Rosalinda Kelly, age 87, of New Richland and formerly of Waseca, passed away on Friday, November 6, 2015 at New Richland Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 1 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca with Father Gregory Leif officiating. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Waseca.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca. The rosary will be said at 4 p.m. and a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

It is hard to believe that something as simple as laughter can do more than pills to make people feel good. It is a researched fact that laughter is the language of the young at heart.

True laughter is a prescription available at any time. Laughter's benefits show on our face, in our body language, and in the spring to our step.

Did you know that one laugh burns six calories? Laughing is jogging for our insides and improves the muscle tone in our abdomen. It simulates our immune systems as well as increases our heart rate and circulation. Laughing heartily 100 times a day can have the same beneficial effects as spending 10 minutes on a rowing machine.

Laughter goes hand in hand with being creative, too. People with a keen sense of humor are more creative when it comes to problem solving than people who are somber individuals. People who come to work with a sense of humor are more productive and more profitable than those who are "straight laced" business men and women.

I used to have negative thoughts about Halloween, but I have changed my mind. It is a fun thing and good for everyone. I applaud Ellendale United Methodist Church for providing a place for "safe" trick or treating. I had fun on Saturday night just watching the efforts that were made to make this something warm (though the weather was cold on Halloween night).

The kids were happy. I think there was less concern about the treats and more about getting dressed up and enjoying the fun. It gave me pleasure to see proud parents taking their children, costumed beyond cute, around the church parking lot. It made you feel happy to see the little toddlers and big toddlers too, dressed up and enjoying the night.

It was no small effort on the part of the Trunk Or Treat participants, but they seemed to enjoy greeting the kids and coming up with fun ways to decorate the trunks of their vehicles. One family even decorated their fish house with Halloween decorations. Pictures will long keep memories alive of the wee dragons, super heroes, dressed-up princess, cowboys, lady bugs and pirates, to name a few.

And let’s not forget the plumped-up gals with air-filled costumes that made you laugh.

It bothers me that TV horror has replaced laughter and the likes of Red Skelton and “I Love Lucy.” These children in their costumes didn't demean anyone. Sex, murder and mayhem was not a prominent part of the dialogue. There was a dignified humor that left you feeling entertained and put a smile on your face.

People used to find a great number of fun things to do instead of watching the stupid television commercials and all the blood and guts programs that monopolize our televisions today. I wish they would go back to producing programs like “Andy Griffith,” “Little House On The Prairie” and the like.

I remember the stories told about people going "yuleboking" and dressing up for Halloween parties. They went on hayrides, camping trips, snowmobiling rides, took part in horseback rides and rodeo events; softball games, golf outings and motorcycle rides to name a few. The motorcycle rides and such don't just benefit the needy, they benefit the riders too. It gives them something to do that is fun and provides opportunities to get together with friends that bring more fun and laughter.

— — —

Birthdays and anniversaries : 

• Thursday, November 5th: Alyssa Hagen, Kerri d’Eustachip, David Wayne, Skyla Knudtson, Mavis Langlie, Chad Bratten, Allison Hanson

• Friday, November 6th: Brody Richards, Makota Grahm Misgen, Mary Ann Lund, Darlene Krohnberg, Dylan Paul Moen, Jon Beck, David Hagen, Doug Klemmensen, Lauren Jo Draayer, Chad Ayers, Toni Roberts, Taylor Roberts, Kellie & Ryan Benning

• Saturday, November 7th: Ella Dobberstein, Solveig Adelaine Mattson, her 4th birthday; Ava Leigh Wangsness, her 5th birthday; Alymra Seath, Jolee Johnson, Travis Diederrich, Linda Dobberstein, Scott Olson, Mark Sundwall

• Sunday, November 8th: Sydney Larson, Andrew Jensen, Brian Hughes, Burton Nelson

• Monday, November 9th: Phyllis Hagen, Tami Lund Wacek, Scott Coxworth, Jon Aronson, Kent Kruckenburg, Cindy Gould, Tim Westrum, Christopher Jepson

• Tuesday, November 10th: Elizabeth Benning (2011), Keith McDonald, Eric Anderson, Russell Reistad, Tomm Richards, Jennifer Zimprich, Jessica Kasper, Andrew Olson, Jessica (Johnson) & Dan Rebelein, Stan & Liz Reichl, Everett & Diane Jensen

• Wednesday, November 11th: Jason Tracy, Kate Laudon, Agnes Christensen, Ione Hagen, Dale Hunt, Paula Swearingen, Jennifer Jacobs, Dawn Diemer, Rachel Gould, Dave & Linda Brandt, Amanda Schimdt, Tory Lee Christensen

Make your special day be a day you'll never forget, filled with smiles, good cheer, and laughter!

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

With wind and 40-degree temperatures, NRHEG cross country coach Mike Weber could not help but wonder how his teams would respond in the Section 2A meet.

As Weber put it, “They showed up to run.”

The Panthers, who ran on the same course seven weeks earlier, showed marked improvement in the season-ending race at Montgomery Thursday, Oct. 29.

The boys totaled 593 points for 21st among 22 schools that scored. Two squads were incomplete. Glencoe-Silver Lake won with 103 points; Jordan was second at 126.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

NRHEG volleyball coach Onika Peterson called time out during the Panthers’ opening-round sub-section match against Waseca, and told her players to concentrate on only one thing: the next point.

“We talked to the girls,” said Peterson. “And told them that they have to play and fight for one point at a time.”

It must have worked, because the Panthers bounced back from a lackluster showing in game one and rallied for a 3-1 triumph at New Richland last Thursday. The Bluejays won the first game 25-19 but the Panthers reeled off wins of 25-21, 25-17 and 25-22 to take it.

A couple weeks ago I was able to spend time at our cabin with family and I have to say I enjoyed every moment of that. I have enjoyed spending quite a bit of time at the cabin this year starting this past spring and finishing up just a couple of weeks ago. Some of that time was “alone time” with just myself and the critters, which at times can be very enjoyable.

There were times when I almost felt that the phrase “getting away from it all” was coined just for me. I really enjoy spending time at the cabin fishing with friends, my wife, sons or grandkids, but there are those special times when being at the cabin with no agenda and no clock to watch can be great. You wake up in the morning and have no plan. Maybe you decide to go fishing or maybe you just sit on the deck looking out over the lake all the while watching the birds feeding busily at the feeders. I am actually more active when I am up there because I can always think of things that need to be done, but I can peck away at them at my own pace.

Fall and spring are extra special because the weather is usually plenty cool and the fire in the woodstove makes the cabin feel nice and cozy. There is nothing better than sitting in that cozy cabin with a nice fire burning in the woodstove. I read more when I am at the cabin by myself than I do at any other time. Ahhh…. there is nothing better than the peaceful tranquility of the north woods with only the sound of wind rustling through the pines, squirrels chattering busily in the trees above, an eagle soaring overhead or birds calling to each other. Then there are the sounds of the night like loons calling, raccoons chattering in the darkness and, somewhere in the forest, the sound of wolves howling can occasionally be heard. From the lake nearby you can hear the sound of bullfrogs or even hear a beaver slapping its tail on the moonlit waters. We have also seen grouse, deer, a black bear, and a badger and other critters that have yet to be identified. There are times when you visit the outhouse in the middle of the night you may hear what sounds like a large critter rustling through the trees nearby. All of this combines to make the whole experience pretty special and if you throw in just a little bit of the unknown, it’s actually pretty exciting.

After our last visit to the cabin I returned home to face reality. We must have more dogs in our neighborhood than most. It seems like when one quits barking another one chimes in to take its place. One of my first nights back home from the cabin, a nearby neighbor put his dog out in the yard and headed to his night job. It is a large dog that starts barking as soon as its front paw hits the yard and doesn’t stop until it gets let back inside. It barked nonstop until almost 3 a.m. when a police officer arrived to check it out after receiving a call from someone other than me. Finally I was able to get a couple of hours of sleep before I had to get up for the day. The following weekend someone around the corner from us was having a big party, which I usually wouldn’t have a problem with, but to still be yelling and hooting and hollering at 3 in the morning is a little much. This is about the time I really started to long for those peaceful tranquil nights I enjoy at the cabin.

Mille Lacs ice anglers allowed to keep 1 walleye, 5 northern

Anglers may keep one walleye between 18 and 20 inches or one longer than 28 inches when ice fishing begins on Mille Lacs Lake this winter. 

The winter walleye regulation goes into effect on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and extends through Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources decision reflects the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee’s desire to keep winter fishing open all season.

“The clear consensus among committee members was to implement a conservative regulation allowing fishing to continue throughout the winter without the risk of closure,” said Don Pereira, DNR fisheries chief. “We believe this regulation meets that criteria.”

If winter walleye harvest approaches the established cap, catch-and-release will be implemented so angling can continue. The DNR made the decision after considering three regulation options it presented for committee discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Garrison. Discussion among committee members provided the DNR with good input and positive direction, reinforcing the DNR’s belief that the regulation protecting small walleye was the wisest choice.

“The committee stressed members’ support for a conservative management strategy that helps ensure the future health of the lake,” Pereira said. “The DNR fully supports that approach.”

Consistent with the committee’s discussion, the DNR also will reduce the limit of northern pike on Mille Lacs from 10 to five, with one fish longer than 30 inches allowed. Anglers may only keep a northern longer than 30 inches if they have caught two pike shorter than 30 inches and have both in immediate possession.

The pike regulation goes into effect on Dec. 1 and continues through Sunday, March 27, 2016. Its intent is to provide anglers with additional opportunity to catch and keep fish on Mille Lacs.

Until next time, fall is a great time to be outside just enjoying the whole outdoors experience. Spending time enjoying what nature has to offer can be a very 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

Why aren’t you at work?

I may not be at work, but I’m thinking about work. I don’t know the meaning of the word "quit."

So why aren’t you at work?

I got fired.

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: When a speaker says he doesn't need a microphone, he needs to use a microphone. "Deja you" is when you forget someone’s name again.

From those thrilling days of yesteryear

I was in the backseat, going for a Sunday drive with my parents. I had reached the age where I wasn't meant to play the part of a Sunday rider. Dad was driving the old Pontiac and he waved at another driver. He waved at everyone he met on gravel roads.

"Who was that?" my mother asked.

"I don't know."

"Well, you waved at him," my mother said.

"I wave at everyone."

"Was it the new preacher?" she asked.

"I don't think it was the new preacher. That was a new car. They don’t get paid that much."

Dad waved again. There was no other car on the road.

"Now who are you waving at?" Mom wondered aloud.

"I’m just practicing."

Sneezing thrice

The cat moved quickly as if she didn't want to hold up traffic. She catches mice, but is strictly catch-and-release. I’m not allergic to cats.

I sneezed in North Carolina. It’s not illegal and I’m not allergic to the state. I sneezed three times. That’s my regular sneeze number. I expected to hear "Bless you," "Gesundheit," or "Did anybody get hurt?" What I heard was, "Scat cat, your tail is in the gravy."

The Chihuahua chronicles

He was my constant companion. His name was Sancho. That Chihuahua accompanied me on work and birding trips for many years. Have you ever walked into a room and were unable to remember why you were there? Sancho lived his life that way, but he was happy being who he was and was a true friend. When I was rushed and used the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant to pick up a cup of tea, Sancho stared at the clerk at the drive-up window, adopting his cutest look. Invariably, the worker commented on how precious my little dog was and wondered if it’d be OK to give him a bit of hamburger. That was Sancho’s plan. Sancho had learned to beg without really begging. He was good at it. Other than rolling on dead carp, eating in my pickup was Sancho’s favorite thing.

Bitten by a rat. Rats!

I ate at a restaurant in Mankato offering asparagus fries. Two days earlier, I had been in a Newark, Ohio, eatery that had carrot-bacon soup on its menu. It sounded like something an aunt of mine had concocted. Whatever the kitchen provided, she threw together into the oddest of edible combinations. I met a fellow in Ohio who told me that, for years, he’d been the guy that the woodchuck whispered its winter forecast to on Groundhog’s Day. He quit when a groundhog bit him.

That reminded me of a friend who works in a pet store in North Carolina. A mother and her young child came into the store, wanting a safe and furry pet. He recommended a rat. He found them easy going and interesting. He took one out of a cage while stressing its sweet disposition. He’d nearly completed his puffery when the rat bit him on that flap of skin between the thumb and forefinger. Without thinking, he flung the rat, bouncing it off a hamster cage. The second the rat hit the floor, it made tracks. My friend, not wanting to lose inventory, dove to the floor and captured the unhappy rodent. He looked up to see a wide-eyed mother and her frightened son. They didn't buy a rat or anything else.

Nature notes

"Why don’t birds have ears like us?" Because they’re concerned about their looks. Just picture a robin with big floppy ears like ours. It’s not a pretty image. That robin wouldn’t dare show up for early worms. Birds have ear holes with feathers covering them. This cuts down on earring wear and wind noise. The feathers deaden the howl of the wind, helping birds to hear important sounds. The lack of external ears also aids aerodynamics. The sleeker the body, the less wind resistance.

Meeting adjourned

Be kind for no reason.

It is a privilege to serve as your new superintendent. I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet many people throughout the school district and community since my start in July. Thank you for the kind and warm welcome.

Another change of seasons is upon us as we move through fall in preparation for the winter months that are not far away. The school district student activity calendar is in full swing with plenty of excitement, competition, and entertainment to enjoy. I hope you have the opportunity to observe our students in action throughout the school year.

Each day I have the good fortune of seeing the collective efforts being made by many school district employees, parents, and community volunteers to provide our students with wonderful learning opportunities. The success our students experience would not happen without your support. Your engagement in the life of the school district is essential in helping us fulfill our mission each day in providing students with knowledge, skills, and attitudes which enable them to succeed in a globally competitive society.

Your involvement in providing input and feedback on how the school district is performing is also important to our overall success as a school district and to our commitment to continuous improvement.  The school district is in the process of examining our strategic plan and determining opportunities for improvement. As part of our overall improvement plan focused on supporting and improving teaching and learning, public school boards in Minnesota are required to adopt the World’s Best Workforce (WBWF) plan that is intended to be locally owned and developed with community involvement. The plan includes clearly defined goals in five WBWF areas:

• All students meet school readiness goals

• All third-grade students achieve grade-level literacy

• Close the academic achievement gap among all groups

• All students graduate from high school

• All students attain college and career preparedness

School districts are to seek public review and input annually on progress being made within the five areas. The NRHEG School Board will be holding a public hearing as part of the November 16, 2015, regular School Board meeting to be held at NRHEG Elementary School in Ellendale, in order to provide the community with feedback on the school district’s 2014-15 World’s Best Workforce (WBWF) Plan) summary. Administration will first present a brief summary of the plan followed by a time for public input.

Residents are encouraged to review a draft of the WBWF plan summary prior to attending the November 16 School Board meeting. The summary can be found on the school district’s Web site at www.nrheg.k12.mn.us.

The WBWF plan includes:

• Goals and benchmarks for student achievement

• Process for evaluating student progress toward meeting academic standards

• System to review and evaluate effectiveness of instruction and curriculum

• Strategies to improve instruction, curriculum and student achievement

• Practices that integrate high-quality instruction, rigorous curriculum, technology and collaborative professional culture that supports teacher quality, performance and effectiveness

• Annual budget for continuing to implement the plan

As previously mentioned, the November School Board meeting will be held at NRHEG Elementary School in Ellendale.  The regular meeting of the NRHEG School Board is held on the third Monday of each month. The meeting is rotated between the Elementary School in Ellendale and the Secondary School in New Richland. The December meeting will be held in New Richland and the January meeting will be held in Ellendale.

Thank you for your continued support and for the difference you make in the lives of our students.

The recent warmth has the scurs wondering if the Weather Eye will continue to spew forth heat or suddenly get back to more normal conditions for November. Only time will tell. Starting Wednesday, aside from some possible morning drizzle, mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the mid 50’s. Thursday, mostly cloudy with a good chance of showers. Highs in the low 60’s and lows in the upper 30’s. Sunny Friday with highs in the upper 40’s and lows in the low 30’s. Saturday, mostly sunny with highs in the mid 40’s and lows in the low 30’s. Sunny on Sunday with highs in the low 50’s and lows in the upper 30’s. Monday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 50’s and lows in the upper 30’s. Partly sunny for Tuesday with highs in the low 50’s and lows in the low 30’s. The sun sets before 5 p.m. on the 5th and we slide below 10 hours of daylight on November 7th for the first time since February 3rd. The normal high for November 7th is 47 and the normal low is 29. The scurs will be rationing their leftover Halloween candy, hoping it will tide them over until Turkey Day.

Anhydrous ammonia and tillage operations were underway in many areas this past week. The telltale signs of anhydrous ammonia applicators were present in many area fields upon my return from a short trip. There certainly is no hurry however if the warm temperatures are any indication. The closer one can make the applications to freeze up of course it makes the likelihood of loss much lower. Soil conditions are probably about as good as I can ever recall them being for fall ammonia so it appears to be sealing up very well. Rainfall in the month of October turned out to be moderate after a very dry first three weeks, garnering 1.08” at the ranch and just about 1.05” in the gauge at the Mall for Men. 

Yet one last trip to Canada to help my little fat buddy Billy of the North to help winterize his cabin before winter sets in. Before leaving everyone always assumes we’re going fishing and while we always have that option, just getting away from the hustle and bustle a few days is more than adequate for me. The flora and fauna keep matters interesting. Trying to think about how the pieces fit together make it an endless puzzle to ponder as we keep in mind that it really doesn’t matter; it’s there to keep us guessing. On the way north from Bemidji, flocks of snow buntings were common as we headed to Frostbite Falls. A harbinger of things to come I fear. The morning after we arrived at camp, the chickadees were on hand to greet us. They appeared to be searching for some small insects on the branch tips of the pine and white cedar. It made me wonder if on some future visit what they might do with some of the sunflower seeds prized by the local chickadee population at home. Some redpolls and siskins could also be heard although not seen, a behavior many of us grew up with.

Leaves were down with the exception of some red and pin oaks along the way. Some tamaracks were still clinging stubbornly to their needles in places even well into Canada. Their yellow tinge blended into the dark green evergreens remained against the gray backdrop; signs of hope that the landscape would once again come to life when the seasons change.

The weather was gray as well. From Thursday through Monday morning we saw the sun for about 10 minutes. Temperatures were freezing when we arrived, making the front porch slick. Visions of doing a one-and-a-half somersault in the middle of the night while making a nature call danced in my head. Luckily it did warm up slightly so the frosty porch was no longer an issue. However temperatures didn’t get much above 40 for the duration of our stay. Still not bad considering what it’s capable of. At least we didn’t have to get out the heavy artillery, namely the long johns and thick wool socks. Come about January, we’d take some of those temperatures even in our latitude. 

We were also on a diplomatic mission. Some compensation for services rendered needed to be made. We went to Atikokan bearing gifts for some nice folks who drained Bill’s cabin water previously when the weather managed to dip below freezing. Unlike greater Bugtussle, water lines are unable to be buried six or more feet deep. There simply isn’t six feet or more of soil to bury them in in most places. Later we went to another neighbor on the lake for socializing and to drop off some food items that wouldn’t make it through customs for the journey south. It’s fascinating to me anyway to visit with these hardy souls and learn more about how they think and live for that matter. Canadians are wonderful neighbors. We could definitely do much worse. I feel a kindred spirit with them living as close to Canada as I once did. The land can be cold and forbidding at times while the people typically remain genuine and as warm as a July afternoon.

Once back home again the dogs were excited to see me, especially Fudgie. I laughed as her mannerisms seemed to belie that 13-year-old body, acting like a Border Collie half her age. Ruby of course definitely behaves like a two-year-old all the time and is shedding hair massively to boot. Actually both dogs are. One look at my sweatshirt after some doggie affection and it definitely meant another bomb session with the brush soon. That in addition to countless other chores needing to get done before the snow flies. No rest for the wicked.

See you next week…real good then.

This past week, two stories appeared the same day. They seemed unrelated, but led my mind on a strange path regarding some thoughts about parenting.

The first story came out of China, where the government will now permit couples to have two children instead of the limit of one previously mandated. This brought much rejoicing throughout the land as parents immediately started thinking about expanding their families.

The other story evolved from right here in Minnesota, the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping case. As I type this, the police have a “person of interest,” lending hope to the idea that the final fate of Wetterling will at last be revealed, bringing closure to a case that gripped us here for so long. You could sense an immediate shift in how parents watched over their children when that happened. “Stranger danger” was on everyone’s minds more than ever.

What do these two stories have to do with each other? Bear with me here, and I’ll see if I can untangle the devious plot threads I’ve laid out.

I’ve used this space in the past to rant a bit regarding some so-called parenting tactics I’ve witnessed, especially as a teacher. I’ve long semi-joked that folks should have to pass a test before being allowed to conceive. Unfortunately, to procreate doesn’t take any real background knowledge or prerequisite; most people figure out how to pass the test that leads to children.

None of us are really ready when we have children, are we? The most petrifying moment is arriving at home and realizing the nurses didn’t follow you back from the hospital. It doesn’t matter how much you read ahead of time or even if it’s not your first child, it’s still scary.

Raising children is hard work. The amount of effort we need to put in to help shape our children is immense. I couldn’t believe when Jayna entered kindergarten and her teacher told me that more kids than one might think arrive there unable to count to ten. Little kids are such sponges that simple repetition with nursery rhymes and Sesame Street books will get you there in no time. But that’s just it: it does take time.

Reading to young children is so essential to brain development and a child’s future ability that it’s a crime when that potential is hindered. My gosh, we have public libraries everywhere that will loan you books for free, if you just take the time to visit. And once you do, you and your kids will be hooked, if you start at a very young age!

China was certainly trying to reverse an overpopulation problem they had with their old rule. But maybe they also thought that if parents only had one child to focus on, they could spend enough time with the child to turn out a productive member of society. However, there are so many people that are certainly competent enough to do that with more than one that it should prove beneficial to allow more children.

Becky Lassahn, who has provided daycare for our kids from the time they were born, always tells me she wishes Michelle and I would have had more kids. I told her once that a part of being a good parent is knowing when you have enough children to be able to give the attention that is needed. Two seemed like a good number for us. For some families, more than two works, but I sometimes see people who I wonder how they can take care of one, much less the multitude they’ve produced. There are too many kids who come to school without having received much attention and largely have to fend for themselves.

I often think I give my kids more than I should. They have too much latitude and are, at times, spoiled rotten. I should make them work more around the house, I should limit their screen time more, and I should stop keeping so much ice cream in the house. I should say no more often. I don’t try to be friends with my kids, by any means. But there’s that part of every parent that wants their children to live an easier life than they had, and that’s where I (too) often fall.

Another part of that which led so quickly from the Wetterling abduction years ago is safety. We all want our kids to stay safe and often sit at home, fearing what’s happening when our kids are out and about, only breathing clearly again once they arrive home. We protect to a point where we might overprotect. Sometimes we shelter our kids too much instead of letting them experience failure occasionally.

It’s good to smother our kids sometimes and let them know how loved they are. But we also have to stop doing so much for them and start teaching them some basics other than how wonderful they are. I actually had to spend part of my budget this year on stanchions to place by my desk to help herd kids into line if they need some help. A basic skill like waiting your turn eludes over half my student population. Why is that? Why do I have to teach that to 13 and 14 year olds?

We’ll never limit how many kids you can have in America, and we shouldn’t. But we all need to do a better job of preparing the next generation, as we create them, to take on the giant task of, some day, becoming parents themselves.

Word of the Week: This week’s word is hogen-mogen, which means powerful or grand, as in, “The hogen-mogen adult soon realized the great responsibility of being a parent.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!