The Herman-Hoffman Tribune - Community News in the 21st Century

This is exciting - Hoffman (and Barrett) both gain in population under the 2010 census figures

2011-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

The figures have just been released. Hoffman grew from 672 (2000) to 681 (2010). The city of Hoffman has overcome substantial economic obstacles during the past decade to post this gain.

Barrett grew from 355 (2000) to 415 (2010).

Herman did not fare badly either, though the city did lose population. The 2010 census figure for Herman is 437. In 2000, it was 457.

Schedule for the upcoming Pope County Community Expo on April 2 at Minnewaska Area High School

2011-03-17T11:41:00.001-07:00

Food:
8:00 - 11:00: Chris Cakes 'Flying Pancake Breakfast' (Cafeteria) - tickets are $5 in advance or $7 at the door.
10:00 - 5:00: Cotton Candy, Kettle Corn, & More (Lobby Area Near the Large Gymnasium)
11:30 - 5:00: Concessions (Pizza, Fountain Soda, possibly more) (Cafeteria)

Transportation:
8:00 - 1:00: Rainbow Rider Round Trip Shuttles (2) running simultaneously between Glenwood, Starbuck, & MAHS
* Glenwood Stops Include: GRV. Good Samaritan, Glenwood Estates, Park View Court, Glenhaven Manner, & Toms
* Starbuck Stops include: Minnewaska Lutheran Home, Senior Apartments, Fron Lutheran Church, & Toms ~ final locations may be adjusted for the general pick-up(s).

Daycare:
10:00 - 4:00: Kingdom Kids Christian Preschool & Child Care will be offering FREE daycare for children (Infant – PreK) while parents visit the Expo area. Limited spots are available, offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and as openings arise throughout the day.

Glacial Ridge Health System Specialists:
9:30 -10:15: Breast Cancer & What You Want to Know with Rodger Althoff, M.D., F.A.C.S.
* Register for a FREE screening mammogram compliments of Glacial Ridge Health System
10:30 -11: 15: Smart Food Shopping for Diabetes with Karen Marschel RD, LD, CDE, CLT
11:30 -12:15: Non-Surgical Weight Loss - A Path to a Better You with Robert Montenegro, M.D., ABBM
1:30 -2: 15: Smart Food Shopping for Diabetes with Karen Marschel RD, LD, CDE, CLT
2:30 -3:15: Non-Surgical Weight Loss - A Path to a Better You with Robert Montenegro, M.D., ABBM

Horticulture/Clean Energy/Conservation
* (Presenters may switch times amongst these two groups for final line-up)
8:30 - 9:15: Minnesota GreenCorps
9:30 - 10:15: Minnesota GreenCorps
10:30 - 11:15: Master Gardeners
11:30 - 12:15: Master Gardeners
1:30 - 2:15: Master Gardeners
2:30 - 3:15: Minnesota GreenCorps
3:30 - 4:15: Minnesota GreenCorps

Master Gardeners:
Topics to be covered:
* Propagation (Root Cuttings)
* Germination Testing
* Making Seed Tapes

Minnesota GreenCorps with a Special Appearance by the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams:
Topics to be covered:
* Air Quality
* Waste Reduction: Recycling
* Waste Reduction: Composting
* Energy Conservation
* Community Outreach
* Demonstrations: Making home-made laundry soap

FREE Community Expo Kids Day Activities:
10:00 - 4:00
* Bouncy House (Ages 7 & Under) Sponsored by Glenwood Fleet Supply
* Defender Dome Dodge Ball by Game World
* Game World: Sports Challenge by Game World
* Jurassic Survivor Obstacle Course Game World by Game World
* Speed Pitch Sponsored by the Alexandria Beetles
* Face painting by Kingdom Kids, Sue Fossen, and MAHS student volunteers

* Temporary Air Brush Tattoos by Shelia Hemming
* Balloon Animals

Just for Kixx Dance Performances:
10:20 - 10:25: Wee Petites (Grades K-1)
11:20 - 11:25: Wee Kix (Grades 2-3)
12:20 - 12:25: Mini Jazz (Grades 3-6)
1:20 - 1:25: Mini Kix (Grades 4-6)
2:20 - 2:25: Jr/Sr Kix (Grades 7-12)
3:20 - 3:25: Jr/Sr Jazz (Grades 7-12)
4:50 - 4:55: Tiny Kix (Ages 3-5)

Main Stage Drawings, Performances, & Shows:
CASH DRAWINGS held at 10:25 * 11:25 * 12:25 * 1:25 * 2:25 * 3:25 * 5:00
* Each cash drawing will be for $50 except for the 5:00 drawing which will be for $100
* Winners present at the time of the drawing DOUBLE THEIR PRIZE!

12:30 - 1:15: Misfits of Magic Stage Performance

3:30 - 3:45: Sneak Peak Performance for MAHS "Beauty & the Beast"
* Left message for Gordy Moeller to see if he/cast members are interested in a sneak peak performance....

4:00 - 4: 45: Special Occasions Style & Fashion Show by Touch of Class

Reminder - Hoffman Commerce and Ag meeting is Thursday this week

2011-03-15T09:52:00.001-07:00

The meeting will be held at 12:00pm noon at Bullfrog's Bar and Restaurant in Hoffman. Thursday, March 17.

Section 6AA boys basketball games have been moved later in the afternoon today at UMM

2011-03-12T08:22:00.001-08:00

Tip off between West Central Area and Long Prairie-Grey Eagle will be at 4:30pm today, not 2:30 as previously scheduled.

It is due to the blizzard that has raged across western Minnesota last night and this morning.

None of the three WCA wrestlers get past the quarterfinal round at the state wrestling tourmament

2011-03-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

Congradulations to WCA senior Seth Felland, who defeated Minneota's Andrew Swedzinski 7-3 in his state tournament opener on Friday in the 135-pound division. Felland then lost a tough battle 8-6 in the state quarterfinals to Jacob Anderson of River Valley.

Felland then lost out of the tournament with an extremely heartbreaking 8-6 triple overtime loss to Mark Francour of Mille Lacs in the wrestlebacks.

Felland finishes a fine senior campaign 36-8 overall.

Kyle Martineau and Jon Pikop both lost their state tournament openers, with Martineau finishing his junior season with a 30-11 record and Pikop (senior) finishing 32-9.

Great win tonight for the WCA Knights girls basketball team, 65-36 over Minnewaska Area

2011-02-24T20:53:00.001-08:00

Action from the final minute of the first half between West Central Area and Minnewaska Area in non-conference girls basketball action on February 24 at MAHS gymnasium. WCA led 32-19 at halftime.

In the final 20 seconds of the clip below, WCA senior Marissa Skinnemoen slices through the lane for a quick basket with just over 3 minutes left before halftime.

Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors girls basketball gets the #8 seed, hosts playoff opener on Monday, Feb. 28

2011-02-23T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors girls basketball team will host a playoff opener on Monday, February 28, when #9-seed Henning travels to Wheaton for a 7:00pm game. The Hornets are 8-15 overall and went 4-8 in the Park Region Conference.

Here's the seedings for Sub-Section 6A-South in girls basketball:
1 - Hancock
2 - Parkers Prairie
3 - Underwood
4 - Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
5 - Battle Lake
6 - Brandon/Evansville
7 - B-B-E
8 - Wheaton/Herman-Norcross
9 - Henning
10 - Clinton/Graceville/Beardsley
11 - Ashby

Exhibitors are sought for the 2011 Pope County Community Expo

2011-02-21T21:02:00.001-08:00

The first annual Pope County Community Expo is coming on Saturday, April 2. The event, sponsored by the Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held at the Minnewaska Area High School from 8:30am to 5:00pm.

The Expo will include business, health, and family-oriented groups that will showcase their products and services to the public. It will have interactive demonstrations, entertainment, and educational opportunities to assist individuals at all stages of life with everyday, real-life situations such as healthy living, environmental/agricultural issues, sports/recreation, leisure, volunteer efforts, home improvement, gardening, nature, and historical topics.

Exhibitors are actively being sought for the big event, which will be advertised on Alexandria and Glenwood radio stations, as well as the Pope County Tribune, Starbuck Times, Classy Canary, Senior Perspectives, and the Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

Reduced registration fees will be given to home and part-time businesses, artists, crafters, independent sales consultants, churches, educational facilities, city/county/state offices and services, as well as non-profit, fraternal, and service organizations.

The deadline for exhibitors to register is March 4, 2011. Registration forms can be found online at www.GlenwoodLakesArea.org. They can be mailed out as well by calling the Chamber office at (320) 634-3636 or by e-mail at .

Pop quiz ... what's worse...

2011-02-10T06:31:00.001-08:00

What's worse, a "family values Republican" Congressman who cheats on his wife and destroys the trust of his family? Or a gay couple in a committed relationship wishing to have the right to marry and have a family?

Read this, it will shock you: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/new-york-rep-chris-lee-resigns.html

WCA's girls basketball team has 6-game winning streak come to an end vs. Hawley on Tuesday

2011-02-10T05:59:00.001-08:00

WCA's girls basketball team had their 6-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night, falling to a 15-3 Hawley team 58-36. The Knights are now 8-10 overall.

They look to rebound tonight with a home contest against neighboring rival Breckenridge. Tip-off for the varsity contest is at 7:30pm, in a huge sub-section match up that the Knights have to win. Show up and cheer on your Knights!

Two families in northern Kandiyohi County near New London-Spicer lose their homes to fires

2011-02-10T05:49:00.001-08:00

Read about the fires at this West Central Tribune article, published today, February 10:

http://www.wctrib.com/event/article/id/78288

I know it’s a pain in the butt to do so, but I always make a pass or two around the house with the snowblower. Keeping in mind that tragic day that could happen when a crew of firefighters need to get to the rear side of the structure. Plus, when I make the passes with the snowblower, I always eye-ball the outlets for the dryer and the furnace to make sure they are clear.

For sale: 2008 Polaris 800 Dragon snowmobile

2011-02-03T15:11:00.000-08:00

2008 Polaris 800 Dragon snowmobile. 155" track. 1600 miles. $5800 or best offer. Call (320) 815-1798.

Senator Franken: Minnesota dairy industry shouldn't be subject to excessive fines, regulations

2011-02-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

Last week, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would protect dairy producers and processors from excessive fines. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a rule to exempt milk storage facilities from repetitive, costly Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations and prevent it from fining or enforcing compliance penalties against producers and processors until they do.

“Minnesota’s dairy farmers and processors play a very important role in our state’s economy and shouldn’t be subject to excessive fines or to unnecessary regulations that hurt their competitiveness,” said Sen. Franken. “This bill restores some common sense to this regulatory process by requiring the EPA to quickly end this excessive over-regulation of our dairy industry and protects our farmers from fines until it has done so.”

Currently the EPA administers the SPCC program under the Clean Water Act to prevent discharges of oil into waterways. Because the EPA considers milk to be a non-petroleum oil due to its butterfat content, facilities handling milk, including dairy farms, may be subject to regulation under SPCC because of their milk storage capacity. In January 2009, the EPA suggested correcting this ill-advised consequence for the dairy industry but no final ruling has been made. The SPCC regulations are considered repetitive and unnecessary because milk handling operations are already subject to FDA regulation under the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), including licensing and regular facility inspections.

Winter takes its toll in a serious way on a Glenwood business

2011-02-02T14:11:00.001-08:00

Half of the roof of Wagner Hardware store in downtown Glenwood collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, February 1.

Awesome news! West Central Area school's one-act play takes first place at today's sub-section contest

2011-01-29T20:57:00.001-08:00

Members of the WCA One-Act play pose with their sub-section championship trophy in the high school auditorium.

What awesome news!

Read all about WCA's championship performance in the one-act competition in next week's Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

The Knights advance to the Section 5A round, held next Saturday (Feb. 5) at A-C-GC High School in Grove City, MN.

MDA Commissioner applauds EPA ruling on increased ethanol use

2011-01-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

E-15 approved for all cars manufactured since 2001

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson says he’s pleased with today’s Environmental Protection Agency approval of the use of E15 in all cars made in the past decade. The federal agency confirmed 15 percent ethanol in gasoline is safe for cars manufactured between 2001 and 2006. In October, EPA approved 15 percent ethanol for all cars manufactured since 2007.

“Today’s EPA action reinforces research findings in Minnesota that blends of up to 20 percent ethanol are compatible with vehicles on the road today,” said Commissioner Frederickson. “This is an encouraging development for Minnesota’s ethanol industry which has been a model for reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”

Minnesota was the first state to implement an E10 requirement and has laid the groundwork to be the first state to require statewide use of E20 by 2013. Today, there are 21 ethanol plants in Minnesota with an annual production capacity of more than 1 billion gallons.

Thoughts by the editor this morning

2011-01-20T05:43:00.001-08:00

Waking up with a bitter, 30mph cold wind blowing against the house, I am thankful for a roof over my family's head, food packed in the refrigerator and pantry, and a low monthly heating bill. We say a prayer for the homeless in Minnesota, who are being thrown to the wolves with the Republicans setting the agenda for our troubled state.

Hoffman Commerce and Ag and HEDA annual meeting is held on Tuesday night

2011-01-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

The keynote speech at the meeting begins...

Entertainment at the Hoffman Commerce and Ag and HEDA joint annual meeting on Tuesday night, Jan. 18

2011-01-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

Retail Staple Food Prices Edge Higher in Fourth Quarter

2011-01-12T14:25:00.000-08:00

Minnesota is below the national average

Retail food prices at the supermarket increased slightly during the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Marketbasket Survey.

The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $46.97 (Minn. - $46.86), up 80 cents or about 2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2010. Of the 16 items surveyed, nine increased, six decreased and one remained the same in average price compared to the prior quarter. The total average price for the 16 items was up $4.07 (about 10 percent) compared to one year ago.

Bacon, eggs, whole milk, sliced deli ham and bread increased the most in dollar value compared to the third quarter.

Bacon increased 68 cents to $4.32 per pound (Minn. - $4.26); eggs and whole milk increased 19 cents to $1.60 per dozen (Minn. - $1.60) and $3.35 per gallon (Minn. - $3.64), respectively; sliced deli ham increased 18 cents to $4.84 per pound (Minn. - $4.41); and bread increased 14 cents to $1.75 for a 20-ounce loaf (Minn. - $1.54).

“Hearty breakfast lovers felt the pinch in the fourth quarter of 2010,” said AFBF Economist John Anderson. “Increased consumer demand for meats and dairy products that began in 2009 continued through the fourth quarter of 2010. Wholesale meat supplies remained tight in the fourth quarter of the year, due to smaller livestock herds and poultry flocks, which also contributed to the retail price increases our volunteer shoppers reported.”

Other items that increased in price since the third quarter were sirloin tip roast, up 9 cents to $3.95 per pound (Minn. - $4.20); shredded cheddar cheese, up 7 cents to $4.16 per pound (Minn. - $4.33); toasted oat cereal and vegetable oil, up 4 cents each to $2.88 for a 9-ounce box (Minn. - $2.92) and 32-ounce bottle (Minn. - $2.49), respectively.

Most items showing an increase in retail price from quarter-to-quarter also showed year-to-year increases. Compared to one year ago, bacon was up 44 percent, eggs were up 4 percent, whole milk was up 10 percent and sliced deli ham was up 11 percent.

“Increasing our nation’s livestock herd to meet the growing demand for meat and dairy products takes time, so we are likely to see retail prices continue to increase for some foods throughout 2011,” said Anderson.

Six foods decreased slightly in price compared to the prior quarter: boneless chicken breasts, down 34 cents to $3.10 per pound (Minn. - $3.73); flour, down 16 cents to $1.99 for a 5-pound bag (Minn. - $2.01); Russet potatoes, down 13 cents to $2.50 for a 5-pound bag (Minn. - $2.21); ground chuck, down 10 cents to $2.83 per pound (Minn. - $2.85); and bagged salad, down 6 cents to $2.69 per pound (Minn. - $2.12).

Orange juice remained the same in price at $2.97 for a half-gallon (Minn. - $3.19).

The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index (www.bls.gov/cpi) report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.

“In the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that
figure has decreased steadily and is now just over 20 percent, according to Agriculture Department statistics,” said Anderson.

Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this quarter’s $46.97 market basket would be $9.39.

AFBF, the nation’s largest general farm organization, has been conducting the informal quarterly marketbasket survey of retail food price trends since 1989. The mix of foods in the marketbasket was updated during the first quarter of 2008.

According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world. A total of 92 shoppers in 29 states participated in the latest survey, conducted in late October/early November.

What an outrageous flurry of lies from Republicans at today's Medicaid signing by Governor Dayton

2011-01-05T20:56:00.000-08:00

Jake McMillan was one of the protesters who spoke at the podium at today's signing of the new Medicaid expansion to help pay for the health care of poor and mentally ill adults in Minnesota. He was the final person to speak in opposition to Governor Dayton's executive order.

McMillan stated that what Governor Dayton was doing, by signing onto the expanded health care coverage, will "destroy our society" or something outrageous like that.

Follow this link to read more on Jake McMillan, who is nothing less than a very deranged and dangerous individual connected to an inflammatory gay-bashing group called "You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International, Inc." based in Annandale, MN.

http://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2011/01/dayton-office-protestor-jake-mcmillan-cant-hide-from-bradlee-dean-connection.html

After following that link, you can watch a video clip of the entire event (Dayton's signing of the Medicaid expansion) for yourself.

It's interesting how childish and rude the Republican protesters were during this event. Just as interesting as it was to hear that idiot talk about his 41 years of V.A. medical care, while in the same breath saying how terrible it is that government has to get involved in health care.

To anyone who thinks that you can turn a blind eye to the uninsured in this country, that it doesn't affect you if you have your own health insurance and pay a premium every month...the joke is on you!, assuming you pay a health insurance premium. Hospitals charge health care providers more than the actual cost of providing health care for the insured, so they can pay for the uninsured. To all Republicans out there, you are already paying for the health care of the poor in this country! It is being done so through the horribly inefficient method of providing health care through our hospital emergency rooms.

I'm tired of the constant lies being told about health care in this country.

Border battles tomorrow night: Wheaton/Herman-Norcoss girls basketball hosts Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta in Herman, WCA boys host Brandon/Evansville

2011-01-03T20:43:00.001-08:00

On Tuesday night this week (January 4), the Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors girls basketball team will host Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta in a non-conference game at Herman. Tip-off is at 7:30pm.

WHN is 4-4 overall, while MACA is 3-3.

The West Central Area Knights boys basketball team will host Brandon-Evansville in a border battle at Barrett. The B/E Chargers are undefeated at 5-0 thus far in 2010-2011, their best start since the 1990s. The Chargers' last win against WCA in boys basketball was on January 22, 2005 (70-59).

Great words of wisdom!

2010-12-31T21:34:00.001-08:00

May you have enough happiness to keep you happy.
Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrow to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you thoughtful.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough friends to give you comfort.
Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish depression.
Enough wealth to meet your daily needs.
Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday

Snowplows have been pulled from the roads in Stevens, Traverse, Grant, Pope Counties as well as others in western Minnesota

2010-12-31T04:54:00.000-08:00

Snow plows have been pulled from all area state highways and interstates in Wilkin, Otter Tail, Traverse, Grant, Douglas, Big Stone, Stevens, Pope and Swift counties.

Also, I-94 from Moorhead to Alexandria was closed as of 7pm on Thursday night.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises the public not to travel until conditions improve and Mn/DOT and the Minnesota State Patrol open the roads.

Motorists should plan accordingly. When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or sentenced to 90 days in jail. If travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will also be added.

**Update at 11:20am...at 10:30 on Friday morning, I-94 was re-opened between Alexandria and Moorhead. I bet it'll close again later tonight as the second wave bears down on the region.

Thankful for this snowplow, which blazed a path for me on the way home on Highway 55

2010-12-30T19:43:00.001-08:00

...and yes, for the record, I have a "dash cam" rigged up in my car so I can drive and shoot video at the same time. (A mount for my tripod and digital camera)

Lost dog in Delware Township

2010-12-28T08:44:00.001-08:00

LOST dog: Cream/apricot standard poodle neutered male lost on Sunday 12/26 while hunting in Delaware Twp, Sec 2. Reward for return.

Call owners at 218.770.6356.

This was fun - Christmas in Glenwood - parade on December 9

2010-12-26T18:38:00.001-08:00

This was one of many different celebrations in Glenwood in honor of the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas from the Herman-Hoffman Tribune

2010-12-25T17:50:00.001-08:00

On the eve of the celebration of Christ's birth let us truly remember what is important, respect and love for one another no matter the differences, kindness when we don't want to be kind, making an effort to find good in everything and to thank God for lessons learned.

Merry Christmas to you all.

More snow coming the eve of Christmas Eve

2010-12-23T12:42:00.001-08:00

Driving around Hoffman, before heading home for the Christmas weekend!

What an awesome appointment for the Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner, a good friend of mine, Dave Frederickson

2010-12-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

I am quite honored to personally know our next Ag Commissioner in Minnesota! Here's Dave Frederickson at work, during a Farm Bill Forum in Morris on August 16, 2010. Dave is the brother-in-law of Rich Kennedy of Herman.

After serving in the Minnesota Senate until 1993, Dave Frederickson was elected President of the Minnesota Farmers Union, who he served from 1993 to 2002. In March of 2002, Frederickson won a tough battle for the President of the National Farmers Union, beating out a very well-funded “commodity-group” backed President of the Oklahoma Farmers Union in what was an incredibly close race. I was actually a part of that process in March 2002, down in Texas, with a group of upper-midwestern farmers self-dubbed "the freedom fighters." It was an experience I'll never forget!

Frederickson served NFU from 2002 until 2007, when he went to work for Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Below, a Herman-Hoffman Tribune exclusive interview with Dave Frederickson on August 16 in Morris.

I'm very excited for rural Minnesota and our agriculture community. Commissioner Frederickson will do an outstanding job representing us and promoting policies that benefit small towns and the farm families who support Greater Minnesota.

This is an awesome idea - a Long Prairie business gives out "Long Prairie Bucks" as a Christmas bonus totaling $13,000

2010-12-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

Here's the link to follow to the story, in the Long Prairie Leader:
http://lpleader.com/articles/2010/12/14/news/doc4d0832305b0f1943167467.txt

Tom Emmer and company, sticking it to small rural counties

2010-12-15T05:48:00.001-08:00

From the article in today's St.Cloud Times:
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20101215/NEWS01/112150025/Emmer-campaign-stiffs-counties-for-recount-bills

Sam Modderman doesn’t know exactly how many hours he and his staff spent preparing a cache of documents requested by Tom Emmer during the governor’s recount. But he knows the county hasn’t been paid for the work.

“We completed all the requests, but no, we haven’t gotten paid for them all,” the Kandiyohi County Auditor (Willmar) said.

It’s a common story that’s been reported in other counties who rushed to prepare documents requested by the Emmer campaign but then didn’t get paid for the work.

Modderman said he spent more time at the office than with his family over Thanksgiving in order the meet the request for documents.

“They were a little demanding,” he said.

My comments: Swift County (Benson, western MN) used a different tactic with Emmer and his cronies. They said to Emmer, "Go ahead, sue us for the material if you want. We will not get stiffed!" Great job.

Herman-Norcross Choir and Band Christmas Concert - 12/9/2010

2010-12-13T12:24:00.001-08:00

Photo by Jennifer Pederson.

Hoffman Santa Day is a go - weather isn't horrible but it is cold and snowy!

2010-12-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Hoffman Santa Day and Customer Appreciation event is from 2-4pm today at the Community Center. It's still a go, according to HEDA director Muriel Krusemark.

Dress warm and drive safely out there!

In a sports-related note, the WCA boys basketball game at Grove City against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa has been postponed to Saturday, December 18.

A note on the 2010 election in Minnesota

2010-12-08T06:13:00.001-08:00

Just the facts, folks, on the 2010 election:

MN Voter Registration rate 83.68%….MN Voter Participation rate 69.8%. (More voters than there were votes cast, despite what Republicans say.)

Hoffman council holds 2011 Truth in Taxation hearing

2010-12-06T18:06:00.000-08:00

Below is the proposed 2011 Hoffman city budget, which was under discussion tonight at the regular meeting of the city council. Click to enlarge.

Hoffman Pre-K through 6th grade dance is canceled

2010-12-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

A note from Muriel Krusemark:

The Pre-K - 6th Grade dance in Hoffman has been postponed until a later date due to inclement weather.

We will notify you of the new date later.

**Weather changes athletic schedules for area season openers in boys/girls basketball

2010-12-03T12:53:00.001-08:00

Sports-related weather notes:

The boys basketball Tip-Off Classic first round games will be Saturday night (tomorrow) for the West Central Area Knights, with the championship on Dec. 11. The Knights are already in Belgrade at an 8-team wrestling tournament, and they will stay as long as conditions allow, hopefully until it's over later this evening. Stay tuned!

The WCA girls basketball game at Frazee has been canceled as well.

What a rough start to the winter sports season!

West Central Minnesota Youth Chorale Concert will be Tuesday, December 7

2010-12-02T09:39:00.001-08:00

The West Central Minnesota Youth Chorale Concert originally scheduled for Nov 29th has been postponed until Tuesday December 7th at 7PM at the secondary school in Barrett.

The concert will also feature the WCA school Choralaires and other surprises.

Red Kettle Campaign is underway in Grant County - Bell ringers sought!!

2010-12-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! It is that time of year again where the Grant County Salvation Army has the red kettles out and are looking for folks to ring the bells or sing at our various sites all around the county. It is a fact that the kettles receive more donations if there is someone manning the kettle. All donations stay in Grant County and are used for emergency and disaster services.

Last year we served 196 people with housing, utilities, or transportation needs while assisting 62 children with back-to-school needs. Therefore, as the Treasurer, I am putting out a challenge . . . I would like to see various organizations and businesses in the county pick up the challenge and see which organization can raise the most funds!

We have 3 weeks to raise all the funds we use next year and I would like to see us raise enough to double the above stats (we know there is need because we had to turn folks away last year). So if you would like to take part as an organization or on your own, please contact Stephanie at 218-685-6192 to get on the schedule.

If you would like to challenge another organization, please do so and let’s get these kettles full.

Thanks to everyone for their support!

Robbie Stier, Family Self-Sufficiency Counselor
West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.
Elbow Lake, MN

It's wicked out there! November Blizzard rages across most parts of Minnesota

2010-11-30T07:58:00.000-08:00

Downtown Hoffman on Tuesday morning.

Though western Minnesota did not receive much for snowfall on Monday, November 29 or overnight last night, most schools in the area are two hours late today.

I noticed that Alexandria schools are closed.

I'll get some snow/blizzard pictures up later today!

Lost animals brought in on Nov. 20 at the Grant County Humane Society

2010-11-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

Lost animals both brought in on Nov. 20 at Grant County Humane Society: Gray Tabby and white female adult cat from Ashby located by the city office/fire hall. Also, German Sheperd female dog, about 1 year old, from Erdahl Township.

The website for the GCHS, located in the Fjoslien Animal Shelter Building in Elbow Lake, is: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/MN29.html

Truth in taxation hearing in Hoffman on December 6

2010-11-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge.

Interesting...

2010-11-26T09:33:00.001-08:00

The "Anti-Business agenda of President Obama" in the past 2 years has led to a complete rebound of the stock market AND corporations earning 1.5 trillion dollars last quarter. A record. We have the lowest tax rates of all time, of corporations and individuals. Corporate businesses has huge amounts of cash on hand. And yet, Congress will not extend benefits, for those who lost their jobs, for the Christmas period.

Well, my Black Friday trip to Officemax in Alexandria was interesting

2010-11-26T05:54:00.000-08:00

I'll explain more later.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming local Santa Days!

2010-11-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars!

Hoffman Santa Day is on Sat. December 11. Kensington and Herman will host Santa Day activities on Sat. December 18.

Profits for American companies have skyrocketed, but where's the jobs? Where are the wage increases?

2010-11-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

Workers in America are mostly struggling by with terrible wages, but American companies just had their best quarter EVER. Profits were "earned" at an annual rate of $1.66 trillion in the 3rd quarter of 2010. That is the hig hest figure EVER since the government started keeping track over 60 years ago. Profits have grown for seven consecutive quarters, at some of the fastest rates in history.

Come on, Corporate America, get with the program and do your job, so the government does not have to do it for you.

'Little Women' coming to Alexandria the next two weekends

2010-11-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge.

The Alexandria Area Arts Association will present 'Little Women' beginning this week!

Performances are set for Thursday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, November 26 and December 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, November 27 and December 4 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, November 28 and December 5 at 2 p.m. To make your reservation, call (320) 762-8300.

Minnesota Farmers Union state convention is a big success

2010-11-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

Click below for an update from the Minnesota Farmers Union 69th annual state convention in Minneapolis, written by rural blogger and journalist Sally Jo Sorenson of Hutchinson. (She's also the McLeod County MFU president)

http://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2010/11/mfu-can-do-ag-group-passes-policy-and-special-orders-at-2010-state-convention.html

Commentary: Grocery stores vital to rural communities

2010-11-15T20:40:00.000-08:00

By John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs

Grocery stores play a crucial role in our rural communities, providing vital sources of nutrition, jobs and tax revenue that support the community. Moreover, rural grocery stores are also economic drivers, community builders and meeting places.

They are, however, slowly disappearing - forcing residents to leave their communities to purchase food, often at great expense and over great distance. Across rural America, 803 counties are classified as "food deserts" where all the county residents are at least 10 miles from a full-service grocery store. The Great Plains has the highest concentration of "food desert" counties, with 418.

The Center for Rural Affairs recently released two reports on rural grocery stores (see www.cfra.org). The first, Rural Grocery Stores: Importance and Challenges, describes six general challenges facing rural grocery stores: competition with chain stores, high energy costs, minimum buying requirements, labor issues, community support, and models of ownership. The second report, Rural Grocery Stores: Ownership Models That Work for Rural Communities, offers solutions to the challenges discussed in the first report and examines models of rural grocery store ownership.

Many believe the future of America's rural communities is much in doubt, that the stern demographic and economic challenges they face are simply too great and deep-seated to overcome. The issues facing rural grocery stores are an example of those larger rural challenges. But at the Center for Rural Affairs, we believe the future of our rural communities holds abundant promise if new economic models are encouraged and implemented.

John Crabtree is with the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyon, Neb.

Too much work leads to a burnt out editor after the election

2010-11-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

Only five blog posts in November and the month is half over.

I'm definitely on a much-needed break from much of my internet work.

Representative Collin Peterson is re-elected - also, area school levy results are below

2010-11-03T13:17:00.001-07:00

Congressman Collin Peterson won 133,086 to Lee Byberg's 90,682 to Glen Menze's 7,904 with 100% of the precincts reporting.

In the governor's race, Mark Dayton won with 100% of precincts reporting. The totals are: Dayton 919,234 to Emmer's 910,380 to Horner's 251,503. Dayton's margin of victory was .42%, which triggers an automatic recount. (Tom Emmer does not have to call for a recount, this will happen whether he wants it or not.)

Automatic recounts are triggered when the margin of victory is less than a 1/2 of a percent of the total votes.

In the Grant County Recorder's race, Diann Giese won 2,142 to 782 for Tonia Dittberner.

Some election results are on page one and page three of this week's Herman-Hoffman Tribune, which just hit the newsstands this morning.

A handful of area school levy results:

Yellow Medicine East - 1,554 yes to 1,092 no with 100% of precincts reporting.
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 735 yes to 636 no.
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 606 yes to 503 no, a simple extension of a $200 per pupil levy.
Wheaton Area - 564 no 561 yes, a truly heartbreaking loss for their school.
Morris Area - 1,750 yes to 1,197 no.
Eagle Valley - failed 647 to 509.
Fergus Falls - 4,986 yes to 2,638 no. (they had no increase, just an extension of a $416 per pupil levy)
Kimball Area - they passed two questions that total $875 per pupil.
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 1,526 no to 1,350 yes. (they sought no increase, just an extension of a $700 per pupil levy)
Minneota - 585 yes to 528 no. (they were asking for a small increase of $126 per pupil up to a total of $700 per pupil - a nice win for that district)
Ogilvie - 884 no to 582 yes - they are in trouble, the question was for no increase to an existing $600 per pupil levy.
Red Rock Central - 766 yes to 686 no. Lamberton/Jeffers/Storden/Sanborn passed a big increase to their levy from $950 to $1450 per pupil.
Upsala - 436 no to 346 yes - they are in trouble too.

A special note on Eagle Valley...that school district is made up of the towns of Eagle Bend and Clarissa, who merged back in 1988. They are in serious trouble. I predict they will dissolve within one to two years. The funding and the students just do not add up to keep the district going, especially when they are operating two large, old buildings that need major renovations.

On Long Prairie-Grey Eagle's narrow loss...they are in trouble too, although they are a much bigger district than Eagle Valley is, and I think they can weather the storm. It will be ugly, though.

It's a sad sight to witness.

On the levy vote at K-M-S...it's very surprising to see a levy vote barely pass at K-M-S when all they were asking for was an extension of a $200 per pupil levy. Thank goodness it did pass, K-M-S is a great small school district.

Around the state, 35 districts failed all levy questions to increase their property taxes.

Altogether, 76 districts seeking levies was the highest since 2007, when 101 districts requested levy referenda.

WCA levy vote passes!

2010-11-03T02:58:00.003-07:00

At around 3:30 this morning, all precincts were reported and the total was 1,266 "yes" to 1,228 "no"...it passed!

Now 1:15am - the WCA levy builds a 46 vote margin lead!

2010-11-02T23:15:00.000-07:00

At 1:10am, the tally now stands at 685 yes to 639 no.

At 10:56pm, the WCA levy vote trails 192-170

2010-11-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

I'll be updating my blog into the night.

Let's hope and PRAY for good things to happen with the results.

In statewide and local races as of 11pm...

In House District 11A, with 20.8% of the precincts reporting, the tallies are: Torrey Westrom 3,371 - Bennett Smith 1,327 - Dave Holman 254. Westrom leads 68% to 26% to 5%.

In Senate District 11, with 22% of the precincts reporting, the tallies are: Bill Ingebrigtsen 5,369 - Jim Thoreen 2,450.

******Update at midnight...great news! At least for now...the WCA levy vote is now in the lead 464 to 439. Oh boy, it is going to be a roller coaster of a night. Pray for good things!

At midnight, with 50.39% of the precincts reporting statewide, the governor race tallies are: Mark Dayton 608,715 (44.9%), Tom Emmer 564,991 (41.72%), Tom Horner 164,809 (12.1%).

Just a few minutes after midnight...YIKES! the WCA levy vote is in the lead 604 to 569. That is a razor thin margin.

At 12:30am, in the Grant County Recorder race, Diann Giese holds a huge lead with 30.4% of the precincts reporting. The tally sits at 541 for Giese with 277 for Tonia Dittberner.

In the 7th Congressional District race, Collin Peterson has been declared the winner over Lee Byberg by the Associated Press.

12:48am... the WCA levy vote sits at 609 yes to 572 no.

In the race for mayor of Kensington, Jim Schecker defeated Ralph Gunderson by a 74 to 47 vote margin.

Stay tuned!

Rural Minnesota school district levy vote totals:
* Willmar * 4,627 no to 4,411 yes.

Voting precinct locations for West Central Area district voters

2010-11-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge.

I'm very anxious for the vote on Tuesday - mainly to see how the WCA levy turns out

2010-10-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

...and yes WCA voters, please vote yes!

In the interest of the public's right to know...

2010-10-29T09:47:00.001-07:00

Due to the fact that Grant County is broke (generally speaking), the general election "sample ballot" was not published in our Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

Once the county auditor's office found out what it would cost to publish it in our newspaper, they decided to do only what the state law requires: publish it two times leading up to the general election in the official "county newspaper" - which is the Grant County Herald.

Obviously, my publisher was angry. I am too. Of course, 99% of the blame lies with Governor Pawlenty and the tea party, anti-tax, cut-government-into-oblivion crowd. I don't have ill feelings towards our county auditor - this time, the county budget said "no".

Our phone has been ringing off the hook today with angry seniors who wanted to see the ballot in their Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

The best I can do is have a copy of it in my office (which I do) so people can come down and look at it or get copies.

The dumbing down of America continues...

This is awesome! Toby Weigand taking it to the house at the FargoDome last Thursday

2010-10-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

The WCA Knights won 27-19 over Park Rapids Area on October 21.

What a truly awful person, he rates down there with pond scum and Tom Emmer...running for secretary of state, to boot? Dan Severson, public enemy #2

2010-10-27T15:27:00.001-07:00

Headline = Severson: Students should not be allowed to vote where they go to school

Dan Severson is the Republican endorsed candidate for Secretary of State in Minnesota.

http://mnpublius.com/post/1407024213/severson-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-vote-where

...Severson feels that college students are not "engaged" enough to cast a reasonable vote.

I'm quite upset that the campaign season is almost over, because there's little chance that I'll cross paths with this creep between now and Nov. 2. I'd love to give him a piece of my mind!

Another video clip from the levy forum at the Oct. 21 Hoffman Commerce and Ag meeting

2010-10-27T11:23:00.001-07:00

In a failed levy scenario, Superintendent Pat Westby talks about the budget future at WCA. This was at the Hoffman Commerce and Ag meeting on October 21.

Tea Party "poll watchers" - I'll be watching you in my area - I dare you to suppress voter turnout

2010-10-26T22:50:00.001-07:00

Read more about what the Tea Party is whining about here: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/105829608.html?page=3&c=y

This is truly awful - Tea Party activists push a woman to the ground and stomp on her head (I wish I was making this up)

2010-10-26T21:46:00.001-07:00

The incident happened before a debate in Kentucky. A sad day in America.

Click here for the details: http://www.bluebluegrass.com/2010/10/25/republican-rand-pauls-brownshirts-assault-and-stomp-the-head-of-a-moveon-org-woman-before-the-ket-debate

Hey Torrey, thanks for being a weasel back in 2005 on the school funding issue, while not being helpful on excess levy referendum votes

2010-10-26T09:24:00.001-07:00

Representative Westrom is
blasted on school funding issue

January 27, 2005

Representative Torrey Westrom of Elbow Lake was blasted at a meeting held in Hoffman when trying to suggest that the state funding proposed by Governor Pawlenty will allow for smaller class sizes.

Superintendent Ness said, “Since 1997 we’re $440 behind per pupil on the formula when adjusted for inflation. WCA is definitely spiraling. Our enrollment is declining. We need a variety of solutions for our budget issues, including increased state funding, budget cuts, plus referendum money - or rather, local taxes.”

Ness added, “We need more revenue. We’re a state that values good roads, good schools, good health care, and we’re willing to pay for it.”

Westrom responded, “If more are willing to pay, then why are school boards and counties reluctant to go to referendums? The public generally doesn’t pass those.”

Ness replied that the cost of government has gone down over the past few years, from 17 percent of gross personal income to 15 percent.

Tom Emmer - the dirtiest candidate for governor I've ever seen

2010-10-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

Exiled from Lake Street:
Latino community forces cancellation of stealth Emmer rally

(Minneapolis)– Oscar Reyes, owner of the Las Mojarras restaurant on Lake Street in the heart of Minneapolis’s Latino community, was pleased to get a reservation for a Saturday morning “business meeting” on October 23.

He was less happy when calls came in from concerned community members asking why a campaign rally for anti-immigrant, anti-Latino Republican gubernatorial Tom Emmer was taking place in his popular business.

In a humiliating blow for the Emmer campaign, Reyes canceled the event and appeared as a guest on the Cara a Cara radio show on La Invasora 1400 to assure the Latino community that he was a victim of an attempt to stage a stealth rally in the Latino neighborhood prior to President Obama’s rally on behalf of DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton.

The interview with host Alberto Monserrate has been posted online on the Cara a Cara web page and can be downloaded here.

Monserrate said that Reyes asked to be on the show in order to assure the community that he was not supporting Emmer’s campaign. While on air, Reyes said that he didn’t know that the event was part of a political campaign

The radio show host thought the secrecy was unusual, as political organizers are generally upfront with small business owners. “In all of the organizing I’ve observed, those setting up events let businesses know that it’s a campaign-related event because of the potential for customer disapproval. Those organizing this rally appear to have sought a meeting in the Latino community, but failed to tell the Latino small business owner that is was for Emmer.”

Reyes learned of the true nature of the event when calls started coming in after news of the event appeared in the Wednesday, October 20, 2010 “Morning Take,” published by Tunheim Partners public affairs firm; the event was also listed on a local conservative blog. Community organizers and activists spread the word via Facebook and Twitter, and curious activists called Reyes.

Reyes was angered to learn that the event was political and to discover Emmer’s record of supporting anti-immigrant measures like Arizona’s SB1070 bill and anti-Latino measures like an English-only bill, according to Monserrate.

My thoughts: Tom Emmer, you really have sunk to a new low, trying to hold a campaign rally at a privately-owned business without telling that business owner what was going on. By doing so, you are jeopardizing the image of that business without letting the owner decide whether or not he wants to risk losing business over your governor bid. I will safely say, you're the dirtiest candidate for governor I've seen in my lifetime.

Hoffman Commerce and Ag hosts informational meeting with WCA Superintendent Westby today

2010-10-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

We had a nice turnout today at the Hoffman Commerce and Ag meeting at Bullfrog's Bar and Grill.

What a tough, tough loss in Chokio for the CAHN Spartans football team

2010-10-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

In what was the final football game that will ever be played in Chokio (unless the C-A community booms and they re-start their athletic programs), the Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross Spartans football team lost another high-scoring game.

This time, it was Eagle Valley leaving town with the win. Final score: Eagle Valley 42, CAHN 38.

Both teams were 3-4 coming into the game. CAHN's 3-5 record puts them at 4th place in the 6-team Pheasant Conference South for 2010.

In the upcoming Section 3, 9-man playoffs, CAHN will be the number six seed and will make the short trip to rival Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley for the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, October 26.

2010 Section 3, 9-man playoff seedings:
1st and 2nd are Wheaton and Edgerton/Ellsworth, and I'm not sure who will be the #1 and who will be the #2 seed. I will know tomorrow, though.

#3 - Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (7-1)
#4 - Hills-Beaver Creek (6-2)
#5 - Brandon/Evansville (5-3)
#6 - CAHN (3-5)
#7 - Lincoln HI (2-6)
#8 - Hancock (0-8)

This was fun too - Musical Chairs at the Herman-Norcross Homecoming Pep Fest

2010-10-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

A photo from one of the rounds of musical chairs is on page one of this week's Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

The freshmen class skit.

Coming tonight - the WCA Levy meeting in Hoffman

2010-10-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Tuesday, the meeting begins at 7pm at the Hoffman Community Center.

Delaware Republican Senate nominee O'Donnell asks whether Constitution prohibits establishment of religion

2010-10-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

From the Associated Press...

WILMINGTON, Del. - Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell of Delaware on Tuesday questioned whether the U.S. Constitution calls for a separation of church and state, appearing to disagree or not know that the First Amendment bars the government from establishing religion.

The exchange came in a debate before an audience of legal scholars and law students at Widener University Law School, as O'Donnell criticized Democratic nominee Chris Coons' position that teaching creationism in public school would violate the First Amendment by promoting religious doctrine.

Coons said private and parochial schools are free to teach creationism but that "religious doctrine doesn't belong in our public schools."

"Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" O'Donnell asked him.

When Coons responded that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, O'Donnell asked: "You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?"

Her comments, in a debate aired on radio station WDEL, generated a buzz in the audience.

"You actually audibly heard the crowd gasp," said Widener University political scientist Wesley Leckrone, adding that he thought it raised questions about O'Donnell's grasp of the Constitution.

MFU: EPA takes first step on E-15 ethanol blend

2010-10-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

October 13, 2010 – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Doug Peterson welcomes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement today of the approval of E15 blend fuel in 2007 and newer vehicles. On March 6, 2009 Growth Energy (www.growthenergy.org) submitted its Green Jobs Waiver to the EPA, seeking a regulatory change to permit an increase in the allowable blend of ethanol in fuel to 15 percent (E15), from the arbitrary limit that currently caps the amount at 10 percent (E10). MFU says the approval for newer vehicles is a good first step, and MFU is confident it will be followed by approval for older model vehicles once the Department of Energy (DOE) completes its testing later this year.

“Minnesota has been a leader in biofuels, and this announcement is a step in the right direction to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, creating U.S. jobs and improving our environment” said Doug Peterson, MFU President.

Other points about the EPA announcement:

• today’s decision will apply to 43 million vehicles- nearly 20 percent of the current U.S. duty fleet.
• a second decision on cars 2001 to 2006 is expected by the end of the year and would add an additional 86 million cars, meaning that, if approved, E15 would be allowed in more than 54 percent of all the vehicles on the road today;
• moving to E15 is supported by sound science. Economic studies show that we can create more than 136,000 new jobs with E15, inject $24.4 billion back into the U.S. economy instead of bleeding it out overseas, and displace nearly seven billion gallons of gasoline from imported oil;
• this decision is in support of the goals of Congress to see demand for renewable fuels in the U.S. reach 36 billion gallons by 2022;
• ethanol production reinvests money in the U.S. economy instead of sending dollars and jobs overseas;
• our continued dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic future. Every year we pay $300 billion annually – the equivalent of a thousand-dollar-a-person tribute – to foreign countries for oil, instead of investing in our own economy;
• moving from our current E10 blend to E15 means we could reduce an additional eight million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year. That means E15 would reduce GHG emissions equal to removing an additional 1.35 million vehicles from the road; and
• we have plenty of corn to meet both our food and energy needs. Consistent increases in crop yields and record harvests prove that America’s farmers will continue to produce enough corn to meet demand for ethanol and domestic demand for corn as food and feed, as well as corn for export. In September 2010, the USDA crop report estimated that American farmers are expected to produce a record 13.16 billion bushels of corn without adding a single additional acre of land into agriculture production.

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/.

Minnesota Farmers Union (www.mfu.org) is a nonprofit membership-based organization working to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers, as well as rural communities.

Very unique for sure, something I've never witnessed until Friday, a "Frozen T-shirt" contest during the Herman-Norcross Homecoming Pep Fest

2010-10-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

The view from the balcony in the small gymnasium in Herman.

I took whopping 149 photos from the Homecoming Pep Fest on Friday. You can see all the pictures at the Herman-Hoffman Tribune website Dotphoto gallery:
www.hermanhoffmantribune.com

Then click on "Dotphoto" and search for the "Fall 2010 Herman-Norcross events" to see the pictures.

Scenes from the Herman-Norcross Community School Homecoming Pep Fest on Friday, more to follow this weekend

2010-10-15T13:19:00.001-07:00

Here's a clip from today's Pep Fest in Herman, the 7th-8th grade Homecoming skit.

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy won a shootout of a football game on Homecoming for Herman-Norcross, defeating the CAHN Spartans 47-38. The Comets, who were ranked #14 in the latest 9-man state rankings, improved to 5-1 with the win.

CAHN is 3-4 overall. The Spartans host Eagle Valley next Wednesday night in Chokio for the final game of the regular season.

Below, Maggie Finholdt pauses for a moment while the Homecoming Tailgating party gets underway at the school cafeteria. A senior this year at Herman-Norcross, Finholdt was instrumental in organizing and promoting the event.

Elementary students enjoying the Pep Fest activities.

One of the games held at the Pep Fest was an arm wrestling tournament. See who won in next week's Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

If you're a Facebook user, you can see more photos at the Tribune Facebook fan page. Search for "Herman-Hoffman Tribune" and click "Like"!

Other photos from the Herman-Norcross Homecoming are being added to the Tribune Dotphoto gallery online at www.hermanhoffmantribune.com Look for the album named "Fall 2010 Herman-Norcross events" to see the picture.

Coming tomorrow - the big Homecoming game in Herman!

2010-10-14T20:30:00.001-07:00

Kickoff for the Herman-Norcross Homecoming game, held at Paul Anderson Field at the high school athletic complex, will be at 3:30 tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 15) when the Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross Spartans will host the state-ranked Hillcrest Lutheran Academy Comets.

Herman-Norcross Homecoming Pep Fest begins at 12:45pm on Friday!

Class skits and all sorts of fun are in store. The whole community is invited to be a part of the excitement, leading up to the football game's kickoff.

Check it out - the Hoffman Health Care Mall's new website

2010-10-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the link: http://www.hoffmanhealthcare.webs.com/

House District 11A forum being held tonight (Thursday) in Morris

2010-10-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

There is a forum on Thursday night, October 14, in Morris featuring the candidates for Senate District 11 and House District 11A beginning at 7pm at the Morris American Legion. (It's west of the train tracks on Highway 28 by Casey's gas station.)

Also, Congressional District 7 candidate Lee Byberg will be at Detoys Restaurant in Morris on Oct 22nd from 10-11 am.

Are most teachers at West Central Area "just average"? ... a shocking comment is made in the video clip below

2010-10-13T13:44:00.001-07:00

An awesome shot from the Herman-Norcross Homecoming coronation on Sunday night

2010-10-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

Last year's Homecoming King, Michael Backman, crowns the new King for 2010, Brandon Staples. Photo by Jennifer Pederson.

I plan on getting more photos on our Tribune Facebook fan page tomorrow.

Passing the word on two local political events

2010-10-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

First, for those of you living in Pope County, a debate between District 13 candidates Joe Gimse and Larry Rice will be held at 2:30pm tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct 12) at 2:30pm at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck.

Beginning at 10am on Saturday (meeting at Lakeside Ballroom) a door knock on behalf of Larry Rice and Mark Dayton will be held in Glenwood. Also participating is Paul Thissen, one of the candidates who ran for the DFL endorsement last winter/spring.

A very cool yard sign at WCA

2010-10-11T20:39:00.001-07:00

Much was discussed at tonight's WCA Levy Referendum meeting at South elementary in Kensington. I thought the turnout was great, considering the meeting butted up against the Vikings-Jets football game kickoff. Roughly 14 members of the public, along with a handful WCA staff members and school board members attended the meeting.

I'm chewing through the information right now.

Here's a few points from the meeting, at least what I scribbled on my notepad. (More is being uploaded to Youtube as I type this.)

Superintendent Westby told the group at the levy meeting about the school's three main points on why they are asking for a hike in the levy.
1 - They want to continue offering quality programs.
2 - They want to continue to offer effective grade level configurations and efficient facilities.
3 - They want to continue carrying out WCA's Mission Statement.

The West Central Area Mission Statement is as follows, "The mission of the WCA school district, with the support of our families and communities, is to provide opportunities for all learners that will inspire a passion for educational excellence and life long learning."

Below, Superintendent Westby explains possible areas to cut, as well as the tax impact of the levy referendum.

Love my Chevy

2010-10-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Crossed 290,000 miles on my way to Hoffman this morning.

WCA South elementary Kindergarten students learn about fire fighting equipment at the Kensington Fire Department

2010-10-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Midwest Grain Systems, Inc. of Kensington now offering a grain bagger for rent (click on ad for the details)

2010-10-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

So the Republican Party chair thinks that Republicans who support Tom Horner are going to hell...

2010-10-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

In regards to the Republicans who are publicly supporting Tom Horner for governor, the chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, Tony Sutton, was quoted as saying "there's a special place in hell for these quislings."

Classy.

Here is the response from two of the gentleman attacked by that comment, George Pillsbury and Bill Belanger.

October 7, 2010
To: Tony Sutton Chairman, Republican Party of Minnesota
525 Park Street, Suite 250
St. Paul, MN 55103

Mr. Sutton: As veterans of the United States military and former state legislators, we were highly offended to pick up our morning Star Tribune newspaper and read that you were accusing us of being traitors to our country for supporting Tom Horner for governor. (“There’s a special place in hell for these quislings.”) Those of us who support Horner and his centrist view of governance have nothing in common with Norwegian politician Vidkun Quisling, a Nazi sympathizer who collaborated with the Germans to enslave millions of his countrymen during the Second World War. We proudly wore the uniforms of our nation, one of us as a Marine Lieutenant in the Philippines during World War II, one of us a few years later in Korea as an Army Corporal. For you to besmirch that service is demeaning. We support Tom Horner for governor precisely because we care so much about our state and our nation. We sought elective office after our years of military service because we care about our country and its future. We did not believe our service ended when we were discharged. For decades, we have continued to volunteer in our communities to make our society stronger. We are supporting Tom Horner for governor because we believe his moderate, centrist view of government is precisely what Minnesota needs right now. We are concerned that Sutton’s candidate, Tom Emmer, is too far to the right, and that Mark Dayton, the Democrat, is too far to the left. We believe it is best for all concerned to have a governor who can work with both political parties, to do what’s right and not worry about who gets the credit. We went to war to defend the Constitution, which included fighting for your right of free speech, so you are free to say whatever you want. We would appreciate it if, in the future, you were more careful not to criticize American veterans just because you disagree with our choice of candidates.

Sincerely, George Pillsbury First Lieutenant, United States Marine Corp (ret)Veteran of World War II, former State Senator, Wayzata

Bill Belanger Corporal, United States Army (ret)Veteran of the Korean War, former State Senator, Bloomington.

House District 11A candidate debate on Pioneer TV tonight (Thursday)

2010-10-07T06:07:00.001-07:00

Tonight (Thursday) on Pioneer Public TV at 8:00pm - a live debate between Bennett Smith of Donnelly, Dave Holman of Morris, and Torrey Westrom of Elbow Lake - all candidates for House District 11A, which includes all of Stevens and Grant Counties plus the west half of Douglas County.

Call in and pick their brains - I don't care much for uninformed voters.

Republican-leaning Minnesota Forward airs a blatantly false TV ad on Mark Dayton's tax proposals

2010-10-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

First of all, I do not agree with Dayton's tax proposal, I feel it goes too far in raising income taxes and his budget ideas do not include enough spending cuts. That, along with Dayton's idea to build a state-sponsored casino at the Mall of America have led me to lean to Tom Horner for the governor race.

With that said, the group Minnesota Forward lies blatantly in a new TV ad. Follow this link to see what Minnesota Public Radio's Poligraph says in a truth test.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2010/10/poligraph_mn_fo.shtml

A word to the Republicans - try using the truth when you're campaigning, it would be nice to see you turn over a new leaf. If you used the truth, you'd still have plenty of ammunition to battle Mark Dayton in the governor race.

I won't hold my breath, the Republican Party is full of liars who would rather fall over dead than tell the truth in a political debate.

Here's what I dug up regarding what George Cassell is talking about in the letter to the editor posted below

2010-10-06T12:10:00.001-07:00

Here's what happened in 2009:

Despite a $6.4B deficit, the final K-12 budget bill that became law protects K-12 education from any budget cuts while providing stable funding for education.

In addition it protected property tax payers by passing a budget solution without any net increase in school property taxes.

Here's what happened in this year's session:

Despite a $3B deficit (just over $2B were the result of the Governor's unallotments being ruled illegal), K-12 education was protected from any revenue cuts to the classroom.

This was accomplished in large part due to the $1.4B aid payment shift as well as the $576M property tax recognition shift.

The bill also protected property tax payers by passing a budget solution without any net increase in school property taxes.

Finally, since the DFL took control of the House in 2007:

The 2007 omnibus K-12 education bill, provided a 2% increase on the formula in FY08 adn a 1% increase in FY09. This amounted to a $100 per student increase in FY08 adn $50 in FY09.

The 2007 K-12 bill also provided $330M in FY08-09 for special education (a 25.5% increase).

A one-time increase of $51 per pupil in FY09 (2008 supplemental budget bill)

In 2003, the GOP controlled House passed a $622M reduction in education funds over the next two years. Westrom voted for the bill. (excluding the shifts, the real education reduction was $185M)

In 2009, Westrom and the majority of Republican members voted for a $300M cut to school districts.

Peterson introduces bill to protect producers from burdensome EPA regulations

2010-10-05T17:47:00.001-07:00

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., yesterday introduced H.R. 6273 which amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to prohibit additional permits for pesticide application when pesticides are applied consistent with FIFRA.

"This legislation provides farmers and ranchers with the safe harbor they deserve in the application of pesticides. The bill relieves producers from a potentially costly regulatory burden that does little if anything to protect the environment," Peterson
said.

In the decades since Congress enacted the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has never issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the application of a pesticide. Instead, EPA has regulated these types of
applications through FIFRA, enacted by Congress to control all aspects of pesticide registration, sales and use. The FIFRA registration process includes stringent requirements for a wide range of environmental, health and safety studies to establish the circumstances under which pesticides can be legally used in the United States.

In January 2009, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 2006 EPA rule which specifically exempted permitting of certain pesticide applications from the CWA. In National Cotton Council of America, et al., v. United States Environmental Protection Agency the court ruled EPA did not have the authority under the CWA to exempt application of pesticides. The Court's decision marks a pre-emption of FIFRA by the CWA for the first time in the history of either statute.

Chairman Peterson's bill would make clear that producers who are in compliance with the requirements of FIFRA are not subject to Clean Water Act permits.

"The 6th Circuit decision overturned decades of policy and practice with regard to the sufficiency of FIFRA regulation," Peterson said. "This legislation will make clear that Congress never intended for farmers and ranchers to meet additional permit requirements for pesticide applications under FIFRA."

Twelve members of the House of Representatives joined Peterson as original co-sponsors of the bill.

Letter to the Editor

2010-10-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

To the Editor:

I read a letter last week mentioning Representative Torrey Westrom, Governor Pawlenty, and Education Funding. Apparently the writer does not know that the Democrats currently control the House and Senate — and have done so since 2006. Words can be hollow, but facts are stubborn things.

The biggest funding source is the basic ‘per pupil’ formula. This formula flows equally to all children across the state.

Under eight years of DFL control (1992-1998 and 2007), the Total increase was $360 per student.

Under eight years of Republican control (1996-2006), the total increase was $905 per student.

In 2009, Governor Pawlenty proposed an additional $262 million for preschool through high school students and a 10% aid payment shift. In comparison, the DFL House proposed flat funding; the DFL Senate proposed $1 billion in cuts to early childhood and K-12 education. Representative Torrey Westrom spoke up and voted against rural teachers having to bail out the Minneapolis teachers’ pensions.

It has been Representative Torrey Westrom who has stood up to these Democrat proposals that would short-change our schools. Republicans continue to push for fair funding, accountability, local control, and innovative reform in education.

Sincerely,
George W. Cassell
Alexandria, MN

West Central Area Knights football picks up a big road win at Warroad

2010-10-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

The Knights won 27-24 over Warroad to improve to 2-3 on the season.

WCA ran for 144 yards and passed for 156 yards, giving them 300 yards of total offense on the night. Warroad had 336 (107 rushing, 229 passing). The Knights had just one turnover to three for the Warriors and also had ten more first downs than the home team, 17-7.

West Central Area took a 14-8 lead after one quarter on an eighteen yard touchdown pass from Colton Blascyk to Toby Weigand and a three yard TD run by Blascyk. Both extra point kicks were good. They trailed 22-21 at the half as Warroad connected on two long passes for touchdowns and had a third TD on a ten yard run. WCA’s third touchdown of the night came on a ten yard run by Blascyk in the second quarter.

WCA is now tied for 4th place in the Heart O' Lakes Classic standings with Pelican Rapids at 2-2.

Warroad fell to 2-3 overall.

Read more on the game in next week's October 7 issue of the Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

WCA South elementary second graders explore the outdoors

2010-10-01T14:01:00.001-07:00

Democracy isn't easy

2010-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the Tom Emmer rally at the Douglas County Republican headquarters in Alexandria, held at 3:30 today.

I showed up about 10 minutes late (typical) but had plenty to take in when I arrived. On the other side of the street was a young man with a megaphone. A loud one. Even though it was quite windy, it wasn't hard to hear what he was saying.

His mom and sister are both former waitresses; his wife is a waitress. (Guess what he was upset about) I won't be adding much more than that, because I'm in the process of finding out what, if any, laws he broke while protesting. Apparently, the cops were called on a complaint either about what he was doing or what he was saying.

Last I checked, though, this wasn't Nazi Germany. Hopefully we can keep it that way.

**Update at 8:30pm...the gentleman who was protesting gave me a call tonight and reported that he, in fact, was not breaking any laws, and had a nice conversation with a police officer with the Alexandria P.D. about what he was doing. After reviewing the city's noise ordinance, it was determined that he was not breaking any laws.

Chalk one up for the little guy.

Visit the Herman-Hoffman Tribune website videos page to see a clip of Emmer speaking to his supporters at the headquarters. I just uploaded and edited the taglines at 9:00 tonight.

http://www.hermanhoffmantribune.com/?page_id=432

Tomorrow I'll talk a little bit about what Emmer was saying inside headquarters. Most of it will be on the videos page. I have one of the two clips already loaded. I will give all sorts of credit to the Emmer campaign, his speaking style has gotten very refined and polished. He gave many valid points in what I heard him say.

He still can't shake what he said last July, though. (About cheating restaurant servers out of their wages with a tip credit.)

Tom Emmer will be in Morris and Alexandria for campaign stops tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 29

2010-09-28T17:22:00.001-07:00

Republican governor candidate Tom Emmer will visit the heart of west central Minnesota on Wednesday, September 29th, 2010. Emmer will spend the day getting to know the voters and discussing the issues of this economical diverse region of Minnesota.

10-11 am, Willmar GOP Rally, Willmar BPOU Office, 1704 South First South, Willmar MN.

1-2 pm, Morris GOP Rally, Eastside Park, 202 East Seventh Street, Morris MN.

3:30-4:30 pm, Alexandria GOP Rally, Douglas County MnGOP Victory Office, 304 Irving Street, Alexandria MN.

There's a chance I'll see his stop in Willmar in the morning, but I plan for sure to be in Alexandria at 3:30.

Peace Lutheran of Barrett has a backpack mission underway for WCA schools

2010-09-27T18:24:00.001-07:00

The Youth of Peace Lutheran Church of Barrett will be doing a mission project during the next two weeks. We are putting together backpacks to be distributed at WCA.

We need your help with donations of backpacks, book covers (large), pencils (kids like the mechanical ones), notebooks, 3-ring binders, erasers, headphones (can be purchased through the school), calculators (6th grade calculators can be purchase through the school also). Any WCA items such as hats and t-shirts. Cash donations will be accepted as well. You donations can be placed on the table by the front door.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

I like it - do you?

2010-09-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

It probably doesn't work for the Tea Party...but I don't care what they think.

West Central Area to hold a levy referendum on Election Day

2010-09-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

The West Central Area schools are proposing an increase to the local tax levy from $950 per pupil to $1,370 per pupil, for a period of five years.

More information on the levy will be in this week's Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

Knights win Homecoming!

2010-09-24T20:53:00.001-07:00

Photo by Jodi Thorson from the first half of the Homecoming game tonight.

West Central Area defeated the visiting Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines to the delight of the home fans in the 18th annual WCA Homecoming game.

Great job, coaches and players. I think they have the ability to win three of their final four games, and a 4-4 season in the final year of competing in the Heart O' Lakes Conference would be something to be proud of.

Tribune sports editor Kris Beuckens gets some birds-eye photos of the Knights logo on the football field.

The Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross Spartans were not as successful in the Chokio-Alberta Homecoming game, as they lost to neighboring rival and state-ranked Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 22-6.

CAHN still has a real shot at running the table before playoffs, and a 6-2 record would give them a #3 seed - I'd rate that as very favorable for their section.

Heart O' Lakes Conference Week 4 results:
Thief River Falls 23, East Grand Forks 14
Warroad 28, Pelican Rapids 12
Breckenridge 28, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 20
Staples-Motley 52, Roseau 14
Pequot Lakes 36, Park Rapids Area 0
Crookston 34, Perham 14

Area football results in Week 4:
Royalton 43, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 0
Browerville 27, Upsala/Swanville Area 12
Ottertail Central 35, Osakis 13 (Osakis is 1-3, OTC is 4-0)
Minneota 54, Canby 0
BOLD 35, Minnewaska Area 0 ('Waska hasn't scored since Week 1! Ouch)
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 27, Paynesville Area 6
Montevideo 21, Yellow Medicine East 0
Lac qui Parle Valley 9, Morris Area 7 (LQPV's first win since Oct 8, 2004 vs. Morris)
Mora 25, Sauk Centre 6
Albany 28, New London-Spicer 6 (NL-S's first loss since Nov. 14, 2008)
St.Cloud Cathedral 12, Foley 7
Milaca 52, Melrose Area 36

Area 9-man scores:
Bertha-Hewitt 48, Eagle Valley 20
Wheaton 50, Lincoln HI 7
Bertha-Hewitt 48, Eagle Valley 20
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 55, Verndale 6
Underwood 61, Ashby 8
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 22, Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross 6

Mark your calendars - Governor candidates coming to Alexandria for a debate on Monday, Oct. 4

2010-09-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

The governor candidates Mark Dayton, Tom Emmer, and Tom Horner will be debating in our area, coming up on Monday, Oct. 4 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Alexandria Technical College. The event will take place at ATC's Room 743, the Information and Technology Building.

The event is free of charge, although only the first 200 people will be admitted due to fire marshal limits on how many the room will hold.

Below, the leading candidate for my endorsement

2010-09-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

My comments: The Tom Horner/Jim Mulder ticket is the only team in the race stressing the need for more parent involvement in our children's education. Until we stress that point, everything else is meaningless. We need a governor who will focus on the correct issues, instead of one who will cut education into oblivion or spend our state into a bottomless hole.

USDA Biofuels Report meeting is underway at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris

2010-09-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Forum panelists, L to R: Ralph Groschen with the Minnesota Department of Ag, Mark Lindquist with the Minnesota DNR, Michael Sparby of Morris representing AURI, Joel Tallaksen with the WCROC in Morris, Tim Welle from the Biobusiness Alliance of Minnesota, and Andy Zurn from the CVEC ethanol plant in Benson.

Below, a couple video clips from the beginning of the meeting this morning...Mike Reese welcomes the crowd to Morris.