I am glad to report that I am not the only thing that’s new at NRHEG Schools! It has been a delight to watch over the past couple weeks as the school year has begun, seeing our halls and classrooms fill with students, and our buildings return to being the hubs of activity they were designed to be.

Of course, the most visible new aspect of our schools is the recently completed construction which has given us a new commons area and an expanded cafeteria and kitchen in the New Richland building. This new space is attractive and welcoming, so that it’s already “common” to see groups of students working and studying in the new area throughout the day. I have been delighted and pleased by the flexibility students and staff have shown as we create new routines and patterns which suit the new space.

If you can, free up some time on Monday, September 16: We’ll be having an open house that afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. Cooks, administrators and school board members will be on hand to offer some light refreshments, show you around, and answer any questions. Of course it will be a great chance to introduce yourselves to me or to our other new administrator, secondary principal David Bunn, or to say hello to others you’ve gotten to know. I hope you can stop by and see this exciting new development!

But in terms of things that are new at the school, I’m only getting a good start!

The new reading program at the elementary building is an exciting way we are helping the kids in grades K-5 strengthen their reading skills. In the secondary building, we are expanding the number of grades which use iPads as part of the instructional program; as time goes on, more and more levels each year will have this exciting enhancement to their classroom learning. One of my goals is that, by the end of the 2014-15 school year, every classroom and study area will have a wireless access point to support the expansion of our current and future technology.

We also found some new ways to deal with the hottest day of the year. In order to counter to the above-100-degree heat index on September 9, we set water coolers in the hallways for students to use, and handed out freeze-pops to students and staff.

From a personal perspective, though, I would like to say it is a privilege to take part in something which is obviously not new, the commitment our communities feel to giving our children an education that helps them become not only knowledgeable, but smart. I have been thrilled to see the dedication of everyone who works with the process of education at NRHEG schools.

Here’s an example. After the construction ran late, on Labor Day weekend when most people were out enjoying the holiday, I saw the custodians from both the New Richland and Ellendale buildings working together to finish the needed cleanup and get ready for the arrival of students on Tuesday. I saw cooks devising plans to deliver an inviting menu for the week, even though the kitchen was not yet functional. I saw school board members, staff members, and other volunteers giving of their time to be sure furniture was set up and things were ready.

It is indeed a blessing to work with so many who share a passion for serving the kids of our district. I look forward to a great year working side by side at NRHEG with the educators—whatever their title—who help our kids grow and learn.

I’m a Facebook addict, I admit. Ever since former student Allison Waage helped introduce me to it many years ago, I’ve been hooked on the social network.  It’s been a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and to get to know others better.

I check the site at least once a day to keep up with news, see who is having a birthday, and play my daily doses of Candy Crush and Zuma Blitz. It’s been really great in that regard, though I still curse the people who hooked me on my games.

Facebook has had many benefits. My classmates and I basically organized most of our 20-year class reunion via Facebook. Most of our class is on there, so it was easy to communicate and get numbers on who would attend.

I was able to find so many high school classmates, as well as college friends, online because of Facebook. Some of these people from college and high school have really spread out across the country, and it’s been fun to catch up with them. The same goes with former students who have headed to college or gone on to great careers and families. In fact, the other day I got a message from one in college who needed some advice. She got a pretty quick reply!

When I want to talk to all my sisters at once, I log into Facebook rather than go to my email. I usually get a quicker response. Boy, you should have seen the lightning-fast responses I got when I put on my status that we were selling our minivan; who needs the classifieds?

I’ve even found some educational benefits. First, there are some great links to teacher sites, and I’ve even won a couple of contests through those, netting myself a nice sound system for my school computer as well as a personal voice amplifier (though whether I need that is debatable!).

I also made the decision early on to allow students to “friend” me. This was, in part, because Allison was in my class at the time she helped me get set up, and once I allowed her to friend me, I opened the floodgate.

Some teachers frown on this practice. It has actually been very helpful, both for students and for me. First of all, it makes me very cognizant of what I post. I don’t ever put anything online that I wouldn’t want my students to see or know about me, so I have a very clean homepage.

Secondly, it’s opened up communications between my students and me. There aren’t many kids who will call a teacher at home if they have a question, but they are not afraid at all to ask online. I’ve helped numerous kids with homework over the years, and that’s a positive item.

Another thing this allows is to help guide kids away from trouble. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t go creeping around my students’ Facebook pages. However, if something pops up in my news feed that is concerning, I’ve been quick to communicate with that student, whether it is to warn them away from posting some potentially volatile comments or to give them a place to vent about a problem.

The simple truth is social media isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. If anything, it’s expanding.  People can rant and complain about it, but it’s better to embrace some things and see how to make it a positive experience. I have a Twitter account, but rarely check it. It’s too overwhelming for an old guy like me; I’m not quite plugged in enough to want constant updates about people, but I’m sure it will lure me in at some point.

Facebook is just fine for me for now. I’ve found a lot of benefits, even if I spend too much time crushing candy. Of course, with anything that has positives, there are also some negative aspects, and I’ll look at those in yet another “to be continued” column next week!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is logomania, which means an obsessive interest in words, as in, “The columnist’s logomania was evident in the vocabulary he used as well as his daily new words in his classroom.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The heat was definitely back as well as no rain. Will the scurs be able to scrape together some rain and cooler temps or are we doomed to continue Mother Nature’s high desert impression? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s. Mostly sunny and cooler for Thursday with highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 40s. Mostly sunny on Friday with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Saturday, mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy in the evening with a chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Partly cloudy Sunday with a chance of rain in the forenoon. Highs near 70 and lows in the lower 50s. Mostly cloudy on Monday with a chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs on the mid 60s and lows in the low 50s Partly cloudy and warmer on Tuesday with a chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs near 80 and lows in the upper 50s. The normal high for September 15th is 73 and the normal low is 50. The scurs will be looking for their blankies if some of those low temperatures are for real.

Crops continued to progress rapidly towards maturity and the heat accelerated the process. A lot of corn has noticeable top dieback. Generally this is from late season heat and dry conditions pushing the plants resulting in cannibalization of the stalks and leaves in order to provide the ear with moisture and nutrients. Some of the early planted 100 day hybrids are showing a milk line 3/4 of the way down the kernel already, meaning that a frost at this point would do little to impact yield in that situation. Soybeans are also showing some of the same effects of the warm temperatures with many areas prone to drought stress — namely gravel pockets prematurely ripening. This will likely mean smaller soybeans and in some cases fewer of them.

Rainfall thus far in September has been too slight for most gauges to measure. At the ranch we’ve garnered a paltry .04” with a few trace amounts thrown in for laughs. Waterfowl is not laughing however. Small wetlands are beginning to dry up, something that seemed impossible even 6 weeks ago. Cattails are browning up as the low moisture level takes its toll. Trees are also showing signs of the stress with leaves drying up and beginning to drop prematurely in places.

Birds continue to move on through. What appears to be the last oriole of our season at the ranch was at the jelly feeder on the 7th. Hummingbird numbers continue to swell and their activity around the yard can keep one entertained for hours. Their squeaky little voices can be heard anytime one gets close to a nectar feeder followed of course by the humming of their tiny wings as they maneuver around the yard. More goldfinches are evident each day and their habit of dumping seed on the ground is a telltale sign they’ve been there even when we haven’t been there to see them.

Wild cucumbers have really made their presence known this year, making them the most commonly asked about weed problem in several years. They have become a real nuisance, in some cases covering evergreens with their leaves so completely that it blocks out the sunlight. This can result in the death of the tree particularly if it’s one that’s already under stress from needle cast, drought or other malady. Wild cucumber is an annual and must come from seed each year. The seeds are contained in a fleshy oval- shaped seed pod covered with spines. There are four seeds per pod and the seeds are shed when the pods ripen in the fall. Control generally is best achieved by pulling the plants early on before they begin to climb. Early in the season herbicides such as dicamba and glyphosate can be used but precautions need to be taken so desirable species are not affected.

A visit to Mom’s on her birthday continued a tradition established over the years. The next day is our anniversary so I’ve had no excuses for not remembering either one. Mom wasn’t there of course but her presence is still seems remarkably close after being gone now for a little over two months. As I motored towards her place it occurred to me that it might be appropriate to take the staff at the Care Center some DQ ice cream treats as we did many times while Mom was a resident there. Upon arrival I spied my sister just finishing up watering the plants. It was hot and she mentioned that when she’d arrived, there had been a bald eagle feeding on the large raccoon carcass north of the house. The bald eagle sighting was so Mom! 

Sis also mentioned taking a break and heading to Ostrander with some ice cream treats for the staff. I wasn’t arguing and was amazed how our thoughts were so alike. I’d brought along a DQ gift card but of course in true Bernard family fashion she wouldn’t hear of it. The visit went well and we were welcomed with open arms as we recalled Mom’s days there and how we all missed her. We went back to the house and with a hungry construction crew awaiting food at her place my sister had to bolt. I filled the bird feeders, put some corn out for the squirrels and cleaned the birdbath since the heat was to continue a few more days. I could almost hear Mom asking though, “Say, I hate to bother you, but would you have time to remove that dead raccoon from the road in front of the house  before you go? I know the eagle likes it but it looks like heck.” Of course was always my response and this time was no different. I’d put it where the eagle would still be able to locate it and then we’d all be happy. Except for the raccoon perhaps.

See you next week…real good then.

In Wells, Minnesota, Michael Norman was born on Tuesday, December 4, 1962, to parents, James Edward and Lois Louise (Schulz) Bushlack. The middle of three children, Mike’s childhood years were spent growing up in New Richland, MN. With a deep passion for sports, he enjoyed playing all types of ball with the neighborhood kids. Excelling in high school sports, Mike was a multiple all-conference selection in baseball and football, as a running back. In 1981, he graduated from New Richland-Hartland High School.

Hartland Pioneers to hold kickoff picnic

Children in kindergarten through sixth grade and their families are invited to the Hartland Lutheran Pioneers picnic at Arrowhead Point Park in Freeborn on Thursday, September 12 at 6 p.m. Hot dogs will beprovided. Each family may bring a dish to pass. We will be registering for the 2013-14 Pioneers program. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Shawn Stafford at 507-845-2218 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Volunteers sought for Ellendale Fall Cleanup

Volunteers are needed for the Fall Cleanup in Ellendale on October 19. Volunteers will complete yard work for senior citizens in our community. Bring a rake, work gloves, and a smile. Please call Luann Fairbairn to volunteer (507-363-0699).