New Richland City Council

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Editorial Assistant

The first City Council meeting of September commenced at 6:30 on Monday night. All members of the council were present for the meeting.

The first order of business was the proposed levy for 2013, which remains undecided. Many ideas were given in the area of cutting costs, but nothing was officially decided on yet. In order to cut $13,000 of spending, money will have to be taken from other areas, which is difficult for council members to agree upon.

“There’s only so much a city the size of New Richland can cut and still provide the same level of service,” said Wayne Billing, City Clerk. 

The proposed levy doesn’t have to be finalized until December, and citizens who would like to comment or ask questions will be allowed to do so on December 10 at City Hall.

NR 3rd-grader finds his niche in surprising sport

ALSO FOR BOYS — Eric Arvis of New Richland has reaped the benefits of gymnastics instruction and inspired many other area boys to join the sport. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

Impressed by the gymnastics at the Summer Olympics? One can only marvel at the abilities of these young people who have dedicated so many hours of training, many from early childhood. 

Entertaining to be sure, but it is much more than that. The training, discipline and commitment to the sport is fantastic as they work muscles, learn balance, and work on timing, all important for health benefits.

Most people think gymnastics is a thing that girls do, but after a few boys learned there were boys in our area attending the gymnastic class offered at the Waseca Gymnastics Center, a few more boys wanted to attend a class.

A big reason why is nine-year-old Eric Arvis of New Richland, who’s been involved with gymnastics in Waseca for at least four years.

“Eric is to get the credit for more boys joining the gymnastics class,” said coach Scott Young. “For the first couple of years, Eric was the only boy.”

25th Annual Marching Classic Saturday

The 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Waseca Marching Classic will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2012. The 100-unit parade kicks off at 12:30 p.m. in downtown Waseca and includes 10 competing Marching Bands, Classic Car Cruise, Royalty, floats, Alumni Band with Guard & Drum Majors, and Food Shelf Collection by the Area Neighborhood  Service Center. The Celebration continues at 4:30 p.m. at the Waseca High School with 12 Marching Bands competing on the field. Waseca’s Marching Jays perform in exhibition in both parade and field show.  The Awards Ceremony is at 8:15 p.m. followed by the grand finale -  a fireworks display, a favorite of the band students. Featured guest, Minnesota Vikings Skol Line, the Official Drum Line of the Minnesota Vikings, will perform at both the parade and field show. Join us for a day of family entertainment at its best – our 25th Annual Waseca Marching Classic. We love having visitors! Check out our Web sites:  www.wasecamarchingclassic.com or www.discoverwaseca.com. Admission for field show competition is by wristband only, day of event, $7 including program (K-adult).

I had a completely different topic in mind for this week. Then my dad had a heart attack. Events like that tend to take your mind off other topics, and I find that writing about stressful times is very cathartic.

I always tell my students that they will become like their parents someday in some way. Much like I would have done at that age, they shake their heads vigorously and deny that possibility. I didn’t realize how like my dad I am until my late 20s.

Dad was playing with my daughter Jayna when she was very young. I mentioned to Mom that I didn’t remember him ever playing with us kids a lot. 

She told me how many overtime hours Dad used to put in at the grocery store so Mom would be able to stay at home with us and not have to work. Once I realized that, it put a lot of things into perspective. 

While Dad encouraged my sports enthusiasm, I don’t recall a lot of times playing catch when I was young. He put up a basketball hoop for me, but I don’t remember playing a lot of Horse. Now it made sense.

My dad became my hero that day. I also realized just how alike we are, which was something I had not even considered before.

Dad is known by seemingly most of the 13,000 people in New Ulm. He’s called Rondo by the girls he coaches in softball and the Old Sheepherder by the people who listen to his weekly radio show on KNUJ. 

Dad volunteers a lot of time with different organizations and with his church. He’s been retired for a little over a year now, after 46 years of working in grocery, and he seems busier than ever.

He seems to relish in his notoriety, but doesn’t seek out fame in any way. It’s impossible to go anywhere with him and not run into somebody who recognizes him, and that’s not just in New Ulm.

That day, I recognized some of those traits in me. I also know there was some part of me, subconsciously, that was trying to be like my dad when I moved to New Richland. 

There are certainly a lot of people that know who I am. My wife and kids say it’s hard to go anywhere with me, since I end up seeing someone I know and talking for a while.

I’m not as good a person as my dad, though. Sometimes, I really enjoy this small measure of fame; it’s nice to be recognized. But he gives me a standard to strive for, and I hope I have him around for a long time yet to set the example I need.

I wasn’t raised to show much emotion; I don’t know how much I’ve ever told my dad that I love him. 

I regret every time I had a chance and didn’t say that. If your dad is still alive, please tell him that you love him and recognize just how much of him is in you. It’s an enlightening experience. 

Dad is home now and well on his way to recovery!

Word of the Week: As I typed my first paragraph, I used a word that I’ve found myself using more and more in stressful situations: cathartic. Cathartic means tending to purge, as in, “Writing about my dad is very cathartic and helps me relieve some of my stress.”  Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs got the cool-down they wished for and more. Will this week continue the trend? Starting Wednesday, partly cloudy with a good chance of showers from about midday on. Highs of 70 and lows of 55. Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the morning becoming partly cloudy by afternoon. Highs of 65 – 70 and lows of 45. Mostly clear on Friday with a high near 70 and lows of 45. Mostly clear for Saturday and Sunday with highs of 70 and lows of 50. Monday, partly cloudy with a modest chance of a shower. Highs of 70 and lows dropping to 45. Mostly cloudy on Tuesday with a chance of showers. Highs around 65 with lows near 40. The normal high for September 15th is 73 and the normal low is 48, about the same as we experience on May 21st . The scurs will be up for another weekend of football based on last week’s performances.

Harvest progress has moved at an unbelievable pace for the calendar date. Widespread corn harvest does not generally happen in MN during the first full week in September, so this is a first. Yields have been outstanding with some fields toying with the magic 200 bu/acre mark. A few soybeans have also been harvested with pleasant surprises when the crop has been hauled over a scale. Yields have been running in the low to mid 50s on the early maturing soybeans. Some would argue that is how our soybean crop started out last year too and ended up with disappointing yields. If you recall we also had a killing frost in mid-September that took a toll on the later maturing varieties as well as some extreme heat that dried them from 12% down to 8% in a matter of a couple days.  Time will tell but odds are this will be a better soybean crop than last year and probably better than we feared just a few short weeks ago.

We received some generous rainfall last week and while it was generally too late, it should help with the fall tillage especially in the greater Bugtussle area and points east. At the ranch we garnered 1.47” and in Bugtussle proper 1.3” fell. It was a godsend for pastures if only temporarily. More rain will be needed to allow them carry livestock later into the fall. The fly in the ointment with the rain was the wind that was associated with it. Waseca recorded gusts around 45 mph and Rochester had gusts up to 75 mph. Because of the weak stalks in the corn, the result has been stalk lodging below the ear in some fields. This warning shot is largely responsible for a lot of the corn harvest in the area along with the memories of last year’s corn in this year’s soybeans.

The wind had less to do with it perhaps than the warm temperatures and insects, but it suddenly became time to harvest the garden on Sunday. The cucumber beetles that were the scourge of the squash and pumpkins most of the season began chewing the skin some of them thus hastening the picking schedule. It was time however as the vines had little foliage left even though the vines themselves were still green. The worst part of the damage these insects cause is not necessarily the lack of keeping so much as it is the flat flavor it imparts to the squash. If not consumed or processed quickly, the bright flavor becomes flat in matter of a few weeks, so guess what we’ve been eating? The insect and bird damage on the Indian corn has also prompted us to harvest much of that as well. The large colorful piles of corn with the husks pulled back along with orange, yellow and green of the squash, pumpkins and gourds serve as a reminder that fall is here, and we have to be grateful for the bounty we’ve been blessed with.  

Around the yard at the ranch, the air has suddenly gone quiet. It appears the orioles are at long last gone. Haven’t seen any since last Wednesday’s rain and the jelly consumption is about nil. The nectar consumption continues however as the hummingbirds keep pulling on it daily. They’ve really it the flowers hard as well, which is no surprise. There are so many to choose from especially in the mornings when the 4 o’clocks and morning glories are open fully. The impatiens are inviting and the salvia has made a dramatic comeback since the rain. Their fire engine red blooms are sure to satisfy any finicky hummer. The barn swallows are still moving through but the numbers seen daily are dwindling. The locals must be long gone, as they no longer occupy the outbuildings overnight. The fall birds are steadily asserting their presence at the feeders once again. The blue jays are raucous, the chickadees scold, and the nuthatches are constantly picking sunflower seeds to wedge in the tree bark where they crack them open with their sharp little beaks.    

The time to turn the rams in with the ewes is upon us. Last week saw the departure of a couple of rams to new owners and hopefully for greener pastures. Producing a decent ram is not the easiest thing in the world and finding someone who likes one you’ve raised can be even tougher. Like people, every ram has a different personality. Even Sausage and Tube Steak, the two panel jumping experts from last fall turned out about as different as night and day. Both of them liked to be scratched, and Sausage always seemed pretty tame. Get in the pen to catch them however and Sausage wanted nothing to do with human contact. Tube Steak wanted to take me on which played right into my hands, making him that much easier to grab. It also cemented what we had warned the guy getting him about: Watch your back or you might get pancaked when it is turned.

See you next week…real good then. 

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

"I can’t remember anything today."

"Some days are like that."

"I hope I’m not losing my mind."

"Oh, don’t worry. You’re probably just stupid."

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: the best gardens grow in January’s catalogs.

A traveling man

I was staying in what was an old farmhouse until the city of Sterling, Illinois grew around it. The house is offered as quarters for wayfaring strangers. I arrived late in the evening in preparation of giving some talks the next day. I had been supperless or dinnerless — at least without an evening meal. I’d stopped at a store and picked up something to eat in my room — a couple of Colorado peaches and a smoothie made from strawberries, cherries, plums, apples, purple carrots, red beets, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, and chick peas. I had just finished my splendid repast and was enjoying some hot tea while jotting things down into my composition book, when I noticed it. There on the floor below the lowest door hinge of the closed door was a sizable lump. I walked to it and could see that it was a wallet. It was much too large to be mine. I picked it up. It was much too heavy to be mine. It could have been used in a weightlifting class. I opened the wallet and discovered that it was the property of a lawyer from North Carolina. There was a wad of cash thick enough to choke two horses. I counted $300 and would have had more counting to do to arrive at a final figure. The man in North Carolina now has his wallet and its complete contents back. He’d lost it over a month earlier. When he learned that his wallet was on the way, his comment was, "Are you kidding me?"

I swept the room with a glance

I was manning a broom. I thought of an aunt who made a list of things to do each day. She wrote it in the dust on her furniture. Cleaning the house never made her list of things to do. I had spilled some birdseed that needed to be corralled into a dustpan. I swept the floor vigorously. Detritus found its way onto the dustpan. I picked up the dustpan, planning to toss the seeds outside where the birds might eat them. In that process, I noticed that there was a line of dirt that had abutted the edge of the dustpan, but refused to join the rest of its ilk. I swept again. A line remained. I repeated the action a number of times. The only thing that changed was the location of the line of dirt. It was dustrating.

Party line

Beth Horner of Wilmette, IL told me that when she was a girl, her family had a party line telephone. Anyone on the party line could pick up the receiver and listen in on a conversation. That was called "rubbering." Now we have cellphones that are not on a party line, but we are allowed to rubber their phone discussions whether we want to or not. The mention of a party line reminded me of a Hank Williams Sr. song titled “Mind Your Own Business” that goes like this, "Oh, the woman on our party line's the nosiest thing. She picks up her receiver when she knows it's my ring. Why don't you mind your own business? Well, if you mind your business, then you won't be minding mine."

Beth told me that hers was an eight-party line. She said it was like having an extension phone in seven other homes. Phone subscribers were grouped together on a line. Each was assigned a calling signal of a certain number of long and so many short rings. You could call anyone on your line by ringing his or her ring. To call a party on another line, you had to go through "central." When the operator answered, you asked for your party. There were those curious people who quietly lifted the receiver and listened in on the conversations of others. My father knew that a woman rubbered on his party line. Let’s say her name was Bertha. At the completion of his call, my father would say, "Goodnight, Bertha." When he encountered her later in person, he could tell that she was furious with him, but she couldn’t tell anyone why.

Meeting adjourned

A kind word is like the morning light. It chases away the darkness.

Once again, it is time for one of the two “must attend” social events of the year. There will be hand shaking, back patting, a friendly “How are you?” along with “It’s good to see you.” All this will accompany a pleasant smile at the same time.

There will be old and young and in-between ages of males and females. All those attending are in the VIP classification – including you!

This is an eating event, so get those taste buds ready. Maybe even starve for a day! 

Wild rice, chili, potato and chicken noodle soups will be served. Key lime, chocolate, apple and pumpkin are some of the pie choices, with vanilla ice cream! 

Ah, yes, all for your presence, so come on down. Put on your eating shoes and boogie on over; I’ll be waiting at the side door to greet you.

Many of you know what I’m referring to; you just didn’t know when. This year, the Soup and Pie Supper at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church (just north of Albert Lea) will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, September 24. 

Be one of the first 700 and you won’t have to worry about running out of food, as we’re planning on 700 plus.

The net proceeds of the Soup and Pie Supper will benefit “Youth For Christ” and “Children’s Vision International.” Please bring a non-perishable food item or two to help support the local food shelves.

Jerry Heideman and auctioneer Orville Johnson are the nominees for Best Worker As a Slacker. Please let me know as you leave who you think slacked off the most. I will publish the name of the runner-up in a future article.

This is the time of year to buy a cabin on a lake in Minnesota. It is definitely a buyer’s market until next spring. There are four with “For Sale” signs and at least three more for sale on the quiet side. There is even a “Lots For Sale” sign. 

What lake? Beaver Lake.

There are currently 12 homes on Beaver Lake occupied the year around. Ten of the twelve go to work daily; the other two just go. 

The average age of the cabin owners is 59, with most owners being retired. Very few of the cabin owners have school age children (under 21).

Ole and I were fishing off the DNR Dock on the east end of Beaver Lake. We grew tired of all the catch-and-release bass, so we decided to yack a while. (Ole is a very good yacker and I can hold my own.) 

The conversation turned to wedding anniversaries. I remarked that his 50th was in June of 2013. He went on to say that he married into money, as Lena was from a well-to-do Norwegian family. For their 40th, Lena wanted to go to Norway, so they did.

Ole remarked it was the best anniversary that he ever had. After the anniversary in Norway, he had plenty of money and could spend it any way he wanted. He could go hunting, fishing, gambling, buy a new car or motorcycle – just live it up.

I asked Ole if he had any plans for his 50th. Ole replied as to how he was slowing down with age and he was short of money. He would be returning to Norway for his 50th. I asked why. Ole replied, “To get Lena.”

‘Twas then we went back to bass fishing!

— — —

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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. 

4-H at the Minnesota State Fair is not just a fun annual event. Every summer, thousands of 4-H youth participate in the state fair to showcase the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year, and to continue their learning experiences. 4-H youth spend months working on projects designed to equip them with essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, project management, communications and public speaking. 4-H members then share their accomplishments and educate the public about their subject at their local county fair. Those who demonstrate the highest achievements are then selected to participate in 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair.

The Steele County 4-H organization includes these clubs: Deerfield Get There, Ellendale Hustlers, Future Citizens, Happy Hustlers, Lemond Snappy Boosters, Medford Go Getters, Meriden Meadowlarks, Merry Lane, Merton Speeders, Owatonna Victory Boosters, Pratt Commandoes, Record Busters, Straight River Stars and Victory Boosters.

Below are names of the Ellendale Hustlers, Lemond Snappy Boosters, Record Busters, and Straight River Stars clubs who received Champion, Reserve Champion or Purple recognition for their projects at the 2012 Steele County Fair:

Beef:

• Champion Cow/Calf Knowledge - Cassandra Balvitsch, Ellendale Hustlers

• Reserve Champion Cow/Calf Exhibit - Cassandra Balvitsch, Ellendale Hustlers

• Reserve Junior Dairy Steer - Logan Nelson, Lemond Snappy Boosters

• Top Junior Beef Calf - Graham Kyllo, Straight River Stars