Centre. He knew this fresh start was a good challenge and one he would really enjoy as he would get to work with a strong passion of his, namely computers.

Dave was an outgoing person who loved going on adventures, traveling, and meeting new people. His hobbies included playing games on the computer and for being a wiz at any technology issues. Summer fishing was on his mind a lot and even over to Mom's to clean fish in the evening and keep her company. Dave truly loved spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his special friend, Jessica Chavez; siblings, Jerry Bierschbach (Joyce) of Melrose, Allen Bierschbach (Linda) of Melrose, Mary Hollenkamp (David) of Burtrum, Jim Bierschbach of Albany, and Linda Morton (Mark) of Melrose; nephews and nieces, Michael Bierschbach, John Bierschbach, Jodi Marquez Bierschbach, Judy Bierschbach, Jason Bierschbach, Brian Hollenkamp, Vicki Hemmesch, Adam Bierschbach, Ashley Hondl, and Lydia Butkowski; and many loving relatives and friends. David also adored his fur baby companion, Buddy.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lorraine Bierschbach (Mom recently passed away 3/9/22); sister, Joan Bierschbach; and brother, Robert Bierschbach. Memorials are preferred.

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

Tom Kuehne Insurance

320-360-0343

tom@swanvilleinsurance.com

By Kristi Wacker

The Department of Defense celebrates military children annually in April. There are more than 1.6 million military children, according to the DoD. They often face many challenges and unique experiences because of their parents’ service. On average, military families move every two to three years, which impacts military children through changing schools and friends.

In addition to the month of April focus-

Card of Thanks

ing on military children, there is also a specific day to honor military children: Purple Up! Day which is April 15.

Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Marine Red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue. The goal of “Purple Up!” is for military youth to actually see the support in their school, youth groups, and the community.

The family of Dave Blaeser would like to thank family and friends for your prayers, visits, food, cards, memorials and flowers during his long illness and death. Thank you to doctors and nurses at CentraCare in Melrose and St. Cloud, CentraCare Hospice and Home Health for their compassion and care for Dave.

Thank you to Father Ron for the celebration mass and caring words, Jeanne Bonfig for the beautiful music, Jim & Linda Gohman for assisting at mass and to those who prepared and served the lunch. Also thank you to Rob Zollar for the beautiful eulogy and to Amy Schwieters and Stacey Sykora for the readings. Patton Schad Funeral and Cremation were wonderful in assisting us with the funeral arrangements, during the service and with the burial. (Linda Holms, Kelly & Ralph) Thank you.

We are grateful to all of you for your support. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

Ermina, Brian, Cole & Callie Blaeser

To Submit a Card of Thanks the cost is $5.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ for each additional word. MUST BE PREPAID. Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336.

Members of Upsala American Legion Auxiliary Unit 350 wore purple for Purple Up! Day to their meeting on April 13, 2023. Pictured are (front from left) MJ Blonigen, Patti Gunderson; (back) Joyce Swanson, Kristi Wacker, Beth Gunderson, Sharon Wielenberg, and Christine Wuebkers.

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, I’m a senior in high school, and I’m enrolled in a personal finance class. From your perspective, should I be worried about the national debt being over $30 trillion, and should this affect a person’s overall personal finance strategy?

-Chris

Dear Chris, I’m sorry you have to worry about such things at your age. I, personally, have a long history of fretting about, and alternately being angry about, the national debt being out of control. This is mainly because it represents a Congress that’s out of control, and the fact that the American people don’t seem to have enough backbone to vote these clowns out. So, they keep spending like there’s no tomorrow. There’s probably a tipping point somewhere, but the good news is it hasn’t happened yet.

I’m with you on this when it comes to being concerned, though. I think the entire situation represents a lack of discipline on the American people’s part and on the part

Brian’s Painting

of our elected officials. It’s pitiful, and it’s outrageous. Now, does it affect my investing? Not one bit. I invest based on good long-term track records, because the national debt has been out of control for as long as I’ve been alive.

Here’s the thing. If everything did finally fall in on itself, there’s nothing at all you could’ve invested in from a financial point that would protect you. So, if I were you, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, or walk around scared that I was suddenly about to lose everything. In my mind, it’s going to take more than a crop of inept, or dishonest, politicians—and there have been bunches of those, from both sides of the aisle—to sink this thing called America. I believe the country, and its people, are much more resilient than that.

You’re a thoughtful young man, Chris. But I want you to remember one very important thing. What happens in your house carries much more weight in your life than what happens in Washington, D.C., or the White House. That means being personally responsible for yourself and your money. Live on a written budget, save money and stay away from debt. If you do those things, I think you’re going to be okay!

-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®

From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.

Dear Motor Medics, I've been listening to all the talk about driverless cars and cars that can take control and it scares me. I started driving in the 70s and back then cars didn't even have a computer in them. I don't know if I want to be sharing the road with robots. I just want to know if they are safe, how they work, and when they will be here so I can start looking out for them.

Dear Karen,

-Karen in Tyler, Texas

The technology for these car "Robots" has been in the works for a very long time. We started to see it used as a safety enhancer in vehicles a while back to aide you in the way of helping to prevent collisions while backing up and when getting too close to someone in front of you. The systems would be able to reduce throttle and apply the brakes if you were in a "bad spot" and in danger of a collision. The tech has now advanced with the enhancement of laser sensors and GPS and super highdefinition cameras and much more that allow the cars to navigate to destinations and avoid collisions. The cars are on the road now being tested and chances are you have seen one and don't even know it. They have logged over a million miles on America's roads. As for how safe they are is yet to be seen. The future is headed our way!

-Take care, the Motor Medics

Dear Motor Medics,

My 2005 Impala has been doing strange things like the doors unlocking themselves in the middle of the night and my battery has been going dead over night at times. I have also found my blower fan running after the key is off and other things like my personal settings are changing. I saw on the news that cars were getting hacked and taken over by computer people. How can I tell if this is happening to me?

Dear Marie,

$25.00

-Marie in Detroit, Michigan

The symptoms you are experiencing sound more like things related to a Body Control Module or BCM for short. You need to have it diagnosed to know for sure before

you spend the money to replace it but this is a good time to address the "hacking" you bring up. Your car, being a 2005 Impala it's not susceptible to the hacking level you may have seen on the news. The newer cars have been given so much tech that the electronic systems run things like throttle, brake and steering and can be accessed through the Telematics systems and with the right circumstances and information a smart hacker could gain access to some systems controlling the vehicle. Manufacturers are working diligently to stop this from happening and hopefully it will never be a problem. Consult your local mechanic and talk about your symptoms. The car will need to be scanned and the effected systems checked and repaired.

-Take care, the Motor Medics For entertainment only. Always consult your local shop and follow all safety procedures before repairs. Come visit the Motor Medics® online at Underthehoodshow.com.

Albany Senior Dining

Mon., May 8: Swedish meatballs over noodles, garden salad, peaches, breadstick.

Tues., May 9: Bacon wrapped stuffed chicken, baked potato, carrots.

Wed., May 10: Liver & onions or hamburger patty, whipped potatoes, gravy, spiced apples, peas & carrots, roll.

Thurs., May 11: Tuna noodle hotdish, garden salad, grapes.

Fri., May 12: Fritatta, sausage patty, applesauce, pastry.

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

Upsala - All Ages

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

Mon., May 8: Pork stir fry, rice, egg roll, dessert.

Tues., May 9: BBQ chicken breast, potato, vegetable, dessert.

Wed., May 10: Cook's choice.

Thurs., May 11: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, dessert.

Fri., May 12: Liver & onions, potato, vegetable, dessert.

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

Local Municipality Minutes

Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com

Burtrum City • April 10, 2023

Present: Jenae Ulbricht, Romie Gessell, Irene Ehlert, Juli Scherping, Chad Landowski and Brooke Thieschafer. Others present: Ronald Strassburg, Debbie Strassburg, Steve Marty, Joe Muellner, Barney Van Havermaet, Walter Hoppe.

Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Ulbricht called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

Approval of the Minutes: Mayor Ulbricht amended the minutes to reflect that Rahn’s Propane payment was voided and did not come out of the bank account. Motion by Romie Gessell seconded by Irene Ehlert. All in favor, motion carried.

Approval of Agenda City Council: Approve the agenda as posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law and herein place all agenda items on the table for discussion. Motion by Irene Ehlert seconded by Juli Scherping. All in favor, motion carried.

Approval of Bills City Council: Total bills for the month were $1,707.09. Deposits totaling $80.00. Motion by Irene Ehlert seconded by Romie Gessell. All in favor, motion carried.

Old Business: Handicap Railings at Community Center: Romie Gessell bought back some pricings for a variety of handles from a company in Long Prairie. Prices vary from white and stainless steel. Pricing did not include installation. Going to keep working on pricing with other companies. No action needed at this time.

City Phone Number/Wi-Fi Community Center: We have applied for a COOP purchasing Agreement with the State of MN. Once we get that approved, we will be able to move forward with Verizon.

City locks: Mayor Ulbricht went over quotes received thus far. Most locks will require Wi-Fi. Waiting to hear back from a quote from a company out of Rice, MN. Will report back at the next meeting. No action needed at this time.

City Laptops: Laptop has been purchased.

City Clean Up Bid: City Clean up day is scheduled for May 20th, 2023. Joe Muellner stated we will be using Opatz. Prices will vary by pound per item. Most items will be 15 cents per pound. Tires will be 30 cents per pound. Shirley with the township will send out postcards/flyers with pricing and policies. We will put flyers outside of the community center and post on Facebook. Chad Landowski made a motion to approve Clean Up day. Irene Ehlert supported. All in favor, motion carried.

Name Changes on all Accounts: All accounts should be updated to reflect the correct contact person. Mayor Ulbricht is now in the possession of the safety deposit keys for the City of Burtrum. Quinlivan & Hughes (city attorney) No Update. City is continuing to gather the information on rates from other attorney offices for the position of city attorney.

City Sign/Logo: Update - Central Lakes College students were given an assignment to create a city logo for us. Mayor Ulbricht will donate a $100 gift card to the winner, no funds will come out of the city. We will look into the city sign once we receive the logo back.

New Business: No new business at this time.

Open Floor: Walter Hoppe, 219 Jane Ave South, asked “How much liability insurance does the city carry?” Mayor Ulbricht will look into this and get back to him.

Steve Marty, 3388 104th Street, asked “Heard charging to use the Community Center for the bean bake?” “4-H was never charged.” Locals voiced the concern of being charged. Mayor Ulbricht stated the charge was voted on by the city council. Still waiting to get non profit paperwork from

the Bean Bake. Conversations were had about the benefit the bean bake does for the community. Discussed some dates for holding the community center for the bean bake. Mayor Ulbricht stated an application would need to be filled out to secure those dates. The charge for the bean bake will be discussed at the next meeting.

Discussion had on cleaning out the office. The Mayor and the City Clerk are working on getting retention information and sorting through all the files. Barney VanHavermaet stated he would help with the shelving in the office and assist with cleaning out and organizing. Debbie Strassburg also stated she would help.

Debbie Strassburg mentioned that some people were disappointed in the Easter Egg Hunt being canceled.

Joe Zupan, 119 Washington W, “The alleyway behind the Cabooze, the street that goes straight up needs Class 5 bad.” Mayor Ulbricht stated the grading company will look at it when they come out next. Chad Landowski mentioned checking dust control and getting scheduled right away on their books. Debbie Strassburg mentioned looking into a new grading company.

Announcements: Acknowledge the following people: Bobby Veldkamp for plowing the snow. Irene Elhert discussed different garbage options and pricing to switch to. If interested, Irene has the number to contact for detailed pricing.

Adjournment: Motion by Chad Landowski, seconded by Romie Gessell to adjourn meeting at 7:44 P.M. Motion carried. Minutes not approved.

Brooke Thieschafer, City Clerk-Treasurer

Burnhamville Township • March 28, 2023

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Burnhamville was held March 28, 2023 at the Burtrum Community Center. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Clerk Shirley Hulinsky. Members present include Supervisors Bruce Johnson, Joe Muellner and Mike Berscheit; Clerk Shirley Hulinsky; Treasurer Pam Throener. Also present were Ron Strassburg, Seth Strassburg and Erv Herdering.

Newly reelected officers took oath of office before this meeting.

As this is the reorganizational meeting after our township elections, Sup. Johnson made a motion to select Sup. Berscheit as Chair for the year. Sup. Muellner seconded the motion. Sup. Muellner made a motion to select Sup. Johnson for ViceChair for the year. Motion was seconded by Sup. Berscheit. Motions passed.

The minutes from the regular meeting of February 28, 2023 were approved on a motion by Sup. Johnson and second by Sup. Berscheit. Motion passed.

For correspondence the township received ads for sealcoating and custom signs, letter from bank about CD renewal and contact information on account and notice of county planning and zoning meeting about sewage treatment changes.

Residents were here to ask about making a field approach. They were given an access permit and a supervisor will meet with them to view the area.

A motion was made by Sup. Berscheit to pay all bills numbered 6418 through 6433 totaling $14,040.48. Sup. Muellner seconded the motion. Motion passed.

As part of the reorganization Sup. Berscheit made a motion to keep wages the same and mileage will again follow the IRS rate. Sup. Johnson seconded the motion. Sup. Berscheit made a motion to keep the meetings on the last Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the Burtrum Community

GENERAL NOTICE TO CONTROL OR ERADICATE NOXIOUS WEEDS

Notice is hereby given this 15th day of May, 2023, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.83, Subdivision 1 (2009), that all persons in Stearns County, Minnesota, shall control or eradicate all noxious weeds on land they occupy or are required to maintain. Control or eradication may be accomplished by any lawful method, but the method(s) applied may need to be repeated in order to prevent the spread of viable noxious weed seeds and other propagating parts to other lands. Failure to comply with the general notice may mean that an individual notice, Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.83, Subdivision 2 (2009), will be issued. An individual notice may be appealed within three working days of receipt to the appeal committee in the county where the land is located. Failure to comply with an individual notice will mean that the inspector having jurisdiction may either hire the work done or seek a misdemeanor charge against the person(s) who failed to comply. If the work is hired by the county inspector, the cost can be placed as a tax upon the land and collected as other real estate taxes are collected. You may obtain a list of the plants that are designated as noxious weeds and the members of the appeal committee from your County Agricultural Inspector or County. You can also obtain this information from your Local Weed Inspectors. Local Weed Inspectors include the township supervisors, city mayors or their appointed assistants. More information regarding the statewide/county listed noxious weeds, the MN Noxious Weed Law and a list of County Agricultural Inspectors can be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Web Site by visiting: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/noxiousinvasive-weed-program. Additionally, Stearns County is listing Rough Potato/Metaplexis japonica as a county listed prohibited weed in 2023.

Bob Dunning Stearns County Agricultural Inspector P.O. Box 246, St. Cloud, MN 56301

Center. Motion was seconded by Sup. Muellner. Sup. Johnson made a motion to keep the gopher bounty at $3 per tail. Sup. Berscheit seconded the motion. Sup. Berscheit made a motion to keep the Long Prairie Leader the official publishing paper and the Burtrum Bell Bulletin Board will be the official posting site. Motion was seconded by Sup. Johnson. Sup. Berscheit made a motion to have First State Bank of Swanville and the Magnifi Financial Credit Union as official depositories for township funds. Sup. Johnson seconded the motion. Motions passed.

Road contract bids were viewed. Sup. Johnson made a motion to accept the bids for gravel, blading, and dust control from Herdering, Inc. Sup. Berscheit seconded the motion. Motion passed.

In the road report supervisors noted that blading Morrison County Line Road was an improvement and contractor will also work on 331st St. south of town as conditions allow. The contractor will continue to blade out rough roads as the weather conditions permit. With the roads getting soft as ice and snow melt it will be hard to plow snow if we get more snow. The contractor has

more storage for dust control product this year.

The board received three bids for clean-up day. Sup. Berscheit made a motion to accept the bid from Opatz Metals & Rolloffs for clean-up day. Sup. Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Township election was held March 14 with 19 votes cast the same officers were reelected.

After receiving more information the township has received most of the FEMA funds applied for.

Treasurer’s report showed a balance of $87,384.27. Two CD’s were renewed and the clerk and treasurer completed contact forms. Sup. Berscheit motioned to approve and Sup. Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m. on a motion by Sup. Berscheit and a second by Sup. Johnson. Next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 7 pm in the Burtrum Community Center.

Shirley Hulinsky, Burnhamville Township Clerk

Upstage Players Announce Open Auditions

The Upstage Players Board is hosting auditions for its 2023 summer community theatre production, Singin’ in the Rain. Auditions will be held in the media center at the Upsala High School on Monday, May 15 and 16 from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. (Actors are allowed to leave after their audition instead of remaining the entire time, but plan to arrive with enough time to fill out the audition form.) If you had been planning to audition, but can’t make that audition date work, please email Melanie at mcimenski@ isd485.org to see if something can be worked out. The play offers roles for a wide variety of ages, from middle/high school to very wise. In order to be considered for a role, actors must be able to be present for all performances.

Auditioning actors 1) will be taught a short section of choreography to dance two to four times in a group, 2) will perform a thirty-second segmen of a song from the show, and 3) will dramatically interpret one of the one-minute monologues available on the Upstage Players website. It is not required for the monologue to be memorized.

Visit upstageplayers.org to view a list of

characters, actor requirements for roles, and links to the audition routine choreography tutorial, audition song options, and audition monologues. Feel free to reach out to Melanie with questions about roles, show requirements, etc.

This summer, when Singin’ in the Rain hits the stage, audiences will be transported back to a time when the transition is being made from silent films to `talkies.’ Everyone is having trouble adapting. Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, the era’s leading romantic couple, are hit hard when their production crew wants to make talkies as well. When their latest film is remade into a musical, only Don has the voice for the new singing part. After a lot of practice with a diction coach, Lina still sounds terrible. Enter Kathy Selden, a bright young aspiring actress. Will she steal Lina’s lines and her love? Find out in Singin’ in the Rain.

Rehearsals are Sunday from 3-5:30 p.m., and Mondays and Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Upsala High School. A tentative rehearsal schedule is available at upstageplayers.org. This schedule is subject to shift (minimally) due to actor availability.

Dispose of Hazardous Products in Your Home for Free

Stearns County’s Household Hazardous Waste mobile collection unit will soon begin its spring/summer collections. The unit travels to cities around Stearns County collecting hazardous products homeowners no longer want.

The unit will stop at the following local locations:

Wednesday, May 24: Melrose Fire and Ambulance Station, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: Sauk Centre Hockey Arena, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Holdingford School, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Albany Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1-3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 23: Greenwald Rec Building, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 23: Eden Valley Public Works, 1-3:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 9: Foley Benton County Public Works, 7 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 23: Kimball A.M. Maus and Sons, 8-11:00 a.m.

This is a chance for residents to get rid of all those unsafe or nuisance products lying around the house such as paints, stains, fluorescent bulbs, car seats, pesticides, cleaners, batteries, old ammunition, lead tackle, Christmas lights, sharps, poisons, roofing tar, fuels, automotive fluids, sealers, garden chemicals, pool chemicals, adhesives, aerosols, solvents, mothballs, mercury, and more. Products can be disposed of at no charge.

Items that cannot be accepted through the Household Hazardous Waste Program include used motor oil, antifreeze, explosives, furniture, household garbage, tires, medical waste, appliances, or

any other unknown products. Also not accepted is business waste. These collections are designed to collect home, not business, products.

Not sure what to do with an item? Use Stearns County’s Waste Wizard app. Search the product of interest and it will tell you how to get rid of it, give local options for quick and easy disposal, and even provide direction to a facility. Either download the Stearns County Waste Wizard App or go to the Stearns County website at stearnscountymn. gov/682.

For those who cannot make one of the scheduled mobile collection times, the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 3601 5th Street South in Waite Park accepts products year-round. That facility is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m. along with the second and third Saturdays of each month from 8:00 a.m. – noon. The drop-off is 100% hands-free for the customer. Simply pull into the drop-off bay and staff will remove all the items from the rear of your vehicle. Information on the Household Hazardous Waste facility and mobile unit can be found on the Stearns County web site at stearnscountymn.gov.

Notes from the Capitol By State Rep. Paul

Anderson

Preliminary budget bills have large state spending increases

After two weeks of marathon floor sessions, all of this year's major spending bills have been passed out of the Minnesota House.

We had a string of seven nights in that span when debate ended at midnight, which is the most late-night sessions during my time in the Legislature. Work now transitions to conference committees, whose members all have been announced. I was one of three House members named to the conference committee on agriculture, and we were scheduled to hold our first meeting with a like number of senators on Monday of this week. Sen. Torrey Westom was the Republican named to the conference committee from that body.

What was amazing about these bills –nearly all of which passed on party-line votes – was the amount of new spending they call for. Our current state budget contains just over $52 billion in expenditures, whereas the new one being put together for the next biennium is up around $70 billion. That's an increase of 35 percent! The state surplus is being used up, but even that's not enough to cover all these projected new expenses. Taxes in various areas are being increased to the tune of $9.5 billion.

Here's one that will hit nearly all Minnesotan: The rate used to determine the cost of license tabs for vehicles will be modified under the DFL House plan. During the first few years of ownership, car owners will pay significantly more for their tabs, while the depreciation rate in years six-10 would be sped up. As an example, the current cost for a typical $40,000 new vehicle in the first year of ownership is $524. Under the DFL plan, that first year license tab fee would increase to $790. Over the span of 11 years, the difference between the current plan and the new one is a nearly 30-percent increase in the cost of license tabs.

The tax bill passed out of the House does contain several good items, among which are

provisions that will help homeowners with the rapidly rising cost of property taxes. However, it also adds a new, fifth tier rate for income tax filers. Individually, it would affect those with incomes over $1 million, but it will also impact smaller businesses who pay their state tax at the highest rate in order to receive a larger deduction on their federal return. There are rebate checks included in tax bill, only they will be much smaller than talked about during last fall's campaign. Instead of $2,000-$3,000, checks will be going out to joint filers with incomes under $100,000 in the amount of $285 per individual.

Another item generating a great number of comments from constituents is a provision in the tax bill to change how electronic pull tabs work. This type of gaming has been around for several years now and was designed to be the primary source of revenue to pay for the Vikings football stadium. Well, after a slow start, e-tabs have really taken off and become popular. So much so that enough tax revenue has been raised to pay off the stadium mortgage 20 years early! It's also been a large source of income for our local charities and the valuable work they do supporting causes in their home towns. A change in how these e-tabs are formatted is included in the tax bill, and it's causing a great deal of concern among local charities. This provision is not contained in the Senate tax bill so we are hopeful it will be taken out during conference committee.

Among the most troubling provisions to be passed last week was one included in the health bill. In addition to containing more pro-abortion provisions, funding for a pro-life program known as Positives Alternatives was cancelled. In our area, the program is known as Options for Women, and they do a wonderful job. Before and after delivery of a child, the program is there to help in a variety of ways. I have attended several fund-raising events for chapters in Stearns and Stevens Counties known as Evening for Life. These events will now become even more important for these organizations.

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.

CLASSIFIED

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church GARAGE SALE May 11-13

Thurs.: 5-7 PM • Fri.: 8-5 PM Sat.: 8-Noon (Sat. clothes $1/bag)

Our Savior's Church Fellowship Hall 840 Lake Ave., Albany

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

WANTED: 606 or 454 International utility tractor. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn

WANTED: 70 hp. tractor with cab & snowblower, reasonable. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS!

Pondview Estates

Independent Senior Housing ∙ Albany

• Beautiful 1 Bed/1 Bath Apartments

• Low-Income / Rent Subsidized

• Must be 62 years or older

Call Today to Schedule a Tour! 320-845-2969

Pondview is located just 20 minutes West of St. Cloud

FOR SALE: 14' Crestliner aluminum boat with 6HP Johnson Sea Horse outboard motor, and Snowco trailer, $1250. Call 218760-8266. GR-tfn

FOR SALE: Bullets for reloading, cheap, 45 cal FMJ, HP, cast lead. Call 320-2604551.

FOR SALE: Wire corn crib, bale elevator, field sprayer, grain cleaner, Oliver 5-bottom plow, TV/flag pole. St. Stephen area 320252-9756.

Todd County HHS Employment Opportunity

Todd County HHS is looking for a reliable, service oriented individual to serve the citizens of Todd County in the following position:

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

To learn more about this opening and how to apply, visit the official Todd County website at https://www.co.todd.mn.us Questions may be directed to Todd County Administration: (320) 732-6155. EOE

FOR SALE: 2-wheel trailer, 7x9’ bed w/ G78-13” tires, spare tire included, ball hitch. Call 320-250-3874, leave message.

FOR SALE: 2013 Forest River Surveyor Select travel trailer, 32 ft. sleeps 5-6 with many extra features. Call 320-493-5562, leave message.

FOR SALE: Inversion table like new, paid $150, asking $100. Call 320-493-5562, leave message if no answer.

Rose View Manor Apartments

Located in Melrose, MN

• Beautiful 1 Bedroom Apartments Available Immediately

• Electric, Heat, Water, Refuse, Onsite Laundry and Community Room included in the Rent

• Excellent Residential Location

• Equal Housing Opportunity

• Smoke Free

• Income Restrictions Apply

Available Now!

• Rent Based On 30% of Household Income

HRA of Melrose 320-256-4600 • rvm@meltel.net