The acorns are falling. The walnuts are falling. The tree leaves are starting to turn. The Freeborn, Mower, Waseca and Steele County Fairs are over. The weather is cooler; there is less humidity. The first frost will be here shortly. “Orange” you glad it’s fall?
What small town along Interstate 90 had 700,000 people visit in one week in August? Sturgis, South Dakota. That’s where Harleys took over for the 76th year.
What town in Southern Minnesota can you very easily find smaller, hand-painted rocks in the great outdoors? Albert Lea, with a message on each rock that usually is brightly painted, “A.L. Rocks.” (On my morning walk by Fountain Lake I usually find two or three.)
Who is one of the most efficient, politest getting things done, service-related person in Albert Lea? Danielle in Medical Records at the Albert Lea Medical Center, that’s who (I’m speaking from personal experience).
The number of 90-degree-or-better days in this area in past years were: 0 in 2014, 1 in 2015, 5 (so far) in 2016. Could this be due to global warming?
There were 24 days in a row of 90 or more degrees in 1987. (Many times, due to no air conditioning, we stayed at our house overnight in Albert Lea, rather than our cabin at Beaver Lake. We did put in air conditioning at the cabin in 1993.)
The record number of 90 or more degree days in a row is 36, in 1936. This proves that regardless of global warming, “Weather will be weather, whether you like it or not.”
Being from the Beaver Lake area (our farm was on the Waseca-Steele County line, a graduate of New Richland High School) and having a cabin on Beaver Lake for 37 summers, I was concerned about the sludge and foul smell at Beaver Lake that caused it to close Saturday morning, August 6. Genie and I had a tough time believing what was being reported, so we drove over to Beaver Lake. The water color was not clear blue, and it stunk—like sewage. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has stated that the cause is from nutrients and weather conditions causing a severe algal bloom, and time will take care of the problem. I can’t explain why, but I don’t feel comfortable with the MPCA explanation of the cause and solution of time.
Coming soon to a church near you: the social event of the year, namely, Soup and Pie Supper at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church (rural Albert Lea) on Monday, September 26, 2016. (Be there—most of your friends will be.)
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.