FRY BOYS — Arlen Brekke and Brian Wayne of the Ellendale Commerical Club cooked pork chops during Ellendale Days last weekend. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

With raindrops falling on heads, making events like garage sales inconvenient, it was interesting to hear no complaints during opening day of Ellendale Days Friday, July 20. The rain was a blessing from God. The community celebration was on.

It was a busy week in Ellendale and people were appreciative. There was something for everybody and some new events.

What's interesting about Ellendale Days is that it’s organized and planned by many or most of the town’s residents and business owners.

Of course there is food and music. Thursday night offered the ever-pleasant Laverne’s Concertina Band.

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

The recent tragic events that occurred were a shock to our area families. These were great people who did their best to live a productive, happy life and were available to help those who needed help and did it with a smile. They were not without pain and sadness, but they turned it into love for others.

Mike Baynes had a job only a caring person could handle. As an Associate Director of Student Life on the Saint Catherine University in Minneapolis, Baynes had a following of students, friends and co-workers who recognized what he was. He can't take all the credit. He was brought up in a good two-party home with parents who cared. They taught him well.

The church was overflowing and there were also tears of sadness from many students who came from the Twin Cities to show respect for one who showed them respect. Bayne’s message of hope and peace was something he lived, shared and taught.

The ongoing heat and drought we have been plagued with this summer is no laughing matter. But, since there is little we can do about it, maybe that is what we need to do — laugh a little.

Like Bob Hanson says, "Is it fact or fiction?" You be the judge."

When life gets too serious the days can get a little tedious. Read with me an e-mail I received from a friend in Texas:

It has been so hot here that we have discovered some new situations such as...

 .....the birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground.

 .....the trees are whistling for the dogs.

 .....the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

 .....hot water comes from both taps.

 .....you can make sun tea instantly.

 .....you learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

 .....the temperature drops below 90 F and you feel a little chilly.

 .....you discover that in July it only takes two fingers to steer your car (one on each hand).

 .....you discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

 .....you actually burn your hand opening the car door.

 .....you break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 5:30 a.m.

 .....your biggest motorcycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?”

 .....you realize that asphalt has a liquid stage.

 .....the potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter.

 .....the cows are giving evaporated milk.

 .....farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

It is so dry that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling. The Methodists are using wet-wipes. The Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water!

Also, you may not find this if your dictionary is a little on the old side, but while "Googling" for definitions for some of these electronic device terms, I came across two that might interest you.

The first I discovered, Ineptocracy, is a recently coined word found on t-shirts on eBay.  Ineptocracy is a singular word, which is being used to describe our current political situation.

Read this one over slowly and absorb the facts that are within this definition. 

I love this word and believe that it will become a recognized English word after the 2012 elections come to a close.

Ineptocracy is a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with good and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

The second word is pedant. A pedant is a person who emphasizes trivial points of learning, showing a scholarship lacking in judgment. It also means a narrow-minded teacher who insists on exact adherence to rules.

In other words, pedant is what you are when you know something, be it ever so trivial, and you insist on sharing it with others who may not be interested and find it boring.

Enough said!

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, July 26th: Clara White, her 102nd birthday; Jordyn Marie Wobschall, Kristine Broskoff Routh, Mark Bartness, Jane Osmundson, Amy Radke, Jean Smith, Scott & Cheryl Christensen.

• Friday, July 27th: Ben Groth, Lori Dirksen, Nita Dooley, Mark Helmers, Nicki Spurr, Rick Spurr, Rhiannon Farr, Alison Underland, Dave Schulz, Kory Klecker, Lillian Rose Olson, Steve & Jinny Nielsen, Travis & Ashley Broskoff, Marguerite & Milton Nelson.

• Saturday July 28th: Mike Luhring, Kari Wayne, DeWayne Jensen, Dennis Jensen, Penny Jensen, Eric Lee, Christian Burnes, Donnie Turvold, Jim & Maryalice Hanson, George & Sue Stieglbauer, Gary & Emily Ayers, Melissa & Scott Michie, Ellie & Chad Schutrop.

• Sunday, July 29th: Randy Dokken, Doug Flugum, Candie Underland, Jennifer Huber, Dory Hunt, Jim Misgen, Brent Jepson, Lorrell Beaber, Todd Wangen.

• Monday, July 30th: Tregg Hagen, Sarah Underwood, Levi Horvei, Trevin Andrew Stollard, Scott Briggs, Amy Hohansee VanderSyde, Gary Sloan, Cindy Vaith, Larry Jensen, Kay Cassen, Shane Christensen, Cindy Esplan, Dani Layland, Kurt & Kelly Krumwiede, Nathan & Lindsey Schlaak, Jerry & Tanya Blouin.

• Tuesday, July 31st: Zane Andrew Miller, Michelle Eaker Stevens, Coni Misgen Evenson, Lorie Paulson, Joan Mast, Adena Berg, Brian & Pam Muri.

• Wednesday, August 1st: Wendy Schultz, Dale Mrotz, Karen Vaith, Stanley Jensen, Lonny Thostenson, Tad Cornelius, Karen Brockman, Rick Christensen, Larry & Carol Spear.

Hope you have a day filled with things that make you smile!

Here we are with the first day of the Freeborn County Fair breathing down our necks. One might also note how the hot weather has managed to maintain its hold on us the last few weeks. 

Looking back on my years as a youth, I have always remembered the summer days around fair time as being hot. I recall the times when Pat Smith, a childhood friend of mine, and I would go to the Fairgrounds a few days before the fair was scheduled to start.

As part of our annual ritual, we walked to the fairgrounds from my house, which really didn’t seem all that far to a kid growing up in the country. On one particular day, we had cut across Vern Torgeson’s hay field. From the looks of it, he had just been baled. 

There were frogs and grasshoppers almost everywhere we looked. The hot sun that was beating down on us didn’t seem to bother us kids.

We had no idea what air conditioning was like. Our version of this luxury was when we rolled the car windows down. 

When we experienced some of those hot summer nights, I slept on a sheet on the floor in the living room with all the windows open. Now that was air conditioning at its finest.

Sometimes, while driving on Bridge Avenue, my mind drifts to that field and the many times that we walked across it on the way to the fairgrounds. There were some summers when the water in the “crick” would slow to a trickle and be reduced to a small stream. 

As summer wore on, however, the hot weather would start to take its toll on the water quality. The fish and minnows that were abundant in the spring and early summer were scarce, being replaced for the most part by turtles and frogs. 

As the duck weed flourished, the excitement of sighting a northern or some other game fish was replaced by the sighting of a turtle popping its head up through that colorful green blanket.

There are other things to remember about summertime in the neighborhood, like the old pond that we used to frequent, mostly in the winter time. The pond was where that Sunshine Day School once was, which has since become somebody’s home. 

We went there to skate or play our version of “boot hockey.” Occasionally, the town kids would join us too. 

When my cousin Tom went into the Army he gave me his hockey stick and a puck. I guess I was the only one of our “gang” that had a store-bought stick. 

From time to time, we built a small bonfire on the outskirts of that old pond. I sometimes think we enjoyed that more than the games. We didn’t go there too often, but when we did, it was always a lot of fun.

Getting back to the fair days, I  must say that my favorite part of the fair was the stock car races. There was also harness racing, but I didn’t enjoy that as much as the stock car races. 

My Dad was the one that liked to watch the harness races. He spent hours there and would never leave the horse barns. 

He loved horses, loved to ride and probably liked to talk horses about as much as anyone. The stock car races eventually went away though. 

I’d venture to guess it was for a couple of different reasons. One; as more people started building around the fairgrounds, I’m sure that the noise probably got to be too much for the folks to tolerate. The other thing was the danger aspect. 

I can recall one of the last races on the half-mile oval where a car went off the bank and through the fence on the northeast turn and ended up on Richway Drive. I also remember the Midget Car race where a driver was seriously injured when he flipped his car and cart wheeled end over end on the backstretch.  

Eventually, harness racing also made its exit from the fair. It was once a popular event at the fair. There was even some local folks that owned race horses and stabled them at the fairgrounds year-round. 

There were a couple of years that my Dad kept his horses there too. I tagged along when he went to do the chores. 

It was hard to get him to leave when we were the only ones there, so if there was someone around to talk horses with, we’d be there way too long for me. I have to admit, I learned a lot about horses in those days whether I wanted to or not.

Yes, the anticipation of the fair was probably second only to Christmas. And, as that magic time grew closer, visions of candy apples and pineapple/strawberry swirl ice cream cones danced in my head. 

I counted my lawn mowing and paper route money many times over with plans of enjoying the fair to the fullest. One fateful year, I got sucked in by a carnie who first asked us to help him and then gave us free games to hook us. 

Soon enough, he managed to get most of my precious fair money from me on the first day. I can still remember laying at home in my bedroom listening to the fair going on in the distance and knowing that I had no money to go and enjoy it. 

We didn’t have a lot of extra money those days, so if I went to the fair, I had to use my own money. I guess that was a life lesson because to this day, I’m not big on games of chance or gambling in general.

For years, there was a drawing for a new car that was held on the last night of the fair. For the kids, there was a drawing for a pony on Kids Day. 

It’s kind of funny when I think about it because I always went to see who would win. But, secretly I hoped my ticket wouldn’t get drawn. I guess I just wasn’t destined to be another Roy, Gene or Hoppy.

The fair still has a certain smell to it. Walking through the livestock barns still smells like it did years ago. And of course, the food always smells good. 

I don’t venture out to the fair much anymore, except to watch the grandkids show their 4-H projects. When I do go, I rekindle some fond memories of my fair dwelling days as a youth.

Until next time, take a little time to relax and maybe even enjoy a night at the fair. Whatever you do, just enjoy the outdoors 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

“We missed you at church on Sunday.”

“Really?”

“When we count our blessings, missing you is one of them.”

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: anyone who says an onion is the only vegetable that can make you cry has never been hit in the face with a turnip.

I’ve learned

1. The easiest way to put my best foot forward is by keeping it out of my mouth.

2. That beds are more comfortable in the morning than at night.

3. The days of proper grammar is gone.

The news from Hartland

The local telephone book offers only one number--directory assistance.

Bonnie and Clod’s Grocery Store offers six checkout lanes — only one open during the busiest times.

Taxidermist, Noah Zark, starts a tax preparation service because, as Noah said, "Why not?"

My neighbor

My neighbor 7 1/8 (his mother picked his name out of a hat) and I watched a beanbag toss tournament. I suspect most people are familiar with the game. Players take turns throwing beanbags underhanded at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. Points are scored by tossing the bag into the hole or onto the platform.

We hadn’t watched long before 7 1/8 told me that his great-great grandfather had invented the game. His ancestors caught ground squirrels, held them by their tails, and attempted to toss the rodents into their burrows. You made your own entertainment in those days.

7 1/8, whose hobby is pushing doors that should be pulled, showed me a book he’d just finished. The book was supposed to help him quit smoking. He’s been able to quit on his own many times between cigarettes, but thought he’d ask a book for help. The book was on self-hypnotism. He hated the first few chapters, but ended up loving the book.

Put me in coach

I sat on bleachers hard enough to cut diamonds and watched a granddaughter pitch softball. She threw incredibly hard for one so small. I played softball. It was easier playing than watching. I didn’t have time to worry while I played. A softball game has become a nervous breakdown divided into innings.

A batter reached first on an error, but the pitcher remained calm and struck out the next three batters.

I remembered showing her a pillbug in a basement a few years ago. Pillbugs have seven pairs of legs, but aren’t insects. They’re kin to shrimp, lobsters, and crayfish. The grayish 3/8-inch long crustaceans are terrestrial isopods. Pillbugs live in moist environments and occasionally enter buildings. They don’t bite, sting, or transmit disease. They don’t infest food, clothing, or wood. The pillbug rolls into an armored ball like an armadillo when disturbed. It conglobulates, which means it gathers into a small round mass. This behavior earned it the name “roly-poly.” Sowbugs are similar but lack this capability.

I showed my granddaughter that pillbug rolled into a ball. She was as amazed by its existence as I continue to be.

As I watched her come to bat and rap out a single, I realized that while I love her as she is now, I couldn’t help but miss her as she was.

Those thrilling days of yesteryear

I listened to a GPS tell me where to turn. I recalled trying to find locations via directions scratched on the back of an envelope or by using a small map from a phone book. At least when I became lost in those days, I had an excuse.

School memories

It was back when 10 cents was a lot of money. My how dimes have changed. I was preparing to enter the seventh grade. I was about to rest my brain at a new school. I didn’t know what to expect, but there were plenty of others willing to inform or misinform me. An older boy told me that there was only one thing that I shouldn’t miss at my new school. I asked what that was. He answered, "The bus home."

Customer comments

Nancy Busse of Mankato remembers one winter when her mother (Lorraine Babcock of New Richland) flooded the backyard to make a skating rink for her children. Part of the flooded area had dead weeds standing in it. The weeds were tall enough to protrude above the frozen water. That was no problem for Nancy’s mom. She used a lawn mower to cut the tops off the weeds.

Meeting adjourned

Strive to be the nicest one in a disagreement. Be kind.

On July 13, a young lady had her golden birthday (13 on the 13th). We were lucky enough to be part of her birthday brunch held at the Kernel’s Restaurant in Owatonna. Happy Birthday and many more to come, great niece, Anna Marie Combs.

When Grandpa Joel introduced me to his granddaughter,  Savannah, he was beaming! Savannah flew from California to water ski on Beaver Lake for the second time in her young lifetime. Grandpa Joel even drove the boat!

DNR personnel put three live traps plus one gill net last week (two consecutive days) in Beaver Lake. The number of walleyes and their size was unbelievable for a lake so small. 

They also caught a number of good sized sunnies. By the time you read this, the results should be available online. It bothers me when a gill net is used, as there is no survival.

The three young redtail hawks have returned to their nest where they were born here at Beaver Lake. They remind me of grown-up youngsters that return to the nest. Many moms and dads know what I’m referring to.

Some of you have wondered if I’m the Bob Hansen on the Steele County Park and Recreation Board. No, I’m not. Same name, different person, different spelling.

Papa and Mama Canadian honkers hatched five babies that they are raising on Beaver Lake. The babies are now the same size and look just like the parents. When swimming, they line up one after the other.

I’m certain one parent is the leader, but where is the other parent in the line? Second, last or somewhere else. Genie says last. I say second. What do you think?

For some reason, it quit raining. Genie and I tried all the usual ways to make it rain. 

We washed both HHR vehicles – no rain. We watered the flowers – no rain. We washed the cabin windows – no rain. We left the car windows down – no rain. We hung up the wash outside – no rain. We prayed – no rain. ‘Twas then that we gave up.

As we left Hy-Vee in Albert Lea on a dark, cloudy, overcast, looks-like-rain evening, we spotted Farmer Craig Williams. He was with some of his Harley biker friends from Alden under a tree by the entrance to Hy-Vee. 

I asked Craig what they are doing. He replied, “We’re going to make it rain. We have no helmets, no rain gear, and our best riding clothes. That always makes it rain.” We drove away shaking our heads. No way.

Did they make it rain? Yes and no. Yes, it rained one-half inch in Albert Lea. No, it didn’t rain in Alden!

We attended the Hanson Family Reunion on Broad Street in Mankato. We met at the house where Great Grandpa “Hans” lived when Mankato was first mapped. 

Great Grandpa Hans was on the town council when the mayor announced it was time to name the streets. The mayor had a map with the streets beginning with Main Street. Each street to the side was 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and so on. 

Hans got very excited when he realized he would have to tell all his Norwegian friends that the street he lived on was “T’ird” Street. The mayor asked Hans if he had a better idea.

To which Hans replied, “Yes, name my street ‘Broad,’ just like my shoulders.”

Readers, now you know why there is no 3rd Street in Mankato and Broad Street can be found between 2nd and 4th Street.

— — —

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 caught the rains right and no one complained that an event was rained out. Apparently everyone knows what’s at stake. Will we turn the corner on the hot dry weather this week? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs of 85 and lows near 70. A modest chance of rain for Thursday under partly cloudy skies. Highs of 85 and lows of 65. Mostly sunny and cooler on Friday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs of 80 and lows around 65. Mostly clear becoming partly cloudy on Saturday with a modest chance of showers and a thunderstorm. Highs near 80 and lows around 65. Partly cloudy with a continued modest  chance for a shower or thunderstorm on Sunday with highs once again of 80 and lows near 65. Mostly sunny for Monday and slightly warmer with highs around 85 and lows near 65. Tuesday July 31st brings another slight chance for showers and thunderstorms under partly cloudy skies. Highs of 85 - 90 and lows of 65 – 70. On the 29th the sun will rise at 6 a.m. The normal high for July 31st is 82 and the normal low is 61. We will see 14 hours and 36 minutes of daylight, roughly the same as we see on May 10th. The scurs have no time to waste as they enjoy their time before the school bells start to ring once again.

Recent rains have been a godsend. Most have received anywhere from .7” to over 3” in places. The moderate temperatures due to overcast conditions haven’t hurt either. As a result, corn and soybeans continue to weather the heat better than anyone would’ve expected. The root systems on the corn plants appear to be deep and even during the hottest days the amount of leaf-rolling on the early planted corn has been minimal. Soybeans have moved ahead too into the R4 stage in most fields. Not a lot of pods set yet but as the saying goes, August is the bean month. If we can continue to receive some rains from now through the end of August, we still have the potential for a pretty amazing soybean crop. Soybean aphid detects have increased but are far below treatable levels so far. There has been a lot of talk about spider mite infestation in the soybeans. Oddly enough, there has been more talk about spider mites than there have been spider mites. These tiny arachnids tend to show under dry weather conditions and aren’t limited to soybeans. They like plants such as petunias, marigolds and prickly ash to name a few. The last major outbreak here was during the drought of ’88 and we have seen nothing remotely resembling those conditions yet. Rather than playing guessing games, for some good, unbiased info on spider mites in soybeans, check out this info written by a couple of friends of mine: www.soybeans.umn.edu/crop/insects/spider_mites.htm.

Until recently, lack of rain has meant watering the garden, something I don’t like to do. However, given the amount of time and effort that has gone into this thing so far, it’s a small price to pay to ensure we actually have something to harvest. Things really do look good though and the vine crops in particular really responded to the watering. Once they got some rain well, they’ve exploded and cover most of the garden where they’re allowed to run. The hum of bees in the morning pollinating the flowers when they’re open is something to behold. Onions are getting about ready to harvest, the tops starting to dry down already. The lettuce and remaining snap peas were tilled under to allow any moisture to accumulate for the winter radish crop as well as another planting of peas. Had our first cuke of the season and there are zucchini coming on line along with a string bean crop that’s just starting. The good eats for the next several months is something to look forward to.  

There seems to be one loyal hummingbird staying around the ranch. It appears to be a young one and has the feeder as well as all the potted flowers to itself. The young male cardinal has stayed around and has proven to be a feisty young lad. When the much larger grackles get in his space he becomes very agitated, letting them know his opinion of their presence. More power to him! Hopefully he chases them all away. The orioles seemed to ebb and flow more this past week although about the time you thought they might be slowing up, the feeders would be empty again. Male goldfinches are starting to lose their bright yellow color ever so slightly. The females are likely about to nest as they are showing up less frequently at the feeders. August is usually their month to nest.

Ruby has weathered the heat rather well. She is one lucky Border Collie, being able to stay in the air conditioning most of the day except during chores of course. Her favorite spot being behind the love seat where there is a vent blowing nice, cool air on her. Some days when we can’t find her, once called the thumping and bumping as she crawls out from behind the couch makes her location readily apparent. When coming home she greets us at the door with what can only be described as a bizarre combination howling/talking sound. The cool house still doesn’t stop Ruby from tearing out the door as soon as it’s opened to run the little indented dog paths she’s worn into the soil. The need to keep the sheep and the resident squirrel population in line is ingrained. One needs only to follow the yellow brick road to know her whereabouts.

See you next week…real good then.  

Remembering the life of Anne A. Casterton…

Funeral Services for Anne A. Casterton, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland, MN. Father Swami will officiate.

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Richland. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Anne died on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at ThorneCrest Retirement Community in Albert Lea. She was 92.

Gilbert "Zig" Ziegler, age 79 of Waseca died on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Born on October 10, 1932 in Owatonna, Minnesota he was the son of Phillip and Harriet (Kroeger) Ziegler.  He graduated from Janesville High School and studied accounting at Mankato State.  Gilbert served in the United States Air Force from 1950 until his discharge in 1954. He married Joann Michaelis on July 27, 1957 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New Richland.   He was employed with Birds Eye in Waseca from 1954 until 1960 when he began working for the U.S. Postal Service in Waseca. Gilbert retired from the USPS in 2002.  He enjoyed gardening, snowmobiling, coin collecting and going to the casinos.  He also enjoyed traveling especially his trips to Germany and Las Vegas.  He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca and the American Legion and VFW of Waseca.

The funeral service for Vernon I. Moe of Ellendale, Minnesota will be 10 a.m. Saturday July 21, 2012 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Richland, MN. The Reverend Scott Williams will officiate.  Interment will be in Medo Cemetery, Pemberton, MN.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland, MN and one hour before the service at the church.  Memorials are suggested to St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Richland or Medo Lutheran Church Pemberton, MN.

Vernon died Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Mayo Health Center Albert Lea. He was 92 years old.