Generations (formerly Prime Time) April 2017

GENERATIONS APRIL 2017

(formerly Prime Time)

Reflections by people 55 and older

Thursday, April 20 - 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 21 - 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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D2 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

PUBLIC EDUCATION starts with each of us parents, grandparents & great-grandparents, extended family & friends. Your Support enables educators to do their part in securing a solid future for our children.

• In the past 5 years student MCA Math Proficiency has increased each year by 2-3%.

• During the 2016 graduation ceremony Al Franken speaks and honors WHS graduate Muna Abdulahi for being a Senate Page in 2015.

• Willmar High School successfully implements the Kandiyohi County CEO class, an entrepreneurship program supported by area businesses.

• Jefferson Learning Center was awarded a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten grant, one of 78 school districts in the state of Minnesota. Thirty additional preschoolers are now attending school.

• Willmar’s FFA chapter continues to be successful at the state and national level & will have 7 teams competing this spring.

• Early Childhood Family Education has increased their class and event offerings. There has been a 72% increase in participation in one year.

Education Minnesota-Willmar is proud to sponsor the Patty Wetterling presentation at Life Connections 2017.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D3

West Central Minnesota’s

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LARGEST EVENT FOR ADULTS 50 PLUS

WILLMAR CIVIC CENTER

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2017

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9:00 Legislative Update 10:00 WC Dementia Awareness Network 5:30 Musical entertainment by Willmar 2701 10:25 Outstanding Senior 6:30 Jill May of the Year Award 10:30 Kingery Family 12:15 Patty Wetterling 1:15 Bingo 2:00 Wendinger Band Wandering Minstrels

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D4 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

18th annual Life Connections expands to two-day event Free admission to all activities More than 1,000 attendees are expected at the 18th annual Life Connections event Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21, at the Willmar Civic Center in Willmar.

Hours are 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, featuring speaker Jill May, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, featuring keynote speaker Patty Wetterling.

Life Connections has become a tradition for mature adults of Willmar and southwest Minnesota, providing exhibits, seminars, entertainment and probably most important — interaction — for those who attend.

This year’s event has been expanded to include an evening session on Thursday to make it easier for more people to participate in the event, and

to allow for more speakers and events, as well as time to visit the exhibitor booths.

Featured at the evening session will be Jill May, a mother of four from Willmar who won a national reality television show “Strong” last spring. It was that show, she has said, that taught her to love fitness and made her want to stick with it for life. Now she believes anyone can find the same passion for fitness – minus the reality show. May will speak at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20.

Musical entertainment opening Thursday’s evening session will be

e! v i L o t y he wa t s i s i Th

ers, seminars, booth exhibits and other activities.

“Once again we are excited to bring Life Connections to the residents of west central Minnesota,” said Kevin Smith, advertising and marketing director at the West Central Tribune heading up the Life Connections event.

“This year’s event proves to be ‘bigger and better’ than ever, with the added evening session on Thursday and our two-day dynamic speaking duo featuring Jill May and Patty Wetterling. We are especially honored to have Patty here to share her message with our attendees.

“And we still have the exhibitors, entertainment, seminars and a lot of fun, with a lot of ‘hands-on’ programs.

This event has a real following here in Willmar. Whether you come join your friends for breakfast, pie and coffee, or to play bingo, you are sure to have a great time.”

provided by Willmar Cardinals 2701 jazz choir from Willmar Senior High School.

Friday’s session will open with a breakfast, beginning at 8:30 a.m., for the first 300 people. There will also be a legislative update, a presentation on West Central Dementia Awareness, bingo, the Outstanding Senior Award presentation, pie and coffee, musical entertainment by the Kingery family of Grove City, dance music by the Wendinger Band, bringing back the rich, musical heritage of New Ulm, and much more.

Patty Wetterling, a nationally recognized educator on the issues of child abduction and sexual exploitation of children, will be the featured speaker on Friday, April 21, beginning at 12:15 p.m.

Transportation from the parking lot of the Civic Center to the front door will again be provided, and admission to the event is free, including all speak-

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Patty Wetterling and Jill May will be the keynote speakers at the Life Connections event at the Willmar Civic Center. May will speak at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, and Wetterling will speak at 12:15 p.m. Friday, April 21. Both presentations are open to the public free of charge.

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Thursday, April 20 & Friday, April 21

PATTY WETTERLING Patty Wetterling is the mother of Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted at the age of 11 by a masked gunman on Oct. 22, 1989, near his home in St. Joseph. Following a nearly 27-year search, Jacob’s kidnapper and murderer confessed and the truth about what happened that night was finally revealed. Patty has become a nationally recognized educator on the issues of child abduction and sexual exploitation of children. Fighting for the safety of all children, Wetterling and her husband, Jerry, co-founded the Jacob Wetterling Foundation (now the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, a part of Gundersen Health Systems) to educate communities about child safety issues in order to prevent child exploitation and abductions.

Co-founder and past director of Team H.O.P.E., a national support group for families of missing children, Wetterling is also a founding member and past president of the Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s Organizations AMECO and immediate past chair of the board of directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She has co-authored two books, “When Your Child is Missing: A Family Survival Guide” along with four other families, and “Perspectives on Missing Persons Cases” released in the fall of 2015.

Wetterling was instrumental in the passage of the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children Sex Offender Registration Act on the state level as well as part of the 1994 Federal Crime Bill.

She was instrumental in establishing the statewide AMBER Plan in Minnesota and was a keynote speaker for the very first AMBER Plan training in Dallas, Texas. She has presented at four Missing Children’s Day Ceremonies in

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Wetterling, May keynote speakers at Life Connections

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D5

at the Willmar Civic Center.

Washington, D.C., with John Walsh and Attorneys General Janet Reno, John Ashcroft, Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. Wetterling served on a panel at the very first White House Conference on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children in October 2002, sponsored by President George and First Lady Laura Bush.

Currently, Wetterling presents victim impact sessions for law enforcement training programs (Investigative Strategies for Child Abduction Cases) and Amber Alert and Technical Assistance trainings. She is called on frequently as an independent consultant and joined the Gundersen NCPTC Speakers Bureau in 2015. Although she has become a highly recognized child advocate, Wetterling has never given up hope. She often says, “I’m just Jacob’s mom trying to fight for the rights of children to grow up safe and to be able to follow their dreams.”

Wetterling is billed as a “dynamic and passionate speaker with a powerful message.”

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Page D6

Accuquest Hearing Center Alzheimer’s Association Atwater Area Help for Seniors Bethesda Grand Brookdale Senior Living Cash Wise CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center Central Community Transit Central Minnesota Senior Care Compassionate Care, Inc. Connect Hearing Dawn Weber - Attorney at Law Destination Playground Divine Home Care & Hospice Edward Jones-Doug Kveene & Jeanne Ashburn Gutter Helmet of Southern MN Habitat for Humanity Heartland Orthopedic Specialists Humane Society of Kandiyohi County Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar Economic Development Commission Kandiyohi Public Health Let’s Go Fishing, Willmar Area Chapter

Meeker Manor Rehabilitation Center Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. Peterson Brothers Funeral Home Pioneer Public Television Quist Wealth Management Rice Home Medical Rice Memorial Hospital Safe Avenues Southwest Initiative Foundation St. Cloud Surgical Center Taatjes Financial Group The Salvation Army Thrifty White Pharmacy Touching Hearts at Home United Community Action Partnership Vista Prairie at Copperleaf Wermerskirchen Law Office, P.A. West Central Dementia Awareness Network West Central Tribune Whitney Music Willmar Area Community Foundation Willmar Diabetes Center Willmar Senior Citizens Club

D6 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS FROM D5 JILL MAY Last summer, Jill May asked herself if she was strong enough.

The answer, it would seem, is a resounding yes.

Last June, the 35-year-old Willmar resident and mother of four, and her teammate, won the NBC reality series “Strong” and a $300,000 cash prize.

May was selected for the show after entering a video during an open call the previous year.

The show, produced by Sylvester Stallone and billed by the network as “a fitness competition show like no other,” paired contestants with allmale trainers from a myriad of fitness disciplines.The duos competed sideby-side each week during strength and conditioning challenges.

At the end of each episode, two teams battled to stay in the contest by besting

one another in a four-story monolith designed to “put every muscle and ounce of determination to the test,” according to promotional material from the show.

May was teamed with Bennie Wylie, a former college football player who later became a strength and conditioning coach in the NFL. Upon entering the competition, May weighed 167 pounds with 31 percent body fat. Through her work on the series, she gained 24 pounds of muscle but lost 23 pounds in weight.

She now weighs 144 pounds with 12 percent body fat, according to the NBC report.

The experience “showed me the body will do whatever the mind wills it to,” May said during an interview with the West Central Tribune in the buildup to the show’s premiere in April 2016.

“Part of my challenge before I went was that mentally, I just didn’t care.

But a big part of what Bennie did was build up my mental strength again and reinforce that mentality that nothing I put my mind to is beyond reach.”

Outstanding Senior to be named at Life Connections The selection of an outstanding senior for 2017 is a favorite feature of Life Connections.

This year will be the eighth year of the award.

The award will be presented at 10:25 a.m.

Friday.

The Outstanding Senior Award will be given to an individual age 50 or older who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment that benefits the community and its citizens.

Leadership qualities include creativity, volunteerism, responsibility, problem-solving, respectfulness, cooperation and organizational skills.

Nominees must live in Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa, Renville, Meeker, Pope or Stearns counties.

The winner will receive a $100 award, plus

Doug Wilkowske of Willmar was named the 2016 Outstanding Senior of the Year.

SENIOR: Page D7

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TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Doug Wilkowske, left, is named Outstanding Senior Volunteer at the 17th annual Life Connections in 2016. Don Williamson, from West Central Sanitation, which sponsors the award, made the presentation.

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$100 donated to the charity of his or her choice. In addition, the person providing the nomination will receive $50. Nominations must include a description of the projects, activities and/or volunteerism the person has been involved in; the end results and benefits of the individual’s efforts and contributions; and comments as to how this person’s efforts have helped to make their community a better place. For more information, call 2144317 or email ksmith@wctrib.com. Sponsor of the award is West Central Sanitation of Willmar.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D7

SENIOR FROM D6 “I can’t think of a more deserving person.

He has a good heart, he’s a compassionate person,” Don Williamson of West Central Sanitation said as he introduced Wilkowske.

Wilkowske was an elementary school teacher for 34 years, spending most of his career in Willmar. He spent 11 years in the computer lab, creating curriculum in addition to helping others with their computer questions.

Wilkowske is the founder of E-Quip Africa, which provides computers, books, school supplies and clothing to individuals and families in Ghana. A dream of Wilkowske’s after visiting Ghana with his brother in-law, E-Quip Africa was established in 2002.

He has also been very involved at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he has served as the director of religious education and a member of the church social concerns committee and tithing committee. Wilkowske has assisted with scheduling the Eucharistic ministers and has put his computer skills to work again by answering any computer related questions in the church office.

In addition to his church and E-Quip Africa, Wilkowske has served on the board of

Family Promise which assists families struggling with homelessness, is a member of the Willmar Area Arts Council and has served on The Barn Theatre board of directors. He received the Kiwanis Touch-a-Life award in 2010.

Senior-Friendly Nonprofit In 2016, the Willmar Area Community Foundation chose Atwater Area Help for Seniors for its third annual Outstanding Senior-Friendly Nonprofit award, presented at Life Connections.

AAHFS is a non-profit organization which provides support to seniors and caregivers so the senior can stay in their home for as long as it is safe.

Established in 1988, AAHFS volunteers provide services like delivering groceries, home delivered meals, transportation to medical/ dental appointments and social events and exercise and wellness programs like Bone Builders and Matter of Balance. Volunteers also do home visits, in-home respite care and Live Well At Home screening and solutions.

Funding for AAHFS comes from not only state and local grants, but individual and group donations and memorials. The organization also holds fundraising events including bake sales, a golf tournament and food sales at Atwater Festival Days.

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Deb Friedrichs, left, executive director of Atwater Area Help for Seniors, and volunteer coordinator Karen Fischer visit with Lila Rekedal at the organization’s booth at the West Central Tribune’s 17th annual Life Connections at the Willmar Civic Center in 2016. AAHFS received the third annual Willmar Community Foundation Senior-Friendly Nonprofit of the Year award at the event.

Life Connections entertainers Entertainers at the Life Connections 2017 event on April 21 will include the Kingery family musicians, right, of the Atwater-Grove City area, and the Wendinger Band, far right, bringing the rich, musical heritage of New Ulm to the Willmar Civic Center arena. The Kingery family will put on a musical show in the morning, while the Wendinger Band will play for afternoon dancing and entertainment.

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D8 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Hope for Hunter

By Beatrice Weber Benson On Sunday June 14, 2015, cousins Jacob, 18, and Hunter, 16, went for a swim near Durham, N.C. It was a lovely sunny morning and after exercise class and chores completed, I decided to read a few pages of my favorite book – “All Creatures Great and Small” by Dr. James Herriot – when the phone rang.

My daughter Maria said, “Are you watching TV?” “No, I never watch TV in the morning,” I said.

“Turn on the news. They can explain it better than I can,” she said.

I turned on the news and saw a helicopter circling over a beach in North Carolina where several people were caring for a young man laying flat on the beach. A few had towels and were working to stop his bleeding.

After swimming in deep water, he and his cousin Jacob came in and then went back out in shallow water to wash off the sand. That’s when Hunter felt a pull on his arm and saw a shark swim away with his arm.

The announcers gave his name as Hunter

Treschel. That is my great-grandson, a champion left-handed swimmer who had just now lost his left arm. They gave his condition as critical.

It was the next day before I saw him resting in bed. He was calm and sober, saying it wouldn’t ruin his life, just change it. After a few days he was sent to Duke University Hospital nearby for therapy.

A few days later I saw him on “Good Morning America” where he talked with a man who had lost both arms. He encouraged Hunter to be hopeful.

After about a month Hunter went home with his mother to Colorado. He rested, received more therapy, and learned to live with one arm.

Anderson Cooper of CNN interviewed Hunter.

They visited, baked cookies, played Frisbee, and went for a walk outside.

He has a new prosthesis now and is learning to drive and is back in school full time. He has a great attitude and hopefully will live a happy, useful life.

I saw him in Denver after a family wedding. He has grown tall, is very grateful, and is looking forward to college and a bountiful future.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D9

A girl named Sue on 50 years of child care

By Sue Iverson Willmar My mom named me Valeryn but most people know me by my middle name, which is Sue. My mom was not happy when I started going by Sue because she liked Valeryn so much, but so many people mispronounced it.

I have done childcare in Southwest Willmar on 17th Street for over 50 years. I have been licensed by the county as a childcare provider since 1976. I like what I do. It lets me make a difference in the lives of others. I try to show love, compassion and caring to the children.

I grew up on a farm outside Cosmos.

My dad, Ilert Anderson, was a farmer and my mom, Jennie, worked at a nursing home. My husband, Roger Iverson, and I have been married 52 years. He grew up in Parkers Prairie.

We have four children, 11 grandkids and 10 great-grandchildren.

For seven years, I offered a 24-hour service. Police Department employees were among my customers and single-mom nurses at the State Hospital, nursing homes and Rice Hospital. We had children on weekends, nights and holidays.

I was blessed because our children accepted them like brothers and sisters.

One child when he grew up went into the military and he sent me flowers on Mother’s Day, and it brought tears.

God has blessed me. In all these years,

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we’ve never had a serious injury, not a broken bone.

When I started doing child care in 1967, the rate was 75-cents per hour for county kids. And now, after all these years, it’s $2.11. I also get reimbursed for meals. The state pays $1.31 for breakfast, $2.46 for lunch and 73 cents for snacks. I get a check from them every month.

I am doing second-generation child care, children of parents I had cared for when they were kids. That makes me happy. I guess they feel I did a good job.

When someone comes to me, I set up an interview. I let them know what I offer, the hours, the rate and that I expect to get paid every Friday.

Roger and I bought this house on the corner in 1965. That’s where I got the name Sue’s Kiddie Korner. I was already doing some babysitting at the time.

When I was in school, I thought I’d like to be a beauty operator. After I got married, I worked at Goldfines and at Jennie-O. When we started raising our family, I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. So I thought the next best thing would be going into child care. I still enjoy it. As long as my health holds up, I plan to stay with it.

I thought I was doing a good job with our four kids by being a stay-at-home mom. But over the years they began

D10 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

DAYCARE FROM D9 telling me, “Mom, you are not such a good mom.’’ I felt bad. They said the reason why was my daycare business.

They didn’t have their own toys to play with. I was never able to go to any of their school functions because I had too many kids to pack in a car. I never went to a songfest. They couldn’t have their friends over to play because our insurance only covered so many kids in the house. When they came home from school, I was busy giving snacks or getting kids ready to go home, so I never looked at their school work right away. So those things were a negative, but they also thought that kids here nights and holidays was great because it meant playmates.

Right now I work 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week. Today I have 7 kids from infant up to just about age 5.

I had a deaf boy and I learned sign language. That was a blessing, but hard. I did pretty well but I feel badly because I kind of lost it by not using it much any more. Now when we see each other uptown we just hug. He’s still got the same sweet smile.

The most difficult thing about being

a daycare provider is that when we need time off for an appointment or something we are not allowed to let just anyone fill in. The person must have certification in first aid and CPR. This year, I need 16 hours of training on safety and first aid which probably doesn’t seem like a lot. We must have additional homeowners insurance for the children. Equipment like cribs, high chairs and baby gates must be up to code, and there’s is a lot of detailed paperwork running a daycare.

Training is usually free, though not always, and is in the evening after you’ve worked all day. I have taken many of the classes many times over, but I will say you generally learn something new. Things do change with CPR and first aid so I’m glad we have the training.

We have unannounced visits by the county and food program. We also practice fire and storm drills. Since it’s so difficult to take little children on field trips, we’ve arranged visits by the bike safety patrol, a fire truck on fire safety, the Misty Zoo farm animals and Barry the Bear.

I’ve met a lot of great people in this job over the years and made lifetime friendships. At the end of the day, a child’s hug and a smile are the payoff.

As told to Rand Middleton

Left: A variety of activities, including Western Day with the Misty & Friends Zoo in 2003, are all part of the package at Sue’s Kiddie Korner daycare in Willmar. Second from right is granddaughter Tayah Hinrichs, 12.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Right: Sue Iverson poses with Trina, 4, at her daycare Sue’s Kiddie Korner in Willmar.

PHOTO BY RAND MIDDLETON

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D12 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Handle With Care Sponsored Content by: Peterson Brothers Funeral Home

From a very young age Herold was known for working alongside his father in the fields, always full of dirt from head to toe and never afraid of working hard. His father use to call him Ox- because he was as strong as one. Herold would grow up to take over his family’s farm and soon he would be raising his children with his wife Mary on that same farm site. Herold and his wife were blessed with three children two girls and their son.

Just like Herold’s relationship with his Father, his son Jeremiah and himself worked side by side, from sun up to sun down, in the fields, in the barns and on their machinery. There was nothing those two couldn’t fix or do. Some folks say it was pure stubbornness the two men had, never taking anyone up on their offering for help but always willing to lend a helping hand themselves, Mary said it was not stubbornness, it was pure enjoyment and pride the two men did everything themselves.

It had been a very wet and cold spring that year, and Herold and Jeremiah were both

starting to feel the anxiousness and stress of needing to get everything planted and ready before it was too late. When the rain finally quit and the fields finally dried up, the Father and Son duo would work 22 hours straight, only taking two hour naps, to ensure they would get everything planted in their 600 acres, while still completely their daily chores taking care of livestock. It was a cold, spring night and Herold and Jeremiah, like every Spring ended up having the same argument they would have every year, mostly due to lack of sleep and losing patients even for each other.

Jeremiah, like always stormed out of the barn, got into his truck and left his father standing there, by the time Jeremiah got home from the farm he was exhausted and felt awful about the words he said to his 77 year old father, but he would apologize in the morning. An hour later Mary had walked out to bring Harold something to eat, he hadn’t come in yet even after Jeremiah squealed out of the driveway. As she walked into the barn she saw first smiled

as she shook her head, there her husband of 55 years sat slouched over a bale of straw, as she went over to wake him she thought “if only he would make sure to get his rest”, but Harold did not respond to Mary, he did not wake. He had past away in his barn that cold spring night.

Jeremiah, his two sisters and his mother sat in the Funeral Home, grief had taken over all of them, except Jeremiah he felt more guilt than anything.

Why didn’t he just go along with his father that night instead of arguing or why didn’t he turn around or if he hadn’t left… thoughts were running through his head, the last thing he wanted to be doing was sitting in the funeral home planning his Father’s funeral, he had work that needed to be done.

He would grieve later and in his own way.

“Would dad want to be cremated you think? What hymns do you think would be best? Should the wake be before the funeral service and the night before or just one or the other? “ These were the

last questions Jeremiah had on his mind, his father and himself never discussed death unless

it involved livestock. He worked alongside his father ever since he could remember, he knew him better than anyone but these were questions he could not even begin to answer.

Herold and Mary never took the time to preplan their funerals.

Every spring they would plan for the planting season, every fall they would plan for harvest but never had they discussed their funerals. Death is not a topic many people prefer to discuss. But by discussing funeral planning and making arrangements can be a smart financial move and one that limits large decisions at a time of heightened emotions. Every year millions of people in North America make the decision to preplan a funeral. The process is also known as pre-need planning.

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D13

GROW OUR OWN

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From Ortonville to Jackson, Luverne to Winsted, we’ve served our southwest Minnesota region with business lending, grantmaking, and programming that helps keep our communities going strong. After 30 years of impact, we can see the results: 700 businesses providing 8,600 jobs, 25 local community affiliates supporting local projects, 1,730 acres of farmland kept in production through Keep It Growing and so much more.

These kids are our future employees, entrepreneurs, community leaders, volunteers, homeowners and taxpayers. We believe that our region’s economy depends on their success—and that we all have a role to play in supporting our kids.

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“Too many kids in our region aren’t getting the best possible start to their lives,” SWIF President/CEO Diana Anderson said. “We can, and must, do something to change that.” Diana said leaders across the state and country are watching this region’s work unfold.

Our history has also positioned us to lead solutions for our next greatest threat: childhood poverty.

Today, one in six southwest Minnesota kids lives in poverty—and their future isn’t so bright.

That’s because this trend isn’t unique to southwest Minnesota. Across the country, the division of economic classes is widening. Children born into poor families are unable to access the opportunities they need to be successful. It’s known as the “opportunity gap.”

Research shows that not all of these kids, no matter how hard they try, will be able to reach their full potential. Kids from low-income families

In December 2016, Southwest Initiative Foundation launched a new 10-year commitment to close the opportunity gap in this region.

More than 500 employers, community leaders, elected officials, educators and students gathered in Marshall for an event featuring heavy hitters like Robert Putnam Robert Putnam, Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and author of Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis.

In the opening lines of Our Kids, Putnam writes, “My hometown was, in the 1950s, a passable embodiment of the American Dream, a place that offered decent opportunity for all the kids in town, whatever their background. A half century later, however, life in Port Clinton, Ohio, is a split-screen American nightmare, a community in which kids from the wrong side of the tracks that bisect the town can barely imagine the future that awaits the kids from the right side of the tracks. And the story of Port Clinton turns out to be sadly typical of America.”

Diving into regional data The 2017 U.S. Federal Poverty Guideline is $24,600 for a family of four. The cost of living in southwest Minnesota is more than double that, about $58,000. This region is home to 11,000 kids who, by the lottery of birth, live in poverty. That’s equal to the populations of New London, Olivia, Renville, Benson, Atwater and Clara City combined. Add low income numbers and it means more than four in 10 kids in this region

live in families who are likely struggling to meet their basic needs.

Putnam stresses this is an issue that requires action. He points out people saying “our kids” used to mean all kids in the community, not just their own children, and we must get back to that in our society.

“Our sense of ‘we’ has shriveled,” he said. “This is a big deal for all of us.”

Despite the challenges, southwest Minnesota is working from a position of strength and smaller populations mean that relatively small investments can make a big impact.

Southwest Initiative Foundation believes now is the time to address needs that do exist and make us even stronger for future generations.

“I’ve lived, worked, raised a family, and built businesses right here in southwest Minnesota my entire life,” said SWIF Board Chair Bob Thurston, who grew up near Brewster, owns a business in Olivia and lives near Spicer. “We have committed and caring people who want the best for our communities. Great companies and job opportunities.

Quality schools. Safe neighborhoods. Strong churches, scouts, athletics, the arts, and other places where young people can engage.

It’s time for us to carry this energy forward.”

Visit swifoundation.org for more about Grow Our Own.

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have less access to everything from quality early childhood education to Advanced Placement courses in high school to sport and enrichment activities that provide mentoring, teambuilding and other life-long skills.

D14 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D15 001562062r1

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D16 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

14

From June to December 2016, 14 Kandiyohi County youth were the victims of trafficking or exploitation.

THERE IS NO DENYING THAT TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING HERE. The Willmar Area Women’s Fund unites local women to prevent and address the growing challenges of youth homelessness and human trafficking in our own backyard.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D17

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D18 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

My little tree hugger

By Bessie Klose Atwater When we bought our farm there were a few rows of trees around the house and a few volunteer box elders and other trees here and there.

In the years we have lived here we have tried to clean up the grove and plant some new rows of trees on the outside of the original ones.

There was one row of willow trees.

If you have ever had willows, you know that branches break off, blow down in storms and they are literally a messy tree.

After many of this row looked really bad we decided it was time to cut the willow row down or pull them out by the roots so we could plant new trees in their place.

After doing most of the row we got to the tree that was near our back door. Our youngest daughter did not want us to cut that one down as that was her favorite tree.

You see she had a dog that went everywhere with her. That tree had a branch that was very low to the ground and she could climb it without any trouble even though she was pretty young. Not only could she climb it, but her dog was able to climb up right after her.

So when we got to that tree, she climbed up in it and sat there so we could not cut it down. She won. We left it there until it fell over by itself.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D19

Love is …

Love is like a mist Which refreshes and nourishes.

Love is like a soft breeze Lifting and making life light.

Love is like the air we breathe We take it in and need to give it out.

Love is like an ether floating A substance not seen Distributed evenly through space.

Love is soft and light as a feather And tender and sweet as springtime.

Love feels as free as the birds that sing Is internal, external and eternal.

Love can be hot as a roaring fire And turbulent as a storm.

Love is ours to feel, to hold, to give Guard, protect and know.

Love knows no limit and Has no end to its reach.

Love stands when all else fails Never fading or giving up hope.

Love that is real is true worship Love is from God, for God is love.

Rolling thunder

By Bev Goodmund Blomkest “I see the stars, I heard the rolling thunder” How many times have I heard that, yet …

Never really heard the rolling thunder I didn’t pay attention, my mind was preoccupied When I heard that this morning I wondered if it was really thunder Then it got louder and I knew …

So did little Charlie and he headed for cover He couldn’t get in the porch fast enough For me it was awesome making the song …

How Great Thou Art, have richer meaning It shows God’s power in the universe This lingered with me all day God’s power is great.

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D20 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Lifetime friends

By Dorothy Carter Libby, Montana; formerly Grove City

This is the story of my aunt Creta Smith as told to me over the years. I was a student at the school where she once taught.

The first day I taught school was one of the biggest thrills of my life. I was proud and happy and I was addressed as “Miss Corrick” even by kids who knew me best as “Creta.” I had books and lessons planned in a business-like way. I think there were 20 pupils to begin the year. We had strict discipline, with well-learned lessons, but there was fun and laughter too.

When I was a young girl I aspired to be a school teacher. I graduated from high school in Walker, Minnesota. The next year I attended a class called the Normal Training Course, which was for beginning teachers. It was taught

by Mr. R.F. Ross. When I finished that class I was qualified to teach grade school – a dream come true.

In 1922 the county superintendent gave me a country school to teach eight grades. It was less than two miles from where I lived. That one-room school was quite new. It was painted white and had a wide front porch. The main room held a teacher’s desk and students desks for eight grades. The front wall had a blackboard and tall windows looked to the east. Four small rooms included a “cloak” room, a library, a firewood storeroom and a vestibule leading out the front door.

That school was named the Welch School after Tom Welch who donated the land for it. It was built as a model and was beautiful, but had cold wooden floors. When winter settled in, I walked ‘round and round’ still wearing my four-buckle overshoes. I read over lessons while the room warmed up from the fire I built myself using wood from the back room. The children took turns carrying in wood from the shed in the backyard. They liked that because I allowed them to do that during class time.

I lived at home with my folks and walked the dirt road to school. I enjoyed that walk in all seasons. I liked to watch the fall leaves change color, and I looked for spring flowers along the edge of the road.

In winter I wore a heavy coat and a knitted scarf tied over a cap and pulled over my face. The area was heavily wooded and I saw animals tracks along the way. There were so many deer and

wolf tracks they made paths.

At recess the kids played games or in the snow making forts. I had a drawer in my desk that had kids’ belongings in it. Anytime I saw a slingshot, in the draw it went. Marbles rolling across the floor ended up in the drawer. Sometimes a child would ask to look in that drawer, but they never bothered anything. Just as I promised, they got them all back the last day of school.

I was busy all day long getting all those eight grades taken care of. When the last child was out the door at night I let the quiet sink in before preparing lessons for the next day and sweeping the floor. For that chore I used a compound scattered and then swept up. It was slightly oily and had a clean smell. Then I picked up my wraps and lunch pail and stepped out into fresh air for the walk home. I looked forward to mother’s “supper is all ready,” as I pushed open the kitchen door.

At noon we had hot lunches to go with sandwiches brought from home in tin syrup pails. Over very cold days those sandwiches would freeze so the kids piled their lunch pails around the metal jacket of the big wood-burning stove. The students made decisions about the cooking. They figured out who could bring ingredients for stews – a soup bone, carrots, potatoes, canned tomatoes or macaroni. They heated water and washed dishes in a dishpan. The water was pumped by a willing kid at the well in the backyard.

They cooked on a kerosene stove, and one time that stove caught fire and flames shot toward the ceiling. An older boy grabbed off the oil tank and another carried the stove outside.

Boys were more apt than girls to misbehave and pull pranks. One morning I noticed an ink spot on Clarence’s right ear. Then Glen had one and Everett had an ink spot on his ear, too. I said nothing until later when I told each boy separately to go wash off the ink in a pan of water in the back room.

They were not always interested in their lessons.

A few days later a peanut appeared on Clarence’s ear. I looked over at Everett and sure enough, there was a peanut on his ear. So I banished Clarence to solitary confinement in the cloak room.

Lunch hour came and where was Clarence? Good heavens! I had forgotten him, so I apologizes and turned him loose. Later I heard him tell his pals he

FRIENDS: Page D21

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Creta Carrick (Smith), Leech Lake school teacher.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D21

FRIENDS FROM D20 had seen Mr. Lundberg go by. “When?” they asked. Clarence replied, “Oh, when I was in my office this morning.”

There were three out buildings behind the schoolhouse, one being piled high with wood for the winter. The other two buildings were labeled “Boys” and “Girls.” The boys sneaked out to smoke in their privy and throw rocks at the girls’ toilet when they knew someone was in there.

Visitors were rare, but welcome. On occasion someone’s mother came for an afternoon to observe school in session. It was permissible for a parent to hitch a ride on the school bus. Sometimes a little sister came to spend the day and bring her dolly with her. Little boys were not so keen on school.

The county superintendent came about once a year on his inspection tour, and Mr. Ross from the Normal School came to see how his graduates were doing. The children were on their best behavior when those dignitaries came. Sometimes we had a practice teacher who spent a few days for a kind of on-the-job training.

The schoolhouse was the social center, too. Sometimes the neighbors had a Saturday night dance, with music provided with local talent. Somebody passed the hat to collect a little money for them. We all enjoyed that night.

The ladies brought sandwiches or cake for midnight lunch. They made coffee in the graniteware coffee pot on the three-burner kerosene stove. There was no electricity at all in that area, so lighting was from kerosene lamps. The only telephone was a party line at the store, located a half-mile down the hill.

Near Thanksgiving people had a fun basket socia. The decorated baskets were auctioned off to raise money for treats for the Christmas program. In art class the kids made paper chains and cut out angels to decorate the room and tree. On the even of the program Santa Claus showed up with a paper sack of goodies for everyone and a surprise gift for the teacher.

The end of May when school was over, the neighborhood families gathered in the school yard for a potluck picnic and hand-cranked freezers full of ice cream.

I saved my money. I wanted a car.

How on earth would one spend $95 a month? That is what teachers were paid at that time. So I bought a shiny black Ford with a rumble seat. It had to be cranked by hand. Gasoline was 19-cents a gallon.

I taught school until I was married in 1927 to the love of my life. Some of those students remained my friends for many years. One day when I was in my 80s I answered the door to find the ink spot troublemaker presenting me with a blueberry pie he had baked himself. Clarence was one of my lifeLeech Lake School time friends.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

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D22 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Boyhood to manhood: A rite of passage I was the third of four children born to common parents. We lived on a small farm in Ottertail County.

I like nature, and as a kid I enjoyed exploring in the woods and being around water. My dad took me fishing on East Battle Lake in a wooden row boat. We used a drop line. It is nothing more than a thread spool with braided line wrapped on it. For bait we would use earthworms or grubs dug from the manure pile.

My dad and I would go sucker spearing in the spring, along the banks of multitudes of creeks. These spears were heavy clunkers, homemade of course, about 6-feet long with a 10-foot rope on the end tied to your wrist. If a little shaver like me wasn’t careful, the weight of the spear could take me into the creek when it reached the end of the rope. Brrrr! I’m sure the old man got a kick out of that. Haha!

The suckers were viscerated and placed on racks in the smoker. The smoker was an old refrigerator that was gutted. On the bottom was smoldering wood chips from fruit trees.

Smoked sucker was a delicacy. Those were the good olde days.

As I got older – preteen – I did jobs off the farm. We had a neighbor that grew potatoes. We sat on buckets and sorted potatoes by hand with one dim light bulb and rats crawling around. All this for 10-cents a bushel.

Another not-so-fond memory was picking pickles. I can still feel any achy back after being stooped over for what seemed forever. We’d start up one row, and down the next. Then you would head for that quart jar with warm water – water never tasted so good.

I left home at the age of 14 and lived with another family. At 15 years I got a job at a junkyard cutting valve stems off inner tubes to be recycled. The inner

tubes were folded and bundled, then stacked on pallets to be loaded in a box car for recycling.

I was too young to be on the books, so I was paid $1 per hour in cash. During the summer I worked 20 hours per week. Out of the $40 I paid the matriarch $15 for washing my clothes and cooking my food. During the school year I worked 8 hours on Saturdays.

Out of the $8 I paid her $3.

I was so proud of myself for having a job, but what made me feel better yet was that I was contributing to my own welfare. In the culture I grew up in there were things called “rite of passage.” These are events that indicate a boy is growing into a man. Getting a job and paying your own was was one of them. Another one was buying your first car.

When I turned 16, I received a raise to minimum wage. I think it was $1.60 per hour. Wow! I was rolling in the dough. I went out and got me a ‘59 Chevy, twotone green with a six-cylinder, three on the tree love machine. I paid $100 cold hard-earned cash. When I filled up the gas tank, at about 30-cents a gallon, I also had to add a quart of bulk oil, at about 20 cents. You did not see mosquitoes following my green dream machine.

Surely I have earned the right to don the “man crown” now.

Little did I know that the journey from boy to man was long, very long, and arduous. Only decades later do I realize how long it is.

I do feel that I am one of the lucky ones however. Some boys grow to be 70 years old and show no sign of the process starting yet.

What I did with that car is evidence that I still had a ways to go. I would pull alongside the school bus traveling down a two-lane county road and turn

MANHOOD: Page D23

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By Dennis Torgerson Willmar

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D23

FROM D22 the ignition key off and kick in the clutch at the same time, then pump the gas pedal for all your worth, filling the cylinders with gasoline, then turn the key on and let the clutch out at the same time – “KABOOM!” It blew the muffler clean off the car. I was impressed! Needless to say, I got to be well-known in the school district.

Today I would be known as a terrorist.

I am now living in my third distinctly different culture. I no longer get drunk from the Kool-Aid served up by the culture of my youth. This “rite of passage” I wrote about earlier? The passing from boy to man? This rite must be earned (by maturing) but cannot be purchased with money.

Looking back on it, I would encourage kids to be kids for as long as they are kids. It is extremely important that they mature, however. Don’t hurry yourself to be adult-like, it will come soon enough.

After a person leaves high school and enters the adult world, it is forever. Forever is a long time. There is no going back, until you get much older, of course.

I am now going to fast-forward to the worse job I ever had in my entire life.

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g for Now Lookin es Foster Hom

I worked at a processing plant in the food industry. We worked 12-hour shifts and rotated from day to nights. If your replacement didn’t show up, you were there for another 12 hours. I knew a guy who worked 36 hours straight.

If they leave they can be fired. I don’t see how this can be legal; for sure it is unethical and inhumane.

After a few rotations of the schedule I proclaimed that there were two kinds of people that work here, the mentally challenged and those desperate for a job. I was desperate.

It was so monotonous and unrewarding that the only people to come out unscathed were those who had the ability to turn their mind off at the beginning of their shift and blow bubbles for 12 hours.

One good thing did come out of the experience, the last three years I worked in the lab alongside my labmate Julie. She was like a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings, trying to fix all their problems. Julie made the mundane task bearable. In Julie’s honor I wrote this short rap ditty: ‘Me and my Babes’ Ain’t no carin’ like mamma’s carin’ I don’t pay no mind to what others say in the blind I’ll jive your vive, make no mistake of my pride This mamma cat don’t take no crap And we call that a wrap.

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MANHOOD

D24 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

A broken heart

By Mary Lou Pederson Blomkest The world has let me down.

The people I love have deserted me.

The pieces of my heart are strewn, As I fall to bended knee.

My Lord! I cry out.

How could this happen to me?

I don’t deserve any of it.

My heart felled instantly like a tree.

I try to get up, only to get knocked down again.

I try to have a little hope, But my hope is dashed against the rocks.

As I cling desperately to the shipwreck’s rope.

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God answers all prayer in His own time.

We can’t rush Him into it.

Patience, they say, is a virtue.

He knows and some day everything will fit.

That day may be years down the road The way ahead will be rough.

Many tears we will cry Broken hearts make us tough.

Trust Him and don’t despair.

Life’s trials are many to bear.

God sees you in your darkest moment Yes, God truly cares.

I want an answer now.

I want it all to be all right.

This, a luxury, I cannot have.

God sees this in His light.

Locally owned and operated since 1919

Alan L. Hillestad,

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Today is the day I only have for sure.

Yesterday faded to be no more The future is unknown.

I ease up my mind to accept, not implore.

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I can’t see the end And that hurts me so.

Cast upon the troubled waters Now I must learn to let go.

owner/director

Serving the Redwood Falls and Morgan areas

Phone 507-637-8359 www.nelson-hillestad.com

Senior Community with Services | Home Care Hospice | Adult Day Program | Meals on Wheels

Assisted Living in charming Murdock, MN Visit our website for more photos & information. www.gabrielhousellc.com Dean Peterson or Linda Ahrndt

320-875-4515

We Look Forward To Welcoming You!

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Then, I look up to God, Realizing He is my only hope today.

He offers His hand and His love, He, my only mainstay.

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D25

About this section: Generations, formerly Prime Time, sections are published periodically throughout the year as a special section within the West Central Tribune.

People age 55 and older are invited to write stories and submit pictures or other artwork for publication in these sections.

We recognize that senior citizens have much knowledge and experience. What better way to share that with the community than by writing an article for publication?

We invite all interested senior citizens to contribute articles. They may deal with serious issues, or tell human interest stories.

Photos or other graphics may be included with the submission of your article to help illustrate the piece.

If you need a photo returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Try to keep articles to within 500 words. Articles may be sent to: Prime Time, West Central Tribune, Box 839, Willmar, Minn. 56201; or emailed to news@wctrib.com with Prime Time in the subject line.

Generations sections are currently published January, April and October. For additional information, call 320-235-1150.

Willmar Office + 320-214-7433 Olivia Office + 320-523-3589 Litchfield Office + 320-693-7794

Come see our booth at Life Connections!

Connecting Communities Together By Providing Transportation Throughout Kandiyohi, Renville, and Meeker Counties!

Bus Routes - Volunteer Drivers Safe and Reliable Transportation Work + Medical + Shopping Call Us Today!

The Hwy 12 Route runs Monday thru Friday between Willmar and Litchfield.

Serving the needs of individuals in your community with quality and affordable health insurance for over 30 years.

Visit us at the booth to receive a free trinket and speak with a licensed UCare Representative.

Health care that starts with you.®

This project is made possible in part, under the Federal Older American’s Act through a contract with the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging®, Inc. under an Area Plan approved by the Minnesota Board on Aging.

ucare.org UC820_2017_LifeConnectionsPrintAd_5.06x5.indd 1

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4/3/17 2:15 PM

Live & Recover at Home Providing in-home health care services to individuals of all ages wishing to stay in their own homes

5 offices serving 20 counties

|

divinehomecare.com

|

320.231.9757

|

322 2nd Street SW, Willmar

Proud to Sponsor Life Connection’s Featured Speaker: Patty Wetterling

D26 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Children of the world

Please join the Good Neighbor Club for our upcoming activities and have some fun!

By Beverly Schneider New London

A crib, a hand held out, sad eyes I see on Russian television shows this to me I so wish I could save every child from hurt, sadness, sickness or whatever it may be.

I wish I had the answers I would love to take them all in my arms, make them smile, feel safe and happy as a child should be.

It breaks my heart to know I’m as helpless as can be.

Children pay the price of good and bad mistakes or circumstances beyond our control.

Good Neighbor Club ENJOYING LIFE AFTER 50!

DAY TRIP & EVENTS April 13th April 19th May 2nd May 8th May 9th May 15th May 17th May 25th June 4th

Activities That Enrich Your Lifestyle Banking That Saves You Money Need more information?

Call Betty Marthaler

320-214-3009

June 13th June 15th June 22nd June 29th July 13th July 19th September 13th

Mystic Lake Casino Spicer Cinema - (GNC Members only) Please call to see how you can become a member Tour of the Minnesota State Capiral - Along with meeting Sen. Lang and Rep. Baker Gerten’s - Inver Grove Heights Wicked at the Orpheum Theatre Spicer Cinema - (GNC Members only) Please call to see how you can become a member Grease - Chanhassen Dinner Theatre Mystic Lake Casino Daniel O’Donnell (Ireland’s Top Entertainer) - State Theatre Mystery Trip???? Where????

An American in Paris - Ordway Theatre Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox Mystic Lake Casino Motown the Musical - Orpheum Theatre Minnesota Lynx vs Dallas Wings (Noon Game) Ghost - The Musical Old Log Theatre

EXTENDED TOURS

July 24th-27th Casinos and Touring of Winnipeg Aug. 28th-Sept. 9th Heart of Alaska Cruise (Currently Full) October 3rd-5th Duluth Fall Get Away November 5th-17th Peru Splendors (Currently Full) January 2018 Sunny Palm Springs February 15th-25th Panama Canal Cruise

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 13, 2017 D27

Thurs, April 20th 5-7:30pm & Friday, April 21st 8:30am-4pm

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HOURS M-F 9am-8pm Sat 9am-5pm & Sun 10am-5pm

D28 Thursday, April 13, 2017 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

We used to say “our kids” and mean every child in our community.

Let’s get back to that.

Southwest Minnesota’s future economy depends on the success of our next generation. That’s why Southwest Initiative Foundation is working to help all our kids reach their full potential. You can help, too!

Visit swifoundation.org to get involved.

swifoundation.org 800-594-9480