Republican Rep. Jim Abeler of Anoka is running for the U.S. Senate.

“We’re in,” Abeler said on Tuesday (June 18).

Currently serving his eighth term in the Minnesota House, Abeler’s decision to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken in 2014 caught local Republicans off guard.

“It was a complete surprise to all of us,” said Senate District 35 Deputy Chairman Don Huizenga.

Local Republicans were “pretty shocked,” he said.

Abeler alerted area Republicans of his intentions on Monday (June 17) night, some 12 days after making the final decision to run.

“It occurred to me they need a problem solver (in Washington), which is me,” Abeler said of stepping forward.

Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, speaks on the House floor last session. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Abeler, a House Republican maverick, intends to seek the Republican Party’s U.S. Senate endorsement. But he has not decided on whether to abide by it, he said.

Franken is a formidable opponent, Abeler explained.

He’s the incumbent and has statewide name recognition — “a huge advantage,” Abeler said.

But Abeler, expressing particular concern over the world his three grandchildren will inherit, was starting his U.S. Senate run because he believes America is in trouble.

“Our children and grandchildren are born into a future as indentured debtors of our country’s careless spending. When we are dependent on the government, we are absolutely not free,” Abeler said in a statement.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken campaigning in Dakota County last autumn. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

It’s not his intention to go to Washington to blame people for the national debt, Abeler said.

But he wants Congress to recognize the serious threat exists, he said.

Abeler stresses what he says are his skills as a problem solver.

“My home-grown Minnesotan values guide me and my personal decision making priorities of ‘Creator, conscience, and constituents,’ in that order, provide me guidance for the tough decisions I face in my current elected responsibilities,” Abeler said in his statement.

“I think outside the box, consider all sides of an issue, and then make a reasoned, thoughtful decision,” he said.

Abeler has not always been in the good graces of his party.

One of the “Override Six,” a group of House Republicans who voted to override Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of a Democratic transportation finance bill containing tax increases, Abeler faced endorsement challenges.

Huizenga, who battled Abeler for the endorsement following the override vote, said a lot of people within the Republican Party have issues with a lot of the votes Abeler has taken.

Huizenga suspects Abeler might have been nudged to run for the U.S. Senate, because for all his efforts at cultivating Democrats, it ultimately didn’t work.

“Nobody listened to him,” Huizenga said of the aftermath of the Democratic takeover of the Legislature.

“In my opinion, Jim took a bath from the Democrats this year,” he said.

Abeler himself complained last session that Democrats refused to listen to Republicans.

A chiropractor by profession, Abeler has chaired the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee, currently serving as lead Republican.

For all the billions being spent in the area of health care, results remain mediocre, Abeler argues.

Abeler, 59, and Barb, his wife of 32 years, have six sons.

One son, Josiah, died suddenly in September of 2011 after a seizure while asleep.

Josiah Abeler was 22 years old.

Abeler plans to have formal announcement of his candidacy at a future date.

He looks back at his years in the House as giving him the chance to do good things.

“This has come along,” he said of running for the U.S. Senate.

Considering a big run for public office is like a parachute jump — it’s a pretty view high up there, Abeler said.

“But you have to take that last step,” he quipped.

Republican Minnesota business executive Mike McFadden, an executive at the Lazard finance firm, recently announced his intention to run for U.S. Senate.

“I welcome Representative Abeler into the race and look forward to seeing him on the campaign trail, but my focus remains drawing a distinction between myself and Sen. Al Franken,” McFadden said in a statement.

Another possible Republican candidate is Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhasen.

DFL State Chairman Ken Martin believes Franken is in good shape at this point in his first term.

“If you look at the trend line since he’s been elected, it just continues to climb,” Martin said.

“He hasn’t done anything completely controversial or made any stupid remarks,” he said.

“He’s kept his head low and done  the hard work of being a Senator. I think’s taken on some tough fights people appreciate,” Martin said.

“I feel really good about that one,” Martin said of the U.S. Senate race.

“If the election were held tomorrow, he’d (Franken) win hands down — going away,” Martin said.

Still, the election is a long way away, the chairman noted.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com.

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If more space is needed the meeting may be moved to the city auditorium. Contact Caledonia City Hall at 507-725-3450 with any questions.

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Twenty-two previously unmarked graves have been memorialized at the Zion Cemetery.
~ Clay Schuldt

By Clay Schuldt

Caledonia Argus

Zion Church in Brownsville celebrated its 150th anniversary last month and with the passing of such a major milestone people began looking back to the past to consider the people that shaped the community. One of the most overlooked sources for Brownsville history is located on Cork Hollow Road: the Zion Evangelical Cemetery.

Zion Evangelical Cemetery was deeded to Trusties of the German Lutheran Church on Oct. 19, 1866.  The original three-acre parcel of land the cemetery was built on was once called Gottes Acker, a German word that translates to “God’s Acre.”

Over the years the cemetery has changed in size and name. Zion Cemetery, Formerly the German Lutheran Cemetery, is nearly as old as Brownsville and is the final resting place for hundreds of its earliest residents.

Houston County Historical Society member Richard Cordes served as caretaker for the Zion Cemetery for 10 years and continues to sell the lots and mark out headstones. For Cordes the cemetery often provides a revealing look at Brownsville’s past.

When researching an ancestor often the first place people stop is the cemetery. Cordes explained that the historical society receives daily requests from people researching family history, many trying to locate the grave of an ancestor.

“There is quite a bit of information for genealogy people, and I get inquiries from all over.”

Cordes has even received some contacts from out of country. As many of the original founders of Brownsville were German immigrants, it isn’t unusual for him to receive calls from Deutschland.   Cordes has even received requests from people as far away as Australia.

Cordes told a story of one lady who was trying to locate a long lost great uncle named Joseph Oswald.  At first Oswald was expected to be buried in the Catholic cemetery, but Cordes remembered Oswald’s headstone as his identity had become something of a mystery.

“Oswald is not a common Brownsville name,” Cordes said.  “He was also the only burial in a family plot.”

The headstone stated he was a Civil War veteran, but little else was known of Joseph Oswald until a niece called.

“I never thought I would find out who he was or anything about him, but I actually found out quite a bit.”  Oswald enlisted in the Union army at age 17, which required his father’s approval, and was in a Calvary Unit in the Tennessee area. After the war he settled in the Brownsville area and married a German-Lutheran woman, which is why he was buried in the Zion cemetery instead of the Catholic Cemetery. After Oswald’s death his widow and children left Brownsville and no further family members were buried in the plot.

Cordes said that it is stories like this that keep him working with the cemetery.  “It’s a good feeling to be able to help them, and it’s great for me because I learn so much from each of them.”

While researching the internment records it was learned that a presumed to be empty section of the cemetery was in fact the location of 22 child graves. Sadly, only 11 of the 22 graves had recorded names. During a cemetery walk last month 22 white crosses were placed in the section for each child.  The church is currently considering erecting a permanent monument for these children.

Visitors to the Zion Cemetery may notice that some of the headstones have death dates that are earlier than 1866. For Cordes this was something of a mystery until he learned that some remains had been transported to Zion from an even older Brownsville cemetery that has since vanished.

While this early cemetery was established roughly the same year as Brownsville, the original plot book does not contain any record of it. Cordes admits the exact location of that cemetery is unknown, but his research suggests it was near the present location of Bissen’s Tavern or across the creek by Lee’s Trailer Court.

“It was in rough shape so when the Lutheran’s started their cemetery, many dug up the remains of their people and took them to this cemetery,” Cordes explained.

In 1872 the conditions of this earlier cemetery went from poor to outright disturbing. The River Rail Road Company, requiring extra dirt to grade the railroad bed, began excavating a hill and desecrated several graves. According to a Feb. 6, 1872, edition of the Houston County Journal the remains of at least seven individuals were dumped into a pile by work crews after being unearthed.

A new village cemetery was created in 1872, possibly in response to this incident.

Thanks to Cordes’ diligent research, visitors to the Zion Cemetery are able to easily locate a specific grave plot. Spliced together from courthouse records, funeral record books and internment books, Cordes was able to create a map and directory of Zion’s plots, which hangs on the caretaker building. “I was able to get cause of death for most of them and where they came from,” Cordes said.

During last month’s 150th year celebration a cemetery walk was held honoring those who lived and died while shaping Brownsville history. Even a brief glance shows that Brownsville has as many stories as it has people. Brownsville’s greatest history is with its people and – like history – people should never be forgotten.

Disturbing the dead – the Brownsville Horror

Feb. 6, 1972

Houston County Journal

Caledonia

While in Brownsville last Wednesday we took considerable pains to gather facts concerning the manner in which the remains of human beings were disturbed. – The whole matter is an outrage on humanity and decency, and no excuse, however plausible, will conceal the disgrace from an observing public. People who view the transaction in a business light are heartless, and partake more of the nature of barbarians than of civilized, Christian citizens. In fact, under the circumstances, there is but one view to be taken, and that is the first that will appear to any man, and the only one most men would entertain. This view is a moral one, and supersedes all others – We owe the dead a certain degree of respect, and that respect should be asserted so powerfully that half-savage men would not ignore it and turn with disrespect upon the places that should above all others remain sacred. The facts are, CHARLES BROWN gave the public permission to use a certain piece of his land for a grave yard. He was one of the founders of the town and displayed this slight liberality quite naturally under the circumstances. This was twelve or fifteen years ago since which time a large number of bodies have been deposited in the spot of earth in question. The friends of many of those interred here have long since left the country, and are the LORD only knows where. The River Rail Road Company, after locating their line through Brownsville, found it necessary to obtain a sufficient quantity of earth to grade their road across a certain slough, and the hill upon which this grave yard is situated being near at hand, they negotiated with Mr. Brown for the same, and at once began the work of excavating.

The workmen began operations at the bottom of the hill, and in course of time undermined several graves, allowing the partially decayed coffins and human bones to rattle down a distance of some ten or twelve feet, after which they were picked up and thrown in a pile. This brutal work was pushed forward without fear of the law or respect for the dead. We were informed that seven graves had, at the time we were in Brownsville, been thus destroyed, and the remains all piled together. The sight was ghastly. One skull – that of a woman–still retained upon it the long glossy black hair she bore through life.– Whose daughter and sister was this? Would not her friends be stung with pain to know that her bones were kicked about like pebbles? Col. SAM MC PHAIL, the founder of this village, we are told buried a brother in this shamefully disturbed cemetery several years ago. Would it not mortify him and fire his heart to know that the remains of one who was once so dear to him were treated with shameful disregard? –to know that these remains were thrown out upon the ground to be poked over with sticks, in the hands of unfeeling spectators? What would be your feelings, were you in the condition of those who have friends in this grave yard?

This is certainly a serious matter, and if the laws of the State have not been violated, the laws of humanity and decency have, and punishment should be made to fall upon the heads of those who have violated these laws. Had we taken the course of MR. BROWN, in so grave a matter as this, we should hope and expect to be haunted and tormented buy ghosts and devils the balance of our life.

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Caledonia Argus

Did you miss Caledonia’s first Music in the Park of the season? It’s okay. A line up of seven more concerts are set, but this year the well-loved tradition has a new venue.

All Music in the Park concerts will take place at Veterans Memorial Park by the public pool. The former location, Gazebo Park, is undergoing a remodel and road construction.

Concerts are Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m., are completely free and are open to all who want to sit back, relax and enjoy their summer evening in good company.

“It all started with the financial help of the city of Caledonia and the backing of them for me to go ahead and organize this,” said Randi Vick, who spearheads all that is Music in the Park.

Through generous donations from sponsors, grants and free-will offerings, the town comes alive with music and residents chill in their lawn chairs, kids hang off the monkey bars and volunteers serve up root beer floats for a minimal fee.

This summer’s new location, with its proximity to Caledonia Care & Rehab, will also make it a convenient entertainment venue for more residents.

“The nursing home loves that it’s going to be by the pool. We just decided it would be a smart move to have it up there for this year,” Vick said, emphasizing that generous community support from businesses and individuals makes the event possible.

“Everybody has been more than willing to see that it continues. It’s been a plus, plus,” Vick said.

A yearly budget of about $3,000 is allocated for the concerts, and a variety of music genres are sought to make sure Caledonia gets a little taste of everything.

Please see the chart for this year’s line up. Events are held rain or shine.

2013 Caledonia Music in the Park line up

June 25 – Paul Martin, classic rock, R&B, jazz

July 2 – Good Friends, bluegrass, gospel

July 9 – Simple Rogues, Scottish/Irish folk

July 16 – Veterans Driven Duo – classic rock, patriotic songs

July 23 – Jim Busta Band & Molly B – polka with Be Cool by the Pool Party

July 30 – Lyzander – pop rock, country

Aug. 6 – Caledonia Area Community Band with National Night Out

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Father Greg Leif of St. Mary’s Parish, Caledonia, and St. Patrick’s Church in Brownsville will celebrate his last Masses here at the end of June before becoming pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Waseca.
~ Diana Hammell

By Diana Hammell

Caledonia Argus

Father Greg Leif, pastor of St. Mary Church in Caledonia, will be celebrating 35 years as a priest this month.

While still a youth, Leif worked with a man at Boy Scout camps and this man later became a priest. During Leif’s senior year in high school, this priest invited Leif to visit a seminary one day during the summer just to check it out. If Greg would just visit the seminary, the priest told him that he would never approach him about becoming a priest ever again. The rector at the seminary invited Leif to return in February when the students were there. “I told my mom I would be back Saturday as I left on Friday, but a snow storm followed me from Austin to Winona and not only could I not get out on Saturday, I was lucky to get out on Sunday night to go back for classes in Austin. During that snow storm something said to me, ‘Are you willing to serve?’ and I said, ‘Yes.’ I told them I would give it one year, and seven years later I was ordained.”

Leif spent his undergraduate years at St. Mary’s College in Winona, then went on to Immaculate Heart Seminary at St. Mary’s, Winona, then theology school at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul.

Career path

Fr. Leif started his career as a priest in 1978 at St. Mary’s in Caledonia, then he spent four years in Winona at St. Mary’s College. “Then the Bishop asked me to go to St. John’s in Rochester for three years, then for two years I was the chaplain at the college at St. Theresa,” Leif said. “I became a pastor the first time in 1987 for 360 days at Sacred Heart in Brewster. A year later I was moved to St. Gabriel’s in Fulda, then nine and a half years at Sacred Heart in Adams and Johnsburg. I came to St. Mary’s in Caledonia Jan. 5, 2004, and then took over Brownsville July 1, 2005.”

Next: Waseca

A couple of months ago, Fr. Leif was informed by Bishop John Quinn that he would be leaving St. Mary’s at the end of June.

Fr. Leif quoted former Bishop Loras Waters in the church bulletin, “If a priest is good, he must be shared; if not, they must be spared.” For the parishioners of St. Mary’s, it’s not so easy when they’re the ones who must do the sharing, but that is what they’ll do as their beloved priest sets off to Sacred Heart in Waseca beginning the first of July.

Partnership with 

Sister Michaeline

Fr. Leif and Sister Michaeline have formed a partnership that has spread their ministry beyond the steps of St. Mary’s Church.  Through all that they do for their own parishioners, they’ve touched much of Caledonia in a spreading web of care and concern.

“Sr. Michaeline has a real gift of collaboration,” Fr. Leif said. “I think she has been the real heart of the parish. I’m her third priest here at St. Mary’s. She started with Don Schmitz, she broke me in and now she’s going to have to break in a new one.”

Parishioner Jeff Von Arx told Fr. Leif, “Father, you’re leaving when we just got you broken in how we like you.”

“I really like him,” Dianne Schuldt said. “I’ll miss him. He has such great messages, and his baptisms are so good and so are his funerals – he’s so caring.”

“Fr. Leif has been a gift in so many different ways, his love of life, his love of the the Eucharist and deep prayerful spirituality, which has led him to dedicate his life to peace and justice issues,” Sister Michaeline said. “He has challenged all of us to be keenly aware of the poor and needy  both locally as well as those living in Appalacia in eastern Kentucky. Fr. Lief has taken parishioners to David, Ky. every year he has been here to help restore family homes. He not only encouraged youth and adults to go, he went and joined in the labor.

“He is passionate about protecting our environment in many practical ways like not using plastic, recyling and being conscious of caring for our land, water and air. He longs for families and all countries to work together for peace.

“His life of simplicity comes not only in his words but also in his actions. Fr. Greg’s love of his calling to priesthood is so evident being comfortable with people of all ages, from the youngest child to the oldest in our parish. For me, Fr Leif’s leaving is very difficult. He has taught me so much, and it has been a gift to minister beside him.”

Hatch, match, patch and dispatch

Although many in town feel an affinity for Fr. Leif and Sr. Michaeline, Fr. Leif only recently discovered this for himself when a person told him that they’re sorry he’s leaving and will miss him. When Leif didn’t understand why this person – who is not a part of St. Mary’s Church – would miss him, he was told, “But Father, you care about us.”

A priest becomes drawn into the families under his wing by visiting the sick, anointing the sick, listening to confessions, giving spiritual direction, presiding over first communions and confirmations and performing baptisms, weddings and funerals. He especially enjoys baptisms. The families feel a thrill when Fr. Leif hoists the infants, large and small, up into the air as high as his arms can reach. They never cry – they just gaze over the congregation with serious looks. Fr. Leif said that in the business, they call it hatch, match, patch and dispatch.

St. Mary’s School

The students at St. Mary’s School upon hearing the news that Fr. Leif would be leaving said that they hoped that the new priest would give high fives like Leif does. “I assured them that he would very much enjoy them,” Leif said.

Leif said that an important part of the ministry in Caledonia is the connection with the school. He is often present in the hallways and draws the children in like a magnet. He said that while joining the children for lunch he finds out a lot of what’s going on in town – things like “my mom’s going to have a baby.”

He’ll be involved in the school in Waseca as well, a school that goes up through fourth grade.

Stays physically active

While decorating the church for special seasons, it’s Fr. Leif who is scrambling around like a monkey high up on the scaffolding while everyone else holds their breath as they watch.

It’s often that while driving on a country road a traveler will receive a wave from Fr. Leif as he engages in one his regular runs, and if the opportunity arises he enjoys cutting wood. “Mostly I like to run and canoe, and occasionally I’ll bike,” Leif said. “I enjoy reading books, and I like movies that make you think.”

He will remember the characters

“I enjoyed being here in Caledonia,” Leif said. “I was pleased that the Bishop allowed me to stay beyond my six year term. I have grown very attached to the people here and it’s very difficult to leave.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the staff of the parish and the school.” Leif said. “Many people say that the parish has done well and I say it’s because the people came together and I simply observed what they did. But, they did all the hard work.”

35 year anniversary and farewell

An event is planned in celebration of Fr. Leif’s 35 years as a priest, and now it’s become a farewell to him as well. It will begin at the 5:10 Mass on Saturday, June 22. After Mass a roast beef dinner will be served and there will be a short program in St. Mary’s School auditorium.

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Caledonia Argus

The Caledonia City Council voted 4-1 to offer Bob Mierau the waste water treatment plant operator position during the June 10 Caledonia City Council meeting.

The vote came after much discussion regarding the benefits of hiring Mierau or filling the position using a people’s service contract.

One of the major points of contention was the $31 per hour wage. Councilmember Tom Murphy voted against the motion, saying he felt this high wage would wreck the city’s wage scale. Murphy said there was no trade off on this deal, and this wage would become a trend. Murphy said he believed Caledonia needed to look into contracting.

Councilmember Dewayne Schroeder did not believe that, with a contract, the employee would  complete the full scope of work needed.

“You’ll get nothing else out of them; they won’t do any lift station work,” Schroeder said. Schroeder said a full-time employee was necessary to take care of many of the overdue projects at the treatment plant.

City Administrator Ted Schoonover confirmed that, under a People’s Service Contract, the employees do not fix broken mains or anything that’s not associated with running the plant.

“We’re in desperate need. We have been in desperate need for a long time,” Councilmember Randi Vick said. “We did lose an employee because of time frame of trying to get someone here.” Vick referred to the resignation of Ryan Skillings last month, who was forced to take on extra duties over the past six months while the city looked to fill the operator position.

Mayor Robert Burns admitted this hire was expensive compared with other communities, but believed a hire was necessary and Mierau would be a good fit and could work in other areas beside the treatment plant.

The motion was made by Councilmember Robert Lemke to hire Mierau, with Schroeder seconding the motion. The vote was split, with Murphy voting against.

Part of the agreement gives Mierau two weeks of vacation from the start of employment, which goes against union contracts. Due to the increased wage and vacation time, the union is asking in return for the city to give all employees a vacation day, the day after Thanksgiving, and allow them to bank 80 hours of compensation time instead of the current rate of 20.

Mierau will begin working full-time Jan. 15, 2014.

Ambulance services

Burns, Schroeder and Vick met with the township residents on the matter of the Caledonia Ambulance Service last week.

Recently the subject of ambulance service became an issue when Caledonia Township refused to pay the per capita costs. Burns informed the rest of the council that – at this time – Caledonia Township representative Kermit McRae did not believe the $4 per capita payment from each township was necessary because the department already was operating with a high surplus.

Currently revenues for the ambulance are down this year, as ambulance transports are 26 fewer than last year at this time.

Burns said the reserves should be held to buy the next ambulance and, based on the expected costs of the vehicles, the current money in the reserves should be enough if the ambulance department continues to break even.

Schroeder said the situation could be viewed from two sides but still felt the need to do away with the surplus.

“It is a service we are providing to the townships, and there isn’t anyone else complaining about our surplus other than Caledonia Township,” Schroeder said.

Murphy was receptive to discussing budget matters, but not halfway through the year.

“We will talk about this in December, and also in December we’re going to talk about the ambulance service payment in lieu of taxes,” Murphy said.

The council was of the same belief and decided to leave the ambulance rates as is for the rest of the year.

Electrical rate increase

Tom Nigon from STAR Energy Service visited the council to explain the 2013 electric rates and survey.

Nigon recommended a rate increase to provide a net income of approximately $350,000. The funds are required for projects for the electric distribution and for transfers to the city. The estimated annual rate increase of 5 percent is necessary because of an increase in power, implemented on May 1. Nigon explained that the fixed costs have taken a hit as generations, demands and transmission costs have gone up.

The recommended rate increase calls for across-the-board rate increases for both commercial and residential properties. Residential electricity rates will increase from $0.128 per kilowatt hour (kWH) to $0.137 per kWH during the summer, which is the peak period. Nigon said residents could help by limiting their power usage from 5 to 9 p.m. during July and August. This will help the city of Caledonia because the city’s contribution is measured based on total transmission demands.

“If they can differ that a little bit, it helps everyone,” Nigon said, though he also admitted it would not directly translate into a lower rate for individual residents.

Murphy asked why patrons of Tri County Electric did not get a rate increase this year, but the city of Caledonia, a whole-sale costumer, did get a rate increase.

Nigon explained that Tri County uses a purchase cost adjustment to keep the base rate the same. In addition, in the previous year, patrons received a rebate due to being overcharged. Nigon said the adjustment option was available to Caledonia, which he compared to a pass through for the city. However, the adjustment method would require significant changes to Caledonia’s electric billing.

Mayor Burns made the motion to go ahead with the increase, which was approved by the board.

Public hearing

A quick public hearing was held on vacation an alley between South Second Street and Bungalow Street. It has been determined that a deed was filed on behalf of one of the abutting property owners that gave him right to claim a portion of the alley. Property owner Myles Esch requested that the city vacate the alley and dedicate the portions back to the abutting property owners. As there were no protests, the council unanimously approved the vacation of the alley.

Aquatic center

Schoonover has been in talks with USAquatics regarding plans for the new aquatic center.

During previous meetings, Schroeder raised concerns over some of the design plans. Schroeder was of the opinion the pool house should be redone rather than renovated.

USAquatics said it would be in the city’s best interested to have a discussion with the pool committee and the council to discuss the options. The current plan only calls for the renovation of the pool house.

The council chose to place Schroeder on the pool committee as he had the most experience with the technical aspects of the facility and could ask the necessary questions.

In other news 

• A municipal swimming pool handbook was created for the pool staff.

• Temporary, one-day liquor licenses were approved for the American Legion on June 20 and Caledonia Rotary Club on July 13.

• Burns informed the council of a notice regarding a public hearing for Bonanza Grad and Ready Mix for a conditional use permit to expand a rock quarry for mineral extraction. As the current mine is within 2 miles of Caledonia, Burns said the city does have a say in the matter. An on-site tour of the mine will be 6 p.m. June 18, and the hearing will be June 20 in the commissioners room of the courthouse.

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Caledonia Argus

There’s nothing like sitting on the muddy banks of the Mississippi, being consumed by the smell of river water, calmed by the sound of a slow but steady splash and eased into the evening by the sight of the setting sun.

The Brownsville that some call home and so many of us visit will change the weekend of June 21 during Brownsville Days, a time when the town comes vibrantly alive with softball games, kids games, fireworks, a parade, food, music and more.

Festivities kick off Friday night at 7 p.m. with coed softball, which continues at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Also on Saturday, kids games will take place at the ball park 1-4 p.m. with a simultaneous bean bag tournament. Saturday evening will offer music by Simon Sezz, beginning at 8 p.m., and a sizzling fireworks display is set for 10 p.m.

But wait, the fun is not over yet. On Sunday chicken will be served at the community center beginning at 11 a.m., and the parade starts at 1 p.m. Kids games and a horseshoe tournament crank up 2:30 p.m.

Adding to the fun is the reunion quality Brownsville Days brings to the community.

“A lot of people use it as a homecoming. They spend a lot of time at the ball park and watch ball games and check out the activities around here,” Lions treasurer Jeff LeJeune said.

The Brownsville Lions actually orchestrate the weekend of fun but summon the help of many other organizations and volunteers.

“A lot of the community gets involved with this. The fire department helps with the parade, and there’s a parade committee. The VFW ladies help with the Chicken-Q, and over the last several years, we’ve opened up the concession stand to volunteers – they really help us out. We are a relatively small club that gets stretched really thin, so we appreciate all the volunteers that help,” LeJeune said.

Most of the proceeds made during Brownsville Days circulate back into the community and Lions Club projects, such as ball park improvements and community center improvements.

Though not new this year, the fireworks show on Saturday night remains a big draw. Tucked in a valley and surrounded by the Mississippi River bluffs, the fireworks are really something to see, LeJeune said.

Clear the calendar and be sure to visit all Brownsville has to offer June 21-23.

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Campsites at Wildcat Park can be as elaborate or simple as the people renting the space.
~ Clay Schuldt

By Clay Schuldt

Caledonia Argus

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Houston County is Wildcat Park and Campground. The campground is a special gem that rests on the banks of the Mississippi River. Named after the nearby Wildcat slough, it was established by the United States Army Corps of Engineers 36 years ago and was leased to Houston County, though it is still operated with corp’s guidelines. Besides camping, Wildcat provides picnic shelters for special events, a fishing pier and two boat landings.

Wildcat manger Edward “Jake” Lonkoski said that for those looking to camp out along the river “There are few places like Wildcat.”

Recently, county officials have shown new interest in Wildcat and are currently working on revamping the campground to meet 21st Century needs.

In the past Wildcat proved a problem from Houston County as it did not make enough money to sustain itself, but in the last few years this has changed.

Over the last three seasons Wildcat has netted a profit of $60,000 for Houston County, $22,000 of which was earned just last season. It is the opinion of the Houston County Board that these recent profits be earmarked for use on much needed updates to the campground. In addition, the county is working to secure grant funds to help cover some costs. The first item on the list of updates will be to create modern bathroom facilities.

Most of the bathrooms at Wildcat are a simple outhouse design, which limits the camp’s appeal to most guests. Along with the bathrooms, the county is hoping to install new shower facilities.  Lonkoski explained that while there are a couple showers at Wildcat, the waiting lines for these facilities can be quit long.  The plan is to construct a new building with showers to better meet the needs and demands of campers.

After the new bathroom and showers, Lonkoski is hopeful the county will perform an overhaul of the camp’s electrical systems.  Of the 66 campsites available at Wildcat, around two-thirds have electrical and water hookup, but the current electrical system has trouble supplying power to the modern and larger R.V.s.  With the increasingly hot and humid summers, many campers are utilizing air conditioning units that wreak havoc on an aging electrical system.

These changes are viewed as a necessity with the number of yearly campers increasing. Even with a third of the campground dedicated to seasonal campers, Wildcat tends to remain busy on the weekend.  “The busiest time of year is the Fourth of July,” Lonkoski said, who estimates four hundred people spend the Fourth at Wildcat.  “You can barely even move down here.”

In order to guarantee a site at Wildcat, many campers have opted to apply for seasonal campsites, which have become an issue for the county as well.  In 2008, to meet the rise in Wildcat’s popularity, the Houston County Board of Commissioners made the controversial decision to establish a lottery to award seasonal sites.

Most of Wildcats camping sites are temporary, but 20 sites are rented out for the entire season (May through October).  The lottery was recommended by the corps as long as a waiting list began to grow. The previous policy allowed campers to carry over seasonal sites every year.

The lottery is held in the third month of September for the following camping season. Last summer the county board agreed to only hold the lottery on odd number years to allow campers to be locked in for two years.

Despite Wildcat’s success over the last few years, 2013 is starting off slow with cold weather plaguing the area.

“The rain is really slowing things down,” Lonkoski admitted. “Last year our season started in April.”  Normally by mid-June Wildcat is full of campers, but this year several sites remain open. Still, a few hard core campers have stayed to tough out the rainy weather.

According to Lonkoski, it is typical for campers from all over the country to visit the camp. One dedicated group from the Chicago area comes every year rain or shine to camp out for the week. Others traveling in R.V.s stay for a day or two as a rest stop on summer tour of the Mississippi.

The campground remains an asset for Brownsville and Houston County at large and combines the scenic beauty of the surrounding bluffs with unobstructed access to the river. It is not difficult to see why Wildcat remains popular after all these years.

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Caledonia Argus

In a preview of discussion to come, Houston County Human Resources Director Tess Arrick-Kruger told the county board that significant effort is being put into evaluating jail staffing needs.

The 2013 budget for staffing the jail is $899,837, including salaries and benefits. The hope is to create “flexibility with accountability for the county,” Arrick-Kruger said.

Several factors play into the expense of running the jail, including the fact that it is a 24/7 operation; that it must meet Department of Corrections guidelines; that a combination of full time, half time and temporary employees are used to accommodate the schedule; and that employees will have overtime as well as paid time off.

“We don’t want to over staff, but we certainly don’t want to under staff,” Arrick-Kruger said.

Also playing a factor in this equation is the new Affordable Health Act, which will require employers to supply employees working at least 30 hours a week non-prorated health benefits.

Arrick-Kruger characterized meetings held thus far on the topic as productive and thoughtful. “We’re taking a broader look than what we initially planned, but  we’re really doing a nice comprehensive job and hoping in the next week or two to have some things for you. It’s complex, but we’ve really got a handle on it,” she said.

A meeting with the union must also take place in regard to shifts, she added.

Highway department

In other June 11 meeting business, the board approved two highway department requests.

The first was a right of way plat for the County Highway 5 project where it intersects with Highway 249 out to the Caledonia city limits.

The plat was prepared by the county and already approved by the city, County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski said.

Commissioner Steve Schuldt said the change is badly needed, and the item passed with unanimous approval.

The board also awarded the annual seal coating bid to Fahrner Asphalt for $423,521. The highway department only budgeted $400,000 for this road maintenance, but Pogodzinski said he is going to sit down with the contractor to see if there’s room to cut cost. The other bid came in at about $500,000. The county roads around La Crescent will be the beneficiary of seal coating this year.

Commissioner Teresa Walter wanted to know if there would be any detours as a result of the project. Pogodzinski said he believed any disruption in traffic would be temporary and not last more than a day.

Finance update

An update from the county finance director, Carol Lapham, yielded no big surprises. With 42 percent of the year complete, the board was able to see which departments – and line items – were on target and which ones have exceeded the budget to date.

“Most of them are within the range of what they’d be this time of year. There aren’t any way off,” Lapham said.

Other than prisoner medical expenses and worker’s compensation, most of the forecasts have been accurate.

In the highway department, a new phone system has cost roughly $4,000 more than projected, but  county staff remain confident that leverage exists to pay this expense from other accounts.

Consulting services for human services has also exceeded expectation, and several new employees have needed training, creating a void in that line item.

That said, no one is panicking because the overall picture is looking good.

“I’m very impressed with what you do,” Commissioner Justin Zmyewski said after the report, adding that updates like this are helpful.

Economic development

Finally, in the commissioner comments portion of the meeting, Judy Storlie said the Economic Development Authority is looking for citizen representation from Brownsville and Eitzen. The committee is charged with promoting activities and projects that will enhance the economic state of the county with efforts like tourism brochures, business retention and attracting new business. They also help secure grants for the county – with the help of a consultant – and connect small businesses with resources.

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Houston Nature Center

Just like most ambitious endeavors, it all started with a vision, no idea of how it would happen, but faith that it would.

The initial idea for a natural playground at the Houston Nature Center was just a passing idea in 2002.  As the years passed, the idea stayed far in the background, every now and then surfacing for some discussion. The concept solidified a bit with some internet searches a few years ago to identify a company that created the style of a truly-natural playground the Friends of the Houston Nature Center were looking for.

It wasn’t until the fall of 2010 when a Statewide Health Improvement Program* grant dropped out of heaven that the ball actually started rolling on this unique project. The next year brought a site visit and survey by the Natural Playgrounds Company from New Hampshire, the plans, and the onset of fundraising.

Initial estimates put the projected fundraising goal at $122,000 for the one-acre playground filled with boulders, caves, tunnels, hills, sand, a water pump, a labyrinth, a sundial and more natural fun. A ground breaking ceremony, conducted by children from local daycares with their trucks and sand shovels, took place on Aug. 1, 2012.

Ole’s Excavating agreed to begin work before fundraising was complete, trusting that people would contribute to this fun and unique project for the region.  Huge boulders and stone slabs were hauled in, a 10 foot high hill constructed, a wooden climbing wall was fashioned out of local black locust trees, and most of the heavy work was completed by winter.

This spring, with its snow, cold, and rain, hasn’t been conducive to much work on the playground.  Behind the scenes, however, volunteers are gearing up to install the embankment slide, stump circles, labyrinth and all the other play elements that remain to be added.  Once the rest of the machine work is done, 40 trees will be added to the park and work will begin on a four foot tall concrete mosaic owl sculpture.

Support for the project has come from well over 100 individuals, businesses, private foundations, and grants.  Everyone donating $100 or more to the project will have their name engraved on a stone in the playground, making the donor recognition part of the playground itself.

Fundraising wrapped up in May thanks to several substantial contributions this year: $12,000 from the Catherine Manley Gaylord Foundation, $10,000 from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council**, $5,000 from Mystic Star Lodge #69, $1,500 from Ace Communications Group and $1,500 from Eastwood Bank.  Total funds raised for the project are just under $110,000.

A grand opening for the Natural Playground is tentatively planned for September. In the meantime, follow the progress of the project in pictures at www.facebook.com/HoustonNatureCenter (no Facebook account is required to view.)

This project is sponsored by the Friends of the Houston Nature Center, a 501(c)3 organization, in cooperation with the City of Houston.

*The Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), an integral part of Minnesota’s nation-leading 2008 health reform law, strives to help Minnesotans lead longer, healthier lives by preventing the chronic disease risk factors of tobacco use and exposure, poor nutrition and physical inactivity.

**This project is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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When fresh flavors are popping up everywhere, serving the same-old spaghetti and meatballs can feel as silly as snow boots in summer. That’s why now is my time to change the standard for those quick-cooking pasta dishes.

The first thing to pack away for the season is the canned tomato sauce. This time of year, I leave tomatoes out of the pasta pot entirely, building anticipation for the fresh local varieties to come. I also like to transition away from those early spring pasta splurges with their delicate green vegetables robed in cream sauces. In fact, I like to stock an entirely different pasta cupboard that can use summer’s profusion of fresh herbs and be flexible with the vegetables.

Pad Thai, a rice noodle dish that packs a ton of flavor into a short amount of cooking time, is perfect. This simplified version skips some of the more exotic ingredients, but still gives a great impression of the authentic. If you can’t find pad Thai noodles, you can substitute linguine; if you don’t like shrimp, you can use chicken, pork, or sliced sausages. You can also scramble a couple of eggs into the dish, or use firm tofu for a vegetarian option. And one of the great things about pad Thai is that, while delicious served hot from the skillet, it’s also good cold in your lunchbox the next day. So flavorful, so customizable, it’s truly my kind of Thai.

Shrimp Pad Thai

8 ounces flat rice noodles (pad Thai noodles)

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (tamari)

1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional; or use extra tamari soy)

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1-3 teaspoons Sriracha or chili garlic sauce, to taste

3 tablespoons peanut oil

1 cup 2-inch green onion pieces

8 ounces peeled and deveined large shrimp

2-3 minced garlic cloves

1 cup assorted vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, zucchini) cut into matchsticks

1 cup fresh bean sprouts or shredded cabbage

½ cup chopped fresh herbs (basil, mint, cilantro)

¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts

lime wedges, for serving

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the package directions; drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, soy, fish sauce, lime juice and Sriracha in a small bowl. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Add the onion pieces, shrimp, garlic and assorted vegetables and cook until shrimp turns pink and opaque. Add the cooked noodles and toss to combine. Stir in the sauce and cabbage, if using, and cook for another minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and garnish with the bean sprouts, herbs and peanuts. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

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Managing Editor

This past school year I spent every Wednesday in my first grader’s lunchroom enjoying the noon meal with her and her classmates. You learn a lot about what swims around in the mind of a first grader when you share a meal with them on a regular basis.

A favorite topic of conversation was teeth. Almost every Wednesday some youngster would proudly turn to me – mouth wide open with semi-chewed lunch food – and point out a new lost tooth, or a tooth that had to be pulled, or a tooth that was about to fall out or a tooth that was growing in wrong. Indeed, teeth are important, but to a first grader they must be worth their weight in gold because boy do they want to get in on that conversation.

You’ll be happy to know most kids get a dollar or two these days from the tooth fairy, but I’d like to talk to the sparkly, winged creature who left one kid $10.

Other topics of interest included my food preferences. For example, if it was fajitas day, kids wanted to know why I liked so many tomatoes. If it was cookie day, kids wanted to know why I didn’t take one – a truly unimaginable decision to them. If I didn’t take any fruit they’d want to know why.

I tried to be conscious of how I responded to every inquiry because at that age we want kids trying all kinds of foods. I could usually dodge the question by saying something like, “Oh, I had fruit for breakfast.”

Conversations were usually light hearted and focused on food, teeth and if there was a special program coming up. The kids were well behaved when given direction, and I can’t recall hearing any negativity like, “Did you see Jane’s outfit,” or, “I can’t believe Tom is playing with Bob.”

Naturally, however, kids would get excited if they could sit next to their bestie, and I felt accepted when they got excited to sit next to me.

I also remember a conversation about one kid’s dad falling off a ladder. That announcement was followed by every kid at the table proudly displaying the body part that has received the worst boo, boo so far. Luckily, most of the injuries described were abrasions and bruises, though one poor fellow fell on the ice this winter and bashed out his two front teeth. That looked really painful. He said he kept cutting his tongue on the sharp nubs that were left before his folks could get them fixed by a professional.

The most striking conversation happened this spring when a boy who seemingly was happy as could be out of no where said his parents were getting divorced.

I looked up quickly to see how his peers responded and somehow they seemed to know the comment was meant for me. In the tender tone we moms take when necessary I asked, “Is that difficult?”

He responded by saying he knows his brother is sad because he cried in the driveway.

I’m not a psychologist. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say in these situations, especially when it’s not my own child. I sat quiet for a moment waiting to see if he had more to say. I know enough to know that I’m supposed to listen. He didn’t say anything more and looked at his plate and looked at me, and looked at his plate and looked at me.

Agonizing…

“I know your parents love you and your brother very much,” is how it ended. I know that to be true as I met both parents a time or two at school gatherings.

You never know what will come your way when eating with first graders. It may be a little spray from someone talking with their mouth open or it may be a very unexpected revelation. Either way, to dine is divine and to do it with kids is delightful.

You can contact Emily Bialkowski at emily.bialkowski@ecm-inc.com

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