Thankless but worthwhile
The month of May celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Adopt-a-Highway program. Minnesota volunteers are real heroes of public service. Every year they pick up tons of litter from state highways. The work is hard, never-ending and frequently thankless.
In southwestern Minnesota there are approximately 500 active volunteer groups consisting of a variety of community organizations, schools, businesses and families cleaning along state highways throughout Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Redwood, Renville, Pipestone, and Yellow Medicine counties.
I would like to offer a sincere thank you to every one of them. Mn/DOT is proud of their dedication and commitment to keeping our roadsides clean. Their collective efforts benefit our state by keeping our roadsides attractive and giving visitors a positive impression as they travel our highways.
The next time you pass a group of volunteers picking up litter, drive with extra caution and care and give them a thumbs-up. Or better yet, organize your own group to adopt a highway of its own. To participate in Mn/DOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program, log on to http://www.dot.state.mn.us/adopt or contact Ann Boerboom, District 8’s coordinator, at 1-800-657-3748 or 507-537-6146.
–Jon A. Huseby, P.E.
Transportation District Engineer
Mn/DOT-District 8
I won’t shop Montevideo first
I want the business owners of Montevideo to know why I will not “shop Montevideo first” in the future.
Since August of 2008, I have dealt with several businesses.
The landscaping I had done was $700 to $900 over the estimate that I was given when nothing extra was done to warrant it.
A local contractor left with various holes in the walls after new Sheetrock was put up. A deck needed to be moved six inches so that the rail was outside the frame of the patio door. New windows with no finishing trim on the inside; caulk on the outside windows that looks so messy it had to be redone; and metal trim on the fascia that is coming loose.
An electrician also left us with new wiring with breakers that trip more often than any we had before. And the final indignity – the kitchen stove I purchased at the local store which cost $75 to deliver less than one mile. When I hesitated at this cost I was told I would get it back in the form of a Visa card I could use anywhere. The forms were filled out online. I then got an e-mail that said I hadn’t spent enough to qualify for the rebate. When I went to the store to discuss that charge, the owner wouldn’t even talk to me to my face. He told me through another salesperson that I should just live with it because I still had gotten a really good deal.
From now on I will shop where I can get the best deal, no matter where it is, and I doubt I will ever shop at that store again.
—Dianne Hill
Montevideo
Bad people — good people
Sunday, April 24, I parked on Lincoln Avenue in Montevideo at about 5:30 p.m. to visit some friends for about 30 minutes. I did push the lock clicker, failing to realize one door didn’t lock. I would like to tell the person that entered the car and stole my billfold, which you stole from a 70-year-old lady, that the money was to pay my house taxes. Please think about not only having the cash taken, wondering how I will pay my house taxes and the other identity things you stole from med. I don’t know who you are, but there is a God that knows who you are!
I want to publicly thank the people that attend the Watson Evangelical Church. I was told that they were talking about the unfortunate incident that happened to me, telling everyone to make sure to lock their cars and houses. They not only talked about the incident, but collected money to help pay a portion of my taxes. I was overwhelmed when they gave me the money. May God bless your giving and caring spirit.
—Bev Sailer
Watson
Neighborly neighbors
People of all ages came together Saturday, May 1, for a delightful community social gathering held in the Watson Town Hall.
They enjoyed pot luck and a varied program including vocal and instrumental musical performances, local history, story-telling and sing-along. There was cross-cultural sharing with a presentation of film footage featuring professional Pakistani dance and images of daily living in Aziz Ansari’s former home town of Karachi. Aziz was good enough to sing several songs in Urdu. Townspeople reminisced about the times when Watson had three grain elevators, multiple bustling businesses, vigorous popular community traditions and lived by the motto, “Visit with your neighbor; you might like’em!”
The general feeling on May Day seemed to be that Watson’s best days still lie ahead.
—Dale Handeen
Minneapolis
Sinking ship
After reading this last commentary of the “Tea Party” gathering in Montevideo, to be hypocrites and selfish took the cake. It is so obvious that the far left, progressive Marxist attitude lives even here in this little ole town. But with the growing movement of the Tea Party and the beliefs of the American people that is growing stronger with it, unfortunately on deaf ears they fall on in the present administration. And the American people have noticed and are now speaking up, and this regime headed by Obama and his Democrats are using everything they can to denounce the Tea Party as evil, unruly, racist and every thing else, when it has been the opposite. Obama had promised hope and change! Come November that hope and change will be for the better of America. Unfortunately for the Democrats that hope and change will not be what they were expecting. They as well as Obama should have listened to the people. Their cashing out is that of a sinking ship.
—Gary Thomas
Montevideo
Chronicles
About 70 percent of Americans can now relate with the groundswell Tea Party movement that government spending is out of control and that taxes are soon to skyrocket for everyone. Rest assured that the poor will be hit the hardest. Only one who believes that the inefficiencies of big government are the solution to our problems would become upset with people displaying their concern. But, that is what a guest writer for this paper did last week. Using leftwing, extremist talking points as a point of logic shows the deviancy of his ways.
It is not my intent to wast a lot of time with radicals. They represent a very small portion of America. However, one does wonder why our local paper put only a picture of the local Tea party event, with no accompanying article in the paper two weeks ago and then embraces a guest editor who uses vulgar terms the next week. Only a reprobate would knowingly use such a term and somehow think it is fitting. Such language exposes the writer more than those he is writing about. Perhaps our local media and the writer will both extend written apology in next week’s paper. Kevin Wald’s previous letter about media bias on the local level is showing its head in the very way the paper denied.
Lastly, Coral Ridges Ministries will be airing a new program on May 16 entitled “Socialism: a clear and present danger.” All lovers of socialism would do themselves well to watch this program before embracing something that eventually always fails. Watching it should be a must for teenagers and school teachers. One can go to coralridge.org for more information. An especially good place for all of us to start is to read and follow 2 Chronicles 7:14. Thank you.
—Rodney Jans
Montevideo
Above & beyond
Sgt. Rohn Halverson with the Montevideo Police Department is retiring as a Montevideo Area Fire Arms Safety instructor after 28 years. His dedication as a volunteer DNR Firearms Safety Instructor has impacted hundreds of kids by teaching them the rules of firearm safety. Every year volunteers give back to their community by donating time as volunteer DNR instructors. Rohn has definitely gone above and beyond by giving 28 years of quality firearms safety training. Please join me in thanking Rohn Halverson for his service to our community.
—Ed Picht
DNR Conservation Officer, Montevideo
A troubled soul
One of the peripheral, but amusing aspects of the Tea Party movement is that it brings the left wing loons out of the woodwork and drives them absolutely crazy. The Wojtalewicz diatribe illustrates what could best be described as a classic example of tea party phobia syndrome. It’s usually manifested as an irrational, emotional harangue, disconnected from truth and reality, a product of a troubled soul.
—Stephen J. Rucker
Montevideo
Another great ‘Daybreak’
Daybreak is a post-prom gathering that consists of great food, games, entertainment and prizes. This all night after prom party is held for Juniors and Seniors, organized by Junior class parents. It is funded only by generous donations from local businesses and fundraising. The goal being that our kids stay safe on one of the most memorable nights in their high school years. Daybreak has become a tradition that many kids look forward to from year to year. This year we had 207 students sign into Daybreak.
We were asked to be co-chairs of this big event, but we certainly did not work alone. Our committee consisted of about 12 parents but it takes many great volunteers to organize fundraising, food, prizes and games for over 200 kids. Our sincere thanks to a great group of parents for all of your help. We would like to thank the Montevideo Community Center, Mel’ody Lanes and the VFW for allowing Daybreak to use your facilities, the Montevideo Police Department for administering breathalyzer tests and keeping our event alcohol free, the Montevideo High School for your support and assistance on many levels and especially our families for always pitching in when we needed your help.
On behalf of the Class of 2011 and the Junior class parents, thank you to area businesses, individuals, organizations and colleges for your generous contributions. All cash donations were spent locally on food and prizes. A complete list of businesses who generously supported Daybreak 2010 is listed on monteontheweb.com. Daybreak was once again a safe, fun filled, successful event because of your support.
—Karen Kuno and
Coco Hoffer, co-chairs
Montevideo
Flood of Jazz, flood of talent
Last Friday we attended the Montevideo High School Flood of Jazz performance at the Hollywood Theater. What a great performance! Great energy, professional and gifted musicians. Worth much more than the price we paid for such a marvelous evening.
As residents without children in the school system, it was clear to us that our support of education in this community is a great return on our investment.
The efforts of our students and their teachers are gifts to us in many ways. Our churches benefit from their musicianship. They bring recognition to our community when compete or go on to college.
We should all appreciate and do what we can to support them.
—Deanna and Robin Johnson
Montevideo
What is important?
With regard to Brian Wojtalewicz’s column “Let’s Have At It,” here it is. With him condemning the war in Afghanistan, I have to wonder what is important to him as an American.
We were attacked by terrorists who were based in Afghanistan. What would the barrister have had us do? Send Al Gore to discuss global warming with the Taliban?
My son just got back from serving with the National Guard. He was not “taken” from anywhere, as Mr. W. writes. He didn’t lose his freedom. He volunteered with full knowledge of what he was doing, as did all the men in his unit, and served with honor to help keep his country safe.
He has a right to his opinion, provided by the umbrella of safety these soldiers’ service provided.
To clarify, I am not a “Tea Bagger.” I think Sara Palin is an empty barrel and I cannot stand Glenn Beck. I do believe in defending our country and the right to free speech, even for people who impugn the same right for others, like Mr. Wojtalewicz.
—David Dvorak
Montevideo
