Letters to the Editor

February 15, 2012

To the Editor:
Two recent stories in the INH were especially significant.
The first was the news of the death of Glenn C. Johnson, the longtime superintendent of the Bertha-Hewitt school system. Johnson was an icon in the two communities for more than five decades, leading the school with exceptional abilities financially and administratively. Year after year he assembled a faculty that those of us who were students there can only appreciate more and more as we get older. His intuition and perhaps persuasion brought us teachers who might not have appeared to us to be outstanding at the time, but nothing less than that now in a new perspective.
It might be that he had detractors, and he might have hired a few “clunkers,” nobody’s perfect, but Glenn C. Johnson will be remembered by most of us who knew him to be one of the community’s most outstanding residents of all time. Rank him up there with the Doctors Will, I’d say.
The other story was news that the Bertha Commercial Club has become the Bertha Community Club. A salute is appropriate to the people who have kept the organization alive all these years despite the declining population of both people and businesses.
The commercial club long played an important role in the community as a result of leadership of many people including Glenn Johnson who was among a group of fathers, who with the backing of the commercial club, chartered the Boy Scout Troop in Bertha. Memories of the work of the commercial club are perhaps topped by its efforts to build a new hospital in Bertha in the early 1960s. It was a prudent and progressive move at a time when nobody knew that medicine and transportation would eventually make small town hospitals obsolete.
I recall the commercial club members providing transportation home each night for players during the football and basketball seasons. Believe it or not, kids didn’t have cars back then. When my dad’s turn came, I drove my teammates in the family car usually getting the route that returned Mel Boehland (I think he still might be the only BHHS athlete to ever sign a contract with a professional sports team) to his family farm which was probably closer to Parkers Prairie than to Bertha.
I also recall the commercial club providing $.25 (that’s 25 cents) to the kids in the high school band who played in the Saturday night summer concerts on the street between Olson & Quanbeck and the Bertha Herald buildings. I don’t recall the band members being required to attend the concerts, we just did. And we were happy to stand in line for a minute while Band Director Vern Meyer dished out the commercial club’s quarters. That was probably enough to gain admission to Ralph Orr’s Bertha Theatre.
For those of us who have been away for a long time, but still consider Bertha home, we wish the new community club well. And thanks, Glenn C. Johnson, for a job well-done.
Roger Bailey
Bismarck, North Dakota

February 8, 2012

To the Editor:
Stop Teen Dating Violence
Statistics show that one in three teenage girls have experienced violence in a dating relationship. One in five teens in a serious relationship reported they were hit, slapped or pushed by their partner. Females between the ages of sixteen and twenty four are three times more vulnerable to intimate partner violence and forty five percent of the teen girls know someone who has been forced or pressured into having sexual activity. Because of these startling statistics and because the key to preventing dating violence is education and early detection, February has been designated as “Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month”.
These violent relationships can have serious consequences for the victims. They are at a higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide and adult re-victimization. Teenagers will often hide the violence because they are inexperienced with dating relationships, are pressured by peers to act violent, want their independence from their parents or have a “romantic” view of what love is. How teenagers look at themselves influences teen dating violence. Young men believe they have the right to control their female partner and they “possess” her. They believe masculinity is physical aggressiveness and they should demand intimacy. Young women believe that they are responsible for fixing the problems in the relationship and abuse is normal because their friends are also abused. They believe their boyfriend’s jealousy, possessiveness, controlling behavior and even physical abuse is romantic.
Teenagers will be more apt to choose healthy relationships if they know the early warning signs of an abusive relationship, they understand that they have choices and believe they are valuable people who deserve to be treated with respect. Some signs to look for are extreme jealousy, controlling behavior, mood swings, explosive temper, isolating you from family and friends and constant put downs. As a parent common clues that your teenager may be involved in a violent dating relationship are signs of physical injury, failing grades, changes in mood or personality, emotional outbursts and pregnancy.
If you are a teenager in an abusive relationship, you need to remember that no one deserves to be abused or threatened. You cannot change your batterer and the violence will get worse with time. You need to take care of yourself. There is help for you! Talk to a trusted adult or contact Hands of Hope Resource Center and together we can talk about a plan to keep you safe. Our services are free and confidential. Call 320-732-2319 or 1-800-682-4547.
Annette Schilling
Abused Children’s Coordinator
Hands of Hope Resource Center

February 1, 2012

To the Editor:
The Constitution Party will hold its political caucus at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, February 7 at the Long Prairie City Hall. This is open to anyone in Todd County and the surrounding area.
Leo Heinze
Long Prairie

To the Editor:
I can’t help but admire Tony Towle for thinking he had a thought. Then again, sometimes having a thought can be hard work, especially when you go out back and read the Sears-Roebuck catalog in the middle of January. Oh for the good old days when you had a choice between Sears-Roebuck and Montgomery Wards or the corn cobs. That was probably before Tony’s time, but on to Pete Klick who likes it when people just get along.
I thought it was kind of interesting when our guy in the White House gave his talk the other day and he stated directly in his speech “Where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.” The same set of rules seems to be a theme, or the thought, that both Tony and Pete sort of missed or maybe didn’t want to admit, or think about, or just plain didn’t care, but “the same set of rules” is and has been the issue ever since this thing first got started.
Nobody is picking on the Amish and nobody is out to make life hard on them. The issue is and has been that “everybody plays and lives by the same set of rules.”
Back in August when Tony was chasing those phantom chickens that were pooping on everybody’s lawns, the issue was the same. If you or I or anybody else for that matter, was pulled over for speeding and dat big bellied, donut eating cop said, “Son, you know you was speeding?” We could say “gee whiz officer I didn’t know what the speed limit was.” Dat big bellied donut eating cop would tell you, “Son, ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.”
You know, I think, and Towle and Klick should try to think, the same applies to what is going on in Todd County. If everyone lived by the same rules, there wouldn’t be any letters in the paper about the phantom chicken poop or the horse apples all over all the roads or the poop piles in every parking lot. No letters about the buildings without permits or even the slow moving vehicle signs on slow moving vehicles without proper lighting on public roads. If everyone lived by “the same set of rules/laws,” nobody would complain about unequal enforcement of laws or reverse profiling or about special treatment by dat sheriff of the straw hat people.
I for one, think it is great that people want to live a simpler life, but living a simpler life does not mean being exempt from the laws all the rest of us have to obey and live with. People can live the simpler life and still obey the laws. Slow moving vehicle signs are not about religion. They are about public safety and if public safety is against someone’s religion, then, keep your religion/vehicle off of the public roads for the safety of everyone else on the public road.
The same goes for all the other laws, either all of us obey all the laws or nobody obeys any of the laws since we live in a society where all people are equal and live by “the same set of rules.”
Dan Schilling
Long Prairie

January 25, 2012

To the Editor:

I was recently asked how I can think of and say some of the things I write about. I’m partly Norwegian so there’s no telling what I might think about, or if I’ll even think at all. I usually do try to think while I’m writing, however, as far as saying what I say, that is a right guaranteed by the U.S. constitution. That of course, doesn’t mean you have to agree with what I think or say. That’s where your rights come in.
My thoughts this week were inspired by the letter to the editor written last week by Pete Klick. I agree with Pete that it was nice that there were no letters attacking our Amish neighbors. Really, are they anymore annoying than your Norwegian, Swedish, Polish or German neighbors? How about your Republican or Democrat neighbors? How about the very nice, but loud neighbors with even louder kids? I don’t think anyone would trade them for anything or wish them any ill will. What if they were all the same and lived and did and looked exactly like you. Would you ever really be happy with that? I sure wouldn’t want everyone to be youthful, fully follicled, good looking and partly Norwegian (the ones that are sure to tick me off).
At the risk of confirming to my grandchildren, that yes, as a matter of fact I am older than dirt, at one point in my life, I lived exactly as the Amish children do, only poorer. Maybe that’s why I feel a special affinity and even an envy of their simple lifestyle. We had nothing, but yet had everything. Electricity hadn’t come to our part of the state yet, water came from an outside hand pump instead of a tap. Looking back, I imagine that indoor plumbing of sorts was probably listed in the Sears-Roebuck catalog that we used as “reading material” in the old outhouse. This of course was long before the MPCA was invented to tell us how environmentally evil we, and our outhouses, were.
That brings us to the matter of the horse crap. It’s 100% natural and totally benign if you don’t mess with it. When I was working and someone got fired, it was said they were sent down the road, kicking horse turds. Due to the lack of horses that was mighty hard to do in The Cities. In our area though if you get fired, you could actually do that. You definitely don’t want to do what John King from CNN did with it though. He dumped some on the stage of the presidential debates and promptly stepped in it himself. If that wasn’t bad enough, one of the candidates promptly wiped the floor with him. Adding insult to injury, the audience gave the candidate a standing ovation for doing so.
Seriously, I don’t know what can or should be done about it. I know it really bugs some people while others simply don’t care one way or the other. Because of following horses around as a little tyke and the Amish being our neighbors, it just doesn’t bother me. Like most people, I’ve also had friends and neighbors who were referred to as horses’ behinds (not you of course). I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but some have actually called me a horses’ behind. That’s the reason I have no problem with horse crap. It’s just naturally comes from a horses’ behind.
Call me weird, but I just like all my neighbors and far be it from me to call anyone else “different”. Sometimes maybe it’s better to just let things be.
Stay neighborly my friends.
Tony Towle
Long Prairie

January 18, 2012

To the Editor:
Have you ever had the eerie feeling that someone is watching you or that someone is following you? Unfortunately this happens more often than we would like to think, and it happens in many ways that often are not looked upon by most as threatening, such as unwanted gifts, cards and flowers sent to one’s home or work, repeatedly driving by one’s home or work, following, possible damage to property, and the new stalking that is done with technology. Many stalkers use cell phones and GPS to locate and follow their victims, as well as e-mail and computer monitoring.
January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time like all the other awareness months to take a closer look at the issue.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, and one that has over 3 million victims each year nationwide. It is one of the most significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships. Three of four stalking victims know their stalker. Stalking often goes hand in hand with domestic violence. It is done to cause fear and to show control.
What can you do if you think that you are being stalked? Like any crime if you feel in immediate danger, you should call 911.
If you realize that you are being stalked, document the incidents that happen, when, where and what. Always take the threats, whether verbal or other, with great seriousness. Under no circumstance, answer or have any communication with the stalker, he could construe this as an encouraging sign.
Make a safety plan for your home, work and times of travel, so that you have a predisposed plan to attempt to ensure your safety. Trust your instincts, listen to your “gut”, you will seldom be steered in the wrong direction.
Also, if you believe that you are being stalked, you can contact Hands of Hope Resource Center. We are trained advocates and we can offer you support, safety plan assistance, support group and other crime victim services, free of charge. We can be reached at 320-732-2319 or on our 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-682-4547. You can also access us on our website at www.handsofhope.net.
Be aware and be safe.
Connie J. Nelson
Long Prairie

To the Editor:
Now that the holidays are over, it is time to express our sincere appreciation to all organizations, area churches, schools, business places and individuals of our three community area (along with some out-of-area contributors) who came to our ‘rescue’ once again during our holiday drive. Our funding was becoming ‘challenged’, but with the generosity and kindness of people in the area, we again can go forward to help those in need. In 2011, we served 829 households, distributing 56,494 pounds of groceries and household items—quite an increase from a year ago. We certainly appreciate the goodwill and thoughtfulness shown to our cause in the past months.
We are so fortunate to have a number of cooperative volunteers working to serve our clients. For those, we are truly grateful!
Browerville Area Food Shelf
Florence Rickbeil
Executive Director/Treasurer

January 4, 2012

To the Editor:
Todd County folks shared the spirit of generosity and goodwill during the Christmas season. On behalf of the kids and families in Todd County, I would like to acknowledge all the individuals, students, civic and service organizations, 4-H clubs, businesses, financial institutions, church and prayer groups, quilting circles, the Helping Hands Project and Alex Tech Law Enforcement students for the warm clothes, blankets, quilts, toys, personal and household products provided. Your care for others is appreciated and saluted.
We are very aware of the love and care extended to others in our county and we want to recognize it. You are a source of encouragement and hope.
“Encouragement is deciding to make your problem my problem”. ­—John C. Maxwell
Your encouragement makes a big difference!
Kali Christensen
Todd County Social Services

December 14, 2011

To the Editor:

Thank you Clarissa for putting Christ back into Christmas. Out with some of our friends, we drove around town to view the lights and decorations on the homes and lawns. We were so surprised and happy to see the beauty and message of the season to be around town.
Two people we would especially single out with our appreciation are:
Pastor Czischke of St. Matthew’s for returning our children’s Christmas program to Christmas Eve, along with the Candlelight Service. This brings back vivid memories of the warmth and magic of past holidays shared with beloved family and friends.
Also, Larry Cook had the foresight and vision for decorating the gazebo in the park. Main Street is beautiful with all the decorations.
Clarissa, your pride is showing and glowing.
May the message and gift of our Lord’s birth be with you all.
Marge and Harlan Darr
Clarissa

December 7, 2011

To the Editor:

My letter pertains to the Veteran’s Day Program that was held at the Eagle Bend School on November 10.
The program was done well. It consisted of about 15 students. The Eagle Bend V.F.W. Post and Ladies Auxiliary marched in and presented the flag and pledge of allegiance.
The students each talked about a veteran that they knew—father, step-father, grandpa, uncle, etc.. The pop singers sang some patriotic songs.
Our audience consisted of three women and the newspaper photographer.
What is our problem?
First, it was not held on November 11, Armistice Day.
Second, the little square in the paper probably was not seen. I looked for it after someone told me it was there, but I didn’t look closely at the date.
We are supposed to honor our past and present veterans!
It was a big disappointment.
L. Froehlich
Eagle Bend V.F.W. Ladies
Auxiliary Legion & Post

To the Editor:

They’re DUI Crashes, Not Accidents
Impaired driving is no accident, it is totally preventable-a violent crime that kills.
One of the most serious public health problems we face today, drunk and drugged driving is in every community across the nation. Every year about 42,000 Americans die in motor vehicle crashes and of that 16,000 are alcohol or drug related, that’s one death every 49 minutes! Furthermore, about 600,000 people are injured in crashes where alcohol was present. In 2010, Todd County had 30 alcohol related crashes.
Alcohol or drug related crashes are more likely to occur in the evenings or on weekends and holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and St. Patrick’s Day. For young people the most dangerous time is during prom, graduation or on spring break. Those who are most likely to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs are those between 21 and 34 years of age, repeat offenders, chronic impaired drivers and underage drinkers 15 to 20 years of age.
People get behind the wheel after drinking because they think they can handle it, they don’t think anything will happen or they will get caught, they just don’t care or they are so far gone they don’t remember getting in their car.
Although the number of crashes has leveled off the last five years there is still much that needs to be done. We need passage of stronger state and federal laws, tougher enforcement with stiffer penalties, more use of technology tools to identify and convict impaired drivers. We need to implement effective educational and promotional campaigns such as the “Friends Don’t let Friends Drive Drunk”.
With the holidays upon us there are things we can all do to help prevent impaired driving crashes. If you’re out with a group choose a non-drinking designated driver. If you see a friend who shouldn’t be driving, take the keys away. If you have been drinking get a ride home or call a taxi. If you are hosting a party make sure your guests have a designated sober driver. You should serve some non-alcoholic beverages and do not serve alcohol to minors.
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. As a nation and a community we all need to understand the consequences of drunk driving and do our part to stop it. If you or any one you know was a victim of an Impaired Driving crash please contact Hands of Hope Resource Center at 320-732-2319 or 1-800-682-4547
Annette Schilling
Hands of Hope Resource Center

November 16, 2011

To the Editor:
Stop and Think—Words Can Hurt
Each generation has had its bullies, but today’s bullies are more violent. Modern technology allows them to spread their hate wide and fast by using cell phones and the internet including the social networking sites. A national survey shows that 75 percent of school age kids have been bullied at least once during their school years.
One of the reasons it’s so hard to address the problem is it is done stealthily, out of sight of parents or teachers. Too many adults assume that it is a rite of passage that teaches kids to stand up for themselves and fail to take it seriously and intervene. What message does this send to our kids?
Bullying can take many forms such as name calling, spreading hurtful stories, excluding them from groups, making demeaning comments, taking possessions or money and even hitting and kicking. The bullying can occur face-to-face, over the phone or through the internet-cyberbullying. Studies show that boys do more bullying, but an increasing number of girls are involved in this destructive behavior. While boys tend to be more physical, in your face and operate alone, girls are more verbal and indirect operating in groups.
For those being bullied, parents and care givers can help by listening to the kids and letting them know that coming to you was the right thing. Assure them that the bullying is not their fault. You should find out what they want to happen and discuss what steps can be taken to solve the problem. For those that do the bullying, they need to be held accountable for their behavior and following through with consistent consequences for their behavior. This year’s slogan “See it, get help, stop it” is the best way for all of us to do our part in addressing the problem of bullying.
November 14-18 has been designated as Anti-Bullying Week and the whole month of November is National Child Safety and Protection Month. We all have to do more to make all our children feel safe at home, in school and in our communities. If you know of someone who is being bullied or a child that needs help, please contact Hand of Hope Resource Center at 320-732-2319 or 1-800-682-4547.
Annette Schilling
General Crime Coordinator
Hands of Hope Resource Center

To the Editor:
Thanks to Karin L. Nauber for a great report on MPCA!
I hope people reading it began to realize just how government gets bigger and bigger with new rules. We start out to test well water that’s good. Now we have gone from one group to two, each making new rules. Nobody seems to have any control over the growth of government.
God help us! Thanks again Karin.
Robert Gaugert
Staples

Remember?
When: The horse was king
Mothers knew most everything.
Barns were red, the house was white
Where you and family were at night.
When: There was no time to be annoyed
You were 100% employed.
Black was black and white was white
Understood like day and night.
When: You knew you were a fool
To ignore the Golden Rule.
God’s blessing asked, when seed was spread
To guarantee your family’s fed.
When: Church was a popular meeting place
To receive God’s love and His grace,
To try and understand His plan
For me and you and our fellowman.
When: The USA confessed God alive and OK
Decline in morality; a sign of decay.
The schools taught love of God and Country
Thanking Him for all our bounty.
Then: On your knees Thank God today
That you were born in the USA.
Thank Jesus Christ for bearing our sin,
Opened heaven’s gate to let us in!
87 years of God’s grace
I Remember!
—Robert Gaugert

November 3, 2011

To the Editor:
On November 8th, residents and taxpayers will be asked to vote on a renewal operating levy in support of the Eagle Valley School District.
Residents will have received a mailing describing the reasons for, as well as the tax impact on property owners for house, garage and one acre of land.
As a small district, Eagle Valley has long prided itself on providing quality educational experiences for students, maintaining smaller class sizes for our primary age children to obtain that 1:1 attention necessary for young learners and an advantage for our secondary (high school) students. With open-enrollment we have gained but also lost students, an all too common theme in rural Minnesota school districts. With that we have made difficult staffing and facility decisions to best manage state and local funding during challenging economic times, while keeping academic programming a priority.
For the second time in a decade, Eagle Valley Elementary has received the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award, our Arts/Music departments continue to receive star ratings statewide, our sports teams continue to be competitive and our academic test scores are staying strong in almost each grade level and category. We see the success of what Eagle Valley has been the past 20+ years, but even more so the possibilities of the Eagle Valley future in enhanced technology, curricular improvements, additional course offerings and much more!
A unique strength of Eagle Valley is that as a small rural school, we maintain the backbone of our agricultural and industrial arts roots, offering classes and programming for students. This is not a common presence in all rural school districts! We provide additional academic choices, including several on-line opportunities, as well as a large variety of extra -curricular activities, including FCCLA, Knowledge Bowl, Speech, One Act Play, music programs, etc. to prepare students for their successful future.
Please consider the weight of your vote on November 8th.
Ask yourself what supporting the Eagle Valley District truly means!
Thank you,
Eagle Valley School Board
Sharon Notch, Adam Riedel, Chris Notch, Shawn Rowe, Twila Pierce, Becky Pratt, Rick Nelson

To the Editor:
This is in response to a letter titled “My apology for public safety” that was written by Dan Schilling of Long Prairie that appeared in numerous newspapers throughout the county. Mr. Schilling’s letter addressed issues involving the Amish communities in Todd County. Prior to this letter, Mr. Schilling wrote two other letters to the editor about this same topic. The main emphasis of his letters is the fact that some of the Amish communities do not use slow moving vehicle signs on their horse drawn buggies.
There are four separate Amish communities in Todd County. Two of the communities mark their buggies with slow moving vehicle signs and two do not. All of the communities use reflective tape on their buggies. One of the communities uses battery powered lights after dark and the other three communities use lanterns if they are operating their buggies after dark.
Mr. Schilling implied that I don’t feel that there is a public safety issue involving the Amish buggies. I personally met with Mr. Schilling. I did not tell him that there is not a public safety issue. I did advise him that we recently had two accidents involving Amish buggies, but that in both cases, the buggies did have slow moving vehicle signs. I also advised him that in both cases, the drivers of the vehicles who hit the buggies were charged with inattentive driving. Both of these accident occurred during daylight hours.
Mr. Schilling also stated that I do not feel that the horse crap on the road is a problem. I did not tell him that horse crap on the road is not a problem. I did advise him that mud and manure from farm implements is just as big of a problem, but that very few people complain about that issue.
Mr. Schilling’s letter stated that I was “noticeably angry” at him for being concerned about public safety. I did not feel that I was angry with him, but I was probably not my normal jolly self after seeing the previous two letters that he had written. All three of the letters he had written have not included all of the information that I had given him.
I have advised Mr. Schilling on more than one occasion that the use of slow moving vehicle signs is against the Amish religious beliefs. They believe that the bright colors of the sign and the symbol itself would put their faith in “worldly symbols” rather than God. I also advised Mr. Schilling that in the late 80’s in Fillmore County, Amish individuals were cited for not having slow moving vehicle signs on their buggies. One of those cases eventually went to the Minnesota Supreme Court in Minnesota vs. Hershberger. In that case, the Supreme Court in a unanimous ruling ruled that the Amish do not need slow moving vehicles signs on their buggies. The court ruled that there is clear separation between church and state. It was decided that the Amish do not have to use the slow moving vehicle signs.
I have personally met with all of the Amish communities in Todd County and I have expressed to them that I would appreciate it if they would use slow moving vehicle signs. Two of those communities have decided to use the signs. The other two communities appear to be opposed to the use of those signs, but advised me that they would discuss the issue as a group. Once again, the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that the slow moving vehicle signs do not have to be used on Amish buggies. All of the communities agree to the use of reflective tape and some type of lighting after dark.
Mr. Schilling also mentioned in his letter that there are 300 Amish families moving to our county and in his visit with me advised me that it was because of the lack of enforcement by law enforcement. In meeting with the different Amish communities, they were not aware of 300 families moving to our area. They advised me that one of the main reasons that they have located in this area is because of the lower price of land, not because of a lack of enforcement. There is not a lack of enforcement. Law enforcement is following the law of the land put down by the Supreme Court.
There are numerous hazards on our roads everyday. There are individual’s riding bicycle, people out for a walk, farm implements and Amish buggies. Drivers constantly have to watch for these hazards. The Amish are a part of our community and I respect them for their beliefs and simplistic way of life.
To say that I am not concerned for public safety is ludicrous. As your sheriff, public safety is and always will be my number one concern and it is the number one concern of every law enforcement officer in Todd County.
Sincerely,
Todd County Sheriff
Peter J. Mikkelson

October 19, 2011

To the Editor:
An Apology for Public Safety!
An eye opening (ears included) encounter last week has shown me the error of my ways and for that, an apology from me is in order. I was informed by a spokesperson for the leaders of this county (Commissioners, County Administrator, County Attorney, Department Heads and other leaders of the County and various city leaders) that there is no public safety problem in this county except for what I have created and if that is the case, I apologize.
I was further informed by the spokesperson for all of the above, that any accidents involving buggies have been the fault of distracted motor vehicle drivers and not because buggies didn’t have slow moving vehicle signs or reflectors or lights as required by state law. I was informed that all the buggies are in full compliance of the laws. I was further informed that horse crap on the roads is not an issue; it is the farmers who dump dirt from the fields and manure from the pits and barns on the road that is the problem. Again, for that misconception on my part, I apologize.
It was brought to my attention that horse crap on the streets and in the store parking lots is a blessing because they are shopping and that keeps this town and county alive. I was informed we who drive motor vehicles always drive out of the area (Wadena, Little Falls, Alexandria, Sauk Centre and St. Cloud), but the buggies do business in town and that is saving our town. Now that I have been informed of the facts, according to the official spokesperson, I apologize for the error of my ways in thinking we had a public safety problem. I thought the animal drawn vehicles were not in compliance with state law and the horse crap on the roads, streets and parking lots was a violation of littering laws but the official spokesperson informed me how wrong my thinking was, so I guess I also need to apologize to those 140 people who signed the petitions because of their concerns.
I had a very enlightening and informative meeting with the official spokesperson for the leaders of this county and the sheriff was noticeably angry at me for claiming to be concerned about public safety when he knows that I have a vendetta against the buggies and that is my reason for being involved. I actually thought enforcement of the laws would improve public safety, but he told me that is not what I am concerned about, so now I know. I apologize for wanting to make Todd County a better place for all of us by improving public safety.
I was informed that when those additional 300 families come, Todd County will be better off because they will shop here and those of us who drive our loud, fast motor vehicles will go out of the county to shop and we need to be extra careful not to cause accidents on the roads with all the extra buggies we can’t see after dark!
The official spokesperson for the leaders of Todd County was extremely forceful in his approach, so I apologize again and I am done trying to improve public safety. So all you people who said you were concerned, good luck, be very careful and watch out for that Todd County Official Spokesperson!
Dan Schilling
Long Prairie

P.S. I applaud the public safety concern demonstrated by the Long Prairie Police Chief. It’s refreshing to actually enjoy a conversation with a dedicated public servant.

October 5, 2011

To the Editor:
What Are We Doing
to the Children?
Children who grow up in homes with domestic violence are faced with the overwhelming task of finding a sense of trust with the untrusting, finding safety in an unsafe situation and finding control in an unpredictable and terrifying environment. These children learn that people who are suppose to love them can hurt them and violence is an appropriate expression of anger. For many children their first exposure to violence is not on the TV or in the movies or their neighborhood, but in their homes.
Witnessing domestic violence is the single best predictor of juvenile delinquency and these children are at a higher risk of becoming abusive as they get older. Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, drop out of school and runaway.
The effects of domestic violence on children can be physical, emotional, behavioral, social or cognitive.
• Physical effects include sleeping problems, headaches, stomachaches, eating disorders, frequent illness and injuries.
• Emotional effects include guilt, shame, fear, confusion, anger, depression and grief.
• Behavioral effects include acting out or being withdrawn, under or overachiever, bullying, bed-wetting, thumb sucking, low self-esteem, chemical abuse, and delinquent behavior.
• Social effects include distrust, poor social skills, avoid going home, difficultly making friends and poor conflict resolutions skills.
• Cognitive effects include feeling responsible for the violence, blame others for their behavior, it’s okay to hit those they care about to get what they want or to feel powerful. Mistrust, becomes the protector which also puts them in danger and expects that violence is how relationships are suppose to be.
We can help children who witness domestic violence by having schools adopt curriculum that can help young people understand domestic violence and teach them how to develop violence free relationships. We can reach out to someone who is in a violent relationship or witnessing violence to let them know they are not alone and help is available. We can be a role model for the next generation and teach them it is unacceptable to use violence to resolve problems or control others. And lastly we should support the laws and programs that uphold the rights of battered women and the children affected.
Domestic violence hurts everyone and there are no magic solutions to stopping it. Having the courage to pick up the phone and talking to someone is a start. Take the first step in finding a way out by calling Hands of Hope Resource Center at 1-800-682-4547 for free and confidential services.
Annette Schilling
Hands of Hope Resources Center

September 28, 2011

To the Editor:
Grandparents: A Great
Minnesota Resource
When we think of Minnesota’s resources, perhaps we envision lakes, woods, or mining, but we should also think of our grandparents.
In September we recognize “Grandparents Month,” celebrating and raising awareness about the contributions of grandparents, including those who are raising other relative’s children. According to the National Committee for Grandparent’s Rights, more than 17,000 grandparents in Minnesota report having their grandchildren live with them.
A recently released U.S. Census Bureau report reveals that the number of children living with a grandparent has increased by 64% over the past twenty years.
Grandparents play an important role in providing care for children—they are the most frequently mentioned care providers for children under age 5 among all types of relatives. In 2009, 7.8 million children lived in households with at least one grandparent present (11 percent of all children).
Grandparents represent the most frequent “kinship caregivers” for children—that is, relatives who take on the responsibility of caring for another family member’s children. They provide safety and stability, cultural and familial continuity, love and nurture, when a child’s biological parents are unable to do so. They are often invisible—providing “informal” care outside of the public foster care system and preventing more children from ending up, or remaining, in the public foster care system—yet they need many of the same supports available to recognized foster families.
Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association (MKCA)—the only statewide agency focused on the needs and contributions of grandparents and other kinship caregivers—has found that more than three-quarters of the relatives who call MKCA’s “Warmline” are grandparents, and 84% of callers are female. At this time of year, those who seek help from the MKCA Warmline often call with questions about school enrollment, specialized educational services for the children in their care, or the type of legal authority needed to make educational decisions for a child relative in their care.
Kinship caregivers, particularly grandparents, face legal, financial, educational, emotional and health issues as they take on a parenting role, often for the second time in their lives. Many have fixed or limited incomes—more than half of the caregivers calling the MKCA Warmline have incomes under $30,000—and they may be dealing with their own health problems at the same time they are helping the children cope with the difficult circumstances that brought them under a relatives’ care, whether death, military deployment, parental substance abuse, health or mental health issues, divorce, financial strain or incarceration. Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund, notes in her column Child Watch, “Often caregivers unexpectedly thrust into this role may be hesitant to share their new challenges with others, and if they do, often find it difficult to connect with networks to find programs and assistance for which they are eligible.”
In spite of these challenges, kinship caregivers impart a valuable contribution to the families and communities of which they are a part, providing an unacknowledged safety net for vulnerable children who cannot be cared for by their own parents. Think of all the children that would be homeless or in foster care, were it not for the nurture and support of these caring elders.
So, the next time we offer gratitude for the bountiful resources in our state, let’s remember the grandparents and other relatives among us who are caring for some of the most vulnerable youngsters in our communities, and who most often do it without fanfare or recognition. They need and deserve our support.
Carla Jacobson
Executive Director
Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association

September 14, 2011

To the Editor:
A Look To the Future at Eagle Valley
Early 2011, the Eagle Valley School Board voted unanimously to move the majority of academic functions to the Clarissa facility. The reason for this decision was to:
• Streamline academic/course offerings
• Create a more efficient learning environment for students
• Provide opportunities to enhance curriculum and technology programming
• Reduce costs
• Establish the groundwork for a sustainable, continuing Eagle Valley District
As of September 1, 2011, Eagle Valley has seen an energized transformation while still maintaining the “small school” and family environment we are so proud of!
• In our Clarissa facility we have PreK-12 core/academic classes with elementary housed in the northeast elementary wing, separated from the high school core classes in the south wing. This allows smooth separation for student entrances, exits and between functional areas.
• Industrial Arts, Ag and high school Art classes are being held in the Eagle Bend facility with structured busing routes in place.
• A “middle school” concept is established for grades 5-8 for science, math and English courses.
• Technology upgrades are continuing with Smart Boards in each class room as well as a new computer lab.
• Business course offerings are to begin second semester (January 2012)
• For the first time in 20+ years, consistent administrative leadership housed in one building accessible to all staff/students/parents to address issues or concerns.
• For the first time in 20+ years, consistent opportunities for staff to interact and mentor one another in efforts to effectively meet the needs of students.
• Dollars saved in staffing reorganization, with those savings put back into curriculum and academic programming. (Computers, textbooks, software)
• Twenty-two on-line college courses are being offered including Economics, Medical Terminology, etc.
What’s next?
With dollars in savings each year we can increase course offerings and provide academic tools essential to our students and staff, building capabilities on an annual basis. The 2011/2012 school year will be minimal, with 2012/2013 and beyond receiving expected substantial gains!)
Gains will include:
• Mobile computer lab for Eagle Valley within one year.
• Updated shop equipment for Industrial Arts Program within one year.
• Classroom tools/aids and updated books /software when needed
• Part-time FAQ’s (Home-Economics) program to be reinstated within two years.
• Before and after school programming within two years
• We are continuing to seek value added facility space opportunities for our Eagle Bend facility with possible lease options for community groups or businesses that will improve economic development and growth. (Ongoing and continuous process!)
• Much more!
This is a brief summary of some of our future goals for Eagle Valley. As you know as taxpayers, family members, students and staff, we cannot predict the future. Eagle Valley School District plans on being around for a long time! We have an extremely committed staff that deeply cares about the educational needs of our students! And students who deserve the best possible education they can from us!
We can assuredly state, however, that “as a unified, competitive educational institution we will provide an opportunity for the children of today and continue to ensure that future generations will have the tools to succeed in life through Eagle Valley!
Sharon Notch,
Eagle Valley Board Chair
Chris Notch, Becky Pratt, Twila Pierce, Adam Riedel, Rick Nelson, Shawn Rowe,
Board Directors

To the Editor:
Safety Tips for Back-to-School
Going back-to-school can provide parents a great opportunity to teach kids common sense behavior. The following tips are meant to help them stay safe at school or play.
• Teach your children their full name, address and phone number including the area code and the work numbers of Mom or Dad. Be sure they know how to call 911.
• Encourage children to walk and play with friends, not alone. Talk to them about avoiding places that could be dangerous such as vacant buildings, construction sites or wooded areas.
• Teach children to be alert to their surroundings and walk confidently.
• Tell them to avoid strangers hanging around playgrounds, public rest room or empty buildings.
• Teach the children to obey all traffic signals and markings. Teach them to never enter the street from between parked cars or from behind bushes or shrubs. Darting into the street accounts for 50 to 70 percent of pedestrian injuries among children age 9 and under.
• A school bus has a blind spot approximately 10 feet in front of it. Make sure the children are aware of the blind spot and stress the fact that the driver can’t see them in that area. At the bus stop make sure they walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
• Children should check in with a parent or trusted neighbor as soon as they get home from school. They should let you know if they will be staying late at school.
• Never tell anyone your home alone.
• Never post pictures of yourself on the internet.
• Children should never wear expensive jewelry or clothing to school.
• Teach them to never take guns, knives or other weapons to school. They should tell a teacher or other school official if they see anyone with a weapon.
Make time to talk to your children about their day. Make sure they are comfortable talking to you about anything that makes them feel uneasy or uncomfortable while away from home such as persons acting suspicious on their way to or from school or if they are being bullied. Always take seriously any fears or feelings they tell you about, especially about people or places that scare them. Teach them to trust their instincts.
Children imitate their parents and model their behavior so always Be a good role model. Show them how to be safe, not just tell them.
Annette Schilling
General Crime Coordinator
Hands Of Hope Resource Center

September 7, 2011

To the Editor:
Interesting, just plain interesting!
It seems that auction sales are not just for disposing of property, but also a good place to socialize with others, some you know and some you don’t. I recently attended an auction and noticed that people gather around the auctioneer, but there are also small groups of people who gather by various items waiting for them to sell. As I walked around looking at the items for sale, I stopped by a small group of people and listened to what they were talking about. It seems that Todd County has a reputation and that reputation is gathering interest. From what I heard, there is an effort to locate some small farms for sale as there are some 300 families looking to relocate to Todd County. Normally this would be good news and for Todd County’s reputation, it probably is!
I talked with a friend of mine the other day and was told that local law enforcement had made contact and wanted to know if this person had pushed some horse apples from the road ditch out onto the road by the apples that are dropped daily on the road from animal drawn vehicles. The message was simple, if law enforcement finds that they did push some apples onto the road next to the apples that were dropped by the other horse drawn vehicles, my friend would be cited and fined for putting litter on the road. Can you imagine the investigation that is going on to determine which horse apples were dropped by animal drawn vehicles and which ones may have been put there? If you worked for law enforcement, would you want the job of sorting out the horse apples? If this county does not have the money to enforce any laws that pertain to animal drawn vehicles, how did they find the money to pay for the investigation into “improper placement of horse apples”? I find it very interesting that someone would or could be charged with littering of horse apples when almost all of our roads seem to have an ever increasing amount of horse apple litter on them and local law enforcement doesn’t do anything about the countywide problem of horse poop litter. It is Todd County’s “claim to fame”, the reputation for doing nothing.
Back to the auction, the families that apparently want to move here because of Todd County’s reputation, are members of the community that choose to drive animal drawn vehicles and the reason given for the interest in moving to Todd County is that in Todd County, law enforcement does not and will not enforce state public safety laws pertaining to lighting and littering against animal drawn vehicles. Because Todd County has a reputation of not enforcing laws pertaining to animal drawn vehicles, building permits, taxes etc., this is a great county to live in for those who choose to drive animal drawn vehicles. Our roads are getting full of horse apples (manure), but it is not litter if deposited by those driving animal drawn vehicles, but if other people “might” litter, we will spend our tax dollars investigating so that a ticket can be issued for littering horse manure (apples). Just think, Tony’s chicken poop (litter) in town, horse apple litter (poop) on all our roads and parking lots and law enforcement that has to step around one horse apple to investigate another horse apple so they can ticket one poop and not the other poop and the county commissioner’s don’t seem to care. Just think, a utopia where the laws of public safety, building codes, health and taxes are not enforced for people who choose to drive animal drawn vehicles and the bonus, horse apples littered everywhere, What a county!!!
Dan Schilling
Long Prairie

To the Editor:
In reference to Mr. Myron Swanberg’s letter that was printed in the August 17 issue, I prefer not to match the level of Mr. Swanberg’s stupor. However, his attempt to denigrate my wife is just not acceptable. Mrs. Swanberg did not sign his letter. I sure hope the demeanor expressed by him on your editorial page is not present in his classroom.
It is quite apparent Mr. Swanberg does not have a clue of how the various programs within the Food Security Act work or how and why they are in existence.
Our operation does cooperate and participate, but, Mr. Swanberg, had you completed your homework you could have ascertained the fact that a grain facility loan gets repaid and the dollars repaid do not get erased from the website you choose to quote.
The facility grain fund is very similar in nature to revolving loan programs used by cities, counties, electric co-ops, etc. to fund construction in areas where conventional banking is not realistic. This particular fund was established during the tenure of DFL Congressman Peterson in the ag committee. It was necessitated as the deteriorating infrastructure of the nation cannot handle the volume of commodities needed to feed the population centers. Due to the nature of the structure, conventional financing is not realistic.
Also, in a case of a national disaster, the government wanted the food supply to be scattered throughout the nation rather than huge elevators in a few locations. “Not Welfare For Farmers!”
The marketing loans also get repaid. This amount also will show up on the site you choose to quote. Repayment does not get reflected on the site. Marketing loans are very short term (9 mos.) and fill another gap within the conventional banking system because of mandates in the industry. If an individual uses this fund (usually during a period of large supplies and no market) the loan amounts accumulate on the total which Mr. Swanberg quotes and repayment does not. Over a period of years, the numbers get distorted. Again, not a means of welfare for farmers.
Yes, Mr. Swanberg, we do cooperate and participate in protecting and improving our natural resources. The area of the river valley, which God and my grandfather entrusted my wife and I to be the caretakers, is in pristine condition and hopefully will remain that way when someone else becomes the landlord.
Yes, Mr. Swanberg, NRCS did cost share on this project. However, this is again not a gift. My wife borrowed about $50,000 for our share of expenses on this project. How much are you investing on an annual basis to improve and protect our natural part of our nation?
Yes, we are still making payments on it. In our case, Mr. Swanberg, if you would take the time to properly research, you will find a “Big Minus Sign,” not the sum you reference.
When all is said and done, Mr. Swanberg, get a brighter light bulb, without the mercury in it so you can envision the entire spectrum. The malicious, misleading attack on a lady that has toiled so hard to care for a piece of earth where nary a blade of grass is misplaced was just not needed or justified. It did you and the INH no justice.
To the editors, if you think printing unsubstantiated trash will encourage contributions to the editorial page, you are wrong. It may incite coffee shop gossip for a time, but that is all. If you prefer to allow insidious allegations, perhaps the name of your paper could be changed to The Todd Tabloid or Independent Gossip Gazette. I think you and Mr. Swanberg both owe my wife an apology.
Roger Dukowitz
Browerville

August 17, 2011

Letter to the Editor:
I was just catching up on some reading tonight and saw a letter to the editor from about a month back, which had been penned by Roger Dukowitz from Browerville. Mr. Dukowitz and I have differing views on the true value of our government’s investment through spending on all of us, as residents of Minnesota. That is a debate that we will undoubtedly have going into the next election cycle; as we look once again at our past social commitments, financial obligations as well as the increasingly swollen nature of concentrated wealth in our nation and our state.
What caught my eye especially in Mr.Dukowitz’s letter was his apparent suspicion that the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) was somehow a sinister intrusion on our personal freedom, fomented by our President. It is not and I will explain why. The old style incandescent bulb is a 100 year old technology and what they produce besides light is heat. Lots of heat! As anyone who has looked at their electric bill after running a 110 volt heater in a guest room for Christmas visitors can tell you; 110 volt is a very costly way to generate heat. The universal switch to CFL bulbs will reduce dramatically our energy needs and costs as individuals and as a nation. This will significantly lessen our combined dependence on imported oil and that reality will expand our liberty dramatically by lessening the need for wars in oil producing areas, and freeing money for other purposes, among many other benefits.
I can appreciate Mr. Dukowitz’s concern that we need to watch how our money is spent. Who doesn’t share that concern? No one wants to feel victimized by the hardship created from paying for others through spending programs. In Mr. Dukowitz’s case I would suggest that he use some of the approximately $180,000 he has received from the Federal commodities/subsidy programs since 1995 to pay for those CFL bulbs and then put the savings on his electric bill in the bank. In fairness, the Environmental Working Group site (http://farm.ewg.org/persondetail.php?custnumber=A06602787&summlevel=address) did list Bonnie J. Dukowitz as the recipient of record for $172,500 and Roger only received just over $5,000 in the same time period; so if the fact that Roger shares the same last name, address and phone number with Bonnie is a coincidence; I beg his pardon.
The bulbs are a good idea. The public government expenditure and spending record is really just an interesting reality check. A reality check that fiscal hawk and subsidy recipient Michelle Bachmann shares with Mr. Dukowitz.
Myron Swanberg
Eagle Bend