Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, July 26 with Mayor Engel and all councilmen present. Also attending the meeting were Clerk Louks, Pete Paulson, Municipal Liquor Manager, Fire Chief Jeremy Reese, fireman Pat Krueger and Sandra Rahn.

The filing dates for persons interested in being on the city Council opened July 31. The office of mayor, a two-year term currently held by Steve Engel, along with two council positions are open. The two councilmen up for re-election are Gene Helland and Duane Goebel. Anyone interested in filing should stop at the City Clerk’s office to fill out the appropriate form and pay the filing fee of $2. The last day to file will be August 14.

The council reviewed the monthly fire department report. The council approved the expenses for the month at $ 922.09.

Who doesn't like garage sales, rummage sales, used a bit sales — whatever you want to call them?  Oh, I know there are some who don't, but for many it is a fun-filled adventure. 

One can find more variety at a rummage sale than any department store could possibly have on display. It is seldom the shopper who will be able to walk away from the sale without finding something that is calling his or her name and many of these things become favorite treasures.

Vintage items turn up now and then at rummage sales and sometimes collectors can enjoy a profit. I know one lady who found a valued picture behind a picture she bought for the frame.

You will always find cookbooks at garage sales. My mother was fortunate to find a tattered copy of a cookbook from the Oak Street Club. Cookbooks are like reading material. What a good time we had reading not only the recipes but also the names of those who submitted them. Most of them are now gone, but my mother recalled them in memory. Sometimes the names of the people who submitted the recipe are as enduring as the recipe itself.

The most memorable recipe I'll ever know is in the old Methodist cookbook that my mom got years ago that contained a recipe from Mrs. Ferguson for chicken soup. It was one chicken, one carrot, etc.  It was like soup used to be years ago. It had more broth and wasn't like the soup that we tend to make now that almost gets to be a hotdish as it is so thick. 

No way could one use all those cookbook collectables, but every book will have a recipe you've never used. They come from far and near and though you may always go back to your “Better Homes and Garden” cookbook, especially if you are in a hurry, you'll also find favorites written in the blank spots in these great cookbooks. Interestingly enough — look for the tattered copies that in essence tell you they have really been used. Everal Lageson used to say, "Show me your dirty recipes,” the ones spattered with flour and egg yolks and other ingredients, as it showed which were the favorite recipe that were often used. 

Collectors always find the special little things that find a place in their hobby or maybe something they don't need but can't resist. Salt and pepper shakers, cups and saucers, books, and teddy bears are good examples. And then there are the needlework items that took so much time, money and relaxing hours to produce. They are prime finds for those who aren't needlework inclined. 

Don't forget about the toys: the dolls, trucks, puzzles, etc. Talking books and other battery toys often need the batteries replaced, but kids like noise and musical toys and there are plenty out there. Don't forget to look at the books. There are usually some really good books that you can share with your children or grandchildren.

Of course, no child could or should ever be unclothed with the abundance of others’ outgrown attire available for sale for a small price. Many times you also see clothes that still have the original price tags on them. Sometimes they were bought for others and they were either too small, too big, or something someone didn't like, and they were never returned, or couldn't be returned.

Best clothes are always available too because they were used so little, and I guess the same is true for a large amount of baby clothes, too, because we forget how fast they outgrow them. The same is true for shoes so tiny and cute and unneeded but too adorable to resist buying them. 

There are always some big items at the garage sales, and some are really a bargain. Don't forget to check out the hardware, woodworking, or garden-type items. Who doesn't need an extra screwdriver, hammer, or rake? And if there is nothing great, you at least had the fun of looking and enjoying the visit.

How do you pass up not picking up some precious or heritage items? Take a picture and let it go. I had a neighbor who had a rule: if it wasn't used in eight months, it was put on a surplus sale. Another rule was always give away, sell or dispose of the same number of items you buy. Buy a new sweater, remove an old one out of the closet — that way your closet, cupboards or drawers never got too full.

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

• Thursday, August 2nd: Kolten Aaron Michael Hanson, Tara Cromwell Lembke, Cole Lehmberg, Vivian Dulas, Cora Lynn Harpel, Ryan Nelson, Scott Sommers, George Wangsness Jr., Carol Lein, Melissa Marlin

• Friday, August 3rd: Arianna Elizabeth Pence/Ortiz, Jo Lerberg, Kristine Dummer, Cynthia Nelson, Kent Swearingen, Jean Molenaar, Matthew Wayne, Nicholas Wayne, Gerald Flugum

• Saturday, August 4th: Madysen Grace Waage, Karen Edwardson Loge, Harold Jensen, Bryce Ingvaldson, Terry Vaith, Ryan Wangsness, Michael Hanson, Tom Lang, Bethany Cooper, Rachel Reichl, Gary & Kathy Reichl, Warren & Ilsbeth Wayne

• Sunday, August 5th: Wayne Schimek, Corey Wangsness, Gabriella Lynn Olson, Gladys Johnson, John Ramlo, Annette Thostenson, Jennifer Broskoff Dutton, Andrea & Kane Malo, Christopher & Kristen Hanson

• Monday, August 6th: Lynn Nechanicky, Rick Cook, Matthew Miller, Andy & Mary Lerberg, Wendell & Connie Kuehni

• Tuesday, August 7th: August 7th: Shelly Mangskau, Zachery Vangen, Lori Titus, Dylan Waltz, Jack Jensen, Dakota Wayne Heideman, Kaityn Quimby, Cheyenne Bergerson, David Arbogast, Darren Casper, Allen Wacek, Tom & Katie Marlin

• Wednesday, August 8th: Ian Matthew Wayne, Luke Wangsness, John Vander Stoep, Jamie Walworth, Kathy Born, Scott Crabtree, Jessica Marcus, Sharon Miller Jensen, Barb O'Conner, Gary Peterson, Emily Jensen, Marc Collins, Matthew Swift, Don Gould, Mya Glienke

  Sending you heartfelt wishes for a lovely day!

This past week I had the pleasure of spending some time up north with two of my grandsons: Trevor, my oldest grandson and Dylan, Trevor’s cousin. The boys went north with Grandpa for a few days to do some fishing. The weather was good and the fishing wasn’t too bad either.

I had my sights set on visiting Spider Lake for a day and was excited about seeing my old fishing hole again. At least once a year I try to re-visit the lake that we had spent so many vacations at when my boys were growing up. I think that we all had visions of muskies dancing in our heads but that was not to be on this trip. We didn’t see any of those “toothed ones” that day so we had to settle for grandpa pointing out different places on the lake that he had caught them or had seen one caught in the past. I am pretty sure that after about an hour of me pointing out those different spots they were both ready to make their own muskie memories.

The slot limit for northern pike on Spider is everything between 24 and 36 must go back and only one fish over 36” can be kept. On this particular day we did catch a lot of fish and they were either too small or too big to keep. Trevor did catch a nice fat 23-inch pike that we could have kept but he opted to let it swim for another day. I had mentioned to Trevor that I hadn’t seen as many smallmouth as in years past, so just about a half our later he landed a dandy and both of us had to laugh about that. We also caught quite a few nice largemouth bass so after spending about 7 hours of hard fishing we called it a day and headed back to the cabin.

The funny thing about this outing was that I woke up about a half hour before the boys did to make breakfast and on the ride home they were both falling asleep. Dylan slept all the way to the cabin and Trevor took a nap after we got back. I guess the old guy outlasted them on this day. Once we had eaten lunch the boys took our small boat and were off to another lake and returned later that evening with a couple of dandy northern, which were earmarked for the dinner table the next day.

Last year, I taught Trevor how to take the “Y” bones out of a northern and now he is already a master at it. He told me that his mom and dad are sure happy that he knows how to do that but grandpa is probably just as happy because now he’s not the only one in the family who can do it. Trevor asked his cousin Dylan if he’d like to learn and he said he would try it. Trevor is already passing his skills on to the younger family members. He is always willing to share his fishing secrets with anyone that asks and he has a lot to share because the kid definitely knows fishing and the outdoors.

When an occasion like this happens, it really makes me feel proud to have taken both of the boys up north and be able to share so many good outdoor experiences with them. The best way to learn about fishing and becoming a good outdoorsman is to experience it.  We always fish a variety of different lakes when we are up north and Dylan already has fond memories of them. Just the other day we were on a lake and he pointed out a location on that lake and said “this is where I caught my first northern”. It amazes me at just how much of an influence you can have on a youth. That’s a memory that he will be able to share with his kids one day.

Trevor is 17 and has already developed a real liking for that small boat of ours. On this trip he and Dylan had been going to different lakes in the evening after fishing with Grandpa in the big boat in the morning. I guess that I have always been a morning person so rising early and heading to a different lake is right down my alley. The last early morning fishing excursion of this trip north was pretty rewarding. When we got to the spot we were going to fish Trevor and I caught back-to-back fish within a minute of each other. Dylan started a little slow but was soon making up for it. The day before he’d had some really good fishing and I didn’t think he could duplicate it two days in a row but he came close. By the time we headed off the lake we had caught quite a few nice bass, some northern and a few panfish. Dylan told me more than once that this was the best fishing that he’d ever had on a trip north. I don’t think that there are ever any bad ones but this was truly a good day of fishing!

On the way back to Albert Lea we stopped at Reed’s Sporting Goods store by Mille Lacs. Trevor had heard about it from his uncle and wanted to stop and check it out. He bought a musky lure and an ice fishing reel; both necessities of course. Once we were back on the road Dylan was on his cell phone asking his friend if he wanted to go fishing that evening. These two boys are definitely hooked on the outdoors and grandpa couldn’t be prouder. They both thanked me many times for the trip but I should be the one thanking them.

Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and take a little time to teach a kid about fishing – it’s a rewarding experience.

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

"I used one of those electric scooters in the supermarket yesterday. The throttle stuck and I hit a display of Twinkies at full speed. It took a crew an hour to free me from the wreckage."

"Are you O.K.?"

"Well, I have a few bruises and I gained 12 pounds."

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 day was so hot that if my car’s air conditioning stopped working, I could have cooled the vehicle by turning on the heater.

I’ve learned

1. There is no reason to be pessimistic. It won’t help.

2. If you insist on running while you play rock-paper-scissors, you should play just rock-paper.

3. The toilet is an ancient burial ground for goldfish.

Those thrilling days of yesteryear

My mother told the story of when a group of friends and I had found a dead robin. We were very young, but we took our sad discovery to heart. We buried the bird at the edge of the woods. It was a solemn occasion. We used a rock for a gravestone and mumbled a few good words about the dearly departed. Then we sang, "Happy birthday to you."

It was the only song we all knew.

The news from Hartland

Massive organ failure quiets church.

Senior bowling tournament won by man who came closest to the pin.

Abner’s Air & Space Museum remains empty.

I’ve been reading

I read a column by Kyle Munson in the Des Moines Register. The excellent piece was on small-town Iowa slogans. Here are some examples. Gravity: “We’re down to earth. If Gravity goes, we all go.” Readlyn: “857 friendly people and one old grump.” Lake City: “Everything but a lake.” Rudd: “Not bigger, just better.” Denver: “The mile wide city.” Albert City: “How Swede it is.” Stuart: “1700 good eggs and a few stinkers.” Britt: “Founded by rail. Sustained by plow.” Mallard: “We’re friendly ducks.”

Mallard High School had the best cheer ever, "Black and Gold, Gold and Black. Mallard Ducks go quack, quack, quack."

A town not far from me, Bath, went away. Its slogan might have been, "Hey! We’re over here."

My hometown of Hartland is a wonderful city. In 1990, I wrote that it should adopt the slogan, "Lutherans gone wild."

I haven’t heard back from the Mayor yet.

Cellphone chronicles

Alex Johnston of Albert Lea told me that he had obtained an iPhone. A cellphone is very important in that it gives a person something to do when he has too much to do. I have a cellphone that allows me to travel with thumbs too big and keyboard too small. With the weather we haven’t been enjoying, I hope Alex’s new iPhone has an air conditioner app. In order to protect his cellphone investment, Alex purchased a protective case, called the OtterBox. This case is purported to be so good at what it does that Alex could drive over it with his car and the phone would be unharmed. His young sons want him to test the claim. Alex has refrained from doing that—so far.

Did you know?

The Darby Bible translation of 1 Samuel 5:9 reads, "And it came to pass that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with very great panic; and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and hemorrhoids broke out upon them."

Walla Walla, Washington once had a professional baseball team nicknamed the Walla Wallas. Yes, they were the Walla Walla Walla Wallas.

While on the subject of baseball, Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers set a record on July 14 and 15, 1952 when he had hits in 12 consecutive at-bats during a single game and a doubleheader.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2000 and 2010, 293 Americans died because a television, furniture piece, or appliance had fallen on them.

Sixteen ears of corn were found on a single plant in Swedesburg, Iowa in 2009.

Bug zappers aren’t effective in controlling mosquitoes. They kill beneficial insects and don’t attract mosquitoes.

Some of my favorite collective nouns are a whiteness of swans, a congress of crows, and an asylum of loons.

Meeting adjourned

"Show kindness whenever possible. Show it to the people in front of you, the people coming up behind you, and the people with whom you are running neck and neck. It will vastly improve the quality of your own life, the lives of others, and the state of the world."--Ann Patchett

What are you doing this Saturday morning, August 4th? Be at the Old Boathouse on Beaver Lake for interesting stories about the history of Beaver Lake. This is the yearly August Ellendale Historical Society meeting about Beaver Lake. Get there early so you don’t miss out on the breakfast goodies! Many of the stories will be fact; some might be fiction. Welcome all – no admission fee.

Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five – but six water skiers behind one boat at the same time was seen last week on Beaver Lake.

The TV Channel 6 weatherman said it was a good night to possibly see Northern Lights. He said to find a flat, level area where you could get a good view of the north horizon. I did this by walking south from our cabin on the South Beaver Lake Road. I turned around and looked north, and the weatherman was right. I saw one Northern Light – our neighbors in cabin 68 had left their outside light on. I unscrewed the light bulb. That ended the Northern Light display, so I went to bed a bit disgusted.

In Southern Minnesota the hottest days of summer are referred to as “dog days.” Dog days are always in August. August is the time of many area fairs. Do you suppose we haven’t had the hottest days yet in the summer of 2012?

Genie and I met them at the North DQ in Albert Lea. We noticed they were driving a pickup truck and new trailer licensed in South Dakota. In visiting with them, he said they had spent all their cash on the new trailer and her shopping at Northbridge Mall.

Why am I telling you all this? Because we like to eat pheasants. Their business is called Double D Pheasants at Corsica, South Dakota, phone 605-946-5826 (Dave Bultje). Dave does guiding with dogs and lodging of pheasant hunters. If you call and use his service, Dave promises to deliver two rooster pheasants, ready for the oven, to us. Please mention this article when you call and he will give you a special Minnesota rate.

What local business has more VIPs go through their door in a single day than any other business in the area? If you said “Whispering Oak” of Ellendale, you’re right on.

Did you know that a well-known lady from East Freeborn Lutheran Church takes time out of her busy schedule to faithfully read this article every week? Janet Jerdee, I didn’t know this until your hubby Odean spilled the beans (and now, readers, you know, too).

Once again a Beaver Lake resident charmed then with her musical ability. She was the Music Director for “Oliver!” put on by the Albert Lea Community Theatre. Norrine Jensen, you have brought sweet music to many an ear with your musical ability. Thanks. (Thanks to Hubby Ed for his great support in Norrine’s endeavors.)

According to Ecclesiastes Chap. 3 in that best selling book, there is a time for everything. A time to be born (06-12-1920), a time to be an usher at our wedding (09-28-1963). A time to die (07-22-2012).

I don’t know who coined the phrase “Minnesota nice,” but you certainly were, in all your contacts with people. Vernon Moe, “you da man!”

— — —

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 relatively certain we’d get a respite from the heat and indeed we did. We didn’t however receive much rain as July continued to be miserly in that department. Will August treat us better? Starting Wednesday and Thursday, partly cloudy with a modest chance of a shower or a thunderstorm Wednesday. Highs near 85 and low around 65- 70. Partly cloudy on Friday with a slight chance of daytime showers with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Highs of 85 and lows of 65. Partly cloudy and cooler on Saturday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 80 and lows near 60. Mostly sunny and cooler on Sunday with highs of  80 and lows near 60. Mostly sunny Monday and Tuesday with highs of 85and lows of 65.  The normal high for August 7th is 81 and the normal low is 61. We’re also losing over two minutes of daylight each day now. The scurs need all the daylight they can get to stockpile wood, thinking we’ll pay the price for the hot dry summer we’ve had.

There are actually two Full Moons in the month of August, the first one occurring here on August 1st and the second one, a Blue Moon on August 31st. We’ll focus our efforts on the first one at this point however. The Full Moon on August 1st goes by several names, with the most common name being the Full Sturgeon Moon, as this was the month when the tribes of the Northeast were catching sturgeon in the Great Lakes region. It also goes by the Full Red Moon due to the reddish color it frequently takes on due to dust in the air this time of year and by the Full Green Corn Moon and the Full Grain Moon. The Ojibwe called this the Full Berry Moon, presumably for the abundant blueberries in season during August. The Sioux called it the Moon When Geese Shed Their Feathers as well as the Moon When the Cherries Turn Black. At the ranch it is known as the Moon When No Vacations Are Possible.

Crops continue to move rapidly towards the finish line. With GDU’s running a good 10 days to two weeks ahead of normal, one suspects harvest will start early this year. The little dribbles of rain most have received in July have been disappointing and the heat has taken its toll on the corn. Looking in just about any corn field, one can find ears that are tipped back and not filled to the end. There is corn denting already so in roughly three weeks we should see some reaching physiological maturity. The soybeans at this point appear to be taking the hot dry conditions more in stride with some early maturing fields already approaching the R5 stage. There have been some increases in pest pressure and both corn and soybean fields bear watching. Some who sprayed insecticides early banking on residual claims should pay particular attention as knocking the beneficial insect populations out of fields can make them prime targets for infestation.

The garden has kicked it into gear producing abundant zucchini, yellow beans, cucumbers, onions and some new potatoes. Taste testing those first potatoes is always a treat and even zucchini is tolerable after not having any fresh for a year. Watering has become a necessity to help tide things over however until we can garner a decent rain. It helps, but it’s still tough to beat Mother Nature on these rich prairie soils. 

Around the ranch the evenings are hallmarked by the sound of happily singing crickets, katydids and toads. The toads should be singing happily as fat as they are. Several are about tennis ball size and shape, apparently having dined well on the large insect population most of the summer. Much of the daytime singing by the birds is over with the exception of one wren that apparently still has young in a nesting box near the garden. Shouldn’t be long though and they’ll be on the wing. Another hummingbird has shown up although between the two of them, they really haven’t been competing for feeder space. The orioles have slowed down finally with primarily the orchard oriole group consuming sugar water and jelly. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

There have been all sorts of questions about those pesky biting flies; first and foremost what are they other than names we can’t print. They are known as stable flies and they have been a real nuisance this summer. They love to bite exposed flesh and the bite from their sharp proboscis feels about like someone sticking a pin into your skin. Old farmer tales claim that these flies are merely house flies that bite when they are in fact a separate, distinct species. They are slightly smaller whereas the common house fly is larger and has sponging mouth parts. The habitat they inhabit is much the same although they generally don’t survive well in a fresh manure pack situation. They prefer a more mixed bag of damp, loose bedding and manure mixed in, grass clippings, wet straw, etc. Both males and females bite and suck blood. Like mosquitoes, the female must consume blood to produce viable eggs. The warm winter we had was probably a boon for their survival. They tend to overwinter as pupae in an environment that doesn’t freeze such as a manure pile that generates heat. That’s why after hauling manure before fall freeze-up, I spend all winter worrying about them freezing their poor little hineys to death. ;-)

See you next week…real good then.