Dear Editor:

The democrats that make up the deep state don’t even try to cover up their lies and hypocrisy anymore. Hillary gets a free pass on destroying documents and Biden just got a free pass on having and destroying government documents. The two tier judicial system and the democrat media give them no punishment, but indict Trump on criminal charges for doing nothing more than Hillary or Biden. The republicans that went into the Capital on Jan. 6 are still locked up in prison, but the terrorist protestors that went into the Capital and did damage along with the rioters after George Floyd died, who destroyed property and killed people, get no punishment.

The Obama puppet on day one opened the border to anyone who wanted to come into this country, and for three years allowed millions of illegals into our country. They have no idea how many illegals are terrorists entering our country. They have allowed for fentanyl and other drugs to flow freely into this country, killing thousands of people, and allowing the sex trafficking of young girls. These illegals have murdered and assaulted Americans, and walk away with no punishment from the democrat backed district attorney and judges. A group of illegals recently assaulted New York City policemen, and were given debit cards, health care, driver’s licenses, housing, and education along with other benefits, while veterans and homeless in this country are ignored. Unlike the legal immigrants who came and come here to learn the language and become part of this Constitutional Republic, and live the American dream, many are coming to live their dream off of the American taxpayer. I really hope that Americans aren’t gullible enough to believe that now in an election year that Biden and the democrats suddenly care about the border and these illegals when they invited them in for the last three years. In democratic controlled states and cities anyone can walk into a business and walk out without paying for it with no punishment from liberal district attorneys and judges. Again, our liberal news media doesn’t cover this.

I have watched videos of members of Congress and people living in this country openly state their hatred for this country, and that they don’t support American laws, but want Sharia law. Because of our Constitution, they are allowed to stay here and say that, and be members of Congress.

Wake up people. Take off the blinders because we are on a very slippery slope, and right on the edge of a cliff. All of the made up charges against Trump should tell all of us what is happening to our great country. Will this country survive not only the next year but another four years of liberal democratic policies and agenda? Only God knows, but I fear for this country. If you believe that you can do or say nothing and this country with its freedoms and Constitution will always be here, you have apparently never studied history or you slept through it. If the democrats get what they want and we wake up in a socialist communist country without freedoms and Constitution, what will our life be like? How will we tell our children and grandchildren about the country we had with its freedoms, and we did or said nothing to stop the takeovers. Some of you may not like what Trump says, but his policies and agenda prove his love for America, the people and freedom. Don’t believe everything the democratic media wants you to believe. Pray and pray some more that we as a people and country turn back to God. The democrats want us to become pawns of the government. We the people are to be controlled by fear so they can control what we drive, make us take shots, and everything we do and have. This along with a policy that supports the abortion of children.

Only God knows what will happen to this country, our freedoms, and the Constitution during the last year of this administration, but it is really questionable with four more years.

Marlowe Klepel

Ortonville

Adv.

Dear Editor:

NIELSON PARK, ONE MAN’S VISION

The park as envisioned by Mr. Nielson, who donated the land, was to provide a place where a man/woman could reflect upon his/her life and purpose.  Because the park is on a hill should provide a clue to his thinking. From the lower level we look up at the walkways which should represent our pathway to heaven. Our pathway to heaven is not smooth concrete but rough with rock from the earth and reflects our hardship of getting to heaven. Once we reach the top and as we look out at the sky and think about the heavens, what comes to mind is the air we breathe. Next, think about the lake and how it represents the water that sustains life.  Lastly, think about the soil under your feet that provides the food you eat. 

It is my belief that this is what Mr. Nielson and the WPA workers in the 1930’s had as a vision for the park. A park with the purpose of helping man understand his relationship to his maker. Much like the man who built Mt Rushmore, and not completed in his lifetime so it is with Mr. Nielson’s vision. Although his vision may not have included more modern ideas, his vision now needs to be ours and hopefully completed in less than a lifetime.

Imagine the park with a large sundial, a few outdoor telescopes to look at the stars or solar lights around the walkway on top or even the steps.   Some bushes at the corners down the pathways to represent the burning bush.   This may not require a lot of money but does require lots of labor of love with our hands. Does this not conjure up thoughts of a place valued not only by locals but also as a must-see location by visitors. For our park then becomes a park with a purpose of enlightenment.  Reach out your hands and offer them up to help fulfill a dream. Reach out with your legs to move others to help.   Use your ears to listen to us by attending park board meetings. Use your voice to encourage us and others. 

Each park board member has a 3-ring binder titled Ortonville Municipal Parks. In this binder is the historical info and other data for each park in Ortonville. As we update, add equipment, or propose changes, we will document our thoughts and processes so that future generations will have the background on what we have done in each park. We are also developing a long-range maintenance procedure so that the park never again looks the way it did. It was not my intention to say that by putting the park back the way it was, is to say that all trees need to be removed or never be in the park again. The forces of nature will surely blow more seeds onto the soil. Just as there are good and bad people in the world, there are good and bad tree seeds. Our job in the future needs to focus on keeping the bad seeds from destroying the good seeds.

As for me, whether I live long enough to see any of this come true remains to be seen, for right now this is only my vision, hopefully it will continue to be with the younger members of the park board and the community as a whole and all will see it through.  After one hundred years, it is time to repair & complete what may have been the vision of Mr. Nielson.

Bill Powell

Ortonville

Dear Editor:

Just as most of us were receiving the Ortonville Independent last Tuesday, simultaneously a photo was found by Larry Helgeson at the Big Stone County Museum that graphically supports some of the comments contained in Bill Powell’s letter to the editor.

Bill’s words “visualizing what it should be” comes to life in the accompanying photo of the hillside that now is Nielson Park.

He further mentions the intention of the Park Board to restore the hillside to what it once was.  In the photo we find exactly what that vision could look like.

It may require patience to get to the completion of the Park Board’s vision, but the results are already stunning, providing views of Big Stone Lake open to everyone from one of our beautiful city parks.

Judy Beckman

Ortonville

Dear Editor:

Having been President of the Ortonville Park Board years ago, and having a great group of Board members that actually went into each park and worked on projects together, I felt the need to comment on the removal of ALL THE TREES on the banks of Nielson Park that go down to the Lake Road. I was shocked when I first saw the dirt bank next to my sister’s home, where the steps from the park lead to Main Street. I could not believe what I was seeing!! More shocking for me was looking close out her Living Room Windows and seeing a hill of dirt, old bottles and cans and all the rocks that, more than likely, were thrown or rolled over the bank by kids through the years. If one is at all familiar with the area, you will know they all belong along the step and path area going up the hill to the park. SO...All the Park Board members need to collect them, save them and get them cemented back into the walkway where they belong! This is not the job for the city crew to do.

I had already seen what had been cleared where the wooden steps and walkways and rock bridge are. I felt it looked nice, but it also had the trees on the banks removed. I thought at the time, if it decides to really pour rain in the spring, the Lake Road will be a pool of mud! Also, the water that drains from Park Avenue runs into a drain that empties into the area that goes under that little stone bridge. It then goes into a drain just before the Lake Road, which goes under the Lake Road. Does this then go into a city drain system or does it continue down between a couple of homes on the lake and then INTO THE LAKE??? IF SO? Definitely Buckthorn needed to be removed, along with the dead trees, branches and others trimmed BUT NOT TOTAL REMOVAL OF EVERYTHING. There were also many, many Honey Suckle bushes cut off, which of not poisened, will grow back into a nice bush. Has anyone wondered where all the song birds that were in that park will go, especially the Cardinals? The trees, Cedars and Evergreens were their protection and nesting areas.

As a park board member there must be all hands on, understand and visualize with a real walk through what is actually going to take place and then make a decision as to what needs to be done and what nees to be left alone. Then, bring it to the council and explain in DETAIL what is proposed so the next project does not turn out like Nielson Park just did.

I feel Nielson Park was just turned into the bare hill area of 1920 when John Nielson and his sister faithfully carried water from the lake to water trees that they had planted for shade!

Diane Dorry

Ortonville

Dear Editor:

As many of you know, I founded the Big Stone County Animal Rescue here in August of 2018. I have volunteered in varying forms of rescue over the last 25 plus years - whether it be walking dogs at a shelter, transporting for rescues, fostering countless animals, being a foster care coordinator, to now running BSCAR.

It became clear after I moved back to Ortonville that there was a need here, but I was not prepared for how great that need truly was/is. I was told several times that a rural rescue in a small town would “never work” - but through some growing pains, we have established ourselves as a solid and respected 501c3 companion animal rescue. We have several rescue partners in the Minneapolis metro area and work closely with many local veterinary clinics. We have provided microchip clinics, a very successful low cost spay/neuter clinic for cats and helped over 1,000 homeless or in need animals in our area to date. This is accomplished by commitment, grit and the teamwork of our amazing board members and volunteers, along with the outstanding and growing support of our community.

TNR projects (Trap/Neuter/ Release) of feral cat colonies throughout our county have proven to be very successful and yet another faction of rescue we are committed to.  Educating on the importance of spaying and neutering pets, providing routine veterinary care and the dangers of letting tame cats freely roam outside are always at the forefront of our mission. It’s impossible to try and explain just how busy we are and the countless hours that are put in by the volunteers and myself every single day.

Not one of us is paid a penny for our work. We are here to do good, to make a difference.  Period. Yet we struggle to get support from our city officials and local law enforcement when we reach out with concerns or need help. We have an excellent relationship with the Milbank police department as there is simply a shared mutual respect. After attending a recent city council meeting, it is becoming more and more evident that we may need to gather the support of our community to more effectively address other topics and needs. Awareness is key and we believe most of you want BSCAR here. We believe that positive change is possible but only if egos are put aside and we can work together.

We are here to help in our community and bring a voice to the voiceless. We ask all of you that care about our mission to pay attention.  Pay attention to your neighbors, pay attention to problems and speak up when needed by contacting law enforcement directly with official complaints. Attend city council meetings with us when we have issues on the agenda. We can use our FB page to make notifications when these meetings will occur.

The answer here isn’t to create a new ordinance to punish those of us that are responsible pet owners by further limiting the number of allowed pets. The answer is enforcing current ordinances and joining forces by working together to make needed changes as they arise in reasonable and effective ways for the good of our community as a whole. We are growing weary of being met with a “can’t do” attitude when we fully believe WE CAN DO. And with our community’s ongoing support WE WILL DO.

Sincerely,

Kristen Pattison

Ortonville