French foreign exchange student brings family to town for mini-reunion

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Filings for area city political offices were completed last week.

In New Richland, voters will choose between Christine Gislason and Jacob Papinski for the office of mayor. Gislason is a current member of the city council. Incumbent Mayor Tom McShane did not file for reelection.

There are three candidates for two city council positions in New Richland. Incumbent Tony Martens is seeking reelection. Sandy Neumann and John Hullopeter are also running.

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

A Welcome Back to School Breakfast will be held for NRHEG staff members on Tuesday, August 28. Following the breakfast a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support program will be presented to the entire staff.

The PBIS is a newly developed program, guided by six important principles, and will be implemented to improve student academic and behavior outcomes during the upcoming school year. The program will ensure all students will have access to the most effective and accurately implement instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible.

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

It is hard to believe in this country there are those who go hungry, but there are. No one should have to go to bed at night with a stomach that aches from lack of food.

In lieu of this, the local congregations of Zion Lutheran Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church of Owatonna and Pontoppidan Lutheran Church are again hosting the annual Harvest Run For Hunger to help raise money to support the local food shelves.

The 3nd Annual Harvest Run For Hunger will be held Saturday, September 15 and includes a 7k Run, 4k Walk and a Youth Run for children 10 years and younger, which is 400 meters in length.

Everyone is invited to come out to the country to enjoy the beautiful scenery for a run or walk. Last year’s participants, sponsors and volunteers made a difference in the lives of many in Steele and Waseca County. It is hoped that this year’s event will be bigger and better.

Laurence V. Ruedy, age 82 of Waseca, died on Monday, August 20, 2012, at Homestead Hospice in Owatonna.

 Born on August 9, 1930 in Waseca, Minnesota, he was the son of Ward and Magdelena (Beck) Ruedy.  He attended rural Waseca County schools and graduated from Waseca Central High School as Salutatorian in 1948.  He married Georgena Klampe on June 7, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  After getting married he and his wife farmed in Waseca County for over 50 years, retiring from farming in 1992 to care for his ailing wife.  He enjoyed old-time dancing, square dancing, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.  He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca, Richland Squares, Steele Steppers and the Faribo Si Do square dance clubs.

There’s a lot to think about when driving down the highway. I know to some it may be boring, especially to the kids who only want to know, "Are we there yet?" Of course, many cars now come with the capability to be able to watch videos while you travel down the road, which helps pass the time for the kids, but I feel like they miss so much.

I remember how my sister and I learned to identify cars and tried to see how many state license plates we could find while we were traveling. We also made sentences from words we saw on billboards. 

We too played an alphabet game with words from billboards and signs. We laughed at road signs and of course had a lesson in green scenery.

I still read license plates and my nephew still identifies cars, though it has gotten harder to do because there are so many different models traveling down the roads now.

On the lake road going to St. Olaf Lake from Ellendale, there is an array of painted quilts decorating the buildings on the Holmes farm. Renae has always been known for her creativity, but I think she topped them all with these painted quilts. They definitely set off their farm place.

There seems to be more and more motorcycle and bike riders this summer. Granted, the weather that left us with little rain and the “mild” temperatures have been perfect for riding the open road. 

It has been interesting to see the array of bikes, both two-wheel and three-wheel motorcycles, as well as those cute little trailers that are pulled behind the motorcycles and bikes. Those little trailers are capable of hauling the necessities the riders are apt to need during the trips they take. 

I haven't seen a lot of corn trucks or spilled corn ears on the highways. For that matter, there seems to be less road kill than usual this summer.

Of course, looking at the crops is always good. Most farmers look for them year round. Many are those who joke about driving behind an old time farmer in mid-winter, who seemingly is inspecting the expected crop land for next years corn or bean crop.

There are memories, too. How often do you see anyone changing a tire now? If you do, you never see them trying to repair it while out on the road. 

My grand dad carried a little repair kit with an inner tube when a tire went flat. The rough cover of the repair kit was used to scratch the area around the hole in the inner tube so the glue would hold the patch. 

Once the inner tube had been repaired, it was then placed back in the tire and then blown up with a hand air pump so the drivers could get back on the road again. Many now just get on their cell phones and ask for help instead of tackling the job of changing their flat tires.

And then, there is the trash that can be seen along the roads. I would never throw anything out of my car window, but even then I feel guilty for those who do. 

I just can't comprehend how anyone would throw their garbage, cans, or fast food papers or containers out on the road or into the ditches. Most of these guilty people are adults. 

It is so simple to carry a bag along to stuff the garbage in, until one reaches a trash container or they get home to their own garbage can. A stop sign doesn't mean stop here and throw out your trash. It means stop contaminating our beautiful world.

I do hate to see deer that have been accidently killed by the side of the road. It's always sad, but I suppose the birds or other animals scavenge and take care of it

But, is it wise to leave it lay there to entice farm dogs to get the taste of deer? Or worse yet, to cause an accident? I also hate to see these newly invented tires that can rip apart and pieces of them are left on the roadways, waiting for an accident to happen.

Another surprising thing that I have observed is the number of motor homes that are on the road at any time of year, either going north, or south with the changing weather or activities.

Also, we tend to complain about road repair and construction, but I am sure that there are more complaints when the roads are in poor condition.

Another thing that has changed for the motorist is the drive-up windows which enable you to pay bills, bank, eat, whatever, without ever leaving your car. Once upon a time one would never think of eating in their car and some still don't. 

Not to be forgotten is the cell phone. Handy, useful, but wasn't it nice to just have some time to yourself? And, how many people can safely talk on the phone and drive, both at the same time?

Driving to and from is a good time to talk. You have the attention of those with you because they can't get away. Really it is a time when you can discuss things without being interrupted.

Please enjoy your time spent driving our Minnesota roadways. There are a great number of things to see and enjoy.

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 news, 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, August 23rd: Jared Dawson Lee, Logan Dale Marzolf, Terry Holland, Ann Klemmensen, Matthew Knudson, Steve Wilker, Scott Wright, Quinn Vu, Vernon & Jeanne Simonson, Galen & Linda Christensen, Amy & Marshall Svoboda, Jessica Lutgens.

• Friday, August 24th: Rick Storlie, Michelle Gowlland, Nicholas Christensen, Sam Worrell, Tanya Hughes, Natalie Deml, Elizah Lee Ackland, Crystal Johnson, Terry Vaith, Jeff Kycek, LaNell Leak Sunde, Corey Peterson, Mary Edon, Ralph & Cheryl Dobberstein, John & Cindy Christensen.

• Saturday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang.

• Sunday, August 26th: William Michael Rodney Tuttle, Christopher Cook, Clarice Pence, Catherine Haugen, Mike Riley, Elijah Lee Ackland, Catherine Mae Haugen, Tim Falksen, George Stieglbauer, Michael Rodney Tuttle, Sharon Peterson, Travis & Kelly Johnson, Angie & Michael DenHerder.

• Monday, August 27th: Martin Johnson, Kory Kress, Alice Randall, Sandra Thostenson, Dee Ann Jensen, Jim Collins, Mary Lageson, Sharon Ramaker, Terry Pelzl, Angela DeGeus, Jessica Marie Nygaard Paulson, Corlyn & Janice Paulsen.

• Tuesday, August 28th: Mitch Helmers, Larry Motl, Bev Newgard. Waynetta Peterson, Rosy Fisher, Lorraine Christensen, Justine Randall, Marlys Van Kampen, Tammy Johnson, Gerritt Molenaar Sr., Jacquelyn Jensen, Linda Kelly, Marvin Thomspon, Jim & Fran Ladlie.

• Wednesday August 29th: Mark Lee, Eunice Smith, Barbara Klinger, Cheryl & Brian Boettcher.

May your day be filled with everything you enjoy most.

It’s been a long hot summer (sounds like a good name for a movie), but we have managed to survive. We are lucky to live in a community that is surrounded by lakes and so many nice parks for our enjoyment. 

There is a lot to be said about spending a little time in the outdoors on a hot summer day. Can you remember the last time that you sought relief from the summer heat by sitting in the shade of a tree while a gentle breeze wipes the sweat from your brow? I have found that although I appreciate the convenience of air conditioning, I still enjoy spending time outdoors in the heat of the summer.

A couple of weeks ago, I was enjoying a day of babysitting my granddaughter Emma. She really loves spending time playing in the outdoors, whether it be watering grandma’s flowers, playing in the dirt or jumping in a puddle of water. She likes it all. 

It was pretty warm on that particular day, but there was a nice breeze. So, we took a couple of lawn chairs and sat in the shade to enjoy that breeze. 

Although she is only three years old, she loves to talk and can carry on a conversation like she is much older. I have to be on my toes because she definitely has plenty of questions and wants an answer to each one. 

Emma usually stays busy and likes to be doing something all the time. But, on this day, she was content to sit with Grandpa and talk, stopping once in a while to ask grandpa to “tickle me,” which is something she likes. The shade, a nice breeze and the constant conversation with my granddaughter made this a great day.

There is still plenty of nice weather left to get out and enjoy one of our many area parks. Years ago, we would spend time at pioneer Park when there wasn’t much there.

In fact, I can remember going there as a kid with my mom and dad. There would usually be a special occasion involved like my folk’s anniversary or Mothers Day. 

When we went to Pioneer Park for a picnic, a favorite treat of mine was Maid Rites. Mom would whip up a batch of her never to be duplicated potato salad. We also opened up a can of Van Camps beans.

Now, to me, that was real living back then because we very seldom ever ate out. I have to wonder does anyone even go on picnics anymore?  It seems like the days of the old wicker picnic basket, the checkerboard table cloth and picnic plates have gone the way of the Edsel.

As I grew older and was allowed to ride my bike to town during summer vacation, I had one main purpose – fish! I can remember the first time I caught a bass in Fountain Lake.

While fishing at Pioneer Park, I decided to slip a worm on a hook with a bobber. I had just cast it out under the branches of a willow tree that were hanging over the water. 

About that same time, a speedboat went cruising by and as the waves bounced my bobber up and down, it suddenly disappeared. At first, I thought it had just snagged bottom causing it to be pulled under, which happens occasionally when fishing too deep. 

As I began reeling it in, I realized that there was a nice fish on the other end and it had no plans of ending up on the dinner table. After following the fish along the shoreline, I finally landed it with the help of my friend Pat Smith. 

The fish turned out to be about a 2-1/2 lb. smallmouth bass. I continued to fish after I had put the fish on my stringer, but the excitement of my “big” catch was too much so Pat and I decided to head home. 

I hung the stringer from the handle bar on my bike and backtracked so that I could ride past the Northside Creamery (Dairy Bar) on the way out on Bridge Avenue. I  made sure that the fish would be seen by as many people as possible. 

Catching that bass was probably the highlight of the summer for me because I had never caught a bass in Fountain Lake before. I had no idea that there were even any smallmouths in the lake. 

I have no picture of the fish because in those days picture taking was for family events and special occasions. This evidently was neither. No picture is really necessary, as long as I have the memory of a good day spent fishing with an old friend.

— — —

With all the outdoor facilities that we have at our disposal, there are those that choose to use and abuse them. We have the basketball courts by the pool where people play ball and then leave their trash behind. 

The thing that bothers me most about this is that there are trash receptacles within 10 feet of the strewn garbage. Another thing is fast food. 

How many times have you seen drink containers or garbage from a fast food place laying in the street or left in a park not far from a trash can.

We need to take pride in our community and do our part to keep it looking clean. I am sure that the park and rec. workers don’t look at cleaning up after someone as a job opportunity. 

I don’t even want to imagine what these peoples homes must look like if they treat their parks this way.

— — —

Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and take a little time to share the experience with our youth.

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

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club meeting

“A wasp stung me on my nose.”

“Did you put something on it?”

“No, it flew away too fast.”

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 most popular spectator sport is watching the weather.

I’ve learned

1. It’s difficult to tell if you’re living up to or down to someone’s expectations.

2. To be thankful that I have more aches than pains.

3. Mirrors were better when I was younger.

Café chronicles

It was one of those cafes where each meal came with four utensils — a fork, knife, spoon, and flyswatter.

Flies don’t bother me much. Years ago, a wise man told me that I should eat a toad first thing in the morning. That makes everything else I might do that day much easier. It’s good practice to do disagreeable tasks first. I’ve noticed that there are two kinds of swatters. Some people like the flies smashed dead. Other folks like to swat them lightly, only wounding them, figuring that would be enough punishment for the sin of being a fly.

I heard a lot of singing coming from the cafe’s restroom. That was because the restroom door had no lock.

The table topic centered on garden produce. There was a discussion on how corn on the cob should be eaten. I usually eat it across moving left to right like a typewriter. Once I have a clearing, I might change to eating around the cob. An ear of corn will always have an even number of rows unless some sort of stress disrupted the developmental process. The discourse moved to how to pick a good watermelon. Proponents of thumping, slapping, smelling, examining the stem, and lifting were heard from. When it was my turn, I revealed my method   — I rely on good luck.

A bump in the road

Georgette Bauman of Burnsville was driving one of our local roads when she hit a bone-jarring bump. She traveled a bit farther before she spotted a "Bump" sign. She asked me why the bump preceded the sign. I told her it was so she would know what she’d just hit.

Lingering on the subject of signs, Dennis Anderson of Hartland asked what color yield signs are. I thought it was a trick question, but without looking at a yield sign, what color is it? The sign was established as a point-down equilateral triangle (aren’t you glad you paid attention in school) with a black legend and border on a yellow background. In 1971, the yield sign changed to the red background with the white region in the center of the sign we see today.

Googling refrigerator pickles

My wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed, asked why I don’t like refrigerator pickles. I told her that it was because of the tiny magnet on the back of each pickle. To be honest, I'm not sure what a refrigerator pickle is. I don’t know what makes a refrigerator pickle a refrigerator pickle. I don’t need to ask anyone, I could simply Google it.

Eric Steinmetz of Mankato told me that he misses the friendly arguments that took place before Google. Does Google inform while making us dumber?

Wart-be-gone

I was sitting in a restaurant with John Butler of Albert Lea, Gus Courrier of Emmons, and Paul Sunde of Blooming Prairie. We are men who share things like suffering injuries while opening once-sticky junk drawers that we didn’t know had been cleared of all obstruction (rolls of tape). If you clean a junk drawer, you should label it. We were having a serious discussion. Was it about the economy? Gas prices? Healthcare? No, it was about wart cures. John suggested one involving duct tape. Gus offered a cure that required the burial of chicken parts under a waning moon. Paul proposed the sticky juice of the milkweed plant. I agreed with Paul.

Nature notes

Jenean Mortenson of Faribault asked where to find a monarch butterfly chrysalis. A striking green and gold, jewel-like chrysalis could be anywhere--on a milkweed plant, leaf, twig, rock, fence rail, etcetera. The caterpillar attaches itself where it feels safe. Butterfly caterpillars don’t spin cocoons. If you see a caterpillar spinning a cocoon, it’s going to become a moth. Butterfly caterpillars transform into a chrysalis or pupa. When the monarch caterpillar is ready to become a chrysalis, it hangs upside down in a J-shape. It wiggles until its skin splits and a chrysalis appears where a caterpillar used to be--a trick to make any magician proud.

Meeting adjourned

A kind word fosters miracles.

For some reason, the acorn harvest is almost nothing at Beaver Lake this year. I think it is because of one or all four of the following: 1. A late frost this spring. 2. Lack of rain. 3. Weather too hot. 4. This is the year of a natural smaller crop (every other year’s crop is less than the previous year).

Kayla Bruder is a 14-year-old young lady bored with summer, loves school and is a very good fisherlady. Genie and I promised to take her fishing at Beaver Lake to see if she is really that good or if she just talks a good talk! 

Kayla lucked out, as it was windy with black clouds and forecast rain, so she didn’t have to prove herself.

The three of us decided to go to the Spam Museum in Austin instead of chancing the weather fishing. The museum was very interesting. 

We hadn’t seen everything by 1 p.m., so we decided to go to Johnny’s Restaurant in Austin for lunch. It was a very nice, clean place with a pleasant waitress. The main reason we went to Johnny’s was because Spam items are featured on their menu.

After lunch, we toured the rest of the museum, including the many Spam items for sale in the gift shop (clothing caps, earrings, you name it). A tired Kayla was home napping by 3:30 p.m.

Genie had a very busy 70th birthday. She celebrated with family at the Willows in New Richland for lunch. She was the reader at our church the day of her birthday, plus she served birthday cake at the coffee hour in church. 

We also went to Trumble’s in Albert Lea for lunch on her birthday. She received many telephone calls, birthday cards, presents, and well wishes. Our children sent cards and presents plus telephone calls. As Genie said, it was a lot of work to turn 70, but it was very enjoyable.

Three summer residents of Beaver Lake have joined the latest trend. Susan DenHerder, Paula Hanson and Paul Hanson are the trendy residents. Their vocation and avocation are one and the same: namely, grandchildren. This trend is called “Retirement” by some!

Technology has caused many changes here at Beaver Lake. It used to be that I just put a chalk “X” on the side of the boat to mark the spot where I caught all the fish. Now GPS takes me right to the hot fishing spot.

Another change is how I fix pizza when fishing. It used to be that I had to quit fishing, go up to the cabin, fix it, eat it, and then go back to fishing on Beaver Lake. Now, I just use my cell phone to order a pizza, which is delivered to me at the boat landing. This way, I only miss about 15 minutes of fishing.

It used to be that when I caught a big fish and wanted to take a picture, I did so and hoped it would turn out okay after getting the film developed. Now, I take the picture on my smart phone, instantly look at it and decide whether or not it’s O.K.

An interesting use of the smart phone was when I was watching two bass fishermen taking pictures of a nice bass they caught. A motorized boat of water skiers drove through the lily pads close to them. Then, the bass fishermen started taking pictures of them on their smart phones. 

Assuming the bass fishermen forwarded the pictures onto the DNR, some boat owner is going to be in for a surprise, as the boat license will show on the pictures. Because going through the lily pads in their motorized boat is breaking the law, this could be a prime example of that old song, “I Fought The Law and the Law Won.”

— — —

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. 

The scurs were right again about rain and also right about not guaranteeing an amount. With .02” measured at the ranch, there was barely enough for a mosquito’s bath. Will we see enough for two mosquitoes this week? 

Starting Wednesday, mostly clear with a high of 80 – 85 and a low of 65. Thursday, partly cloudy with an increasing chance for a shower or thunderstorm by evening. Highs near 85 and lows near 65. Partly cloudy and slightly cooler on Friday with a moderate chance of rain. High near 80 and lows around 65. 

Saturday and Sunday, partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs of 80 and lows near 60. Monday and Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a chance of shows and thunderstorms. Highs of 80 – 85 and lows of 55 – 60. 

On August 26th, we will see the sun set at 8 p.m. The normal high for the 26th is 79. The normal low is 56. The scurs will be sharpening their Crayolas in all 64 colors.

Crops largely went without rain this past week, but maturity was slowed by cooler temperatures. Most soybeans are now R6 or very close to it. Some corn will have reached black layer by the time this reaches print. 

The threat of soybean aphids and spider mites has largely been put to rest as the maturity of both crops is simply too advanced with some minor exceptions. Soybean aphids will likely still build enough of a presence. 

So, they will move back to buckthorn as the soybeans reach maturity. But, as the Boy Entomologist points out, the aphid days necessary for them to cause economic damage is higher than they are capable of. 

This somewhat abridged version of Fencelines is coming to you from the road while I’m on the Midwest Pro Farmer Crop Tour. For those receiving this column via e-mail, follow us on Ag Web and on Twitter, #pftour12.

This trip has become my annual departure from the land of road kill sweet corn and raccoons. It’s my ninth tour of duty and the worst of it is, I think I’m beginning to get the hang of it. 

Maybe it’s because I’m starting to know what to expect and maybe it’s because of all the familiar faces, as we gather for the first night in Columbus OH. It is a long and arduous week however and with State Fair in Minnesota right on its heels, there’s not much left of me by the time Sunday rolls around. Thank goodness Byron Jones’ wife bakes all those cookies so I can maintain my stamina.

How does the crop look? From the road, some of it doesn’t look as bad as advertised. However, a windshield survey is very frequently deceiving. 

That’s why getting out in the fields and looking at the crop is so important. We had an opportunity to look at some graphic examples of this from some Iowa fields.

And, if the results there are any indication, we’ll be in for a long week of looking at some pretty disappointing crops relative to what we’re used to seeing. We have the distinction in Minnesota of being in a garden spot. 

While things aren’t perfect, they are far from the ugliness we’ve seen up to this point. We have much to be thankful for, even though we seem to enjoy complaining about what could’ve been. Some need to be reminded that as bad as they think they have it, someone usually has it much, much worse.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things to look forward to however. Fortunately, we have kind friends and neighbors who look after things while we’re gone, doing chores and keeping the garden produce harvested. 

Speaking of looking forward to things, the lettuce and additional winter radishes were emerging already when I left. The snap peas had sprouted, but as of Saturday morning, hadn’t made the soil surface. 

The light watering I gave them may have helped so I’m curious to see their progress. The cucumbers registered their complaint about the dry conditions by wilting under some warmer temps. They were also rewarded with another drink of well water. 

The bird feeders were filled too, but it’s likely that they will have emptied everything out by the time I return home. That’s okay. 

There are plenty of flowering plants to keep the hummingbirds occupied and, the number of thistle patches around the countryside will no doubt have the goldfinch’s attention. Even the orioles who have been on a tear lately consuming jelly like no tomorrow are likely getting about ready to move on. 

It’s always sad to see them go, but it’s the natural order of things. That and some other dummy can buy them jelly as they make their way south for the winter.

The lawn is definitely up for a shave when I return. It looks like some teenage boy’s patchy attempt at growing a beard. 

The weeds have done rather nicely on the sparse rainfall, although some of the bluegrass appears to have received enough so that it needs to be evened up. Even though it will be dusty and dirty, waiting for a rain is not an option. One is only able to look at something that ugly and weedy about so long.

See you next week…real good then.