In lieu of some of the recent fires we have had in our area lately, some things have come to mind.

Angels wear helmets and yellow coats and volunteer their time and risk their lives to help others. I can never say enough about the value of the firemen and first responders in our communities.

Firemen and first responders are quick on the scene and do what they can to help people in need. They spend hours going to meetings and training sessions to keep up to date on the latest fire fighting equipment and technics, as well as emergency medical knowledge, and it shows.

As citizens we can help them by keeping our homes as safe as possible so that fires will not easily start. Fires travel fast and it doesn't take long before they can completely destroy a home or business, and can even take people’s lives along the way.

It is very important for people to install smoke alarms in their homes in several different areas. We also need to remember to check the smoke alarms often to make sure that the batteries still have a charge so that they can warn you and your families that a fire has started in your home or business.

And if a fire were to occur I hope that you and your family have discussed what needs to be done so that you can safely exit your home, as well as have established a meeting place, so that you will know if everyone has been able to get out of your home.

Let’s remember to thank this great group of people. I am glad they are willing to help in times of need.

In regards to some of the new inventions that have been developed, people have discovered some great ways to put them to good use.

One of them is to take your car keys to bed with you. Yes, your car keys.

This tip was pointed out to me by a neighborhood watch coordinator and I thought it should be passed along.

The next time you come home for the night and you prepare to lay your car keys on the counter, take them to your bedroom and lay them on your bedside table so they are there when you retire for the night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button on the key set from your car. The alarm will sound and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

Your car keys, which you already have, can serve as a security alarm system — and it requires no installation.

Do a test. Most alarms on the keys that operate our vehicles now will go off from most everywhere inside your home and the alarm will keep sounding until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key chain. It will work if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house or car, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds of hearing the alarm, your neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want people to see them.

Also remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there too. It could save a life or stop a sexual abuse crime.

It could also be used for emergencies too, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. People can use the alarm system on their key chain to alert people if they have fallen outside, or inside too, which will alert people there is a problem.

I am sure glad that someone pointed out this great idea to me about putting our car keys to good use in case of an emergency, and I hope you pass them along to your family and friends. You never know when it may be something that could help save you from harm.

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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. Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share 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.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, March 19th: Samuel Bartness, his 3rd; Laverne Klocek, Jill Rye, Jill Neitzell, Tyler Crabtree, Bethany Butler, Tori Lynn Sage, Wyatt Marcus Westergrin

• Friday, March 20th: Jayda Moon, Tricia Renae Hanson, Nicole Christensen, Neva Lembke, Gary Reichl, Jim Butler, Tammy Harpel Nielsen, Winfred Bergdale, Shelly Hoeve, Billy Jo Johnson Schwierjohann, Dennis Olson

• Saturday, March 21st: Amy Foster, John Krell, Doris Krause, Trent Steven Pence, Kelly Marie Dobberstein, Phillip Ingvaldson, Pam Farr, Kent Paulson, Diane Marlin, Kelly Nelson, Brody Grunwald, Darrell & Cindy Farr

• Sunday, March 22nd: National Goof Off Day! Gordy Carroll, Brenna Lynn Hagen, Shannon Johnson, Karin Lieberg, Bob Sommers, Leah Elaine Bergerson, Jerry Peterson, Nancy & Jerry Walterman, Dennis & Glenda Blouin

• Monday, March 23rd: Chris Newgard, Penny Obermoller, Alan Edwardson, Troy Johnson, Troy Wagner, Jason Dwight, Alexi Jo Kitzer, Alex Dobberstein, Delaney Sue Vander Syde, Alexander James Thompson, Peter Bergerson, Chris Rutheford, Phyllis Anderson, Rick & Liz Wangsness

• Tuesday, March 24th: Gail Ottesen, Seth Chad Staloch, Dave Meixner, Kurt Hanson, Laurie Phagan, Wes & Ruth Neidermeier, Angie & Cory Klemmensen, Tony & Sandra Tonsing, Lonna & Dean Broitzman

• Wednesday, March 25th: Melissa & Brandon Van Hal, their first, Brad Hagen, Michelle Ritz, Pam Anderson, Faith Jensen, Tom Marlin, Trevor Loverink, Bernice Farr Mattson

• Thursday, March 26th: Amber Luella Theobald, Nikita Zelpha Peterson, Mary Lou Faldat, Jackie Draayer, David Hanson, Ray Coxworth, Lonnie Misgen, Ginger Cornelius, Dillon Hanson, Daryl Jensen, Duane Morreim, Amy Dobberstein, Marge Wobschall, Mary Lou Spurr, Gerrit & Jean Molenaar, Jeff & Robin Christensen, Jennifer & Matthew Dinneen

• Friday, March 27th: Kim Weckwerth Farr, Jim Ottesen, Verona Winegar, Tom Lund, Tina Jensen Wangen, Jodi Loverink, Neil Born, Ralph Randall, Todd & Sheri Utpadel, Wes & Julie Schroenrock

• Saturday, March 28th: Jordan Brye Wagner, Katie Ann Lee, her 10th; Daryl Van Ravenhorst, Alan Olson, Paul Marlin, Josh Stevens, Daniel Suelter.

It is your special day...get carried away. Enjoy the day!

The weather we have been experiencing lately is a welcome reminder that the first day of spring is looming on the horizon. As true Minnesotans, we are allowed to be a little suspicious as if we were, like the old saying goes, waiting for the other shoe to drop. No matter what weather lies ahead, the important thing is that we savor the moment and enjoy it to the fullest.

Once we emerged from the doldrums of winter everyone seemed to have that little extra spring in their step. Folks are outside doing what they can in their yards as the sun slowly melts the snow and starts drying up the ground. People are once again able to enjoy walking in the outdoors and are already taking advantage of the nice trails that we have in our city by the lakes. Yes, spring, sunshine and warmer weather need to be credited with bringing a smile to almost everyone’s face.

This is the time of year that we need to be extra cautious and make sure we exercise caution when around our lakes and streams. Warmer weather brings runoff and although the ice may look safe at first glance, it may be eroding from beneath due to currents. This is what makes venturing out onto the ice at this time of year extremely dangerous. We need to warn our children about the ice and not only urge them to stay off but make sure that they do.

As a kid I took my chances when venturing out onto thin or shaky ice, but I fared better than some because I had only a boot full of water, a wet pant leg and sometimes a sore bottom to show for it. I was warned by my mother many times to stay off the ice on the slough in the spring, but what did she know anyway? There were many times when I proved her right and even that long cold walk home wasn’t as bad as facing my folks when I got there. The conversation always included one or two “I told you so reminders.” This was sometimes followed by my having to retrieve the yardstick and listening to mom tell me about her youth and having to fetch a willow branch from that big old willow on the farm. This was called picking your own punishment and there was definitely a lesson to be learned in that method. In today’s world parents would be punished for disciplining their children in that mannerbut back then it was just the way things were handled. Having respect for your parents and your elders was expected from the youth of those days and although at a certain age (can you say teenager) you might have thought that your parents didn’t know what they were talking about, you certainly didn’t tell them so. As I grew older and entered the service I began to appreciate the life lessons that mom and dad had taught me.

With the first day of spring just around the corner I need to work the rust out of my casting arm and check the line on my reels. If this nice weather has you antsy to wet a line in open water the stream trout season in Southeastern Minnesota is open for catch and release only until Aril 17. Another fix for open water fishing is heading to the “Mighty Mississippi” for some walleye fishing. With this warmup the backwaters should be ready to produce.

Surplus spring turkey hunt licenses go on sale

If you applied for a spring wild turkey license and didn’t get drawn you are eligible to purchase a surplus license on a first-come-first-serve basis beginning on Monday, March 16 at 5 p.m. A total of 2,789 surplus licenses will be available.

People who did not participate in the lottery may purchase any remaining surplus licenses starting at noon on March 18 when all remaining licenses will be made available to anyone. Unlimited over-the-counter licenses for time period D-H also go on sale at this time.

Surplus licenses will be available at any statewide Electronic License System agent or online. You will also find a list of hunting dates, permit areas and the number of surplus permits available in each area online.

I heard part of a news story on the radio that someone introduced a bill to legalize silencers for guns. Really...? I am all for protecting our second Amendment rights and our right to bear arms but I find it hard to believe that a silencer has any meaningful purpose to the average sportsman. Obviously there are legislators that have nothing better to do for their district so they have come up with this. There have to be more important issues like education and our infrastructure that should be focused on. This reminds me of that guy, we all know one, who talks just to hear himself talk.

Until next time, get out and take a walk in the fresh spring air and also take a little time to enjoy the outdoors and remember; spring is just around the corner.

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

Echoes from the Loafers Club Meeting

I don't know the meaning of the word "quit."

Got fired again, huh?

Yup.

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: Whenever I say, "I think I've forgotten something," I am right.

The cafe chronicles

There was a plethora of playful ribbing at the table of infinite knowledge. Some might refer to it as bovine excrement. No one was hesitant about expressing an opinion on matters of which they knew nothing. One thing that could not be denied is that we were the loneliest group of lighthouse keepers in Southern Minnesota.

Old Man McGinty, the youngest Old Man McGinty ever, told me that he was working the second shift. By that, he meant that his wife had been married before and considered McGinty a rescue. He added that he was 90. "What I wouldn’t give to be 89 again," he said. He added he’d just had a brain operation and he had half a mind to sue the surgeon.

Weasel said that his father, who is retired and sets his alarm clock by the week, had gotten a speeding ticket while trying to get to his destination before he forgot where he was going.

My contribution was the story of how I had recently attended a friend’s funeral. He had been a ventriloquist — and a very good one. He was so good that his dummy gave the eulogy.

The waitress pointed at the menu on the wall and told us we couldn't have the special until we told her what made her special. She put up with us. That made her special.

I was a pelican in the Pelican State

I landed at the airport in Lafayette, Louisiana. Technically, the airplane landed, but I was shoehorned into one of its seats. I’d spent most of the flight searching for change under my seat cushion that could be used as a flotation device in the unlikely event of a water landing. Douglas Adams wrote, "There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

I was in Louisiana for a job. A banner at the airport proclaimed Lafayette to be the happiest city in the country. That was based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that were adjusted for certain socioeconomic factors. The top five happiest cities were all from Louisiana. Rochester, Minnesota was sixth. New York City was the unhappiest.

I dragged my battered bag, filled with miles, to the car rental counter. While I waited, a fellow asked me where I was from. I told him. I asked where he called home. He answered that he was from Lafayette. I asked if everyone there was happy.

"Everyone but me," he said.

I asked no more questions.

Measure you later, alligator

I was working in Morgan City, the shrimp and petroleum capital of the world. It’s an area of Southern Louisiana where a TV show called "Swamp People" is filmed for the History Channel.

I traveled a short distance by car to Terrebonne Parish (a parish is similar to a county) where I entered the watery world of the Atchafalaya Basin, floating on a bayou — the sluggish, swampy tributary of a river. I was in a small boat, but not a pirogue, which was originally carved from a hollow log and usually poled. The boat’s owner played a homemade accordion and guitar while singing Creole songs. He’d been in KIA TV commercials. He told me that the number of inches from an alligator's nose to its eyes equaled the number of feet long that the gator was. My policy has always been to not measure alligators. I adhere to that good policy.

In gratitude

Thanks to all involved in the Groove for Food held at Trinity Lutheran in New Richland on behalf of the New Richland Area Food Shelf. The talent was amazing--Josh Gegel, the Rice sisters, Sam Boerboom, Gratia Johnson, Jessica and Terry Nafe, Joel and Ben Groskreutz, and Just Friends. Thanks to those in attendance and all who donated auction items.

Nature notes

"I saw a opossum in my yard. Are they supposed to be here?" The Virginia opossum has been in Southern Minnesota for about 100 years, but its expansion into the state’s metro and central areas is more recent. Why did the chicken cross the road? To show the opossum that it could be done.

Meeting adjourned

"Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime!" - Lawrence G. Lovasik

1. Always treat others how you want them to treat you.

2. Trust has to be earned.

3. One real friend is better than 1,000 fake ones.

4. Hard work really does pay off.

5. Think positive, always.

6. Hold onto your childhood as long as you can.

7. Live your own life; time goes by faster every year.

8. Don’t worry yourself over things you cannot change.

9. Don’t write someone off based solely on their immediate appearance.

10. Money isn’t as important as everyone makes it.

11. Don’t underestimate the value of long drives combined with loud music.

12. If you expect too much, you’ll have too many disappointments.

13. Everything, and yes, I mean everything, happens for a reason.

14. Never sell yourself short; you’re stronger than you know.

15. Things have a funny way of working out for the best.

16. What you think of yourself is far more important than what others think of you.

17. Always be open to constructive criticism.

18. Actions speak louder than words.

19. Never forget to be grateful for what you have.

20. Some people never change, but that’s okay.

21. Don’t hold grudges; it makes one bitter.

22. Be as open-minded and acceptable as possible.

23. Music, sunsets, and sunrises are three of the absolute best things in life.

24. If you’re not willing to work for it, you don’t deserve it.

25. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people will disappoint you; that’s just a fact of life.

26. Finding the people worth the work – that’s life’s real challenge.

27. If you truly, whole-heartedly believe in something, never give up on it.

28. Caffeine is like magic; and coffee, which happens to have a lot of caffeine.

29. I grew up watching the Internet grow from almost non-existent (or very rare), to snail-speed dial-up that would block the phone line, to what it is now, and it even amazes me what technology has become capable of.

30. Don’t try to understand the generation gap – it’s more like a generation ocean.

31. Purses are genius, infuriating black holes that most women couldn’t live without.

32. Teenagers are crazy; thankfully, most of them grow out of it.

33. Live and let live.

34. It’s okay to have opinions; it’s not okay to force those opinions on others who do not share them.

35. Respect every single person’s right to his or her own views regardless of what they are.

It’s nice to be able to get back on track with my column, although I usually wouldn’t write one in the form of a list – some things just need to be said. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately; I actually made this list a while ago, and just got around to typing it up for the paper. These are general guidelines I live by, and I figured they were worth sharing, in the hopes that they might help or inspire you. They took a long time to perfect, and I hope you take them to heart; they came straight from mine.

Again, a huge thanks to anyone reading this – your time means more to me than you’ll ever know.

Until next week, readers; wishing everyone health and happiness during this beautiful season.

If you look on line, you will find the “kindergarten time capsule” videotaped by teachers Becky Jensen and Shelly Mangskau in the school year 2002-2003. (Search Youtube for NRHEG Class of 2015.) The adorable youngsters to be seen there are this year’s graduating class. It is positively astounding to see those young children and compare them to the accomplished young adults they have become.  Among them are members of our state championship girls’ basketball team, performers in our one-act play, students who continuously strive to earn strong grades, members of our trap shooting team, and  trusted employees at businesses of every type all around our area.

The charming kindergarteners in that video, and in those from previous years which have also been posted online, are living demonstrations of the limitless potential our children represent.

For me, as a steward of public education for our district, they are also a statement of the challenges we face. Most of you reading this can recall all the celebration and excitement in 1999 leading up to the new millennium. Remember the anticipation, and the sense of privilege for being in the right place in history to experience not only a change in century, but from the one-thousands to the two-thousands...the concern that computers would crash because they wouldn’t know how to handle the change? It doesn’t seem that long ago, does it? Many of us still have specially printed dishes in our cupboards that commemorate the event.

But guess what? Most of the students in our school buildings are younger than those dishes, and they are very much children of the new millennium.

The opportunities and challenges of the future have always been similar to the horizon, persistently moving and shifting ahead of us. But for members of the current generation, it seems boundaries are expanding more quickly than ever. They live in an increasingly global society, where the advances of technology allow information to spread worldwide nearly instantly; where the pool of applicants for any job might come from anywhere on the planet; where change is the only constant. 

This gives our schools the task of nurturing flexible, observant, capable individuals who can easily recognize their personal strengths and capitalize on them. Equally importantly, it requires us to help them build a sense of balance that will steady them in the myriad of possibilities.

As I mentally review the wide range of interests and abilities which have already manifested among our students and alumni, I am astounded. Actors, musicians, a young man who has won awards for his ability as a mechanic, highly regarded athletes, educators, and business people; the list couldn’t be more varied if our communities were 10 times their size. I can’t help thinking that we need to do even more to help assure that current and future students have the opportunity to keep reaching for their dreams.

Most of you are aware, of course, that the school district is planning to ask for funding to expand our facilities. Additional classrooms in Ellendale would allow for more flexible instruction, especially for the opportunity to provide enhanced learning for those students who show strengths in particular subject areas. Expanded and enhanced facilities in the New Richland building would provide growing room for many of our endeavors, including hands-on courses like woods and mechanics; for our athletic programs; and for performances by students in our music and drama offerings.

From my perspective, these improvements are not simply “helpful,” they’re necessary. Time is flying; the next thing we know, we’ll be watching the kindergarten time capsule for the class of 2028. I want them to remember coming of age with a range of opportunities and offerings that allowed them to fulfill their potential…which, based on the people who have come before them, is invaluable.

My biggest thought as I look at our district and its accomplishments is that we have to keep chasing the horizon; we have to determine what helps our students most, and do more of it. Our programs and offerings must remain flexible and forward-looking, for the sake of helping our students find themselves and continue building their futures. I have been working with members of our community who want to find programs and systems which incorporate student learning with real-life experience. Teachers have come to me with plans for new classes and extra-curricular activities to broaden our students’ opportunities. These conversations have already led to a number of new class offerings and programs.

I am pleased to speak with all parties who have the interests of our students at heart, and to consider how their ideas can benefit learning and personal growth. The more the better. After all, we have a horizon to catch.

Quick quiz: The best way to measure student learning is: A. yearly standardized tests;  B. written exams at the end of each year;  C. a portfolio of varied assessments – what’s the correct answer?

As you read this, my students are enmeshed in the beginning of testing season. The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) have begun, and that must mean it’s time for my annual rant about standardized testing. Thus, you know that answer A above must be incorrect!

Standardized testing has long been a part of American education. Many of us remember the Iowa Basics that we took every year. They weren’t so bad, just a couple days off from the regular curriculum. I look back and think they were given just for the sake of giving them; I don’t recall any pressure to do well.

This type of fill-in-the-bubble test carried on to storied tests such as the ACT and SAT. But at least those tests meant something. If you wanted to go to college, you needed to achieve a particular score; if you wanted scholarships, you needed to score even higher. Those seemed like tests to give some thought and effort to in advance.

I’ve written before on just how many tests our students have to take. Part of this is the fault of the government and part falls on our own school district for adding more than the requirement in an effort to see where our kids are lacking to prepare better for the “big” tests. This becomes a vicious cycle though, since the extra testing is enough to turn kids off for the annual tests given by the state. Whatever benefits are thought to be gotten from the extra “choose the best answer” tests are long lost by middle school, when the petulance of being a teenager adds to the chaos.

I prefer to judge my students based on a progression of skills through the year (or years if I have them in 7th and 8th grade). My 7th graders write an essay in September and come back to that essay in May for revisions. The changes are astounding! They have learned a lot about writing during the year. The same thing goes for reading. The level of stories goes up throughout the year. By 8th grade, they don’t realize they are reading more difficult material because they’ve reached a different comfort level.

However, portfolios of work would be time consuming for the state to look through. And why do they need to keep track of every student in Minnesota? Is it because they don’t trust the schools to do their jobs? There are some theories on that, but good luck getting the Minnesota Department of Education to give you a straight answer.

Tests show that our students are not reading to grade level. It’s funny, however, how the rigor of those tests has changed dramatically over the years. When I started teaching, we gave the Basic Standards Tests (BSTs) to 8th graders. Across the state, most students passed these tests; NRHEG maxed out above 90% in math and reading multiple times. Suddenly, the BSTs went away, to be replaced by the MCAs. And there went our scores. The state has fiddled with these tests many times since they began, constantly shifting the target. We were told the BSTs were 8th grade level – so how could scores across the state have dropped with the MCAs?

It’s simple. Schools were doing TOO well. That wasn’t something to be celebrated by MDE or the federal government. They wanted to have more control over local schools, so they changed the formula to give themselves a reason to interfere. The state and all its school districts have thrown millions of dollars away on these tests. Multi-million dollar contracts are signed across the nation by states and testing companies.

However, there may be some relief in sight. Governor Dayton has said he wants to cut back on testing by at least one-third. Is an occasional test okay? Sure thing. Would a graduation reading and math test be a good idea? Absolutely – our kids should enter the world with basic skills. Is anything proved by these tests every single year? Nope.

Come see the progress our students make. Then think about how much more they could make if we didn’t have to spend weeks every year teaching to these tests. Answer C above is the best answer, but the government would never look at that type of question as good enough for their testing.

Word of the Week: Thanks to Pam and Larry Goehring for the collection of books with so many wonderful words – I’m stocked up for a long time! This week’s word is poltroon, which means an utter coward, as in, “The columnist was certainly no poltroon, always standing behind his opinion.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs had quite a run last week with the Weather Eye from the ’74 Gremlin making all the right moves. Will our mid-May high temps continue or will we get back to reality? Starting Wednesday, partly sunny with a slight chance of rain and/or snow overnight. Highs in the mid-40’s with lows around the freezing mark. Thursday, partly sunny with a slight chance for rain and/or snow. Highs in the upper 40’s and lows in the upper 20’s. Mostly sunny Friday with highs in the upper 40’s and lows in the mid-20’s. Saturday, mostly sunny and cooler. Highs in the low 40’s with lows in the low 20’s. Mostly sunny becoming cloudy on Sunday and continued cool with a slight chance of rain and/or snow. Highs in the upper 30’s and lows in the low 20’s. Monday, mostly cloudy with a good chance of rain. Highs in the mid-40’s with lows near freezing. Partly cloudy Tuesday and warmer. Highs near 50 with lows around 30. The vernal equinox occurs on the 20th, marking the first day of spring. The normal high for the 20th is 42 and the normal low is 24. The scurs expect to hear from angry chickens when all those eggs are standing on end.

Well, the warm spell was fun while it lasted. We deserved it though after the cold temperatures we endured in February, didn’t we? With strong, warm breezes, field surfaces dried quickly and frost left fields in many places. While there was essentially no field work done, it’s encouraging that the fields aren’t snow covered so that when warmer temperatures return, it shouldn’t take long for fields to become fit. It did allow farmers to get equipment out of the shed and actually work on it without having to roll around in the mud for the most part. It’s like playing with the lead compared to some years. Last year for example.

At the ranch we too are ahead of schedule. The electric fence is up and charged marking one of the earliest dates for us that this has happened. After docking tails, giving shots and tagging, we moved seven more pens of ewes with lambs to the loafing area. Fudgie and Ruby were pressed into service and it took about a half hour to get that all done. The lambs were taking advantage of their new found space Sunday afternoon, racing back and forth from the lot back to the barn. The frost must be out now on the south side of the barn too as the walk-in door closes again. No longer need to use the tarp strap to keep it from flapping in the breeze.

The weekend also made a great time for tree pruning. I left the Fireside tree as it will take some time but I got the rest of the apple trees in ship-shape. The activity also replenished the apple wood supply for grilling. It was a good time in general to assess the eye gougers, glasses snatcher and melon mashers on some of the other trees as well. Few things annoy me more when mowing lawn than getting snapped in the face by branches or sliced up by some thorny branches I didn’t see coming. Again, I had more dog help than a person should be allowed to have. The fascination of two Border Collies with sticks, watching the loppers and biting tires still continues to amaze. 

The bird migration has been on too with the recent warmth. Saw our first robins on the 12th as well as a bluebird and killdeers. On Saturday the 14th, red-wing blackbird flocks were evident and we had a few goldfinches showing a hint of yellow at the feeders. There were some house finches too which we hadn’t seen for some time. They’re one of my favorites as the memory of their faithful visits to my mom’s window feeder is still fresh in my mind. Sandhill cranes were heard on Saturday night at chore time. Sunday brought a large group of white-fronted geese through the area. They were heading south. Could it be an omen?

Was saddened by the recent loss of a dear friend and former co-worker, namely Bud Tollefson. When we first came to town some 30 years ago, Bud was one of the first people to welcome me at the elevator and make us feel at home. He knew that I had recently lost my dad and went out of his way to make me feel comfortable. I can recall many times coming home from work, my sides aching from something Bud had said or done. It was only the beginning. 

I remember one Saturday he had invited me over to look at his oak trees as something was eating the leaves. He and Kathryn invited me in for breakfast and afterwards we proceeded to look at the trees. When I examined the leaves, I don’t recall what kind of caterpillar it was but when I told him “Bud, you have worms,” Bud let out one of those laughs as only he could. We had a large pumpkin patch one fall and Bud volunteered to help pick them. The visual of Bud riding in the garden cart while hollering at the top of his lungs as we drove past the living room window still makes Mrs. Cheviot laugh. I went ice fishing with Bud a few times back when St. Olaf Lake was famous for its cigar stub-sized perch. Most people went out there to kill time. Bud and I were no exception. When one of the old local diehards came over to inspect our holes, he looked at them and said in derision, “Humph! Cork’s too big.” That set Bud and I off into a laughing frenzy. When we’d get skunked after that we had a built in excuse: “Cork’s too big.”

Bud fixed many of the things I had broken and sharpened tools that I had dulled. Wouldn’t take a dime for it. I worked with Bud for only about three years before I took another job. Even after that, Bud always had a smile and a laugh when we fondly recalled some of the “good old days.” And even when he was starting to slip he was still “in there.” Mention that I’d driven the “company truck” to church and it would still bring a smile to his face if not elicit a laugh. Bud was one of my favorite people. He showed me how to laugh again after a tragic loss and the generosity with his time will never be forgotten. Words will never be able to express my gratitude, but as Bud was fond of saying around his family, this will have to be “good enough.”

See you next week…real good then. 

The New Richland Farm and City Days Committee is seeking nominations for this summer’s parade grand marshal. Each year, the committee works to identify an individual that plays an active role in making New Richland a great place to live! If you know someone that deserves this honor, we ask that you submit a letter of nomination describing why you feel this person should be named the 2015 Grand Marshal. Letters must be received by Monday, May 4, 2015, and can be sent to: Grand Marshal Nomination, Farm and City Days Committee, PO Box 262, New Richland, MN 56072

Memorial services for Irvin Willmar Jensen, age 85, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at Bridge Community Church, formerly Calvary Baptist Church. Rev. Clayton Balsley will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by local servicemen’s organizations, VFW and American Legion. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Irvin died Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society. 

Judith “Judy” Arndt, age 71 of Waldorf died on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Born on February 2, 1944 in Waseca, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Eldor and Hildegarde (Krueger) Tesch. She graduated from Waldorf-Pemberton High School in 1962. She was baptized, confirmed and married at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf where she was a lifelong member. Judy married David “Ozzie” Arndt on July 5, 1963 and to this union six children were born. Judy had worked at the E.F. Johnson Co. in Waseca, Eisen’s in Waldorf and also Bird’s Eye in Waseca. She enjoyed reading, spending time on the computer and attending her grandchildren’s activities. Judy was an active member of First Lutheran Church and the Women in Mission.