letters to the editor

To the Editor: I would like to publicly thank everyone who supported me during my tenure as a school board member. I have served the Ortonville School District for nine years and I feel the need to step down from the school board as nine years seems to be long enough. I would just like to say that it was a privilege and an honor to serve on this board. The Ortonville School District has excellent employees who have the children's best interest at heart. I also hope that the certified staff and the non-certified staff felt that I listened to their concerns and acted appropriately and that I treated them with the respect they deserved. I believe we have a very dedicated and hardworking set of teachers who strive to make a difference in the children's lives and whose goal is to see them succeed in life. As far as the administration, we have stream lined them to include a superintendent, a K-12 principle, and a business manager. This change of eliminating a principal a few years ago has enabled the Ortonville District to spend fewer dollars on administration and more on the children on a per pupil basis as compared to other districts of similar size. This has been a very positive step and the administrators continue to do a fine job and are well respected by the other employees of the district. Again, it has been my pleasure to work with all of the districts employees. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank the rest of the school board members for their dedicated work on the board and also to past board members who I had the privilege to work with as well. I would encourage anyone out there who has an interest in serving on this board to consider running for a school board position. And to the fine patrons of this school district, a very large THANK YOU for your support over the years. Whenever I ran for the board you voted me in and made me feel worthy of your vote. But not only did you support me, more importantly you supported the Ortonville School District by supporting the referendums that are needed to help finance the district. Without your support for education many more cuts and much deeper cuts to the budget would be needed. In closing, I would encourage the general public that if you have questions of how your tax dollars are being spent read the minutes of the meetings or perhaps attend a regular school board meeting or two. Your next opportunity for a regular school board meeting is Monday March 15, at 7 p.m. Make a difference in a child's life by becoming more informed by attending the next board meeting. Again, thank you, it indeed was a pleasure to serve you. Brent Zahrbock Ortonville
Previous Letters
To the Editor: I’ve heard in some South Dakota newspapers about several school districts over there going to a four day week. It is a bad idea for 90 percent of THE STUDENTS. I can think of some other ways to “save on gas”! Don’t think adding 20-40 minutes to each of the four days makes up for “not going to school on Fridays.” The school days are now long enough. I say keep quality education for THE STUDENTS in rural schools too! Elsie Perrine Ortonville

To the Editor: The State Legislature’s passage of a bill to restore partial funding to the General Assistance Medical Care program was the right thing at the right time. The bill has wide bi-partisan support and offers a solution to an issue that both Democrats and Republicans agree needed to be addressed. We want to thank every legislator who voted to support this legislation and the important safety net it protects. Unfortunately, the governor’s veto wipes out this short-term fix to a program so desperately needed by our state’s poorest people. The proposal met the Governor’s requirement to not increase taxes, instead using existing sources to fund the program at about one-half of what it had been previously. In fact, it will actually cost the state more to shut down GAMC next month than it will to pay for this plan. And ultimately, Minnesota’s taxpayers foot the bill. The Governor has stated he wants this problem fixed as part of the larger state budget discussion. Unfortunately, his unallotment made this a problem now. And you can’t fix a March problem in May. All health care costs take a major hit when we a community doesn’t provide for its poorest people. At Regions Hospital, we stand to lose $23 million a year in reimbursement with the elimination of GAMC. We see about 240 patients every week who are either on GAMC or eligible for it. Regardless of whether they have health care coverage, they will continue to get sick, and we will continue to treat them. Many of the patients on GAMC have no other place to turn for their health care. Patients like Stephanie, who had a job and health insurance, but was forced to quit her job when cancer made her too ill to work. She subsequently couldn’t afford her insurance premiums and turned to GAMC for help. It could happen to any of us. What will eliminating GAMC mean? It will mean safety net hospitals like Regions will have to do something to make up for those lost dollars. It will mean higher health care prices, or it will mean cutting vital services. Regions provides care not readily available everywhere else. It’s the only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in the state. In 2008, Regions served patients from 78 of Minnesota’s 87 counties. Safety net hospitals are vital to the entire state, which is why it is so important that the state, and the governor, do the right thing for their citizens and restore GAMC. Brock Nelson President and CEO Regions Hospital

To the Editor: It is amazing what the years have done. When the ELC synod began its push toward ordaining gays in 1993, the editorial in the Watertown Public Opinion was very outspoken on the subject. In 2010 the South Dakota Bishop of the ELC synod comes to Watertown to push the ELC synod agenda and nothing appears in the paper from either the editor of the paper or members of the ELC synod. I was raised in the ELC (Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod) with the emphasis always being that the Word, the Bible, must be taught in all of its truth and purity. Now I am being told that the Word is just one of the ways to arrive at spiritual decisions. We need to wake up. The ELC synod does not recognize the Bible as the Holy Word from a Holy God, as the inerrant word of God, and that is how a synod can come to the conclusion it has. If the church does not look to God’s Holy Word for its guidance through the Holy Spirit, then it has lost its reason for existing. We now have a bishop who has sold out to society’s standards for behavior and retired pastors who are more worried about their pensions than taking a stand for the gospel. We are all sinners in need of a Savior, but nowhere in the Bible does it say that our church leaders can continue in their sinful behaviors and be leaders of a church. The most disturbing fact about all of this suddenly rushed over me, I no longer can count on this synod to stand up for the truth. It has not had a stand against abortion either. The ELC synod’s downward spiral won’t stop where it is today. Jan Schulte Milbank, SD

To the Editor: On June 24, 2008, I had the biggest, meanest, hurtful hurt I have ever laid on my mind and body. I was going to end it. I really was. That is when I got a phone call from a niece, who was always close. We talked for two hours and 20 minutes. She let me know she cared. Then I had a session with someone who works with nervous and depressed people. I was told to let the hurt out. Do not keep it locked in. I found a lot of friends who showed me their love, kindness and understanding. This was a big help. There were a few that said to forget it. I was also told the people (who hurt me) were condemning me. They did not care or understand. I find a lot of people that are hurt and keep it locked. I would like to tell it in a true way to friends and I found that this is the only way to unload this hurt. Also by telling the truth, I am not hurting them. They are only hurting themselves. I am 86 years old. I know the Lord was and is with me. If I could help someone, please call me. Si Ulrich Ortonville

To the Editor: I would like to express my appreciation for Craig Johnson, the owner of the Ortonville Subway franchise. His franchise was provided with some banners that, due to a printing error, contained a depiction of the American flag being flown upside down. While this was completely inadvertent, it was a serious breach of flag etiquette. When this was brought to his attention, he acted immediately, removing the banners and ordering new ones without the offending image. He expressed his concern and remorse that the banners had been on display for so long before the error was noticed. It is a pleasure having a business in the community that responds so quickly and forthrightly to correct a mistake, even if that mistake is not of their doing. Sincerely, Brent Olson Ortonville, MN 56278

To the Editor: Teachers are the “unsung heroes” in the lives of our children. On a daily basis, they continue to meet the challenges of teaching in a variety of settings. The WEM Foundation and the Center for Academic Excellence invite you to help recognize and honor the outstanding K-12 educators who help make Minnesota a national leader in teaching and learning. Nominations are accepted until Feb. 15. Awards will be presented in three categories: Academic Challenge Coach of the Year (for outstanding coaches of activities endorsed by Minnesota’s Academic League Council, such as Knowledge Bowl, Math League, Business Professionals of America, Student Inventors Congress, FFA, One Act Play, Speech, etc.), Teacher Achievement (for teachers who excel in advancing student learning in challenging or alternative settings), and Ethics in Education (for promotion of ethical behavior in school curriculum or policy and personal practice). Currently-practicing educators from public and non-public schools, including public charter schools, are eligible for nomination. Nominations are particularly encouraged from students, parents and colleagues. The SW/WC Service Cooperative works in partnership with the Center for Academic Excellence and the WEM Foundation. The SW/WC Service Cooperative delivers a variety of programs and services on a regional basis to school districts, non-profits and governmental agencies, and will be part of a blue-ribbon judging panel to name the six state honorees and regional finalists to help showcase academic excellence in Minnesota. Each state honoree will receive an unrestricted $10,000 prize from the WEM Foundation. Last year, we had two teachers in our region who received this state honor: Mark Schleisman from Murray County Central and Adeline Miller from Tracy Area. We also had one regional honoree who each received an unrestricted award of $1,000: Donna Day Beck from the Red Rock Ridge School in Windom. Let’s have more Southwest and West Central winners this year!!! Please take time to nominate your “unsung hero” by Feb. 15. Visit www.mncae.org, click on WEM Educator Awards and follow the links to make your nomination online. Sincerely, Cliff Carmody, Executive Director SW/WC Service Cooperative, Marshall

Dear Jim, I was very disappointed in your ill-conceived editorial. Because you were issued a citation in a case where you specifically stated "dead wrong were we" an officer is labeled as "ALMIGHTY", "hot-shot lawman", and probably a number of other expletives that you did not want to print. Why? Because the officer was doing what he had been sworn to do? As so often is the case, is your perception of the events the same as the officer's? Without the benefit of seeing the officer's report of the incident, we have no way of knowing if what you wrote is exactly what happened. And what about the rights of the citizens that live and work in these communities along these highways? We receive a number of complaints each year from persons in these small communities who are genuinely concerned about the speed of vehicles moving through their town. Generally, their concern is for the children that may inadvertentiy wind up on the road. It is difficult enough to effectively stop where you have unlimited visibility, much less in a community with many more obstructions. Just by reading your article, I can see that you have had plenty of breaks, I wouldn't be surprised if there are readers who would be upset that you have received too many of them. Jim, it would serve no purpose to "lie for someone". Just like everyone else, we are citizens of the community. We cannot hide behind a four digit badge number of a large department We don't live in a distant suburb or another community. We attend the same church, eat in the same restaurant and go to the same ball games as the persons we are sworn to protect and serve. I believe you would have a hard time finding actual accounts of this type of behavior by officers from this area. In this day of ever increasing litigation and demands from the public to stop drunk driving because of the toll it takes on society, common sense dictates that a law enforcement officer must take enforcement action if a person were actually in physical control of a motor vehicle or admitted to such. There are too many stories of persons who had been taken home, only to end up driving and killing someone. Jim, I would bet you would be the first one to write an editorial condemning any officer who simply took an intoxicated driver home if an accident later occurred where someone you knew or a family member of yours was the victim. Jim, your last line in the editorial is the most perverse of the entire article. You are taking a constitutional right and twisting it in hopes that an officer will think twice about whether they will issue a citation to you or not. And if they do, you can then editorialize that it simply was retaliation for speaking out- You are simply trying to create a win/win situation for yourself and that is simply wrong to those of us who have taken an oath to uphold the constitution. If you truly are concerned, obey the traffic laws and neither you or an officer will be put into such a spot. We do agree on one thing Jim, mutual respect and admiration for the work that Chief Robert Meyer did during his tenure as a police officer. He was an extremely effective officer and chief from whom I have learned a lot. However, I can safely say that Mr. Meyer exemplified the norm rather than the exception when it comes to the majority of law enforcement officers in this area. I truly believe that the citizens of this area have been, and will be, well-served by the law enforcement officers that are charged with the duty to protect and serve them. John Haukos Big Stone County Sheriff

To the Editor: Through the month of January, the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council will be holding Small Grains Update meetings throughout the state of Minnesota. These meetings are a good place to learn what’s happening in the wheat industry, what happened last year and what to look forward to in the coming year. Also this year, growers will have an opportunity to influence the future of wheat research. The council has proposed to raise the wheat check-off from the current one cent per bushel to two cents per bushel. Anyone who sold wheat in the state of Minnesota in 2009 paid the check-off. Therefore, they are entitled to vote on the check-off increase. It is my sincere hope that the growers will not only take the initiative to vote on their own future, but to vote in favor of the increase. The check-off started in Minnesota in the 70s at one cent that was refundable. It was changed in the late 80s to a non-refundable one cent. This means that Minnesota wheat research has as much money going into it as it did in the 70s. Interestingly, according to NASS, Minnesota also produced as much wheat in 2009 as it did in 1974. After harvest this past fall, a farm supply salesman stopped at our farm and the discussion turned to the low protein in this year’s wheat. The question became, you’d think researchers could breed some improvements into wheat to be more consistent in quality year after year. I think many farms had this same discussion after harvest. This is your opportunity to do just that. In a proposed budget with an increased check-off, the council estimates it would raise the amount of money allotted to research by half a million dollars. Plain and simple, this means more wheat in the ground, more research lines in the system, more varieties released with higher yields and better quality, and ultimately more money in the growers’ pocket. Voting will take place at Crop Improvement Day in Hallock on Thursday, Jan. 21. Other times and locations can be found at www.smallgrains.org or by calling the wheat office at 1-800-242-6118. I urge all growers to come out and vote. Erik Younggren, Hallock

Letter to the editor: It is bitterly cold and nasty, so what do we western Minnesotan's do? Get outside of course! The groomed trails at Lac qui Parle State Park are great, best trail skiing I've done in years. Saturday I went snowshoeing at Sibley State Park. Word has it that the walleyes are biting on the MN River, but I am sworn to secrecy about exactly where. Winter meeting season has begun and there are three gatherings I would like to tell you about: Next Thursday, Jan. 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Montevideo Community Center, the WCRSDP, CURE, LSP and the Chippewa River Watershed Project are co-sponsoring a meeting to discuss findings about the impact on water quality that the loss of CRP lands may have. For more info, see our CUREMnRiver Facebook Page. Pre-registration required. On Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the UCC Church in Montevideo, CURE is working with the Montevideo and Marshall Area Peace Seekers and LSP to sponsor a musical environmental awareness program entitled For the Beauty of the Earth presented by Marienne Kreitlow and Jerry Ford. Finally, we are gearing up to host Dan Handeen's Solar Icon House presentation on Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Chippewa County Courthouse at 7 p.m. You won't want to miss it, so plan on attending. Off to the foothills of the the Upper Shakopee Creek Watershed, Sincerely, Patrick J. Moore Montevideo www.cureriver.org

To the Editor: On Saturday, Dec. 26 Richard Potter (43), Nicole Potter (14), Michael Potter (8), Peggy Kaul (58) and Casi Kaul (19) made a trip to Ortonville from Bloomington to attend a family Christmas celebration at Mrs. Alicia DeCamp’s home. We left that evening to go back to Bloomington and found ourselves in a snowstorm with heavy snow, high winds and blowing snow making drifts across the road. After becoming disoriented in the storm, we ended up stuck in a snowdrift on township Rd. 15. The situation was made worse because none of us had cell phone service. We decided we had to use our survival skills and stay with the van for the night. Luckily we had been given some quilts at our Christmas celebration and had extra clothes along. Richard started the van every hour for ten minutes to warm the inside and everyone had some sleep during the night. The next morning the snow had stopped but the wind was still blowing. We tried to dig out and back up the van from the snowdrift and did get some distance. As we were warming the van, a Case tractor with a snow blower on the back appeared on the road coming towards us. It was Keith Hoffman from Bellingham who was going to his son’s home to blow out his driveway. Keith blew the snow from around the van, turned it around and then we followed him as he blew the road path to his son’s home. He offered for us to come to his home to have a hot meal and warm up. We asked Keith to drive our van to his home. When we arrived there, Keith and his wife, Lois, prepared a homemade meal that was very delicious and so appreciated by all of us. We think that Keith was our angel that morning because we had decided that it would probably be another night in the van. Keith and Lois were very generous, caring and most of all lifesavers for all of us. It is great to know that there are people like Keith and Lois Hoffman in the world who will help in any way their fellow human being in need. Sincerely Peggy Kaul Burnsville

To the Editor: Christmas Shopping in Ortonville This year I made an effort to spend my Christmas dollars locally and did the bulk of my shopping in Ortonville. My children and I spent the Saturday before Christmas shopping on Main Street and we were pleased with the presents we brought home for family and friends. We shopped for healthy treats and teas for gift baskets at The Granary. At the consignment shops we bought locally knitted slippers and hats (that were a hit- even with a worldly teenage niece) and found wonderful Christmas décor. At the Hardware store we found lots of presents for Dad, treats for the dogs, and new birdfeeder and bird food. As an aside, I very much appreciate that the hardware store carries a lot of food preparation supplies, like apple peeler/corers, food dehydrators, Bethany lefse griddles, etc… We visited Radio Shack for electronics. Then we shopped at the Drug Store for small presents and wrapping supplies and finished our day at Bill’s SuperValu for more fruits and treats. I hope that the spirit of the season will include supporting our friends and neighbors who run businesses in our area. It seemed that Main Street was unusually quiet on what is typically a busy holiday shopping day for many. Thank you to all the Main Street businesses for providing friendly service and goods for the residents of our area. Best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Kathy Draeger, Clinton

To the Editor: Many of my relatives were in town for the Christmas holidays and on the first shopping day after Christmas my brother-in-law went to an Ortonville bank to cash some American Express Traveler’s Checks. He was told to take them to another bank, out of town, to cash them. Now, my brother-in-law was attempting to cash the checks in order to get some money so he could, you know… spend it. In Ortonville. When I think of all the efforts by so many people to get folks to shop in Ortonville, and the efforts of so many local businesses to make the shopping experience agreeable and productive, to have a local financial institution literally send business out of town…it’s a little disheartening. Now granted, my brother in law does have a beard, but he also had every possible form of I.D., local connections going back 130 years and American Express has always seemed like a reputable company to me, so my opinion is that it would have been a risk worth taking to encourage visitors to shop in our area. Brent Olson Ortonville

Letter to the editor: Dear Mr. Huselid and Choirs of OHS, Simply put....beautiful. Thank you. Sincerly, Rev. Raymond A. Smith Trinity Lutheran Church Ortonville

Letter to the editor: Citizens for Big Stone Lake needs your support. In this issue of the Ortonville Independent you’ll find a story about Citizens for Big Stone Lake’s (CBSL) concerns about land management practices from the two large dairies that are located in Veblen, SD, northwest of Big Stone Lake. According to some reports the two dairies, Veblen West and Veblen East, house as many as 13,000 cows that produce an estimated million gallons of waste water a day. In our opinion some of that waste water is being improperly handled and is polluting the Little Minnesota River that flows directly into Big Stone Lake just south of Browns Valley. CBSL first became aware of this problem earlier this year and have been trying to work with the appropriate South Dakota state agencies to resolve it. Some of our complaints have been met with what we feel are appropriate and timely responses while others have been frustratingly delayed. Our board of directors has chosen to continue this fight with expensive water quality testing where we are making those results available to appropriate state (South Dakota and Minnesota) and US Federal agencies until either one, or all of those agencies, come up with a valid solution to all of the problems. Elsewhere in this issue of the Ortonville Independent you will find CBSL membership application. I invite anyone with concerns about Big Stone Lake’s future to either renew their membership or fill out that application for the first time to help CBSL in our fight to help clean up Big Stone Lake. Steve Berkner President Citizens of Big Stone Lake