Hometown News
Thursday, June 18, 2026
FREE PUBLICATION
Vol. 27: Issue 6
Happy Father’s Day!
TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED: APPLY IN PERSON
ROLLOFF CONTAINERS
• Remodeling Jobs • Demolition Jobs Shingles • New Construction • All types of Scrap Iron • Household Cleanout (Garbage)
Great For BUSINESS, HOMES & FARMS! We handle any size commercial account! Buyers of all Scrap Metal Call Us
Today for your Demolition Estimate!
Aluminum, Tin, Copper, Brass, Stainless, Batteries, Catalytic Converters, Farm Machinery, Radiators, Autos, Computer Components, Prepared & Unprepared Metals, Plus More!
320-746-2819
www.opatzmetalsinc.com 120 Washington West, Holdingford Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 8 AM-4:30 PM; Sat.: 8 AM-Noon
Happy Father's Day! Made for Morning Coffee & Grandkids.
LP® SmartSide®
Siding • Soffit • Trim & Fascia
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Engineered wood siding & trim looks like real wood with unbeatable durability, longer-lasting beauty, designer colors, and a host of customizable options.
eagledocklift.com
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Mon.-Fri.: 7:30 am-5 pm; Sat.: 8 am-12 pm Building Grey Eagle, MN Supplies Building Materials and Custom Designing
24 HOUR SERVICE • Well Drilling - Residential / Commercial • Well Service / Maintenance • Pump Sales & Service (Jet / Submersible) • Water Treatment & Conditioning • Water Softeners / Salt • Irrigation / Geo-Thermal Drilling
PRICE REDUCED • Big Birch Lake
30304 Aspen Dr., Grey Eagle $549,500
Melrose, MN
320-256-4146 Sydney Kate and a dragon fly. Photo by Jon Newberg.
wheelswater.com
Call the Repair & Refinishing Experts! • Bathtub Refinishing & Repair • Install Premium Acrylic Wall Liners Installs over existing tile no removal or remodeling • Install New Floors in Cracked Out Tubs & Showers • Shower & Bath Slip Resistant Floor Texturing • Bathtub Cutdowns & Door Installations • Grab Bar Installation Limited downtime, • Glass Scratch Removal ready to use the • Fiberglass Repair next day! • Vinyl Window Frame Repair All work is • Countertop Refinishing guaranteed. • Tile Refinishing
Page 2
Dave Ramsey: Dave Says Ask the Motor Medics® Local Municipality Minutes: Grey Eagle City
Page 6 Page 6 Page 7
TMR MIXERS
We salute the hard working Dairy Farmers during June Dairy Month!
LOOKING TO SELL? NEW & USED TMRs Most Sizes On Hand
Mid-Minnesota 320-248-3456
Harvey Mackay
Page 3 On The Tom Kuehne: The Good Old Days Inside... Obituaries: Lehner, Berscheid, Raitor, Soenneker, Frie Pages 4-5
FREE Estimates
www.surfacespecialists.com
Oldest & Most Experienced Patz Dealer in Central MN! Gutter Cleaner Chain & Parts • Scrapers & Conveyor Systems 320-836-2697 www.hartungsales.com 310 Industrial Dr. - Freeport, MN After Hours: 320-267-4401
EXPAND YOUR OPERATION
We can help make that dream a reality
Local Lenders, local decisions. Jennifer Klaphake
320-836-2126 “Customer Service Is y Our Priority”
Gary Schmitz
Derrick Meyer
Move-in ready, year-round property located in the highly desirable Nestle Inn on the east shore of beautiful Big Birch Lake. Renovated in 2025 & 2026, features 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, an open-concept kitchen, dining, & living area. Cozy, wood-burning fireplace. Basement provides additional storage & mechanical space, complete with a forced-air furnace and new mechanicals. Approx. 107 ft. of clean, easily accessible lakeshore with a northwest-facing view— perfect for taking in stunning sunsets. Electricity at the lakeside. Located 45 minutes from St. Cloud & Alexandria; 90 minutes from the Twin Cities metro.
Jean Marthaler
Vice President Lending Vice President Lending Vice President Lending Asst. Vice President Lending - Home Mortgage Specialist
Proud to be recognized by Bauer Financial as one of the strongest financial institutions in the country.
Give Brandon a Call Today!
Brandon Kelly Broker-Realtor
320-491-6107 • 320-732-2817
Graduate REALTOR® Institute
REALTOR®
Email: brandon@centralmnrealty.com www.brandonkellymn.com www.lakehomesbybrandon.com
Page 2 • Hometown News •Thursday, June 18, 2026
Hometown News 29442 120th St. Grey Eagle, MN 56336
320-285-2323
Email: htnews@icloud.com
Website: www.hometownnews.biz www.facebook.com/hometownnews Published By Lori Young
Advertising & News Deadline 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
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Office: 320-285-2323 Cell: 612-597-2998
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What makes a good employee? -By Harvey Mackay When asked the secret to motivating her students, a high school English teacher responded confidently: “I’ve never had a problem inspiring my students. Every class is notified at the beginning of the year that 50 percent of them will fail my class.” Speaking of education, I was reading an article in “The Harvard Gazette” that a close friend sent me on “What makes a good student?” The further I read the more it made me think it’s the same for good employees - curiosity, critical thinking, integrity, inner drive, passion and purpose. Let me give you my take on each of the points that the Harvard professors highlighted. Curiosity. The future belongs to the curious. Curiosity is a hunger to explore and a delight in discovery. When we are curious, we approach the world with a child-like habit of poking and prodding and asking questions. Curiosity makes us interested in a broad range of information about the world around us, not only that with direct utility. We learn for the joy of learning. To great thinkers, curiosity is essential. Critical thinking. When I speak to corporate audiences, the first lesson I share is how some of the best people spend their most productive time looking out the window. Every organization has people who can see the big picture. They don’t get bogged down with a lot of meaningless meetings and paper
shuffling. They’re thinking. It’s the hardest, most valuable task any person performs without question. Making your points to your boss or anyone else requires more than information, which amplifies the need for critical thinking. With so much information bombarding us 24/7, sifting through the content to find factual, legitimate and useful material is no small task. Drive. There are many formulas for success – but none of them work unless you do. Hard work is an important key to success. Without a willingness to work hard, business success is nearly impossible. No matter what industry you work in, hard work is most often the secret to success. Take it from Thomas Edison, who said success is “One percent inspiration, 99% perspiration.” The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it. Working hard becomes a habit, a serious kind of fun. You get self-satisfaction from pushing yourself to the limit, knowing that all the effort is going to pay off. Remember, there is no off switch on a tiger. Integrity. As I have said so many times before: If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters. Assuming the leadership of an organization understands the importance of integrity, the next important decision involves the quality of the people who are hired to work for it. You must be able to trust the people you work with. Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing to do. Complete honesty in little things is not a little thing at all. Honesty, ethics, integrity, values, morals – all mean the same thing. In my estimation, you can interchange them, because they all convey the single attribute
that determines whether a person or an organization can be trusted. Passion and Purpose. Passion is at the top of the list of skills you need to excel no matter what your profession. There is no substitute for passion. If you don’t have an intense, burning desire for what you are doing, there’s no way you’ll be able to work the long, hard hours it takes to become successful. Passion never goes out of fashion. The subtitle to one of my books is, “Love what you do and do what you love.” That pretty much sums up passion. However, I will offer one caveat about passion. If you’re not good at what you are passionate about, it doesn’t matter. Everyone needs a purpose in life. People with a strong sense of purpose know what they want, why they want it, and how they plan to achieve it. Purpose-driven people get in the habit of doing things they don’t like to do in order to accomplish the purpose they have defined for themselves. A life with a purpose is a life full of promise. An anxious mother was questioning Princeton University President Woodrow Wilson, who later became U.S. President,
Harvey Mackay continued to pg 3
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Kemps Ice Cream Treats
ICE
Plumbing Supplies
Central McGowan
Upsala Farm Store Inc. 320-573-2216
211 S. Main St., Upsala
OPEN 7 Days a Week Mon.-Sat. 8-6; Sun. 9-2
Upcoming Events
THURSDAY, JUNE 18 • Grey Eagle Senior Citizens Meeting at 4:30 p.m. Potluck & Bingo to follow at the center. FRI. & SAT., JUNE 19-20 • Avon Area Chamber of Commerce Spunktacular Days. Parade: Sat. at 7 p.m., fireworks to follow. SUNDAY, JUNE 21 • Annual Freeport Fire Department Ham Bar-B-Que from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. SATURDAY, JUNE 27 • Avon Hills Lions Club Pollinator Open House from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in Avon. See ad on page 7. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 • Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. TUESDAY, JULY 7 • Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting at 2 p.m. at CentraCare West Campus Board Room, Long Prairie. FRI.-SUN, JULY 10-12 • 63rd Annual Swanville Mid-Summer Carnival. Sunday Parade at 11:30 a.m. SATURDAY, JULY 11 • Grey Eagle United Methodist Church Annual BBQ Luncheon from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Bake Sale from 8 a.m.-2 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 Mondays & Thursdays at 9:30 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. 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 8 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. UPSALA FARMERS MARKET • Meets every Saturday, June 6-Sept. 26 from 8-11 a.m. at Buffy’s parking lot.
If you have an upcoming event or meeting, please let us know by email: htnews@icloud.com or call 320-285-2323.
Temperatures Date 6/10 6/11 6/12 6/13 6/14 6/15 6/16
LP Gas Refill
High 82 70 77 66 70 77 72
Low 59 54 59 54 46 45 48
Friday
T-storm. High: 70 Low: 48
Weekend Weather Saturday
Sunday
Mostly sunny. High: 73 Low: 51
Mostly sunny. High: 67 Low: 49
Hometown News • Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Page 3
“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne Yesterday’s Farm
Life on the farm in the past was quite different from how things are done today. When one remembers how much physical labor that was needed to get the work done, the older generation must have certainly been more physically strong. To avoid a lot of the scooping, forking, carrying and walking, new labor saving machines appear in most locations. Many farms have a 4-wheeled vehicle that can be used for both work and recreation. It is easy to enter and exit. It will carry a load, travel across mud and snow and is able to attain speeds that will allow road travel. In years past, one would walk a fair distance to the garden carrying tools and bringing back loads of fresh vegetables pushing a wheelbarrow. Now one rides to and from on the 4 wheeler. An old machine with a small front wheel and
Harvey Mackay continued from pg 2
about what Princeton could do for her son. “Madam,” the exasperated Wilson replied, “We guarantee satisfaction or you will get your child back.” Mackay’s Moral: The father of success is work; the mother of achievement is ambition. 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.”
Albany Senior Dining
Volunteers Needed! Call 320-845-4070 Mon., June 22: Tuna noodle casserole, peas, mandarin oranges, dessert. Tues., June 23: Tater tot hotdish, peaches, garden salad, cookie, bread. Wed., June 24: Beef burrito, corn, fiesta rice, cake. Thurs., June 25: Country fried steak, whipped potatoes, gravy, broccoli, bread, cookie. Fri., June 26: Sweet & sour pork, rice, oriental vegetables, bread, cake. Pre-registration requested to dine daily. For more info. call 320-845-4070.
a group of 5 small cultivators toward the rear, that needed to be pushed, has been replaced with a motorized tiller. A push lawn mower has been replaced with a motorized riding mower. The push cart that had two three foot metal wheels and a cargo space near the bottom that could carry 4 milk cans is no longer used. Moving manure and feeds with a fork and shovel has been greatly reduced. Many of these labor intensive jobs, in addition to snow shoveling, is now accomplished by a skidsteer. The 50 pound hay bales, which needed to be manually lifted several times have been replaced by much larger bales that are moved with tractors and skid-steers. Loading and unloading a manure box with a fork has been replaced by a skid-steer and larger and more efficient manure spreaders. I remember the physical energy spent forking manure from the cattle barns and grinding feed every Saturday, especially after getting home late Friday night. Moving water from the well to the needed destinations was a daily chore. First the water needed to be hand-pumped into the pails or filled into the stock tank. After which it was carried to the house, barn, pig slop barrels and chicken barn. The water in the barn was distributed to the cows in the stanchions, the horses, calves and the bull. The house water was poured into a pail with a dipper for drinking. Cooking, cleaning, washing and bath water needed to be created from the remaining water. After washing, clothes were hung on the line either inside or outside, whether winter or summer, dried or frozen. Today augers have reduced shoveling the livestock feed and grain. When I was quite young I remember during corn picking my Dad, after chores at night, shoveling cob corn from the wagon boxes up into the open top edge of the corn crib. There were usually two boxes to unload each night, then we got an elevator! Farming today is less muscle intensive, but a lot more brain intensive. For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at kuehneins@gmail.com. Kitchen Hours 11 AM-2 PM • 5-9 PM Daily Lunch Specials
320-836-2154
Happy Father’s Day to All Dads!
FREEPORT FIRE DEPT.
ANNUAL HAM BAR-B-QUE
Sunday, June 21 • 4:30-8:30 PM At the Freeport Community Center
Stop In For All Your Off Sale Needs!
FATHER’S DAY BUFFET
Chicken, Ribs & Ham, With All the Trimmings, Salad Bar Desserts & Beverage
Thursdays: 4-8 PM Bar Specials
Fridays: In the Bar
Chicken Strips Special
Chicken Basket 9.97 8-10 PM Rib Basket $9.97 The Patio is Open Dock is Available for Boat Parking $
Karaoke
Bar Hours: Wed.: 4-8 PM Thurs. & Fri.: 4 PM-Close Sat. & Sun.: 12 PM-Close
Dining Room Hours:
over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” So many times, we are in need, we try to work it out all by ourselves and leave God until the last possible moment. Please consider the importance of being in a relationship with Jesus! One very important text is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church, 320-547-2916
Todays Thought
You’re getting old when getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
Chris' Country Store
Planning a Wedding? We can help you!
Let me design a floral arrangement special for you!
We Deliver Floral Arrangements in a 20 mile radius. 105 State St. E. Grey Eagle • 320-285-2600 To Place Orders: Stop in, Call 320-267-1342 or email Chris at tcjr5933@gmail.com
Sleeps 7, $120/night Pictures on Facebook @ chris' country store
Greenwald, MN
320-987-3100
Owners: Jeff & Wanda Ahrens
www.GreenwaldPubMN.com
Fridays: In the Dining Room • 5-9 PM
New Pasta Special Every Week!
June 19: Mediterranean Farfalle Pasta
Sunday Brunch 10 AM-2 PM NEW Breakfast Burrito Eggs Benedict, Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Breakfast Platters & More!
HOUSE OF PIZZA Pizzas available in the bar!
Or take a frozen House of Pizza to the
cabin for an “after chore” treat! Thurs., Fri., & Sat.: 4-9 PM Also Available: Cauliflower Gluten Free Pizza! Sun. 10-2 PM & 4-9 PM 320-285-3576 • 11977 COUNTY 47, GREY EAGLE
Enjoy Breakfast or Lunch in the Cafe!
Bavarian Gardens
COFFEE + CURIOSITIES + ICE CREAM + FUDGE
Downtown New Munich: 420 Main St., New Munich, MN 56352
THURSDAY, JUNE 18 COFFEE SHOP CURIOSITY SHOP YARD ART • SOLAR LIGHTS
5:00-8:00 PM WOOD FIRED PIZZAS
All Annuals 1/2 Price • Freeze Dried Candy • Gourmet Cotton Candy • Warm Candied Nuts • Homemade Fudge • Ice cream
WOBEGON BLUES BAND
Thurs., June 25: Wobegon Blues Band
MELROSE AMERICAN LEGION Post 101
265 Co. Rd. 173 SE, Melrose - 320-256-3581 • Cell 320-429-4008 OPEN Happy Hour Mondays at 3:30 PM 6:30-7:30 PM
Friday, June 19
Bar is Open Mondays during Line Dancing
Serving 4:30-7:30 PM
Fridays at 3 PM
PULL-TABS • ETABS Gambling Licence #01053-001
Open to the Public!
Call to Book Your Event!
Dog Tag $ 375
13 FISH FRY & MEAT RAFFLE $
Proceeds for Veterans & community causes.
Riverfest Friday, June 26 TACO NIGHT
4:30-7:30 PM
Friday, July 3 TACO NIGHT 4:30-7:30 PM
Lunch Specials •
11 AM-2 PM Fri., June 19: Hot Beef Sandwich Sun.: 11 AM-8 PM Sun.: 11 AM-10 PM Mon.: 2-8 PM Mon.: 4-8 PM Pizzas Mon.: 2-8 PM Tues.-Sat.: Sat., June 20: Tues.-Thurs.: 11 AM-9 PM Tues.-Thurs. 11 AM-11 PM 11 AM-10 PM Southwest Chicken Salad Fri.-Sat.: 11 AM-9:30 PM Fri. & Sat. 11 AM-1 AM Sun.: 11 AM-6 PM or Crispy Chicken Sandwich MEAT RAFFLE • SUNDAY, JUNE 28 @ 2:30 PM Sun., June 21: Sponsored by Grey Eagle-Burtrum Lions Club Sunny Side Up Burger or Egg, Cheese & FRIDAY: 5-9 PM Open Mondays 4-8 PM Bacon Sandwich Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato ONLY • Home Made Pizzas • Ribeye $28.95 Tues., June 23: • Irish Spaghetti • Teriyaki Chicken over Rice Swedish Meatballs, Pilaf $14.95 Mashed Potatoes, Gravy Bar & Off Sale: 2-8 PM • Deep Fried Cod $16.95 & Vegetable TUESDAY: 5-9 PM • Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo $15.95 Wed., June 24: $ or Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo $17.95 Burger Night $4.00 7 Baskets w/Breadsticks 1/3 lb. Fresh Ground Hamburger on Brioche Buns! Thurs., June 25: Dine In w/Beverage Purchase SATURDAY: 5-9 PM BBQ Ribs Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato WEDNESDAY: 11 AM-9 PM $ • Prime Rib 28.95 Happy Hour: Mon.-Fri. 3-5 PM Domestic Beers: 2 for $6.50 • Ribs $20.95 Buck Off Adult Beverage • 1-1/2 lb. Wings $7.00 • Deep Fried Walleye $17.95 • $7 Baskets Your Choice: Stock Up on ALL Your • Creamy Sweet Chili Chicken, Shrimp Basket, Angus Slider Basket, 1/4 Chicken Basket, Nachos or Quesadillas Wild Rice, w/Breadsticks $14.95 Off Sale Needs! w/Beverage Purchase Happy Father’s Day! Busch or Busch Light THURSDAY: 5-9 PM 24 pk cans $20.98 SUNDAY: 3-8 PM Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato Includes Salad Bar & Choice of Potato E&J Brandy • Chicken & Ribs $17.95 • Steak & Shrimp $21.95 $ 1.75 liter $19.79 • 8 oz. Ground Sirloin 15.95 • 10 oz. Pork Chop $16.95 • Creamy Sweet Chili Haddock McMaster’s • 1/2 Chicken $14.50 1.75 liter $16.99 w/Wild Rice $17.95 • 1/4 Chicken $12.50 KITCHEN HOURS
Hours: 9:30 AM-1 AM • 7 Days a Week
Happy Father’s Day!
Store Hours: Wed.-Sat.: 8 AM-2 PM
GUEST HOUSE
Grey Eagle • 320-285-2965
Call Now to Book Your Wedding, Anniversary, Banquets • Catering Available
Wednesdays: In the Bar • $5 Margaritas 4-8 PM Mexican Night! Tacos, Beans & Rice
I was reminded of a story the other day that we all need to hear. Most of us are praying people but when we pray, do we believe, or do we just go through the motions. In other words, do we expect God to answer our prayers? The story went something like this. In a small farming community years ago, in the middle of a severe drought the community called a prayer meeting, to ask God for rain. As the preacher walked in, most of the towns people were milling around talking about things like, what if we don’t get rain, or maybe I shouldn’t even plant. As he walked towards the front of the church, he noticed a little girl in the front row, almost beside herself with excitement. Next to her was a red umbrella and she was ready for it to rain. This little girl was the only one ready to walk home in the rain! James 5:13-15 gives us the incentive we need. “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray
Double “R” Bar & Grill
Sunday, June 21
Serving 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
www.doublerbarandgrill.com
BAR HOURS
OFF SALE
Page 4 • Hometown News • Thursday, June 18, 2026
Clara A. Berscheid
Obituaries
Sharon L. Lehner
Sharon L. Lehner, age 80 of Albany, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota. F u n e r a l services will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 22 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albany with Rev. Anthony Christoffels officiating. Interment will follow at Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in Albany. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church in Albany. Sharon Lee Klein, the youngest of 19 children, was born July 20, 1945 in Holdingford, Minnesota to Paul and Rose (Baggenstoss) Klein. She graduated from Albany High School in 1963. Sharon was united in marriage to Loren Lehner on June 18, 1966 at Ebenezer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Albany. They made their home in Winsted for three years and then began farming on the family farm north of Albany in 1971. After retiring from the farm, Sharon worked at Tru Valu in Albany and in the kitchen at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home. Sharon’s strong faith in the Lord gave her much joy in life. She lived her life as the hands and feet of Jesus. She will be deeply missed. Sharon enjoyed reading, sewing, crafting, gardening, spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, and baking. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where she served as president of the women’s group now called Lady Generators, sang in the church choir, and was known as the “soup lady.” Sharon loved being a hostess especially for Friday night coffee klatch with family and friends. Survivors include her children, Wendy (Craig) Hoffman of Inver Grove Heights, Amy (Tim) Schmitt of Albany and Molly (Dwight) Kohout of Albany; grandchildren, Jack Hoffman, Alex, Jeremiah, Hannah, Billy and TJ Schmitt, Maddy Lehner, Emma and Natalie Kohout; great grandchildren, Alleah, Raelyn, Silas, and Whitney Schmitt; and Isabelle Lucas; sisters, Doris Koehn and Janet Cigelske. Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Loren Lehner on October 2, 2012; parents, Paul and Rose Klein; and 16 siblings. Memorials can be made to Our Savior’s Lady Generators. Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
Clara A. Berscheid, age 78 of Grey Eagle passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at University of Minnesota Health Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Arlie Sowada officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Clara Agnes Berscheid was born on November 2, 1947, in Oakes, North Dakota, to Joseph and Barbara (Fank) Stoeber. She was united in marriage to Arnold “Arnie” Berscheid on May 30, 1970, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle. Clara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Valley City State College in Valley City, North Dakota. She taught at Grey Eagle Public Schools in Grey Eagle for many years before later working at Senior Alternative Care in Sauk Centre. Clara found great joy in tending her flower gardens, reading, and canning, especially applesauce and dill pickles. She was a devoted member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and cherished the time she spent with family and friends. Survivors include her husband, Arnie Berscheid of Grey Eagle; son, Anthony “Tony” (Melissa) of Rice; step-grandchild, Jayden of St. Augusta; sister, Mary Schweiss of Mankato; brothers-and-sisters-in law, Margaret Collins of Melrose, Kathryn (Adrian) Johnson of Melrose, Jan (Dave) Middendorf of Grey Eagle, Barb (David) Buck of Cedar, Robert (Judy) Berscheid of Grey Eagle, Dennis (Cindy) Berscheid of Melrose, Patricia (Leland) Buchholz of Grey Eagle, Pamela (Steven) Klaphake of Melrose, and Thomas Berscheid of Golden Valley. Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Barbara Stoeber; and brothers-inlaw, Harold Schweiss, Jack Berscheid, and Kenneth Collins. Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Grey Eagle.
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Alan Raitor
From the farmlands of Sczedrzik, Poland to the farmlands of Waverly, Minnesota, Alan Raitor traced his family roots and memorialized them in his 2021 Genealogy & History of the Raitor Family. Alan approached this lifelong hobby with the same enthusiasm, commitment, and personal connection that guided him in his family life, career, and community. Alan passed away peacefully at home, devoted family at his side, on June 14, 2026. Alan was born to Tofel and Ruth Raitor in Waverly, Minnesota on January 14, 1930. He grew up on the family farm where he developed a strong work ethic and learned solid family values. When chores were not calling, Alan enjoyed playing high school baseball and basketball. Alan credits his music teachers with his musical foundation in band and choral music. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, Alan began his music educator career in Fairfax, Minnesota, where he met and married Jeanette Cavelle LaFontaine (Jeanie). Alan next taught music in Baldwin, Wisconsin, a memorable “slice of life” time of friendships, marching band at football games, and starting a family. Alan earned his M.A Degree in music from the University of Northern Colorado at Greely and post-graduate studies at Western Colorado University in Gunnison. Summers spent in graduate school, living in a small trailer house with Jeanie and 2 toddlers, live on in family lore as a happy, adventurous, and fulfilling time. Alan taught high school music in Sauk Centre for 30 years, retiring in 1987. During these years, Alan built strong band and choir programs. Under Alan’s leadership, his students earned awards for outstanding performances at regional and state level contests. Alan personally cared about, respected, and inspired his students. His students, in turn, respected him and gave their absolute best. Alan kept up with countless students, remaining interested in their life paths. He taught the children of many of his early students, growing the circle of life. Alan spoke fondly of his students, recalling stories and treasuring memories of their friendship. Alan’s career included many noteworthy performances and awards. In 1979, the Sauk Centre High School band and choir performed at the ASBDA (American School Band Directors Association) national convention. Alan served on the board of directors for the Minnesota State High School League and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. Additionally, he served on the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) board of directors. During Alan’s MMEA tenure, including his state presidency, the MMEA launched innovative programs and advanced existing ones, enhancing the MMEA’s purpose and efficacy in Minnesota music education. Alan also wrote for “The School Musician” and “The Gopher Music Notes.” Alan was inducted into the MMEA Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Alan was a tireless community volunteer. He’ll be fondly remembered for conducting Sauk Centre’s annual Festival of Lessons and Carols Choir, the Sauk Centre Men’s Chorus, “Sons of Pitches,” and the Long Prairie Chamber Orchestra and Community choir in the singalong “Messiah.” Alan was a founding member of the Centre Area Concert Association. At age 95, Alan was still actively fundraising for this organization, contributing to the quality of life in Sauk Centre and the surrounding areas. Alan’s lasting impression lives on in Roger Reinardy’s inspirational mural in the Sinclair Lewis Park band shell. As dedicated as Alan was to his students and bringing out the best in each of them, his dedication to his family was his top priority. Alan was devoted to his beautiful wife, Jeanie and made countless sacrifices to assure the absolute best upbringing for his children, from quality education, travel, and cultural opportunities, to instilling Catholic values that created a solid foundation for their lives. Alan is survived by Jeanie, his loving wife of 74 years, and their five children, Nancy (Mark) Emmel of Fargo, ND, Gwen (Tony) Neal of Homer, AK, Mark (Peggy) Raitor of Sauk Centre, Paula (Ernie) Viens of Eagle River, AK, and John (Carleen) Raitor of Buffalo, MN. He will be lovingly remembered by 15 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. Alan was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Alice Bates. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre on June 18 at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment at St. Paul’s Cemetery and a celebratory luncheon at Our Lady of the Angels Church. Visitation will be held June 18, 10:0010:45 a.m. Donations may be given to Holy Family School or Centre Area Concert Association, a cause that was dear to Alan’s heart. Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Alice A. Soenneker
Alice A. Soenneker (Terhaar), age 79, of Sauk Centre, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, Minnesota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday in the St. Paul’s Church gathering area. A rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the church for anyone who would like to pray for Alice. Alice Anne Terhaar was born on November 7, 1946, to Alex and Katie (Schoenberg) Terhaar. In 1966, she was united in marriage to Jerome Soenneker at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, Minnesota. Together, they were blessed with seven children. Alice worked at Holy Family School in Sauk Centre as a head cook for 25 years. She enjoyed interacting with and getting to know the children. She loved spending time with others whatever that meant – playing cards, bowling, or baking for friends and family. Above all else, Alice treasured her faith, praying often, and living out her love for Christ. She was president of the Christian Mothers, volunteered her time with Meals on Wheels, and helped in the establishment of the Home Bound Ministry at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Survivors include her children, Judy, Mike, Karen, Deb (Rick) Rentchler, Dale (Ramona), Keith, and Father Kevin; six grandchildren, Tony, Katelyn, Luke, Cody, Colton, and Maci; brothers, Ray, Jerry, John, and Joe (Donna); and in-laws, Rita Primus, Arnie Soenneker, and Janet Soenneker. Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome; parents; brother, Leroy Terhaar; and sister, Esther Westermeyer. Memorials are preferred to Holy Family School in Sauk Centre. Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
Hometown News • Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Page 5
Lorraine S. Frie
Lorraine S. Frie, 81-year-old resident of Upsala, MN, formerly of Swanville, MN, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Vitality Living in Upsala. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Upsala with Father Jimmy Joseph officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 AM to 11 AM on Tuesday at the church. Memorials can be made to St. Mary’s Church in Upsala. Caring for Lorraine and her family is LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls, MN. Lorraine was born on April 24, 1945, in Elmdale Township to the late Al and Theckla (Finken) Frie. On her sixth birthday, the family moved to the farm halfway between Upsala and Swanville, and this is where Lorraine lived for more than 70 years. She attended school in Upsala
and graduated in 1963. After high school, Lorraine lived in St. Cloud and worked at the St. Cloud Hospital. Lorraine worked in sewing for many years, first at Munsingwear in Little Falls then at Stearns in Grey Eagle. In her last years before retirement, Lorraine worked at Larson Boats for a time, then she became a CNA and worked at the Lutheran Home in Little Falls. Lorraine loved to travel and went on dozens of trips over the years, traveling to several countries, including Italy, Germany, Morocco, and Canada, as well as taking bus tours and mystery tours to locations all over the United States. Lorraine was excellent at embroidery, macrame, and trivia. She enjoyed puzzles and spent years painting and curating an elaborate miniature Christmas village. Lorraine was a dedicated member of St. Mary’s Church in Upsala, where she participated in the Mission Quilting group and Christian Women. She is survived by brothers, Werner (Anna Mae) Frie of Upsala, Elmer Frie of Upsala, Fred (Madonna) Frie of Grey Eagle; sister, Mary Frie of Upsala; brother-in-law, Dennis Murray of Arlington, WA; and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Al and Theckla Frie; brother, Norbert Frie; sister, Iline Murray; and sisters-in-law, Helen Frie and Ruthie Frie.
Hail from the Grey Eagle Area on June 10
Winners of the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary were as follows: 1st Place Savannah Honkomp and 2nd place Jackson Haskamp. Each student received a citation, pin and monetary award. Savannah’s artwork also placed 1st in district competition. Congratulations Savannah & Jackson! Submitted by Rosie Athmann.
Swanville Senior High Student of the Month
South of Grey Eagle by Lori Young. Donut shaped hail by Little Birch Lake. Submitted by Leon Fuchs.
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throughout his junior and senior high career and also played baseball through tenth grade. Frank has received many awards for sports, but some of the highlights include being all district player in grades 10-12 and Quarterback of the Year for the section as a junior and senior. He was also named Morrison County Record’s Player of the Year for football as a junior. He has been selected as athlete of the month previously as well. Outside of school, Frank frequently helps during the carnival and also helped during his church’s bible school. His favorite thing about school is being able to see friends, and have fun in class with them. He advises other students “To not stress so bad and just let life go as it wants and do things in a timely manner.” Sheryl Johnson, Principal adds, “Frank is every principal’s dream student. He goes out of his way to help, always has a kind, genuine smile for all, and is one of the politest young men I know. He takes his academics seriously but also brings a sense of fun to our school. I cannot wait to see what else Frank will accomplish! He is an asset to our school community and to the Swanville community as well!
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New to the Upsala community. Looking for just the right home. Taken June 16 by Tanya Trettel.
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Swanville Public School is pleased to announce the May Senior High Student of the Month, senior Frank Meagher. Frank is the son of Jeff and Laura Kurtz. Adam Gerads, Special Education teacher and coach says, “Frankie Meagher is a very deserving choice for Student of the Month. Frank is consistently on the honor roll and is always willing to do what is asked of him. He works hard, has a great attitude, and sets a positive example for others around him. Frank’s dedication and work ethic will no doubt lead him to a bright future ahead. Congratulations, Frank, and best of luck in your future endeavors! Frank has many interests, including golfing, going to work and spending time with families and friends. Frank is going to CLC in Staples for heavy equipment schooling. After that he plans to enter the work force and make lots of money. One unique thing about Frank is he feels his attitude and taking life one day at a time is an asset. He also has honed in on the ability to figure out how to prioritize and get things done. Frank has played football all
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Page 6 • Hometown News • Thursday, June 18, 2026
Sudoku
Word Search Answers from June 11
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, My wife and I make about $180,000 a year combined. We’re also debt-free, and we have no kids. We’d like to start planning to buy a nice piece of land sometime in the near future. Do you have a rule of thumb when it comes to determining what percentage of our savings we should put toward a large purchase like this? -Daniel Dear Daniel, Honestly, I’m not sure there’s necessarily a specific percentage for this kind of thing. Since you guys are already debt free - and congratulations on that, by the way - I’d advise first making sure you’ve got a fully
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loaded emergency fund of three to six months of expense in place. I’d also recommend you have some sort of retirement savings plan going before buying a piece of land. You two have done a great job with your money, so in your case, it sounds like any other cash you might have sitting around is just wealth. So, if you’ve got an extra $100,000 sitting in a savings account in addition to all these other things, and you’d rather have $100,000 worth of land instead of that bank account, I’m good with it. Do you understand what I’m saying, Daniel? In my mind, it’s more a matter of ratios than percentages. Now, this would all change, of course, if your household income was $50,000 a year instead of $180,000 a year. And I wouldn’t advise anyone to put building an emergency fund or saving for retirement on hold while they saved up to buy a piece of land. There needs to be a sensible balance. And that means making mature, grown-up decisions, and ensuring you have the really important things in life covered first. Great question, Daniel! -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 Goose Funny
Some farmers were standing around shooting the breeze one day when the topic came around to animals and their distinguishing traits. The group agreed that the dog was probably the most loyal animal and the mule was undoubtedly the most stubborn. Farmer Jones piped in, “You know, I believe probably the friendliest animal in all God’s creation is the goose.” The others wanted to know how he arrived at such a conclusion. “Well,” explained Farmer Jones, “I was out standing in my corn the other day, and a whole flock of ‘em came by overhead. And, do you know, every single one of ‘em honked and waved!”
Ask The Motor Medics® From the Hosts of the Under The Hood radio show.
Dear Motor Medics, I have a 2011 Camaro V6 that’s been in storage for 14 months while I was deployed overseas. There is a good chance that I will again be deployed and must store the car. I probably shouldn’t have bought it, but not having some family or other bills I felt moved to buy my dream car. When I got back the battery was completely dead and I had not replaced it. I want to drive it but don’t want to hurt anything so is there anything I should do before I start it up? My friends and I listen to your shows on podcasts all the time on base. It keeps us going. We often listen to your callers’ questions and try to guess what your answers might be. -PFC. Dave in Dallas, Texas Dear Dave, Thank you for your dedicated service to our country. The beauty of a newer car with a direct injected engine is that if you properly store it, you can return it to normal service fairly easily. When storing, it is a must to use a fuel stabilizer in the tank and to keep the battery in good condition, use a battery maintainer. Talk with a local mechanic to get complete advice on other things to look out for but unless critters get into it while you are gone you should be able to store it often without having to do too much before driving. -Take care, the Motor Medics Dear Motor Medics, I have a 2006 Dodge Durango and I lost the key. It’s the kind with the remote opener for the doors built-in to the key head. I asked the dealership about a replacement key and it was just too much so I tried lock smiths and my local hardware store but neither one had the key with the remote attached. I settled for a key that would start the vehicle
without the remote for the doors attached. Is there anything else I can do besides spending several hundred dollars on the correct key so I can get my remote doors back? -Taylor in Portland, Maine Dear Taylor, Remote keyless entry fobs can be very expensive. While some fobs are as low as $40 we have seen others in the several hundreddollar range and then they still need to be programmed to the vehicle. What you might consider since you have already bought a key is to go with an aftermarket system. You can either get a low budget one that just works the door locks or a very high-end system that will hit the basics and also remotely start the car. If you have ever wanted a remote start, now may be the time. If you just want basic locks you may check one of the many online fob resources for an aftermarket remote to hang on your keychain. You still need to program but it should save some cash. -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. Melrose, Sauk Centre, Birch Lake area!
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Hometown News • Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Page 7
Local Municipality Minutes Email Minutes to htnews@icloud.com
Grey Eagle City • May 12, 2026 The regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph Arnzen at 7:00 pm on the 12th day of May 2026 in Council Chambers. Council members present were Brad Johnson, Brian Hollenkamp (joined at 7:07 pm), Roland Ahrendt and Chris Browen. No council members were absent. Also in attendance were Mike Bersheid, Leon Althaus, Beth Ramacher and guests: Jeremy Freudenrich and Lance Chase. A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve the agenda. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to approve the minutes of the April 14, 2026 meeting. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The public hearing was opened at 7:02 pm to consider an Ordinance Regulating Shipping, Cargo & Storage Containers. There were no members of the public to speak for or against this matter. The hearing closed at 7:04 pm. A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve Ordinance 2026-01: Regulating Shipping, Cargo & Storage Containers. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The ordinance is as follows: ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01: AN ORDINANCE REGULATING SHIPPING, CARGO AND STORAGE CONTAINERS. WHEREAS, the City of Grey Eagle finds that the existence of shipping, cargo and storage containers is not desired within the City limits; and WHERAS, the City of Grey Eagle, following a public hearing, desires to adopt a comprehensive ordinance regulating shipping, cargo and storage containers. NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREY EAGLE, TODD COUNTY, MINNESOTA DOES ORDAIN: 1. The following Code sections are hereby adopted: Section – Shipping, Cargo and Storage Containers 13.30 Definitions. Subd. 1 Shipping Container: Any six-sided steel unit originally constructed as a general container used for the transport of goods and materials by ship, rail, or truck including but not limited to any shipping, cargo, or storage container. Subd. 2 City Limits: All land that is geographically situated within the City of Grey Eagle, Todd County, Minnesota. 13.31 Prohibition. Any Shipping Container within the city limits of the City is prohibited and is a violation of this section. 13.32 Exceptions. Subd. 1 An individual may apply for a temporary building permit, for up to 90 days, for the storage of personal property in a Shipping Container, while the individual is constructing, remodeling or repairing a permitted building within the City Limits or moving to a building in the City Limits. Subd. 2 The prohibition does not apply to any existing Shipping Container for which the owner has been granted a building permit under Chapter 14 by the City prior to adoption of this ordinance. 13.33 Permit Application. Subd. 1 The permit application shall state the purpose for the Shipping Container, describe its contents, include contact information of the applicant, list the address of the building that is being constructed, remodeled, repaired or moved into and list the address where the Shipping Container will be located during the duration of the temporary permit. Subd. 2 Any individual whose permit application is approved shall be permitted to maintain a Shipping Container within City limits for no more than ninety (90) days at the address located on the application. Subd. 3 Any Shipping Container approved by a permit shall abide by the setback requirements in Chapter 14 of the Grey Eagle City Code.
13.34 Enforcement. Subd. 1 The City, through its adopted agents or employees, shall administer and enforce the provisions of this Section and are authorized to cause inspections on any Shipping Container when reason exists to believe that a violation of this Section has been or are being committed. Inspections shall be conducted during reasonable daylight hours. Subd. 2 Violations of this Section are a misdemeanor offense. Subd. 3 The City may also seek any and all civil remedies available to it, including but not limited to, injunctive relief. Costs and attorney fees incurred by the City enforcing this Section shall be assessed against the Applicant’s property where the Shipping Container is located or the building is being constructed, remodeled, repaired or moved into pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 429. Passed and adopted by the Grey Eagle City Council this 12th day of May 2026. Jeremy Freudenrich presented the monthly water and wastewater report. The water flow meter has been installed at the water treatment plant. The pipes and floor have been painted throughout the water treatment plant. Samples have been taken from the ponds and they will be discharging soon. Update on the MK Mower from Melrose Implement: the mower is being built, and the city will be notified when it is ready, tentatively the end of May. The City of Sauk Centre will be in town to sweep the streets the week before Memorial Weekend. The city was awarded the Community Benefit Funding from Sourcewell. More discussion was held on the possible donation of a hockey rink to the City. A motion was made by Brad Johnson to not accept the donation of a hockey rink. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. A quote, including credits from 2025, from Terrain Aesthetics was reviewed. A motion was made by Brad Johnson to approve Terrain Aesthetics to spray the parks, cemetery and other grass areas around the City buildings for the 2026 season. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. Leon Althaus was present to discuss various maintenance items: speed signs, sweeper for John Deere, water fountains, ramp for restrooms at Lions Park, washed sand for park, Laughlin Park restroom, new No Parking signs, old landscaping on east side of fire hall, tree at Bass Lake and crosswalk on Maple St. N. Mayor Arzen reminded maintenance that the daily log was requested by the entire council and is mandatory. An updated quote from Level Ground was reviewed to fix the cement under both overhead doors of the city shop. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the quote and have the work done. A second was made by Chris Browen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. A letter was received and reviewed from the Grey Eagle Senior Citizen Center requesting an adjustment to city utilities. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp not to adjust any utility fees. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. An Inspection Report for the water tower from KLM was reviewed. This will be reviewed in more detail; the Council understands that the list of the recommendations need to be addressed. Minnesota Paid Family Medical Leave was not deducted for January, February or March for the Council Members or Officers of the Fire Department. Adjustments will be made on the next payroll which will include the additional withholdings. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to create Fund Account #409 (WTP & Well Project), retroactive to January 1, 2025. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. Brad Johnson, Joe Arnzen and Lance Chase volunteered to be part of the Budget Committee
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POLLINATOR OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JUNE 27 • 9 AM-12 PM
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1st St. NE & 1st St. SE, Avon, MN (Follow the Signs) Booths by Various Organizations Involved in the Project! Enjoy refreshments & walk the Pollinator area to see the plants & insects. (Must be 18 or older to enter the area.)
Booth Sponsors: MN Dept. of Transportation, PrairieScapes, Stearns Conservation District, Pheasants Forever, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service/U.S. Dept. of Agriculture The Lions Club Booth: Bring your used Eyeglasses, Cellphones & Hearing Aids!
for the 2027 Budget process. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve PJ Signs to make a Welcome to Grey Eagle sign, which will be at 327 State Street West. A second was made by Brad Johnson and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. Mayor Arnzen talked to the Lions about doing some work to the Lions Shelter at 204 Jackson Street East. The City will work on getting additional quotes and present them to the Lions. The Council felt that the Citywide Cleanup on May 2, 2026 was a success. They would like to do it again next year – the first Saturday in May and for 3 hours. They would like to see flyers sent out again next year, A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve payment of Claims #3772-3793, totaling
$121,627.53 and include additional payments of the following: MN Dept of Natural Resources $7000, MN Power $2308.64, State of KLM Engineering $8257.50, MN Power $2130.41, Rainbow Midwest $29,770.00, Herdering $335.00, Bitz Plumbing & Heating $515.04 and Preferred Controls $736.40. A second was made by Chris Browen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 pm. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The next regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Council Chambers. Beth Ramacher, Clerk/Treasurer
Upsala High School Spring Semester Honor Roll A Honor Roll • Grade 12 Aiden Brannan, Hannah Heesen, Tessa Hiltunen, Holly Johnson, Isabelle Klug, Meeli Krueger, Brayden Leners, and Isaiah Sobiech. A Honor Roll • Grade 11 Lucylee Aleckson, Abigail Carlson, Vincent Eggert, Annalee Gerads, Jack Jensen, Lydia Kokett, Landon Krebs, Samuel Laliberte, Calvin Leners, Zoey Leners, Brenden Mack, Genevieve Mrozek, Alexa Pilarski, Carson Primus, Anne Ripplinger, Addie Scepaniak, Matthew Tschida, and Nicholas Young. A Honor Roll • Grade 10 Trygg Aleckson, Avery Hallermann, Nikkalyn Hegwood, Micah Holmes, Addisyn Hovland, Bianca Mrozek, Evan Pipenhagen, Owen Sobiech, Richelle Thompson, and Elyn Zinniel. A Honor Roll • Grade 9 Jakson Blenker, Madison Goebel, Emmalyn Harren, Anika Jensen, Owen Klug, Bradon Lange, Emily Ripplinger, Bryce Roerick, Owen Servatius, and Isabella Warga. A Honor Roll • Grade 8 Ella Achmann, Noah Gerads, Auden Hovland, Morgan Ripplinger, and Haley Roske. A Honor Roll • Grade 7 Vincent Bahn, Wayne Bloom, Leah Fruechte, Haylee Heesen, Izabella Johnson, Ruby Klug, Abby Rakotz, Josie Roerick, and Connor Steinhofer. B Honor Roll • Grade 12 Paul Blonigen, Austin Klein, Lucy Scepaniak, Jack Sowada, and Victoria Weichmann. B Honor Roll • Grade 11 Lynn Arvig, Emily Ashbrook, Quinn Guthrie, Jacob Kremers, Nolan Kuepers, Jack Peterson, Devin Schulte, Owen Smith, and Emily Wiechmann. B Honor Roll • Grade 10 Aubree Roerick, Dalton Welinski, and Ethan Young. B Honor Roll • Grade 9 Suzette Guthrie, Natalee Hoffman, Avery Kleve, Brogan Mack, Isaac Roerick, William Schafer, Brookelynn Schmidt, Aaron Schneider, Owen Schulte, and Carter Steinhofer.
RJ's Country Store 28916 County Rd. 17 - St. Rosa
320-836-2583
B Honor Roll • Grade 8 Delilah Brinkman, Isaac Harren, and Karsen McLaughlin. B Honor Roll • Grade 7 Lilly Dickinson, Alan Kalina, Cam Louden, Sofia Ludwig, Jaiden Oldakowski, Avery Servatius, Aleighia Vetsch, Emily Walker, Xavior Wiechmann, and Aleah Wolbeck.
Pulse on People
South Dakota State: More than 3,900 students were recognized for their outstanding academic performance over the spring 2026 semester at South Dakota State University by being named to the dean’s list. To earn dean’s list distinctions in SDSU’s colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Overall, 3,941 students from 38 states and 29 foreign nations are on the list. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars: Faith Kalthoff of Albany, in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Hannah Klein of Albany, in SDSU’s College of Natural Sciences. Peyton Hylla of Avon, in SDSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Mason Ingle of Avon, in SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. Tanner Tomasek of Avon, in SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. Hannah Hoppe of Freeport, in SDSU’s College of Nursing. Adam Wilwerding of Freeport, in SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. Alex Wilwerding of Freeport, in SDSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Brooke Klaphake of Melrose, in SDSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Lauren Kulzer of Melrose, in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Leah Seanger of Melrose, in SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.
Sauk Centre Library • 320-352-3016
Gas/Diesel/Premium • Propane Exchange Groceries • Pep's Pork • Schaefer's Market Harry's Pizza • Bait • ATM
Open Mic: Bring your ukulele, acoustic guitar, and voice for a jam session with other local musicians. Beginners welcomed Thursday, June 25: 5-7:00 p.m.
THE JUNCTION
DK’S Tree & Landscaping, LLC.
Convenience Store • Bait
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Hours: 6 AM to 10 PM Pizzas • Cold Spring Bakery Schaefer’s Meats • T-Shirts Leanin’ Tree Gift Cards
320-285-2383 • Grey Eagle
Now Offering Trim & Remove Trees, 70 ft. Boom, Decorative Brush Removal, Hedge Trimming, Concrete Stump Grinding & Removal Curbing! Firewood Available Including Delivery, Residential Landscaping & Bobcat Work
320-630-0670 - David Kuhl
Free Estimates, Fully Insured Swanville • www.dkstree.com
Accept VISA, Discover or Master Card
Dakota Steel & Trim Inc. - Leading edge manufacturing technology offering a large variety of colors to choose from. 29 Gauge and 26 Gauge Products Custom Trims Available. 45 Year Warranty
Hennen To find out more, contact:
Lumber Company, Inc.
320-836-2135
Freeport
www.hennenlumber.com
Stop Searching. Start Building.
Page 8 • Hometown News • Thursday, June 18, 2026
GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! FOR RENT on Main Street Grey Eagle!
• Newly Updated • Drive-Thru Window • Kitchen Set Up • Cafe/Coffee/Retail Boutique
Call Ben • 320-290-8373 CLASSIFIED ADS
FOUND: Blue/brown tarp along County Rd #33, Grey Eagle, May 9. Call 320-285-3261. UPSALA FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays through Sept. 26: 8-11 a.m. at Buffy’s parking lot. Sellers welcome. Call 320-5732798. GARAGE SALE: 324 State St. W, Grey Eagle. June 17, 18, 19: 9-5. Across from Dollar General. FOR SALE: Couch with hide-a-bed and matching overstuffed side chair. Solid Brown Color. $75. Dehumidifier $50. Queen box spring bed like new $100. Large Oak desk $100. Vintage display cabinet (ca. 1900) since lighted $100. Advance sale opportunities. Garage Sale will be held at 102 10th Ave SE, Melrose, MN. Thurs., June 25 from 5-7; and during River Fest in Melrose, Friday and Saturday. Multi-family event. Call 320-527-3414 if interested in any listed items.
WANTED TO BUY: Butcher cows, bulls, fats & walkable cripples: also horses, sheep & goats. 320-235-2664. SC-odB
VILLAGE VIEW APARTMENTS • GREY EAGLE Low Income Elderly or Disabled Section 8 Subsidized
• 23 - One Bedroom Apartments: Approx. 620 sq. ft. • 1 - Two Bedroom Apartment • Rent is 30% of income after medical deductions • Electric heat included • Free access to DISH Network • Elevator and Accessible Entry door openers • Well maintained by caretakers who care • Raised gardens • Controlled Access entrance door locks • Community room with kitchen for large gatherings • Mail delivery and pick-up in building • Two laundry rooms, craft room, three lobby areas for visiting • Air conditioned halls and public areas • Friendly residents • Monthly Board Meetings Live Music • Pet Friendly
RB-tfn
FOR SALE: 1994 Corvette, loaded, black, 60,000 miles, new tires, $9,500. Call 320290-0924. FOR SALE: Steel boat or pontoon lift $250. 2 kayaks with paddles both $225. 2 - 5’ diameter steel wheels $100 pair. 320630-4409 FOR SALE: Tonneau roll up cover, like new for 5’-7” ram box, from 2019-2026, asking $200. Call 320-232-0211. FOR SALE: (8) 55 gallon white plastic drum barrels. Schedule 40 PVC pipe, 85’x4” and 40’x2”. Call 320-493-6387.
Happy Father’s Day!
Wed., July 1
Village View Apartments
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: 1991 Dodge van, has bed, TV, 318 engine, $6,800. Call 320-267-5632.
Garages when available
For details & a tour, GIVE US A CALL!
320-285-3973 • Email: cedar@meltel.net 303 Cedar Street N., Grey Eagle, MN 56336
Grey Eagle Housing Association is an Equal Housing Opportunity Provider.
Equal Housing Opportunity
FOR SALE: Round hay bales, 318 twine wrapped bales, 5x5 in size, 2 years old. Call 218-485-4187.
FREE: On Big Birch Lake: Queen size bed, dresser and night stand in good condition. Also futon mattress. Call 320-339-0560.
FOR SALE: 1995 Ford Explorer, $900. Call 320-267-5632. RB-tfn
TOP DOWN SILO LLC
• Take down & cleanup of silos in congested areas • Mobile Concrete Crushing • Fully Insured 507-236-9446 topdownsilo.com
FOR SALE: Wood splitter with motor on wheels $300. Call 320-249-5454. FOR SALE: Hewitt boat lift and green canopy, 1800 pound, 110x20 foot. Co Rd 104, passed the Hub, $1500. Call 612-554-2932. tfn-RG
FREE: 3 roosters approximately 4 months old. Call or text 952-237-7397.
Todays Thought
My granddad always said, “When one door closes, another door opens.” Lovely man. Terrible cabinet maker.
FREE
ICE CREAM SANDWICHES During Your Visits throughout June
320-573-2607 Heim’s FEEDS
Nature’s Best Ag Service
INTERNET ONLY
Visiting Family? Distant Learning? HIGH SPEED FIBER RESIDENTIAL BUSINESS Working From Home?
$
ADDED AFRAID AWARD CHEEK CHOOSES CLAIM COINS COLOR CUBIC DECISIONS DOORS DRAMA DRIER
ESKIMOS ETHNIC FAILS FETCH FORTUNE GIDDY GRANT GROWTH HANGS HERDS HIRED IDEAS ITEMS
KNEES LOYAL MAIDS MULES NAMED NETWORK NURSED PERSONALLY PILED QUITE REFER RIDES SCARF
SCOUT SHOULDERS SIGHT STIFF STORED STRUCK SWEPT SWIMS TOWELS TRIPS UNEVEN WATCH
We Have You Covered! 77.75 $87 .75 Fiber to the Home
PER MONTH PER MONTH Up to 1 GB with Unlimited Data
(FTTH)
Get the latest and the greatest Fiber To The Home high speed internet service!
• Includes a modem with a wireless router. • No required contract. No data limits. • Billing through ebill. A $2/month surcharge will apply if invoice is mailed.
One-Time Installation Fees: Owned by UCTA
320-573-1390 • 888-573-1390 117 South Main Street PO Box 277, Upsala, MN 56384
www.sytekcom.com
• $100 existing fiber customer - or free with 12-month contract • $1200 new fiber customer or free with 24-month contract • A $100 deposit is required and will be refunded after 12 months of on time payments, this in addition to the non-refundable install fee • If your computer does not have wireless capabilities, additional equipment may need to be purchased.
Serving Upsala, Bowlus, Flensburg, Sobieski, Swanville and Surrounding Areas
You may qualify for a discount on your telephone or internet bill. Visit https://www.usac.org/lifeline/consumer-eligibility/ to see if you qualify!