Hometown News February 26, 2026

Hometown News

29442

320-285-2323

Email: htnews@icloud.com Website:

Embrace employees’ different skills -By Harvey Mackay

MONDAYS • 5 PM

The Hometown News is a free weekly publication, which is published and distributed every Thursday.

Free Distribution In: Albany Avon Bowlus Burtrum Elmdale Freeport Greenwald Grey Eagle Holdingford Meire Grove Long Prairie Melrose New Munich St. Anna St. Rosa Sauk Centre Swanville Upsala

Sales: Lori Young Office: 320-285-2323

Cell: 612-597-2998

Email: htnews@icloud.com

Classified Ads

Email: htnews@icloud.com

Personal Classifieds:

Garage Sales, For Sale Items, Wanted (Personal) FREE up to 20 words; 25¢ for each additional word. Classifieds over the word limit must be prepaid.

Business Related Classifieds: Wanted (Items for Profit), Help Wanted, For Rent: $5.00 for the first 20 words, 25¢ per each additional word.

Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336. Email: htnews@icloud.com

Photos • Press Releases

Photos & press releases are welcome.

Email: htnews@icloud.com

Obituaries

Publish one time free of charge. Email: htnews@icloud.com

Card of Thanks

Cards of Thanks is $5.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ per each additional word. Must be prepaid.

To be billed: a $5 minimum applies. Email: htnews@icloud.com

Announcements

Birth Announcements, Anniversaries, Birthday Open House, Engagements, Weddings are free of charge for one publication. For additional weeks $15/week.

Email: htnews@icloud.com

A prestamped, self addressed envelope is required to return photos.

Subscriptions

The subscription rates for 13 weeks is $20.00

26 weeks is $36.00

52 weeks is $72.00

Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336

One night some forest animals discussed the importance of education for the future success of their children. A committee was formed to consider starting a charter “Animal School for Success.” The Forest Board of Education approved a curriculum which included courses in running, climbing, swimming and flying. It was decided that all the animals should take all the courses to become more well-rounded.

Everyone was excited about the new school, but the curriculum created quite a stir. While excelling at running, the rabbit nearly drowned in his first swimming class. The rabbit got a concussion in his first flying class, so he missed several days of school and ultimately dropped out.

The duck was a phenomenal swimmer, but running was not her forte’. She got detention for refusing to move from waddling to running and was provided private tutoring during detention to work on her running skills. The duck’s webbed feet got infected, so she failed running.

The students made fun of the owl for his limited “who” vocabulary and was suspended for sleeping through the daytime classes.

Even the king of the birds, the eagle, was a challenge and refused to follow the written curriculum. He asked his counselor permission to be dismissed from running, climbing and swimming classes as he noted his flying ability

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

was all he needed. The school board stuck to their position that all students must excel in all classes to be successful.

The eagle flew away. Other animals left to start their own school that would allow them to get better at what came naturally. Animals from all parts of the forest flocked to participate in this revolutionary school that focused on developing their talents. All the animals were engaged in making this education a success.

This version of Aesop’s fable shows that leaders need to understand what skills, talents and abilities people possess and then passionately steer them in the direction of what they were designed to be.

I believe Andrew Grove, former CEO of Intel Corporation, was right when he said, “You have to understand what it is that you are better at than anybody else and mercilessly focus your efforts on it.”

Could this be a condition that permeates your workplace? Are you fully developing people’s natural abilities or spending more time pushing them in directions where they are doomed to fail?

When you attempt to squeeze everybody to fit in the same mold, you can expect frustration, discouragement, mediocrity and failure to surface. Be careful not to force people to become something they are not capable of becoming.

Instead, capitalize on the varied strengths and talents that individuals bring to the table. Understanding the importance of diverse skills in the workplace is crucial for both personal and organizational growth.

“Diversity of skills is an important element of any effective team,” said Bill George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic and a professor of ethics at Harvard University.

Unless you are a one-person operation,

you need to embrace the contributions that different team members possess. Here’s why:

Enhanced problem solving. Employees with different skills bring unique viewpoints, which can lead to innovative solutions and creative problem-solving. Diverse skill sets also enable teams to adapt to changing circumstances and tackle a wide range of challenges effectively.

Increased productivity. When employees have a mix of skills, tasks can be allocated more efficiently, ensuring that each person is working to their strengths. Teams can operate more smoothly when members possess complementary skills, reducing bottlenecks and improving overall workflow.

Upcoming Events

• New Munich Lions Pancake & Sausage Breakfast from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church Basement, New Munich. See ad on page 2.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3

• Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting at 2 p.m. at CentraCare West Campus Board Room, Long Prairie.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

• Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. See ad on page 8.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

• Dollars for Scholars Mega Bingo at 1 p.m at Shattucks Hub Supper Club, Burtrum.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

• Skywarn Spotter Training from 2-4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Upsala.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20

• Farming Lions 21st Annual Fish Fry from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at Trappers Pub &d Grub, Farming.

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

• Knights of Columbus St. Gregory the Great #12604 Breakfast from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, Bowlus.

• Spring Fundraiser Bake Sale, Lunch, Bingo & Raffle starting at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Church Basement, Meire Grove.

WED., MARCH 25

FRI.-SUN., MARCH 27-29

• 16th Annual “Journey With Jesus to Calvary” Play at St. Francis of Assisi Church, St. Francis. Wed. at 7 p.m. Fri.-Sat. at 7:30 p.m. Sun. at 1 p.m. AL-ANON • AVON

• Meets every Monday from 5-6 p.m. at the Avon City Hall.

ALBANY SENIORS

• Meets 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center. ALBANY TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.

• Planning Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.

BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall.

BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. CHAIR YOGA EXERCISES

• Meets Tuesday & Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Community Center, Upsala.

FEET FIRST CLINIC

• Freeport: Meets 1st Wednesday of the month at the Freeport Senior Center.

• Holdingford: Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

• Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution 1st Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre.

FREEPORT CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

FREEPORT LIONS CLUB

• Bingo every Saturday thru March at 1:30 p.m. at the Corner Pub, Freeport.

FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING

• Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.

GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m. LINE DANCING

• Meets Mondays at 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. alternating Mondays at the Melrose American Legion.

MELROSE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.

MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX.

• Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms.

MELROSE LEGION #101 POST/AUX.

• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. (Aux. Sept.-May.)

STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

• Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany. SUNSHINE CLUB

• Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.

ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.

SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL

• 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP

• Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall.

UPSALA CITY COUNCIL

• Meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

War Prisoners

American casualties, half by death and half by injuries, in the WWII European theater, totaled about half a million. There were another 94,000 prisoners of war being held in more than 100 prisoner of war camps in Germany. A prisoner of war occurs when he is being overrun by enemy troops, has run out of ammunition or decides he is physically or mentally unable to continue fighting. The most hazardous time of becoming a prisoner of war is when first presenting yourself to your captors. As a battle is raging, troops on both sides are experiencing injuries and deaths to their buddies and friends. Having an adversary walking toward you with his hands up sometimes causes the opposition to simply fire a shot to eliminate another one of the enemy. This happens on both sides of the battlefield. If the surrendering individual gets past the front-line troops, his chances of survival are much better.

When making comparisons of the survival rates of prisoners of war being held by various countries, the German POWs had the best treatment. In the beginning of the European War, the Germans were being sent to Britain. Since England was experiencing terrible bombing by the Nazis, both in their naval shipping and London and suburbs, they were having a hard time feeding their own population, without the added 150,000 German POWs. So most of the Germans were shipped to the US. Many of our geographical areas had a shortage of manpower, since their workers were either in Europe or off in the east fighting Japan. We gave the POWs hot food, army camp like living space, jobs, wages, medical care, probably better than they would have had back home. This may have been the result of the strong Germanic ancestry in the US.

German held POWs usually were fenced in areas with very little food, very little clothing along with open board sheds to protect them from the winter. One survivor told of having one blanket for 6 prisoners. Remembering that many of the POWs had pneumonia and severe lower intestinal distress from the unsanitary food. The mortality rate was still less than 10%.

Japanese POW camps were very bad. The mortality rate for POWs was close to 40%. This was caused by terrible medical care, rotten food and frequent killings by the guards. The Red Army killed up to 1,000,000 POWs and refugees in their drive through Eastern Europe. I suppose that after the German

Army laid waste to a large land area and large cities, they felt they had an opportunity for revenge, but to all of the Eastern European countries? And why are they still trying to reek their revenge on the world after 80 years?

Germany began prison camps when Hitler came to power in 1933. Most of the prisoners were political dissidents, seventh day Adventists, sexual deviants and Jewish people. Auschwitz, one of the better known camps, was responsible for gassing 1,000,000 Jewish prisoners. It is estimated that over 6,000,000 prisoners died in the concentration camps. Since WWII, Germany has paid over 90 billion dollars in reparations to the Jews. Money doesn’t take away the pain of loss. For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at kuehneins@gmail.com.

Harvey Mackay continued from pg 2

Better team dynamics. A diverse skill set fosters a collaborative environment where team members learn from each other and build on each other’s strengths. Employees with varied skills often bring different communication styles, which can enhance understanding and teamwork.

Personal and professional growth. Exposure to different skills encourages lifelong learning and development, which is essential for career advancement. Employees who can use and develop their diverse skills are often more engaged and satisfied with their work.

Organizational success. Companies with a workforce that possesses a wide range of skills can better meet market demands and innovate, giving them a competitive edge. A diverse skill set within the organization makes it more resilient to disruptions and capable of seizing new opportunities.

Those opportunities are more likely to come your way when your employees are confident in their abilities and the support of their leaders. Challenge yourself to be that leader!

Mackay’s Moral: A tapestry of diverse skills weaves a stronger, more resilient and innovative organization. Embrace the variety to thrive.

Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce

Have you ever made plans to do a project, and something came up that totally changed the direction of what you had planned? Lori and I have a small ministry we call PB’s Ministries, and when we can, we travel to where there is a need. About three months ago the Free Church in Grand Marais contacted me to ask if I could help them build a sound booth. We talked about it and decided to go help them. We got there last Sunday night, and on Monday morning at about 2 AM I became sick and it lasted the entire day. We worked Tuesday, but then Grand Marais had a record-breaking blizzard, so we didn’t work on Wednesday. Then someone had his hired man help me on Thursday and Friday. So, despite losing two days of work, we might be back on schedule!

Instead of getting upset over failed plans, maybe we ought to be in an attitude of gratitude that God loves us enough to work His plan in our lives. Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

With all the difficulty of this week, a great verse for me would be Romans 5:2-3 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

This next verse is one of my favorites, that sort of reprimands us and reminds us at the same time, about how God takes care of us. Isaiah 40:28-30 “Do you not know? Have you

not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…”

The encouragement here is, please don’t let circumstances take the joy out of your life! God Never Fails! Hope in the Lord!!

-Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916

THURSDAYS • 5-9 PM

FRIDAY LENT SPECIALS • 5-9

Robert “Bob”

Koetter

Robert “Bob” Koetter, 81-yearold resident of Swanville, MN passed away Friday, February 20, 2026 at the St. Cloud VA Hospital. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Swanville with Father Arlie Sowada officiating. Burial will take place in the Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 P.M. on Friday and 10 to 11 A.M. on Saturday, all at St. John’s Catholic Church in Swanville. Military Rites will be conducted by the Swanville American Legion Post #313 and the Swanville VFW Post #6037. Caring for Bob and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls, MN.

Robert “Bob” Koetter, was born on December 22, 1944, to the late Norbert and Dorothy Koetter. He attended country school before graduating from Little Falls High School in 1963. Shortly after, he joined the United States Army and was drafted to serve during the Vietnam War, where he served as a cook, and was honorably discharged on August 24, 1973. In 1966, Bob met the love of his life, Frances Kimman, at the Little Falls Ballroom. They were united in marriage in 1967 and built a beautiful life together, raising six children. Their marriage was rooted in faith, hard work, laughter, and deep devotion to family and community. Bob held several jobs throughout his life. Early in his career, he drove a milk truck and later worked for Von’s Supply for about 12 years, sharing many memorable stories from his delivery

Card of Thanks

routes. One of his proudest accomplishments was purchasing the grocery store in Swanville with Fran - Bob and Fran’s Grocery - which became a beloved staple of the community. The store was far more than a business to Bob; it was his gathering place. The coffee pot was always on, treats were always available, and there was always time for conversation. He took great pride in writing the store’s flyer himself, pecking away with his two pointer fingers, filling it with jokes, stories, and the occasional grammatical error that customers came to love. Bob enjoyed fishing and hunting throughout his life. He especially loved playing cards with just about anyone willing to sit down at the table—and he was never shy about collecting his winnings. He was deeply devoted to his Catholic faith, his church in Swanville, and his community. Bob was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Lions Club, VFW, and the Swanville Sportsmen Club. Above all, Bob was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Bob is survived by his children, Bill (Julie), Jerome (Dawn), David (Ann), Sandra (Brian), Paul (Kathy), and Amanda (Adam); siblings, Delores, Lorraine (Jerry), Jim (Nancy), Steve (Kathy). He was a proud grandfather to Desiree, Dustin, Jill, Travis, Stephanie, Ellie, Matt, Ryan, Tanner, Jamison, Kaleb, Sammy, Eric, RaeAnn, Gavin, Madalin, Alice, and Landon; and greatgrandfather to Kayleigh, Silas, Lilly, Stella, Benjamin, Ripken, Huxx, and two more greatgrandchildren on the way. Bob was known not only as Grandpa to his own family, but as “the town grandpa” to many children who stopped by his house, visited often, or simply found a welcoming place at his table. He lived his life with his door open to everyone.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Frances; his brother, Gerald (Rita); brother-in-law, Fred, and his daughter-in-law, Rebecca.

Bob’s legacy of faith, generosity, humor, and community spirit will live on in the countless lives he touched. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

We wish to thank everyone for all your acts of kindness during and since the sudden passing of Miranda. We cannot put into words our gratitude for all your prayers, cards, floral bouquets, your generosity with food, gifts for Hank to help him through these difficult days and your monetary gifts. Through her loss and our sadness, we definitely know we are living in an area with so many caring and compassionate people.

We are thankful to God for those He has gathered around us. The Family of Miranda Hollenkamp

To Submit a Card of Thanks the cost is $5.00 for the first 50 words, 10¢ for each additional word. MUST BE PREPAID. Mail to: Hometown News, 29442 120th St., Grey Eagle, MN 56336.

Dorothy B. Trisko

Dorothy B. Trisko, age 93 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Monday, February 23, 2026 at Fairway Pines Assisted Living in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, February 27 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Todd Schneider officiating and Rev. Kevin Soenneker concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

On January 7, 1933 a daughter was born to Alois and Mary (Kammers) Schmitz. She was baptized and named Dorothy Barbara at St. Peter & Paul’s Church in Richmond, MN. She attended country school through 5th grade in District 132 in rural Richmond. She completed 6th through 8th grade in District 6 in Kandota Township after moving to Sauk Centre to a farm in West Union Township. Dorothy completed her education at Sauk Centre Public High School graduating in 1951.

On June 15, 1955, she was united in marriage to Raphael Trisko. She farmed alongside Raphael in Ashley Township for 36 years before moving into the town of Sauk Centre. They were the parents of five children: Elizabeth, Janet, Mary, Gregory, and Paula. In retirement, Dorothy cleaned at the Sauk Centre Herald office and at First National Bank.

Dorothy was a very active member of St. Paul’s Church in Sauk Centre. She served on the parish council for many years. Dorothy treasured being part of the first group of Eucharist Ministers installed at St. Paul’s. She served as a Eucharistic Minister for 40 years not only during Mass but to those who were homebound and in the nursing home. Dorothy belonged to Christian Mothers where she served as president and head of Lunch Group 3. Dorothy spoke highly of Group 3 because of their dedication and hard work serving funeral lunches.

Dorothy was involved in the PTA, Lyman Prairie Extension, and Lyman Prairie Birthday Club. Dorothy was a talented quilter and belonged to Nine Patch Quilt Club for many years. She loved her garden, canning, baking, sewing, and making homemade bread, noodles, and caramel rolls. Dorothy was an excellent cook and loved making her family’s favorites when they came to visit. She enjoyed hosting holidays for family. Dorothy was also an avid card player belonging to several card clubs.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Liz (Lyle) Lundebrek of Alexandria, Jan (Tom) Pfeninger of Villard, Mary (Richard) Towner of Benson, Gregg Trisko of Sauk Centre, and Paula Trisko of Dassel; grandchildren, Dominic Lundebrek, Kristine (Jake) Nystrom, Dustin (Rose) Lundebrek, Sara (Bill) Friedrichs, Patrick (Kayla) Pfeninger, Nicole (Dan Emmel) Towner, Joseph (Kate Anschutz) Towner, and Danielle (Jacob) Barthelemy; fifteen great-grandchildren, Morgan, Hunter, Allison, Ryan, Andrew, Elizabeth, Piper, Makenna, Zoey, Nathan, Emmit, Jakin, Ava, Margaux, and Aiden; sisters, Mary (Dan) Weber and Diane Schmitz; sisters-in-law, Lenore Schmitz and Julie Schmitz; brothers-inlaw, Ray Trisko and Clarence Trisko; and sisterin-law, Carol Trisko.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Raphael, on April 12, 2003; parents, Alois and Mary Schmitz; brothers and sisters-inlaw, Richard Schmitz, Florian (Rosella) Schmitz, Donald Schmitz, Leon (Betty) Schmitz, and Alois (Lorraine) Schmitz; sisters, Edna (Leonard) Orth and Sue (Jerry) Dirkes; mother and father-in-law, Carl and Anna Trisko; brothers and sisters-in-law, Alphonse (Juliana) Trisko, Irene Trisko, Viola (Frank) Kraemer, Jerome Trisko, Rita Trisko, and Richard Trisko; and great-granddaughter, Isabelle Barthelemy.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.

Carol Lee Duclos

On February 23rd, 2026, our beloved Mom, Carol Lee Duclos, 75 year old resident of Swanville, MN, was reunited with our Dad, Denny Duclos. She married Denny on September 8, 1973, and together they raised 3 sons and 1 daughter. They lived in Anoka, Swanville, Circle Pines, 30 years in Isanti, and finally retired in Swanville, MN. Her hobbies were never just pastimes; they were extensions of her generous heart. Whether she was cooking a favorite meal, sewing something with care; pouring her heart into Christmas calendars, everything she did was meant to bring joy to others. She loved her time with her family in Pillsbury.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Denny; mother, Patricia; father Andrew; brothers, William, James, Robert, Jay; sister Brenda; grandson Mason; and a host of family members.

She is survived by her children, Jeff (Jodie), Joey (Lesia), Billy (Carissa), Katie (George); sisters, Debbie (Leroy), Andrea (Jamie); grandchildren Amber, Amanda (Jeffery), Brandon, Elizabeth (Ty), Avery, Andrew, Alexander, Reid, Olivia, Ean, Abbie, Billy, Sofiia; great-grandchildren, Quientin, Sophie, Lily, and Emma; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at South Isanti Baptist Church in Isanti, MN, at 11:00 AM, with Pastor Bob Venneman officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 AM, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the church prior to the service. Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Bearhead Cemetery in Pillsbury, MN, with a memorial gathering to follow at the Swanville Lion’s Park in Swanville, MN. Lunch will be provided. Caring for Carol and her family is the LeMieur Funeral Home in Swanville, MN.

The Art Of Conversation, Upsala

Congratulations to this month’s People’s Pick winners in the all-community show at The Art of Conversation!

1st place goes to Kailee Janssen for “Canvas Collection” and Lizzy Wielenberg for “Fall at the Lake.”

2nd place is shared by Linda Temp for “Chickadees” and “Red Barn,” Sarah Wielenberg for “Peaceful Pasture,” and Steve Weihsmann for “Upsala Water Tower.”

3rd place was captured by Elaine Stern for “Tufted Titmouse,” Lilli Leither for “Bunny Family,” and Jess Johnson for “Grandpa’s Bridge.”

There were so many good pieces that nearly every entry received votes!

In March we will feature the artwork of Lily Brutger, who teaches art in Sartell—St. Stephen. Lily is the former Art Coordinator for the BOHO Cafe’ in Holdingford. Lily’s work features landscapes and animals and the personalities of her subjects. You can see more of her work at www.lilybrutgerart. com.

There will also be an exhibit of mural art by Lily and Brenda Rudolph. Stop in to see great art and to have a cup of great coffee!

Gallery hours are: Friday 4-6 pm; Saturday 10 am-noon; and Sunday noon-4 pm.

The gallery is located at 105 S. Main, Suite 2, in Upsala.

Albany Senior Dining

Volunteers Needed! Call 320-845-4070

Mon., Mar. 2: Mexican rice casserole, pineapple, churro, bread.

Tues., Mar. 3: BBQ pork, macaroni & cheese, broccoli, brownie.

Wed., Mar. 4: Sweet & sour chicken, rice, oriental vegetables, mandarin oranges, cookie.

Thurs., Mar. 5: Hamburger tomato casserole, peaches, chocolate pudding, bread.

Fri., Mar. 6: Tuna noodle casserole, peas, cherry strudel, bread.

Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.

Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game.

Dave Says -By Dave Ramsey

Dear Dave, I talked to my dad the other day, and he wants me to pay for his life insurance policy. He says I should look at it as an investment, and he doesn’t want to pay for it himself anymore, since he’ll never get any benefit from the policy. My dad is 65 and in pretty good health. I’m 24 and not sure how I feel about his request. Can you give me some advice on handling the situation?

-Frankie

Dear Frankie,

This is really weird. I’m sure it was doubly weird for you to hear it from your dad! Even if you didn’t say it out loud, you had to have asked yourself, “Say what?”

I’d take a hard pass on this one. Do you get what I’m saying? The answer to this question is no. Plain and simple. If your dad is in good health, you could be paying on this thing for another 20 or 30 years. That’s ridiculous! Plus, it sounds like someone needs to explain the purpose of life insurance to him. The proceeds from a life insurance policy are there to protect the ones you leave behind when you die — your family — so they can cover the bills and be financially stable without your income. Life insurance is not an investment.

Now, I know he’s your dad. That makes the situation a little touchy. But if I were you, I would sit down with him and respectfully let him know I have no intention of “investing”

in his death. You’re 24. And in my mind, that means you have other kinds of investing you should be looking into — like retirement planning.

If you’re anything like me, you’re fighting the impulse to be a little snarky about this whole thing. But this is your dad. A little respect is in order. Besides, being snarky isn’t going to solve anything, even if it does make you feel better for a minute. Something tells me your dad does crazy things like this from time to time. He’s little quirky, maybe. But deep down, he knows this is a strange request. My advice? Don’t go into a lengthy discussion about it. Just smile, thank him for the offer and let him know you’re going another route with your investments. Two sentences and a kind, but firm, no.

Good luck, Frankie!

Ask The Motor Medics®

From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.

Dear Motor Medics,

There are so many new things on cars today. How do you keep up with them all? I just bought a new car to me, a 2011 Ford Focus and it has a ton of new stuff on it that I have never heard of being that I just got out of my 1996 Olds Ciera. This car has no gas cap on it. I mean it’s not supposed to but I have a message on the dash that says “Check gas cap” so now what?

-Seth in Vandalia, Missouri

-Dave

* Leadership and small-business expert Dave Ramsey is the CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored eight national bestselling books, including “EntreLeadership,” and he’s a host of “The Ramsey Show” and “The EntreLeadership Podcast.”

A Diet Funny

A man was overweight, so his doctor put him on a diet.

“I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a day, repeat this process for two weeks and the next time I see you, you’ll have lost at least five pounds,” the doctor said.

When the man returned, he shocked the doctor by having lost nearly 20 pounds.

“That’s amazing!” the doctor said, “did you follow my instructions?”

The man nodded. “I’ll tell you though, I thought I was going to pass out that third day.”

“From hunger, you mean?”

“No, from skipping.”

Dear Seth,

Ok Seth, now were on question overload, but we can handle it. First, we don’t know how we keep up with it all, we just do. That’s our number one asked question on our radio show Under The Hood. We have great memories and see a lot of vehicles in our shop which helps. As for the new features, they are coming out of the woodwork for sure. Your car is one of those with the new no fuel cap feature. At least you can’t lose the fuel cap. The filler tube now just has a valve and spring to seal the filler neck and if it gets dirty and damaged it can trip the light you have on now. It is very important to keep the area clean, we use a damp cloth, not soaking wet, to clean the area on a regular basis. Good luck with the new car.

-Take care, the Motor Medics Dear Motor Medics, I have a question about your radio show. You have helped me with car repairs on four different occasions and I was able to fix it myself 3 times and saved money and the 4th time you were talking about a recall I didn’t even know existed and I was able to have my problem at no charge at my local dealership. I want to know how you know so much about

cars and how you guys started doing the show and this column.

-Mark in Inwood, Iowa

Dear Mark,

We’re happy to help and it gives us great pleasure to know we are helping others save money and keep their automotive stress levels down. Mark, we work on cars everyday in our own repair shop doing everything you hear on the show and that is a great learning center for us. Russ also has a crazy memory that never lets anything go so he keeps all that knowledge and passes it on to our listeners. Neither Russ or Shannon use a computer to answer the questions on the air. We started the show back in 1990 as a half hour show, never dreaming we would have a worldwide audience 25 years later. At one point we were answering over 300 emails a day with many being similar so we started this column to help multiple folks at once with one answer. We are blessed to have such great folks listening.

-Take care, the Motor Medics For entertainment only. Always consult your local shop and follow all safety procedures before repairs. Come visit the Motor Medics® online at Underthehoodshow.com.

Local Municipality Minutes

Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com

Grey Eagle Township • February 2nd, 2026

Call to Order: Mike Rohe called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Present Board: Mike Rohe, John Young, Alan Roering and Christine Gagne. Also Present: Erv Herdering

Agenda Approval: Mike presented a preliminary agenda and asked for additions or corrections. John moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote, motion carried

Approval of Minutes: Mike presented the minutes from January 5th meeting and asked if any corrections. John moved to approve the January 5th, 2026 minutes, with the change of time for the Audit meeting to be immediately following the February 2nd 2026 town meeting, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote, motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Christine reported the financials for the month of January, 2026:

-Beginning monthly balance: $162,996.77

-Receipts: $3,931.53

-Disbursements: $27,321.79

-Ending Balance: $139,606.51

-Investment Balance: $189,772.66

-Indebtedness Balance: 371,392.13

Alan made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by John. Mike called for a vote. Motion carried.

Town Clerk’s Report: Christine presented January claims totaling $21,803.00. With one additional outstanding claim still not payable as of the meeting date, payable to Joe Riley Construction in the amount of $29,885.34. This final audit and approval by Blaine Green, P.A., Civil Engineer and Vice President of Widseth.

John made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote, motion carried.

Discussion was held regarding the potentiality of paying down the outstanding indebtedness balance to reduce the cost of interest to the township and was decided to pause on that decision until such time as determined that any unforeseen expenses may come up in the meantime leaving the township in a deficient position.

Clerk gave notice to the supervisors in the capacity of employees that they may be eligible for future Leave Paid benefits, in compliance by the State to give proper notice to all employees.

Payment to PERA for township employee’s retirement benefits is now required to be paid monthly and via EFT payments. A motion was made by Alan to authorize the Clerk/Trea-

surer to facilitate the automatic withdrawal of these payments monthly, seconded by John, Mike called for a vote, motion carried. Correspondence (mail and emails) were reviewed.

Township received proof from Magnifi Financial that they have provided excess balance coverage to Township.

Todd County notified the Township of their scheduled date to meet with the residents of Grey Eagle Township on April 8th, 2026 at 1:00 for the annual Equalization Meeting.

Township received Certificate of Coverage from MATIT for workman’s compensation coverage.

Motion was made by Alan to approve adoption of Resolution no. 2026-01 authorizing Township payment of 100% of Minnesota Paid Leave Premiums, seconded by John, Mike called for a vote, Motion carried.

Motion was made by John to approve adoption of Resolution no. 2026-02 Authorizing Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs), seconded by Alan, Mike called for a vote, Motion carried.

Motion was made by John to approve adoption of Resolution no. 2026-03 Designating Official and Courtesy Posting Locations, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote, motion carried.

Road and Bridge: Erv reported on current road maintenance activities, including the plowing and sanding of roads as needed. The current high winds created challenges on roads from drifting, Erv is working hard to quickly maintain the safety of the roads.

Public Comments: Mike asked for public comments.

Adjournment: Alan moved to adjourn, seconded by John, Mike called for a vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 PM.

Next Township meeting is scheduled for March 2nd 2026, 7:00 PM.

The Annual Township Meeting is scheduled for March 10th, at 8:00 PM.

Minutes pending approval as of February 2nd 2026.

Christine Gagne, Clerk/Treasurer

Grey Eagle Township • February 2nd, 2026

Grey Eagle Township Audit Meeting was called to order by Mike Rohe at 7:35 p.m.

Members Present: Mike Rohe, Alan Roering, John Young and Christine Gagne

A motion was made by John to approve the minutes from the February 10th, 2025 audit meeting, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote, motion was passed.

Christine presented the 2025 financial report, current investments list and the report of income and expenditures. The report included

MILLWOOD TOWNSHIP NOTICE

Notice is hereby given: The Millwood Township Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the St. Rosa Park to conduct all necessary business prescribed by law.

Kallista Sprenger Clerk, Millwood Township

NOTICE: RESIDENTS OF ELMDALE TOWNSHIP

The Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM, at the Elmdale Township Hall. (PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE OF ANNUAL MEETING) In case of inclement weather, the meeting will be postponed until the third Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM

The Regular Monthly Meeting will take place on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM. Please note the Regular Monthly Meeting is being moved due to the Annual Meeting.

Kim Harren, Township Clerk

GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

MARCH 10, 2026 • 8:00

PM

Notice is hereby given to the residents of Grey Eagle Township, County of Todd, State of Minnesota that the Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 8:00 PM.

In case of inclement weather, the meeting may be postponed until the third Tuesday of March, March 17, 2026 and if inclement weather also postpones the third Tuesday of March the Board will set a date within 30 days following the third Tuesday of March.

The Annual Meeting will commence at 8:00 PM to conduct all necessary business prescribed by law. The Annual Meeting will be held at the following location: Grey Eagle Town Hall, 212 East State Street, Grey Eagle, MN 56336.

Christine Gagne, Clerk/Treasurer

a beginning balance of $202,178.95. Total receipts of $1,127,737.14. Total disbursements of $1,166,919.32 and an ending balance for the year of $162,996.77. A motion was made by Alan to approve the Cash Control statement as presented, John seconded the motion, Mike called for a vote, motion was passed.

For the purpose of auditing the towns records the township supervisors were given 2025 receipts along with written receipts books and disbursement ledgers along with bank statements for review. Claims and receipts were reviewed, dating January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. Financial reports balanced with bank statements, disbursements and receipts. A motion to approve the audit was made by John, seconded by Alan. Mike called for a vote, motion passed.

The budget of Expenditures and Income were reviewed by the board. Discussion on

GUEST

levy recommendations for the annual meeting made, noting that there are several expected increases in costs for ongoing projects and continued maintenance of roads including fire protection recommending a possible increase in fire and R&B fund. Further discussion will be made at the annual meeting.

Dennis Bacon will conduct a full audit for review at our March meeting.

John made a motion to adjourn the meeting, second by Alan, Mike called for a vote, motion passed. Meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

Minutes as of February 2nd, 2026 subject to approval at next Board of Audit meeting

Christine Gagne, Clerk/Treasurer

OFFICIAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC TESTING OF VOTING MACHINES TO BE HELD IN MELROSE TOWNSHIP STEARNS COUNTY, MINNESOTA

NOTICE is hereby given that a public accuracy test of the election equipment to be used at the March 10, 2026 Township Election for Stearns County, will be held Saturday, March 7th at 9:30 AM. The test will be conducted at the Town Hall, 41248 County Road 13, Melrose, MN.

Cindy Willman, Melrose Township Clerk • 612-280-0595

MELROSE TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF ELECTION AND ANNUAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given to qualified voters that the Annual Township Election and Meeting will be held at the Town Hall, 41248 County Road 13, Melrose, MN on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The election polls will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the purpose of electing:

One Supervisor, for the term of 3 years

The Annual Meeting will begin at 8:15 p.m. after the polls close.

The Board of Canvass will convene following the Annual Meeting to certify the official election results.

In the event of inclement weather, the election and Annual Meeting will be held on March 17, 2026, at the above time and location.

The Town Hall will be open on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for absentee voting.

Cindy Willman, Melrose Township Clerk • 612-280-0595

Join Us for Some Folk & Old- Time Music

WEDNESDAY,

Village View Apartments

University of Minnesota Extension to Host Poultry Workshop on March 17

The University of Minnesota Extension will host a poultry workshop for small flock and backyard poultry owners on March 17th, 2026 from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm in the Commissioner’s Board Room at the Historic Courthouse in Long Prairie. This workshop is designed to provide essential knowledge for raising a healthy and productive small flock and to address common poultry care misconceptions.

Participants will connect with University of Minnesota Extension educators and other poultry enthusiasts while discussing mobile poultry housing, heritage breed research, and practical biosecurity measures to keep flocks disease-free. Jed Fiskness, Fiskness Family Farm, will discuss tips, tricks, and best practices for raising healthy chicks that will turn into

CLASSIFIED ADS

WANTED TO BUY: Butcher cows, bulls, fats & walkable cripples: also horses, sheep & goats. 320-235-2664. SC-odB

WANTED: Cars and pickups from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, in your weeds or sheds. 218-640-3807 or 218-756-2257.

FOR SALE: Springer Setter cross dog. Playful, friendly, active, comes with kennel, $150. Pictures available 320-292-4620.

productive birds for your farm.

Dr. Carol Cardona, Pomeroy Chair in Avian Health at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, will provide an update on the status and continued risks of avian influenza. Participants will learn practical tips for sustainable use of personal protective equipment. Action plans will be developed to use in the event of an outbreak. Most importantly learners will review how to keep their flock safe and healthy.

Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Pre-register by contacting Brenda Miller at: nels4220@umn.edu, 320-5334655 or 215 1st Ave S, Suite 101, Long Prairie, MN 56360. There is a small fee, which includes all handouts. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Learn more about small flock poultry at z.umn.edu/smallpoultry.

FOR SALE: 12 guage shot gun with case. Call 320-256-3739.

FOR SALE: 18 ft. Nitro w/200 Mercury, showroom condition, loaded, 3 Lorenz locators, $45,000 firm. Call 320-232-0211. 3/12

FOR SALE BY OWNER: 3 bed, 2 bath patio home with 3 car garage, North end of Albany, MN. Call 320-845-2466.

Be aware of identity thieves and scammers during tax time

With tax filing season in full swing, the Minnesota Department of Revenue is reminding Minnesotans to be aware of scammers who use tax time as an opportunity to try to steal the identities, tax refunds, and other personal information from Minnesota taxpayers.

“With millions of Minnesotans filing their taxes before the deadline, tax season is a prime opening for scammers and identity thieves to strike,” said Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart. “Identity theft and scams are preventable—stay informed, verify before you trust, and always safeguard your personal information,”

Below are a few common types of scams and what taxpayers can do to avoid becoming a victim.

Suspicious Emails: Scammers use an email tactic referred to as phishing (as in “fishing for information” and “hooking” victims). This is a scam involving the distribution of emails to trick taxpayers into revealing personal and financial information which can be used to steal their identity. These emails can look legitimate with official looking headers and graphics, and they often ask the recipient to update information or take some type of immediate action.

If you receive a suspicious email, do not click the provided link(s) or reply to the message. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has information on its website on how to report suspicious emails: Report fake IRS, Treasury or tax-related emails and messages | Internal Revenue Service.

Suspicious Text Messages: Text messaging has become an important way in which government agencies communicate with the public. Unfortunately, text scammers are very aware of that fact and have started impersonating government agencies to try to trick recipients into providing personal or financial information. Like scam emails, these texts often aim to produce a sense of urgency by telling recipients they must act soon to make a payment, lose out on refunds, or threaten to have law enforcement sent to their homes.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue does not send unsolicited text messages. Any text

Sobieski &

message from the department is informational only or as requested for two-factor identification for e-Services. Texts from the department will not ask you to click a link to make a payment or claim a refund. The department will never threaten to send law enforcement to your home.

If you receive a suspicious text, do not click the provided link(s) or reply to the message. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has information on its website on how to report suspicious texts: Report fake IRS, Treasury or tax-related emails and messages | Internal Revenue Service.

Suspicious Phone Calls: For years, scammers have been calling taxpayers across the country to try to trick them into providing personal or financial information by posing as IRS or state revenue department officials. If you are concerned about a potentially fraudulent contact by an individual or an organization representing themselves as being from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, please call 651-296-3781 or 1-800-652-9094. An authorized staff member will be able to determine if the contact you received was legitimate.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue will never call you to notify you about an unclaimed refund, demand immediate payment over the phone, or threaten to arrest you.

More information: For more information on tax refund fraud and information about the signs of identity theft and what to do if you’re a victim, visit the department’s website: Identity Theft and Tax Refund Fraud | Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Swanville Lions Club’s 2026

Fishing Contest Raffle Winners

1. $2,500 Cash: Swanville and Sobieski Lions Zianaa Longie

2. 3 day/night Sleeper Ice Fishing at Dale’s on Lake of the Woods Reece Hubbard

3. Milwaukee M18 7 pc Combo Kit: Nilson’s Hardware, Koetter Tire, Swanville Ins..................................Mark Koch

4. $1,000 cash: Swanville and Sobieski Lions Craig Tschida

5. Strikemaster 8” Ice Auger: Fleet Supply, Long Prairie Kara Rogers

6. $250 cash: Greater MN Gas Company, Swanville Tracy Zapzalka

7. $250 cash: Greg & Dianne Peters Gavyn Stangler

8. $250 cash: Big Stone Excavating & Septic Kenny & Kayla Chock

9. $250 cash: BMF Construction & Concrete .... Kelly Maciej

10. $250 cash: First State Bank of Swanville Mary Fussy

11. $250 Gift Card: Scheels Sporting Good, St Cloud Kim Leblanc

12. $200 cash: Shady’s Golden Eagle Sarah Henagin 13. $200 cash: Lucky’s Saloon Diane Majchazak 14. $200 cash: Polish Palace Kaleb Throener 15. $200 cash: Buffy’s Bar & Grill Teresa Woodard

$200 cash: Swanville VFW Cory Larson

$200 cash: Randall State Bank Nate & Steph Brenner

$200 cash: Missota Mixers ........................ Vern Ehrenberg

$200 cash: Badger Creek Farm Matt Blonigen 20. $200