I am a jigsaw addict and it occurs to me our crusade for a cure for cancer is much like the puzzles I put together. Each of us is different and yet we fit together to achieve a complete picture.

It is only fitting that we thank all those "pieces of the puzzle" – the organizers, the hosts, the auctioneers, the runners, the bookkeepers, those who solicited for donations, those who donate, those who bid and those who buy – everyone who helps in any way.

When you put them all together it is a "perfect picture" of what can be done when people work together. It means a lot to me as I'm sure it does to a lot of other people.

God says, "If you say Thank You" that is enough. That seems so little but I guess it says it all. THANK YOU!

In all the years of watching and being a part of the Geneva Cancer Auctions I am always amazed at what goes on. It is remarkable! It doesn't happen without a lot of dedication, sweat labor, mental thinking, dedication and love. 

It is time I publicly say, "Thank You" to all those who work so hard to make this a success, giving of their time to make this what it is. I know you'll understand how inadequate words are to describe the joy and wonder I feel about everyone who has been a part of the Geneva Cancer Fundraising activities. When I try to define the special meaning this means to my life - I can't. 

So I will just say "thank you" – and know you'll understand.

Whitey and LaJune

When hearts touch each other -life unfolds its wings of love. Life is people and places - old and new. Things to be discovered as we work together for a common cause. When something is important to your life you know you're on the right track and the good we see is to win.

Thank you! You two are so very special to many, many people. You're sensational!

Auctioneers

Like a voice in the darkness - what would we do without someone to speak for us and give us direction? Have you ever thought of the value of the words and numbers you speak and what it means to others? Some things are so valuable, they are priceless. I, among many, appreciate what you do in this cause to find a cure!

Barb & Jack and the crew 

at the Geneva Bar and Grill

We are all together on this journey of life, sharing each other’s joys and sorrows. What is important is that it brings us as one to achieve a beatable goal. Thanks to you and your crew for all the extra hours of time and labor you put into make this believable. Words can never really express how much this means to me. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to those who have been touched by cancer who continue to find many different ways to also help in this cause to FIND A CURE! The Wild Game Feed, the Matt Felt and Dillon Gordon Run, the Motorcycle Rides, the Golf Outing, the Hot Looks For A Cure Calendar, the "Locks For Love," special raffles, as well as so much more which have all been an important part of the complete picture as well. Having been hurt, they turn their loss into love by promoting causes to help someone else. 

Supporters

We are all different but we have a common cause: Love and care of our fellow man. We have all known heartache and we have felt the warmth of togetherness that has been brought to us all through our efforts as we work together for its rewards.

It is comforting to know we can count on each other to understand, to share our deepest feelings and trust that our work will be beneficial.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." –Mother Teresa

If you have an idea for a story that you would like to see covered in your newspaper, contact me or the Star Eagle office.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, Feb. 13: Cobi Gowlland, Becca Spurr, Greg Spurr, Jim Brocker, Eric Olson, Linda Ingvaldson, Bonnie Jensen, Brian Rechtzigel, Anita Kes, Terry & Pam Roberts

• Friday, Feb. 14: Happy Valentines Day! Angie Entwisle, Elsie Vander Stoep, Michelle Peterson, Matthew Reiter, Angela Westrum Lair, Lee & Jean Johnson, Bob & Mary Macko, Gene & Linda Pederson

• Saturday, Feb. 15: Kloe Renee Wacek, Nancy Cornelius, Patty Kunkel, Eric Olson, Adam Warnke, Ron Jensen, Michelle Hanson, Angie O'Byrne, Elina Butler and John Pfaff

• Sunday, Feb. 16: Delores Hemingway, Marian Horan, Jesse Lund, Wayne Jensen, David Peterson, Sara Miller, Sarah Nelson, Ian Oolman, Tanya Callahan, LeAnn Hanson, Donald & Dory Hunt

• Monday, Feb. 17: Toni Wayne Smith, Nancy Johnson Erickson, Thomas Farr, Keith Wayne, Dave Von Gorkom, Dawn Pence Gross, Brian Dobberstein, Joan Richards, Joan Kaphers, Michelle Cortinas, Carolyn LaFave, Shannon Weckwerth Pacholl, Alvin & Cheryl Cooper

• Tuesday, Feb. 18: Kris Munson McDonald, Janice Waage, Zola Wayne, Jamie Kunkel Riley, Brad & Rachel Lerum

• Wednesday, Feb. 19: Abraham Peterson, Allison Schmidt, Eleanor Schember, Maklela Larkin, Deedee Hunt, Jason Jensen, Teri Ravenhorst, Marjorie Solberg

Sending you heartfelt wishes for a wonderful birthday!

On some of these cold winter nights, I often picture myself sitting in an easy chair in front of an old stone fireplace with a warm fire blazing while reading a book and sipping a cup of hot chocolate, topped with a couple of marshmallows of course. In reality, I have an old easy chair, hot chocolate and a heat register that fills in for the fireplace. Unfortunately, reality isn’t quite the vision of grandeur that I had pictured in my mind, but it still works. At least the days are getting longer; not much warmer, but longer.

On those nights when the thought of a fireplace and hot chocolate don’t quite do the trick, I often times think back to summer days as a youth and how I actually learned to love the outdoors and especially the sport of fishing. My mother always liked to fish and she encouraged me to go whenever possible. In looking back to those days, I often wonder if it wasn’t a good way for her to get a curious youngster out of the house for a few hours. Although we seldom took a vacation “up north,” there were plenty of avenues to explore close to home starting with the “crick” which was just down the road a ways.

We neighborhood kids would spend many hours exploring that crick and, as we grew older and more adventuresome, we would expand our territory to the small creek that runs under Hammer Road just east of the tracks. I can remember one warm August afternoon when me and my friend Jim Foley were exploring that creek to the north and found a pothole that was pretty much all that was left of a creek that was fast drying up. In that little pothole we discovered tiny bullheads and bluegills, and I can remember how helpless I felt because I knew it was inevitable they were going to soon meet their demise.

Although my dad wasn’t much for fishing, he was a good sport and would take us to St. Olaf and Beaver Lakes from time to time in the summer. Two of my mom and dad’s good friends were Elmer and Mary Deuermier, who we would go crappie fishing with on Beaver Lake. Elmer had an old green 5 hp Johnson outboard motor just like my uncle Ben’s. We would rent two boats and Elmer would tow our boat to the crappie spot where we would sit there until almost dark; when the bite started, the crappies would bite like crazy for about half an hour. It always started at about the same time the evening cool down would begin. That is the time that anyone who has fished much can relate to; the air starts to cool, the frogs start crooning and that certain unmistakable smell of the evening takes over.

Elmer, who also liked to hunt as well as fish, actually got dad to go pheasant hunting a couple of times, which was a rare occurrence. They had gotten a few birds, so the following week Elmer and Mary had us over for a pheasant dinner. I can remember that day clearly because there was a football game on TV and the Cleveland Browns were playing the Chicago Bears, which would eventually be my favorite team in those days. We didn’t have a TV at that time so it was pretty special for me to be able to watch Jim Brown play a game. Before that day I had only seen him on highlight reels at the movie theater and I was amazed to see what a dominating player he actually was.

Up until that time all of my heroes were cowboys like Gene, Roy and Hoppy, but now I had a new hero and a sport that I would come to love. It’s kind of funny how the love of the outdoors can influence other interests whether directly or indirectly.

— — —

As most folks have probably noticed by now, the fishing in the channel and in Albert Lea Lake has pretty much ended unless you are using a net. I’d suspect those folks aren’t doing it for the carp. I guess I have never been one to take fish by any means possible. I enjoy fishing for the sport of it and of course I do enjoy eating fish, but the satisfaction I get out of catching a fish on a lure or baited hook just makes the meal taste that much better. There will always be those folks who feel the need to fill the freezer and that’s fine, but no matter what means a person takes fish by there are regulations and a legal limit that must be adhered to.

I have heard mixed reports about the fishing on Fountain Lake. The area by the beach was hot earlier in the “hard water” season but has since seemed to have tapered off considerably as of late. I have the feeling the number houses and the amount of traffic they bring has to affect the fishing. My grandson Trevor has his house on Fountain Lake and has moved it a few times searching for that “hot spot” that seems to be kind of elusive this season. He did catch a 31-inch northern the other day ,which started my mouth watering when I thought about those fillets sizzling in the old cast iron frying pan.

Until next time, stay warm and get out when you can and enjoy a little Minnesota winter fun.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

Are you going to eat that?

Yes. Why?

Well, you've been putting on a little weight.

You should talk.

At least I never talk with my mouth full.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: it can take a long time to hurry.

The news from Hartland

• Mabel Johnson makes the best Mabel syrup in town.

• Prints Charming Company produces a relief map to the city’s restrooms.

• Woman quits job at post office, claiming it was a mail-dominated enterprise.

Living in an icebox

A caller from Arizona asked the temperature.

I replied, "It’s one below."

"Hmmm," said the caller, "I’d heard that it was 20 degrees below zero there."

"Oh, you mean outside."

It was cold enough that the earbuds wore earmuffs. A solar energy spill made the day tolerable. One neighbor never looks at the thermometer because it makes him cold.

"What is the temperature?" I asked.

"It’s one below," replied my bride.

"Was it supposed to get that warm?

I drank my orange juice before it got cold and stepped outside to fill the birdfeeders. I walked on the wind-hardened surface of the deep snow. It was firm enough to give me hope. I took three steps. I smiled at my good fortune. I shouldn’t have. I broke through the crust. As I struggled to free myself from hip-deep snow, I wished I’d been wearing socks.

Winter is when even those of us who are so dense that light bends around us get the drift. We need an extra season just to figure out the other four.

Bogus benevolence

A telemarketer called. I’m on that "do not call" list, but nonprofits and politicians are exempt from adhering to its restraints.

He gave his spiel. While he went on, I investigated the "charity" he represented. It was one of those "sound alike" outfits. Its name sounded like that of a reputable charity. A minuscule percentage of the funds raised go to the people they were purported to go to.

I asked him if he’d be willing to call his mother and ask her to donate.

There was a long pause before he hung up on me.

My neighbor

He married a girl from the next town over.

In his family, there was no separation of love and hotdish, but his wife was different.

She wanted things to be better.

He just wanted things to not get any worse.

She told her sister, "If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, my husband is a threat to the world."

After constant encouragement, he agreed to accompany her to a seminar titled, "Thoughts on Modeling the Monetary Transmission Mechanism" at the university.

On the drive home, he admitted, "That changed the way I think about the things I never think about."

Groundhog Day in retrospect

Reverend Cherie Daniel of Freeborn said she saw a photo of a wolf with this caption, "The groundhog said six more weeks of winter, so I ate him."

Le Peterson of Freeborn advised that each Groundhog Day tells us that we’ll have either six weeks or a month and a half more of winter.

Customer comments

Mark Sorenson of Hollandale attended a Yankees game when he was a small boy. Mark was seated next to his father and Mickey Mantle was at bat. Mickey took a mighty swing and popped a foul ball high into the air. Mark tried to find the ball, but had no luck. As he stared into the sky, his father grabbed him. The foul ball struck the spot where Mark had been. It was a near brush with fame — and pain.

John Beal of Faribault said that since he retired, every night is Friday night and every day is Saturday.

Steve Ausen of Hartland visited Uganda and was amazed at the bicycle usage there. They transported everything via bicycle. Steve watched a procession of bikes go by and commented that they carried everything except the kitchen sink. Ten minutes after saying that, a man holding a kitchen sink pedaled by.

Nature notes

Rich Chapman of Albert Lea asked if raccoons hibernate. They don’t. They go into what is called torpor, winter sleep, partial hibernation, or dormancy. They sleep for long periods, waking occasionally. Mating occurs in February and March and raccoons can be seen during the day then. Typically, if the temperature falls below 27 degrees, they retreat to their dens, usually located in hollow logs and trees.

Meeting adjourned

Kindness is a boomerang. It returns.

As you read this, it is a busy week in the Domeier home. Anton just turned nine (happy birthday, bud!), parent-teacher conferences are upon us, and Jayna has a basketball tournament in my hometown of New Ulm. Oh, and there’s Valentine’s Day.

Long-time readers of this space know I dislike Valentine’s Day, an overhyped excuse to spend money on flowers and candy. This year, I’m going to do something different: I will proclaim my love for Michelle publically!

I’ve written before about how we got set up on a blind date and that there was never really any doubt in my mind that Michelle and I were meant to be together. I stand by that. We have so much in common, even though we have dramatically different personalities.

Michelle has commented from time to time how I know more people than she does in this, her hometown. It’s not a hard thing to do when you teach in the district and see so many people at school functions. It doesn’t hurt that I’m gregarious; I can walk into a room of strangers and find myself in a conversation in no time, not something Michelle is as comfortable with.

This is where the phrase “opposites attract” applies. We’re not the same, and that can be a good thing. There’s an episode of Seinfeld where Jerry falls in love with a woman, only to find out the reason he likes her so much is that she has all the same traits as him. Then he realizes that he doesn’t really like himself, and it’s over.

There are things I don’t like about myself, but Michelle fills in those qualities so wonderfully, and that’s why we fit together so well.

I’m not always great with the kids; my patience is lacking. My wife has tremendous patience and is much more able to show how much she cares for others than I do. Her creative mind is always going and coming up with neat things to do with the kids, like treasure hunts, puppets, and other things I’d never dream of. Her creative nature lends well to being a room parent and helping with creative projects; as I type this, she is helping Anton decorate a Minecraft box for Valentine’s Day cards.

She must have patience to have to listen to me vent, even if she doesn’t know who or what I’m talking about half the time. She must have patience to put up with a husband who’s always on the go and spends at least as many nights at some activity as he does at home. She must have patience to be a coach’s wife, an aspect where I get too focused on my team. Michelle is so supportive of my need to go, go, go, knowing that I’m like a shark sometimes: if I stop, I might be done for.

We do have a lot in common as well. We found out quickly when we started dating that we had similar tastes in television, watching Seinfeld and Friends. (In fact, I proposed after an episode of the latter. Romantic, I know.) We have the same sense of humor and enjoy sarcasm and irony as much as anyone. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a great example of a show that we both enjoy for its snarkiness. We enjoy sports, whether our kids are playing or not. Our reading tastes might not always be alike, but the bond formed by books is very strong.

It’s never difficult to have a conversation with my wife, and I think that’s one thing that is important in a relationship. I think that even when we’re retired and have more time together that our lives will not be dull and we will not become sick and tired of each other. It’s frightening how many times we’re thinking the exact same thing or complete each other’s sentences already!

We continue to discover new and wonderful stages in our lives from dating to newlyweds to young children to watching our kids grow up and start down paths of their own. I can’t wait for the next stages to come, and I love the fact that Michelle will be at my side as they arrive. I love you, my lobster!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is capitulate, which means to surrender, as in, “The woman was forced to capitulate to her beau’s proposal, as he had won her over at last.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs continue to score forecast success with their AMC Gremlin Weather Eye powered by the Studebaker thermostat. Must still have the winter thermostat in it however. Will they switch it over this week? Starting Lincoln’s Birthday, mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow. Highs near 25 and lows in the low teens. Yes, above zero. Mostly cloudy on Thursday with a slight chance of snow. High near the freezing mark and lows in the single digits. On Valentine’s Day, mostly sunny and colder. Highs near 15 with lows around 5 above. Partly sunny and warmer on Saturday with a modest chance of snow. Highs around 25 and lows in the lower teens.  Sunday, partly sunny with a slight chance of evening sleet and snow mix. Highs in the upper 20’s and lows around 20. Monday, partly  sunny and warmer with a chance of a rain and snow mix. Highs near 35 and lows close to 20. Mostly sunny for Tuesday and warmer again. Highs near 40 and lows in the lower 20’s. The normal high for Valentine’s Day is 27 and the normal low is 9. The scurs will be taking their sweetie pie out for a spin in the burnt orange Gremlin X to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Honest Abe.

Another cold week and frost continues to move down in the soil, 27” deep as measured at the SROC in Waseca on February 10th. February has been a dry month thus far with only .6” of snow as of Tuesday morning, melted down to a measly .02” of liquid. Snow cover in the fields is variable although in general not very deep on worked ground. Most of what we have remains in the ditches, fencelines and groves. The old saying that the fields aren’t fit until the snowbanks are out of the fencelines may be put to the test. We shall see.

The Full Moon happens to fall on Valentine’s Day this time around and generally goes by the name of Full Snow Moon. It was at this time of year that snows became deep and food became more scarce. It also goes by the Full Hunger Moon for that same reason. The Ojibwe called this the Sucker Moon for the suckers running in the rivers and streams this time of year. The Sioux called this the Raccoon Moon as raccoons commonly awaken from their slumber to forage about to find food. Fortunately there was not as much traffic in those days. At the ranch we can officially call this the Full Lamb Moon after this past week.

Yes, we had lambs show up during the coldest days last week. It happens every year that some hit the ground before shearing. One would think we’d learn how to use a gestation chart so that wouldn’t happen. Oh well, the main thing is that the lambs are doing well and there shouldn’t be a lot more before shearing on Saturday. After that all bets are off.

This stretch of cold weather seems to zap the energy right out of a person. Day after day of starting out below zero and then struggling to get much above that takes a toll. By nature however I am a napper and utilize cold weekend afternoons once indoors to examine the inside of my eyelids. The Winter Olympics generally make for good napping fare although Sunday one announcer became boisterous over a cross country skiing final. I might’ve murmured something about the strategic location of a ski pole. Enough of that. This is why I stick to watching golf or bowling. Not only is it boring to watch, the commentators are quiet so as not to wake anyone.

Ruby had a rough several days of TV watching. First, the Westminster Kennel Club Agility Trials were held Saturday, sending her into several barking fits. A red and white Border Collie named Kelso won so we were cheering for him while we were trying to keep Ruby quiet. Sunday, bull riding was on and again Ruby was not amused, growling at the bulls as their riders bit the dust. Then the Westminster Dog Show was on Monday night and more of the same. That’s OK. Ruby spends much of her time sleeping while we’re away and tormenting Fudgie when we’re not. Nice to see the shoe on the other foot sometimes.

The birds have been letting us know it’s cold, consuming what we’re putting out there at a rapid pace. Particularly noticeable has been the amount of suet devoured. There are a lot of woodpeckers this winter and there are usually several waiting in line to get on the two suet feeders. We did see a new bird for us anyway: a northern shrike. These are predators and shortly after it appeared, everything else disappeared. Not to worry. It didn’t stay and if it does, there are plenty of house sparrows for it to eat.

Last Sunday marked the first appearance of the Beatles in 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show. That’s a while ago and pretty sure we weren’t watching. More likely the dial on the black and white set at the little old farmhouse was on Bonanza or some other high quality programming. As a result of their visit though, the Beatles had a major impact on me and my generation, something subsequent generations haven’t always been able to fully grasp. The Cold War world as we knew it at the time would be changed forever. Beatles lunchboxes appeared at school, crew cuts became mop tops and as the Beatles changed from their skinny ties and suits, so did clothing styles. As did the music. Gone were the days of the greasers, Elvis and rocking around the clock, replaced by a newer, more modern sound from across the pond. At least many of us thought so despite the naysayers. And as it turned out we were right.

See you next week…real good then.

Robin John Groenewey, infant son of Heather Wilkie, Geneva, and John Groenewey of Clarks Grove, Minn., went to be God's Angel on Feb. 1st, 2014. Robin was born Feb. 1st in Des Moines Iowa. Although we only had him for a short time, he will always be remembered.

Robin is survived by his mom and dad, triplet siblings, sister Sophia and brother Ridley, grandparents Randall and Carolyn Wilkie, Ellendale, and Tom and Kathie Groeneweg of Clarks Grove, Mn. Also great grandparents Wilma Haberman Ellendale, Wanita Wilkie Medford, Joe Groeneweg Clarks Grove, and Richard and Delores Lindell Albert Lea. Robin also has a Great great grandmother, Lola Sorensen of Owatonna, and  many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Hamilton Funeral home in Does Moines Iowa was in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.

A  memorial trust  fund has been set up at First National Bank Waseca/Ellendale branch, P.O. Box 337, Ellendale Minn. 56026, c/o Heather L. Wilkie.

Gopher Boys’ Basketball

Conf Ovr

WEM 7-2 12-6

Faribault BA 7-2 12-7

USC 7-3 14-4

NRHEG 7-3 14-6

Blooming Pr. 6-4 11-7

Maple River 4-5 9-11

Randolph 1-9 7-12

Medford 0-11 2-15