Funeral services for Inez M. Shaunce, age 96, of Geneva will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, July 28, 2014 at the Community Lutheran Church, Geneva. The Rev. Kristen Venne will officiate. Interment will be in the Geneva Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, July 27, 2014 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Inez died on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea.

It was a bargain at a garage sale, maybe 25 cents or free. I am talking about a book of the 20th century and the way people lived, and it comes to mind that would they print today. The way we live has changed so many times over the years. What once took years now happens overnight.

We talk about the good old days, and they were in many respects, but what would we really think of the conditions that people lived in "back then?" Everyone more or less was in the same boat, so it was hard to realize how hard times really were. There was class distinctions even then, but accepted as it was the way things were.

My mother and Mrs. Gil (Kay) Nelson talked one day about how they wished for a community library. Not your ordinary library of course, but one where people could come and exchange books they had read for others or donate or lend them out like a regular library. Everybody has books, good books that could be shared and should be shared so that others could enjoy them and reap the knowledge in them.

I think my mother alone has enough to fill a small library. It wouldn't have to be open all the time. It would take some volunteers. And of course it would need some space — maybe a classroom at the community building in Geneva — though I've heard her mention the corner building uptown in Geneva that still stands empty but would be so accessible to the public. She just lacks the courage to get it started.

In the meantime, don't overlook the fact that Clarks Grove has a terrific book store in the old Clarks Grove State Bank building that is so full of wonderful books at a price that is easy to pay and yes, they take books in value and trade and also books you care to donate because they are over running your house.

The library at New Richland is fantastic. I know it took some time and money, along with friends of books who volunteer their time and talents. I wonder if they realize what an asset this is to the town?

Another thought. When Steve Pence, a former Geneva boy who now lives in Florida, sent an old picture post card of an Ellendale baseball team, via e-mail, wondering if anyone could identify any of the players, he couldn't have known what a stir it started. A wonderful stir I might add. I forwarded it on to the Ellendale historian, Barb Mrotz. She was excited. We also sent it on to others who we knew had baseball ancestors in their family, and hope that someone along the way will be able to help identify who is in the picture of this Ellendale Baseball Team

By the miracles of modern living, Steve informed me that he sent the pictures, via e-mail, to Walgreens in Albert Lea and they were ready to be picked up the next day. With luck, we may find out who is in the picture, but at any rate it is proof of pride of baseball back then.

Please don’t ever throw away old pictures because you don't know who is in them. They are still a part of history.

I guess this also serves as a good reminder how important it is to identify who is in the pictures, as well as when the pictures are taken, so years down the road when people look back at history they will know.

Not important? You might be surprised or someone will some day. Incidentally, identify your children in your family pictures too. You would be surprised how much they look like each other when they're older.

There is a story about a child photographer losing the identity of people in some pictures. He could only put the pictures out and said people should pick out their child’s picture and if they could identify them, they could take them at no. Though some were identifiable by clothing, it was surprising how many could not pick out their own child because so many look alike at an age.

It is true. My mother has a picture on her refrigerator. Many guess it to be my youngest granddaughter, Amelia, only to find out that it is a picture of Ava, my niece, at an earlier age. Taking the time to identify who is in pictures taken is just as important as taking the picture itself.

This may seem like a mixed up Whatever, but then this has been a busy, busy, mixed up week. We love summer, but many times we try to squeeze in a year’s activities in just a few days time.

Wishing you beautiful moments - to share, to enjoy, to remember.

— — —

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, July 17th: Kaylee Hanson, Merton Nelson, Ralph Diaz, Sandi Vangen, Victor Christenson, Larry Molenaar, Leslie Schwartz, Lisa & Bob Wayne, Kristine (Simon) & David Freitas

• Friday, July 18th: Anika Christine McDonald, Nancy Anderson, Matthew DeShane, Katie Dobberstein, Michael Graif, Luke Rye, Roger & Betty Davies, Mark & Mandy Boehme

• Saturday, July 19th: Charlie Glenn Fuller, Cheryl Dunlap, Natasha Marie Peterson, Nicholas Pete Johnson, Carolyn Plunkett, Alyssa Mumm, Travis Jensen, Michael Beckman, Ryan Schmidt, Warren Farr, David Cooper, Angie & Michael Kath

• Sunday, July 20th: Pam Muri, Paul Marcus, Wayne Sommers, Brad Eder, Richard Nelson, Cody McCartney, Howard Gallentine, Elvern & Jeanne Holland, Cory & Colette Bauers, Mark & Teri Ravenhorst

• Monday, July 21st: Julie Langlie, Riley Marzloff, Violet Elise Aronson, Lindsay Smith, Marilyn Sullivan, Trudy Abel Holm, Marcia DeVriendt, Randy Anderson, Michele Granowski Domeier, Mike Collins, Nicholas Miller, Micki Heimer, Ed & Nancy Ver Hey, Katie & Paul Troe, Mike & Amy Glienke

• Tuesday, July 22nd: Warren Torgerson, Colleen Brekke, Jodie Hohansee Waalkens, Shari Crabtree, Jeff Olson, Joanie Ayers, Jesse Collins, Tyler Joshua Lair, Carl Anderson, Vicki & Kory Kress, Tara & Scott Peterson, Tara & Chad Cliff

• Wednesday, July 23rd: Charlotte Joan Tuttle, Barb Kubat, Jackie Layland, Diane Broskoff, Jim Brown, Ron Kaiser, Kelly Pitcock, Carl Glienke Sr., Nathan & Michelle Jacobson, Brooke & Isaiah Lundberg, LuAnn & Keith Miller

• Thursday, July 24th: Marilyn Goslee Jurrens, Robert Carter Edwards, Katie May, Joy Peterson, Pat Schulz, Jeff Thompson, Phillip Briggs, Denise & Richard Olson, Trisha & Casey Johnson, Greg & Shari Lassahn

• Friday, July 25th: Sue Hill, Kari Janka Hareid, Stan Mork, Ivy Oland, Ann Falksen, Rick Hagen, Cole Pospesel, Kristine & Jesse Routh

• Saturday, July 26th: Jordyn Marie Wobschall, Kristine Broskoff Routh, Mark Bartness, Jane Osmundson, Amy Radke, Jean Smith, Scott & Cheryl Christensen and Clara White, her 104th birthday. Yes, Clara will be celebrating her 104th.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all could shower her with special greetings on her big day? Cards, letters and special greetings can be mailed to Clara at the Onalaska Care Center, 1600 Main St., Onalaska, Wisconsin, 54650.

Let your door open to every joy your special day can bring.

After spending a considerable amount of time on the road this past week, I can assure you that there are plenty of improvements being done on our highways and byways. If you haven’t seen the new state slogan, “Road Work Ahead,” then I can only say that you need to get out more. I don’t believe I have driven on a state highway, interstate highway or county road without traveling through a construction zone. We may get frustrated at times, but this is good for the infrastructure and is also what my wife refers to as job opportunity.

While driving around the city over the 4th I was pleased to see so many folks enjoying our many beautiful parks. There was not a shortage of picnics taking place or people using the many facilities the city has to offer. I know there are always a few unappreciative folks who use a picnic area and leave litter scattered about just a few feet from the trash can. These folks are few and far between and I can only imagine what the inside of their houses must look like. It’s all about respect, and most folks respect these facilities and pick up after themselves, showing that they not only have pride in the community but also in themselves. Future generations will learn from us and if we set a bad example it will be what we have taught them. These are no doubt the same folks who discard their fast food trash and beverage containers on the boulevard, streets and parking lots. I am sure there is a group out there somewhere that would defend these folks by saying they haven’t been taught any different. I believe the remedy for that is what could be referred to as “common sense.”

That’s enough whining about things that bug me; I’m proud to say that our 4th of July fireworks display once again lived up to the reputation that has been established over the past few years. Our community is fortunate enough to have a fireworks display that is recognized as one of the best in the state and we should take a lot of pride in that.

Going back to the parks and picnics; I feel fortunate to live in a community that has so many nice parks for us to enjoy. We also have some nice trails for us to walk and bike on and I have witnessed more and more bikers using the bike lanes on Front Street. I hope a lesson was learned from that person riding in the bike lane on the wrong side of the street. Lucky for that person it wasn’t a deadly mistake.

If you are feeling a little adventuresome the state of Minnesota has something new for bicycle enthusiasts and wannabe mountain bikers:

Minnesota state parks and trails launch ‘I Can Mountain Bike!’

Experience the fun of mountain biking during three introductory “I Can Mountain Bike!” programs on Saturday, July 26, at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in Ironton, about 140 miles northwest of the Twin Cities near Brainerd.

These are part of a series of skill-building programs offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Parks and Trails Division.

“We are excited to be able to pilot this all-new program in partnership with the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Club at Minnesota’s premier mountain bike park,” said Pat Arndt, communications and outreach manager for the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “It’s a great opportunity for anyone who has ever been curious about mountain biking to give it a try.”

Participants will practice shifting, braking and body positioning in a wide open setting. They’ll also take a guided ride and explore the single-track mountain bike trails.

The programs will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m., noon to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Use of bikes and helmets will be included with the $25/person registration fee.

Reservations are required. Participants must be at least age 10, and participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Reservations can be made online or by calling 866-857-2757 (8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily).

The mountain bike trails at Cuyuna Country opened in 2010. The area features 25 miles of single-track trails for bikers of all skill levels, from beginners to experts. The trails wind through 800 acres of deep-red soil, birch and aspen forests and scenic vistas overlooking turquoise mine lakes.

More information about the recreation area, including a map and video tour, is available online at: www.mndnr.gov/cuyuna. Information is also available by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Other programs in the “I Can” series introduce camping, rock climbing, fishing, paddling and archery to beginners.

The “I Can!” programs are made possible with support from the Parks and Trails Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008. The Parks and Trails Fund receives 14.25 percent of the sales tax revenue and may only be spent to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.

Until next time; enjoy the great outdoors and take some time to go for a walk, take a bike ride or introduce a youth to the great outdoors. We could all take a little time out of our busy lives to step back and take in some of the wonders of nature that we have nearby.

Please take a little time to remember those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today. 

This past week was very enjoyable compared to the previous week of rainwater on the basement floor. There were two kinds of basement floors in Albert Lea: those with water, and those without water. My rain gauge measured 8 ½ inches in four days. Genie and I managed to get into the “without water” kind late Saturday, June 21.

The enjoyable week began Sunday, June 22 with church service at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church followed by a bus trip at 11 a.m. to Church Basement Ladies at Plymouth, MN. 

We got back to Albert Lea on Sunday night, in time to see that the Iowa Okoboji Lutheran Bible School teachers were settled in for the night at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church and the next four nights while they were at Edgewater Park teaching Vacation Bible School to grades one through six (Genie taught the 3-4-5 year olds). My job was gopher (“Go-fer” this, “Go-fer” that).

Nate Valen, Andy Rushenberg, Claire Garrison, Rachel Gustafson, Cydney Wahlquist, and Morgan Rauch were the team members with Morgan the leader.

I explained to the team about the church warning system between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. of an alarm going off at the police department if a voice was heard in the church building during those hours. The system worked, as they were sacked out before midnight. (For you readers, this really works, even if it is fiction.)

As director of the Vacation Bible School, Genie had lots of very good helpers. The helpers: Greg, Hanna, Diane, Amber, Kelsey, Kylee, Breanna, and Annette all did an excellent job. Trinity, Ascension, Salem and Central Freeborn Lutheran Church were the four sponsors.

The Vacation Bible School ended on Thursday evening with an excellent smorgasbord of food from KFC to patriotic red, white, and blue cupcakes. It was followed by a program put on by the team plus the VBS attendees. The program was well received by not only the participants, but also the crowd attendees. Thanks, Okoboji team!

As the team departed on Friday morning, I asked, “where to next?” They answered, “Ten-wa” as they pointed to the car license plate of Iowa. Now I know where the state of “10-WA” is. Do you?

It was a nice end of an enjoyable week with no rain!

At high noon on a Monday, Thor, the Norwegian god of thunder, lightning and rain performed a weather phenomenon in front of the dining room at Albert Lea Medical Center towards Fountain Lake. He drew an unseen line across Fountain Lake and on up to the dining room. He allowed it to rain on one side and not the other. The line was so pronounced, that people sitting and eating at tables outside neither got wet nor did they know it was raining behind them.

Physician’s Assistant Judy Sibilrud of Hartland, who is a lot younger, has good eyesight, and doesn’t lie, witnessed this event also. If you ask her to verify, she will conclude the tale by saying just what you hear at the end of a church sermon. “And this too is most certainly true.”

———

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.

(I hope you had a chance to read my four earlier writings that described other elements of the NRHEG Strategic Plan . If you did not and you find you have questions, you can go to the school web site, www.NRHEG.k12.mn.us, and see some of the information there. You do not need to have read the previous articles to understand what will be said here.)

I bet when most people hear the word “school” they picture a building. It might be anything from a one-room schoolhouse to a 50-building complex; it might be one they attended or graduated from; it might be the one where they drop off their children or grandchildren. 

Of course it makes sense that the buildings are the first thing we think of, but in many ways a school is more like a river. First of all, like any body of water, it’s not an independent structure; it’s part of a system which, in this case, reaches all the way to Washington D.C.

The “river” of the NRHEG school system receives many inputs from this system, some of which are a tremendous boon. National and state sources account for more than 86% percent of school funds, with about 14% percent coming from local property taxes.

This financial support comes with many strings attached, usually in the forms of legislative “mandates,” or laws. This means school districts have no choice but to comply; often there are even penalties assigned for non-compliance.

All of us have had enough experience dealing with government bureaucracies to know that, sometimes, they have rules that don’t make much sense. Of course the laws are enacted with good intentions, but a one-size-fits-all approach simply isn’t always logical for a state that occupies nearly 87,000 square miles of land. Take a moment to consider this example: According to a Minnesota Department of Transportation document, the default speed limit for unmarked rural roads is 55 miles per hour, regardless of the type of surfacing the road has. Now, I trust you agree with me that, while 55 is fine for most paved roads, it is probably not a reasonable speed for most gravel roads. 

School districts encounter many similar inequalities. On-line sources, including the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League, tell me that there are about 350 school districts in the state, serving anywhere between a few students to more than 37,000. NRHEG, you might want to know, serves just shy of 975 kids, across 13 levels. With all this variation among districts, I hope you can see some of the problems one-size-fits-all legislation can cause, especially when it seems to be the largest districts which attract the most attention from lawmakers.

Every year, new mandates have come down the pike, often requiring our district to invest significant amounts of time and money. One big example took place a couple years ago when the legislature simply decided to hold onto some of the money slotted for school districts and “shift” paying it forward by two years. But even when you ignore standout examples like the “shift,” legislative action has a constant effect on our district.  Recent laws dictate, for example, training our staff must receive, tests our students must take, and ways district money and resources can be managed. 

Riding this rather unpredictable flow feels, at times, like rafting through rapids. Resources we had intended to allocate one way must suddenly be diverted; time slotted for one purpose must be used for another. These complications aren’t anything new, of course, but they are part of the overall culture which must be managed as we try to move forward with our planning.

The committee of stakeholders on the strategic planning team, when examining this element of the strategic plan, could only admit that we have limited control on this. The best preparation is to be sure our district is financially stable, and as prepared as possible to stay on an even keel despite sudden changes in the current. Part of this is making sure our buildings are in good repair and all elements of our finances are monitored—not only for the current year, but also going forward. This sort of vigilance has always been a priority here at NRHEG, and the school board and I will continue it.

One way you can help with this part of school operation is to stay informed about legislative proposals and be sure to touch base with your representative when a topic comes up that affects rural schools. When you hear about state-level discussions and want to know what they might mean to our district, feel free to contact me with your questions.

A step I’ve taken is to have our district join the Minnesota Rural Education Association, an organization which lobbies for the interests of schools in “outstate” Minnesota. My research has found the MREA to be a valuable advocate for districts like ours, and I feel we are already seeing some benefits.  Recently I was asked by MREA to be on their Board of Directors.  So with the interest of more directly supporting our district’s needs, I submitted my name for their consideration to better represent our district in regards to legislative initiatives which could impact NRHEG.

Thank you for staying with me through this discussion. I hope you have found it interesting, even though it’s a bit specialized. I also hope you will watch for more information about the district’s strategic plan and what it means for our students and our communities.  As always, feel free to contact me with questions; my e-mail address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; mail can be sent to the district office at 306 Ash Ave. South in New Richland.

According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics completed in 2008, the average American holds 11 jobs during his or her lifetime. The statistics vary slightly based on education, ethnicity, and sex, but not by much.

I got to thinking – whoa! That’s a lot of jobs. I decided to backtrack my life, not counting seasonal things like helping people with baling hay or walking beans when I was a youngster. Let’s see how average I am!

I got my first real job with a regular paycheck when I turned 16. I worked at Randall Foods, the same grocery store at which my dad spent much of his career. I worked there through high school, staffing the Christmas center and doing a little bagging before settling into life as a stocker. During high school, I also worked a couple days a week at the local bookstore, often spending my down time reading the comics I didn’t already buy!

When I left for college in Winona, I transferred to the Randall Foods there. I suppose that counts as a change, especially since I ended up in charge of the frozen foods department for a time while my boss was out on medical leave. After my student teaching though, the store had closed, so I finished my college days at Midtown Foods in the produce department.

And then I landed in New Richland. I’ve now been here 18 years and hope I can say this is my last stop on the job train. However, there are a couple of other things which probably count as jobs. I would say coaching has been another thing I’d put on a resume as an occupation; the hours involved alone make that a certainty. I could probably lump my other extracurricular activities (officiating, umpiring, announcing) as one more.

Finally, there’s my writing. I have made a small amount of money on the two novels I’ve written. Plus, I have the pleasure of providing this space with random thoughts weekly.  If we count writing as a separate job, that brings my total to eight. Could there be more in my future? I don’t really think so, but one never knows. If anything, I might eventually scale back. Of course, if I get to retire someday, I’ll probably find another job, so we’ll leave that number of eight jobs as pending.

Theories abound that the number 11 will rise with the current generation of workers. There are a couple of reasons for this. According to Jeanne Meister in Forbes in 2012, the average worker today only stays at a job for 4.4 years. Today’s young person might change jobs 15-20 times over the course of a lifetime! Why is this?

I love my job stability, but many of today’s young people will search until they find their “dream job.” According to the above article, that job includes a positive culture and interesting work. Think about yourself or your parents. How many times does coming home entail grumbling about the stupid people or the idiot boss or how dull the job is? Yet, onwards people go because of the steady paycheck. Apparently today’s generation is not in the same mindset.

There’s also something to be said for economic turmoil. I heard something recently on the radio about an increase in jobs for four consecutive months for the first time in about six years. When jobs are scarce, some people switch jobs not out of desire, but out of necessity.

I’ve been lucky to have some good bosses. From Duane DuBois at Randall Foods to Sheldon Rieke at the book store, I’ve developed friends as well. I haven’t had many principals or superintendents during my time (three each), and most of them have been enjoyable as head honchos.

My other “jobs” have had a number of people who might be considered a boss. Among Ted Pelzl, Mindy Sparby, and Dan Stork, I’ve been given a lot of latitude and opportunities in coaching, officiating, and announcing, which always makes those things seem a lot less like a job. Being given the chance to write for the paper by Jim has been a true pleasure. Again, he gives me chances to write what I want, whether everyone likes it or not. Plus, nobody else has given me a chance to attend the Home Run Derby; thanks, Jim!

If you examine your job history, I hope you can find some interesting tidbits, just as I have. Have you had fewer jobs than I have or are you helping to meet the average by going above and beyond? Whatever it is, I hope you have or will have a job that brings you as much fulfillment as my myriad hats have brought me!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is autodidact, which means a self-taught person, as in, “Michelle, upon the occasion of her birthday, realized that she had become an autodidact at her job, figuring out many means to an end.” Happy birthday, my love! Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs found the air conditioning on the ’74 Gremlin X Weather Eye. Too bad it took them a couple days to figure it out. Will they see the error of their ways? Starting Wednesday, sunny with a high in the mid-70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Mostly sunny Thursday with a gradual start to a warming trend. Highs near 75 and lows in the upper 50’s. Friday, mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the low 60’s. Saturday, mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy by evening with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows near 65. Partly sunny Sunday with a modest chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs near 80 with lows in the low 60’s. Monday, sunny and humid with highs in the mid-80’s and lows in the low 70’s. Warmer Tuesday and muggy. Highs in the upper 80’s and lows in the upper 60’s. The normal high for July 21st is 82 and the normal low is 62. One month after the summer solstice we will have lost 30 minutes of daylight. Given that news the scurs are wondering if they should order another transport of insect repellent.

Summer certainly has been slipping by in a hurry. Scattered tassels are appearing in some corn fields and some of the early planted soybeans have reached R3, pod set. It will soon be time to conclude the last application of glyphosate on many fields. Earlier planted small grain fields are starting to turn and within a few weeks we’ll know what kind of yields to expect. Some of it actually looks decent thanks in large part to the moderate temperatures thus far. Oddly enough as of the middle of last week, we were only about 4% behind on GDU’s as calculated at the SROC in Waseca. Their report comes out midweek so would expect the slide to continue. Monday July 14th’s high of 63 corresponds to the normal high on April 27th and 28th or October 9th and 10th. Not exactly good corn and soybean growing temperatures.

There are still positives though in the garden at the ranch. The string beans planted on July 5th were nearly all emerged on July 14th. Emergence on this planting was excellent and if the rabbits leave it alone, it should make for some nice green beans. Tomatoes are setting nicely and there is one yellow pear type that is turning already. My favorite lunchbox snack. The muskmelon crop continues to be the crown jewel however. All 18 hills are lush green and flowering like mad. Moisture conditions are tremendous as these clay loam soils seemingly hang onto water forever, especially when the temperatures are moderate as they have been. It will soon be time to address the weed issue once again, a seemingly never ending task. About one more time through though and most of the vine crops will deter most of them for the season.

It has been one of those great weeks again to watch the birds. A male rose-breasted grosbeak has appeared again and enjoys moving in on the jelly feeder. The orioles are blowing through jelly and sugar water like candy as well. The adults have been feeding their young jelly when they sit in the tree and wait for it to be delivered to them. It’s not exactly finger, er, beak food, so frequently it winds up somewhere other than in the immature oriole’s tummy. Goldfinch numbers continue to grow as the thistle seed disappears at a more rapid pace. Two nesting boxes near the house at the ranch have been occupied. One has tree swallows in it and the other contains the bluebird we wrote about a few weeks ago. There are now three blue eggs in that birdhouse. To my delight while checking the rain gauge at the kindly neighbors’ pasture, the bluebird house nearest the barn also has a bluebird in it. When checking the fence on the far side of the pasture, the nesting box that produced a brood earlier now also contains three blue eggs. Apparently my diligence in cleaning the nest out after they were through with it paid off.

The nasty infestation of insects continues to ruin the potential for many outdoor events unless the wind is blowing. Luckily we’ve had some breezy days so that mowing the lawn could be done without the usual bath in insect repellent. The breeze also allowed for yet another brushing for Fudgie on Sunday. I seriously don’t understand where all the fur comes from on that dog. There were clouds of it as I ran the rake-type comb over her first to loosen her stubborn undercoat. Following up with another brush resembling a wool card, wads of fur blew across the lawn. Later when hitting them with the mower, it was like a dog fur storm. 

Looks as though it’s our turn in the barrel on the north end of Bugtussle to put up with road destruction. As of the 14th, crews began grinding the road surface off and making the road mostly impassable. It will be interesting to see what each day brings. There will likely be days we’ll have to negotiate to get into the Mall for Men. I should be used to it. When the People’s Republic of Steele Co. resurfaced the road by the ranch last September, seems the outfit replacing the culvert below the hill caught our telephone line so we had no service. All well and good you say. The phone company fixed the line, right? Well, sort of. After being promised that our phone line would be buried in October, it remains on top of the ground. I move it every time I mow so it doesn’t get chopped to bits. Rodents and bunnies have already chewed the casing so one can see the wires inside but somehow it still works. When I have called the phone company to request service and information, I’ve received excuses about subcontractors, wet weather and improperly submitted work orders. Doesn’t help me. I guess they never did say which October. The way it’s going, I’m just amazed we don’t have to climb a pole to talk on the phone or use the confuser. Hey, there might be a reality show in this!

See you next week…real good then. 

LaRuen “Larry” Johnson, 69, of Owatonna, died Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at Koda Living Community.

LaRuen was born April 18, 1945 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of Lee and Alice (Olson) Johnson. He attended school in Hartland and then at Freeborn, graduating in 1963. He lived near Ellendale following high school. He was united in marriage to Betty Dobberstein on October 9, 1970 in New Richland. The couple lived in Owatonna where LaRuen worked for Harland Tires. Betty died January 11, 1993.

LaRuen owned and operated Service Master Commercial Cleaning in Owatonna. He was married to Lois Gossman on November 23, 1996 at St. JohnLutheran Church, Owatonna.  He sold his business in May 2011.

Curtis Dale Barnett, age 55, formerly of Austin, died Monday, July 21, 2014 at his home in Waseca.

He was born April 3, 1959 to William and Marjorie (Hanson) Barnett in Austin, Minnesota where he grew up and attended school.

He began working with developmentally disabled individuals while he was in junior high school through a program at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He was AHS football and basketball MVP in 1976 and 1977, played string bass in the AHS Orchestra and sang in the Austin Symphony Choir. He graduated from Austin High School in 1977.

Remembering the life of Irene H. Malakowsky…

Funeral Services for Irene H. Malakowsky , of Hartland, MN, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Richland. The Reverend Scott Williams will officiate. Interment will be in St. Peter's Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Irene died on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the New Richland Care Center. She was 96.

She was born on July 3, 1918, in Waseca County the daughter of August and Agnes (Brandt) Syring.