The scurs were deadly accurate about the odds of rain last week. Too bad they didn’t discover a way to convert their prowess into picking a winning Powerball ticket. Will their luck continue? Starting Wednesday, cloudy with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Partly cloudy on Thursday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Mostly sunny on Friday with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 50s. Partly cloudy Saturday becoming mostly cloudy with a moderate chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 50s. Mostly cloudy Sunday with a modest chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the mid 50s. Monday mostly cloudy with showers or thunderstorms probable. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s. For Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a moderate chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 50s. On the 23rd we will experience over 15 hours of daylight, about the same as we saw July 19th. The normal high for this Memorial Day May 27th is 73 and the normal low is 52. After placing the toboggan in mothballs the scurs may take up waterskiing in road ditches.

Water everywhere after spending a winter pondering how we’d scrape together enough moisture to grow a crop. Soils are saturated with water ponding and no relief in sight in the near term. Corn planting was moving right along last week with somewhere in the 50 – 60% range being completed locally. Trouble was, many had planted their dry fields first and were beginning to go after the more marginal tracts. Many were stuck on Thursday last week and when the rains came that night, corn planting came to a screeching halt, remaining that way as additional heavy rain fell over the weekend. This brings into question just how much more corn may be planted. Much of this is going to depend on insurance coverage and whether one had nitrogen applied to the field. Soybeans remain an option and many farmers would still rather have a crop as opposed to an insurance payment. Growing crops is what they were born to do. 

The Full Moon arrives at 11:26 p.m. on the 24th and is generally known as the Full Flower Moon for obvious reasons. It also goes by the Full Hare Moon, the Full Corn Planting Moon (we hope) and the Full Milk Moon. The Ojibwe knew this as the Full Blossom Moon and the Sioux called it the Moon When Ponies Shed. At the ranch we’re leaning towards the Full Blossom Moon as well. Crabapples, apples and wild plum have all been flowering like crazy and the lilacs are right on their heels. The Moon When Border Collies Shed could be any moon although the dog hair tumbleweeds are becoming sparser on the landscape as well as in the house.

New bird sightings have tailed off somewhat although there were a few newbies from last week. About an hour after I hit the button to send the column to print, the first orchard oriole appeared at the jelly feeder back on the 14th.  About 3 days later there were a couple oddballs mixed in with the goldfinches. Upon closer examination they turned out to be pine siskins. Not sure if they were just taking their time heading north or if they were locals. At any rate they weren’t popular with the goldfinches and were outnumbered. There were over 3 dozen goldfinches over the weekend and the seed supply showed it. The jelly feeder also took a hit as the orioles brought their whole families. There were obvious young of both orchard and Baltimore types as well as females that had been absent the week prior. Hopefully Wagner’s get more of that inexpensive grape jelly in soon or the orioles will riot.  

Keeping the lawn shaved in a timely manner has been nearly impossible. With warmer temperatures, every time it rains makes it appear nothing was done within a few days. It also makes timing important. Mowing the road ditch when it requires no personal flotation device has been a challenge. The windbreak is perhaps more out of sight out of mind although it’s easier to stay ahead of it as opposed to running foot tall grass through a riding mower that wasn’t designed to be a forage chopper. Mowing around rains makes the result piecemeal and when the last portion is mowed it’s time to start over again.

Gardening is still on my mind although like many a farmer, I’ve been weighing the alternatives as to what can still be planted and amount to something. Tinkering with late summer planting of certain vegetables over the years has been fruitful so I am not without options. There is also access to other sources of vegetables so not to worry. In the meantime, I continue to plant trees to take advantage of the wet spring. 40 more trees divided between Siberian crabapples, American cranberry and wild plum all went in ahead of several heavy rains. These trees were extensions of earlier plantings, filled in a few gaps and some were placed strategically to add cover and food. The birds may thank me someday. Their presence is thanks enough.    

It finally warmed up and snow quit flying long enough so I could molt from my winter into my summer plumage. The day it reached 100 degrees it was tempting to get the razor out, but I opted to go a few more days in case the weather changed its mind. It was getting uncomfortably warm so with my face sweating and finally being able to spend some time outside, did not want to become a heap big paleface. It felt good to feel the breeze blowing on my cheeks again although the time spent shaving could always be better spent on endeavors such as catching up on Bonanza reruns or taking a nap.

See you next week…real good then.

For many years, I kept all the writing my 7th and 8th-grade students had completed, and they received this folder of memories before they departed school their senior year. It has always been a joy to watch them look through the stories and essays they had composed four or five years earlier.

“I can’t believe how terrible this is!” is a common refrain. “How did I ever get a good grade on this?” is another.

It’s great that these are typical reactions. That’s not because the students were not good writers. They might have been for junior high. The fact that they recognize it’s not good writing as part of the big picture is encouraging; it means they’ve improved!

This is an important lesson as another group of seniors prepares to graduate from NRHEG. The class of 2013 is just like so many others before them: full of hope and promise, yet scared for what awaits them in that dreaded place they’ve heard about all these years known as… the real world!

The true hope of this class and all future classes should be that in four or five or 10 or 30 years, they can look back on these years just like they do their junior high writing. “Wow, really? I sure have changed/improved!”

Many people say high school was the best four years of their lives. They sure were at the time. However, four years of college replaced those previous years pretty quickly. The first four years of a job are exciting. The first years of marriage, the first years of having children, the first years of retirement: these are all things that can rapidly change one’s outlook on “the best four years.”

High school is a wonderful time for establishing a base of your personality, your likes and dislikes, and your future goals. However, these can be ever-changing. How many of us can truly say we never changed in high school or never pretended to be something we weren’t for the purpose of fitting in? Not this columnist!

The fantastic part of a college experience, be it two years or four years, public or private, university or community college, is that there is always a group of people you will find that you fit with well. You really don’t have to pretend to be someone else anymore. If some people you’re around doesn’t like you for who you are, you’re bound to find a group who does.

The summer after my freshman year at Winona State, I returned to New Ulm for one last hurrah before fully moving out on my own. I had a few of my high school friends comment that they hardly recognized me (and it wasn’t just because I finally figured out long hair wasn’t going to bring the ladies flocking to me).

I had finally become comfortable with being the goofy, slightly strange person I am today. I wasn’t afraid to voice my opinion for fear that someone would not like my thoughts. I had found a group of friends in Winona that respected me, even if we didn’t always agree on various topics. We had some fascinating discussions along the way, and I know that being exposed to all those ideas helped me become a more well-rounded person.

Become who you are. Discover your true self. Some of you are well on your way. Others perhaps have a way to go. No matter what, I hope you have some amazing experiences so you never have to sit at a class reunion and say, “Wow, life has never been as good as it was in high school.”

Graduates, look ahead with anticipation. Be eager for what’s to come. Be most eager to continually find ways to redefine “the best four years” of your lives! Best of luck! And don’t forget if you ever need a paper proofread, you know my e-mail!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is librocubicularist, which means a person who reads in bed, as in, “The college student became a librocubicularist because she often fell asleep reading her textbooks and figured she might as well be comfortable.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

Marie Schroeder, age 86, of New Prague, formerly of Texas, died Friday, April 19, 2013 at her home. Marie was born November 18, 1926 in Robbinsdale, MN to Francis J. and Theodosia B. (Bauer) Carey. She received a four-year degree as an RN from the College of St. Catherine and the University of Minnesota and worked as a public health nurse. Marie married James B. Schroeder on June 14, 1952 in Robbinsdale, MN. She was very involved in St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Mexia, Texas.

The funeral service for Russell August Swenson will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Vista Lutheran Church in New Richland. Pastor Brian Gegel will officiate. Interment will be in the Vista Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation is from 4-7 on Tuesday at Friedrich Funeral Service in New Richland, as well as one hour prior to the service at church.

Russell Swenson passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at Country Neighbors Assisted Living in New Richland. He was 95 years old.

The annual Blessing of the Bikes will be held Sunday, May 19 at New Richland City Park. It begins with a meal at 1 p.m. with services to follow. Local clergy will be on hand to bless motorcycles, bicycles and tricycles for the 2013 riding season. In case of rain, the event will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland.

Memorial services for Allen W. Larson, age 66, of Ellendale, will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale. Rev. Randy Cirksena and Rev. Lisa Dodd will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by area servicemen’s organizations. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com 

Allen died Tuesday, May 14 at his home.

SMILING DUET — Hannah Lewison, left, and Brad Claycomb perform a duet during the 2013 NRHEG Pop Concert at the high school gymnasium in New Richland Monday, May 6. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

Folks were already waiting in line as the doors opened at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 6 for the annual NRHEG Department of Music Pop Concert.

With many dressed in their finest prom attire, the Concert Choir opened the evening program with "Bye, Bye Love," followed by the Beatles’ "Let It Be," and "Some Nights," before everyone was formally welcomed to the evening program.

Choir director Jennifer Fredrickson thanked the Concert Choir and Panthera Vox Musica for a wonderful year. She announced the Concert Choir had earned a rating of “Excellent” at their large group contest at Maple River, while Kirsten Olsen and Alexis Wyatt earned a rating of “Superior” in the solo/ensemble contest at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City met Thursday May 9 with Mayor Swearingen and all Council members present. Also at the meeting was Steve Louks, Clerk; Pete Paulson, Manager at Municipal Liquor Store; and Josh Otto, Maintenance.

It was during Otto’s maintenance report that the issue of a plow truck was brought to the council’s attention. The city had been doing some looking around at different trucks that were available. After discussion, Councilman Goebel and Otto both thought a 1999 Ford was the best truck they looked at. Both mentioned the entire truck had been kept exceptionally clean. The frame and all moving parts were in good order. The cost of the truck is $39,990. Mayor Swearingen said he had talked with First National Bank and gave some options on payment plans. The council moved to purchase the Ford from Boyer Ford and use the payment plan of four years with payments being $10,799 annually.

New Richland City Council

By CARRIE GILBERTSON

Contributing Writer

The New Richland city council held its first meeting of May on Monday the 13th. All members of the council were present. 

The council approved the replacement of the current street lights along Broadway. The lights will be purchased from the city of Albert Lea at $50 per post. The New Richland council will be purchasing 20 posts to allow for the replacement of the current lights, as well as the installation of two extra posts on the corner of Division and Broadway. All four corners of the intersection will be lit. The remaining posts will be kept in storage so they are on hand in case of any damage to the installed posts.