NUFF Said! When kids come home

Nothing more special than when kids come home.  A house becomes a home, it shouts again with laughter, light hearted yackity-yack, a chance to cook a special meal for them, when kids come home.  I’ll just sit back and listen when they’re here.  I like to listen to their banter, back and forth as it may go.  Musical conversation!

I like to cook as best I can for them when they’re home.  It’s not just the taste, but the presentation.  A simple piece of toast, made to be a face comprised of hard boiled eggs sliced to have eyes, a nose and a smile, makes for a funny breakfast.  Gobble that down!  Can’t do much more than that.

Kids, these young adults, coming home have friends to hook up with.  It’s morning to midnight smiles for them!  I was the same at that age.  I probably spent less time with my folks during these visits then they do with me.  I like watching their smiles.  We’ll call that a good visit.
Every parent still sleeps just half awake till their kids come home, even when they’re grown.  Just what you do.  I always told them to say “Don’t shoot the burglar” when they open the door.  I’d probably have missed anyway!

The greatest times were younger years, when Ma and Pa were part of every event, when Ma and Pa got to watch it all, dance contests, high school plays, band concerts and all that fine special stuff!  Miss that.  Miss that dearly.  And now, it’s a time to wait for grandkids to do the same.
And now it’s time to watch grandkids do the same.  It’s what fills the vacuum of an empty nest.  Probably needs some other fillers.  Tough transition.  It’s what we do.  Gotta be what it’s gotta be.
Nuff said!

 

Letter to the editor: Motorcycles

Letter To the Editor:

Motorcycle Safety is not just for Motorcyclists:
Look Twice to Save a Life

Motorcyclists are a focus for the Kasson police and Dodge County Sheriff’s Office on Saturdays in July.  Our message to motorcyclists is that they need to ride at safe speeds and ride sober.
On behalf of our department, I’d like to encourage other drivers-not just motorcyclists-to practice motorcycle safety, too.  About half of all motorcycle crashes involve a collision with another vehicle. In many crashes, the driver never saw the motorcyclist-or didn't see the rider until it was too late. 
Two situations where it is especially important for motorists to look twice for motorcyclists this time of year are when turning left and when passing.  Most crashes between vehicles and motorcycles involve turning left at an intersection. If crossing traffic or turning left, look twice for motorcycles before turning.  In addition, when passing, always take a second look over your shoulder.  Don’t rely solely on your mirrors.  Motorcycles are easily hidden in your blind spot. 

The bottom line is, looking twice may save a life.

Officer Josh Hanson
Kasson Police Department

Letter to the editor: Kern

Letter to the editor:

My son Caleb Kern was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was nine months old in March of 1991. Since then he has had different types of seizures and has been tried on multiple seizure medications to try and control them. We do not know what the cause of his seizures are. He has had a pilocytic astrocytoma tumor in his left temporal lobe, so he has endured a brain tumor resection in March of 2009, totally separate of his epilepsy. He has lost three years of his memory and struggled with many learning difficulties, so school has been a struggle. Caleb has been in the hospital several times to see the extent and how often he seizes. He was hospitalized for seven days in May 2010 to find the areas of his brain where his seizures start. He has two starters and could have surgery on one side but that still would not control them. So we decided to wait and try the Ketogenic Diet to control or stop his seizures for two-three years.

Caleb, as a team captain, along with his team will be walking in the Stroll for Epilepsy August 9, 2012 at the Eagles Club in Rochester to benefit people affected by seizures. All donations that Caleb raises go to the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. The proceeds from this event will go to programs that help educate, connect, and empower people affected by seizures. Dollars raised in each community stay in that community to provide awareness. Please sponsor Caleb Kern’s challenging course by donating to sponsor his team.

Checks can be sent to Epilepsy Foundation of MN or mail them to Caleb Kern at 307 5th St. NW, Kasson, MN 55944. You can also give at his garage sale fundraiser selling snow cones, cookies, pop and pearl bead crafts, or in cans placed in different stores in Kasson marked “Stroll for Epilepsy for Caleb Kern.”

            Thank you for your support,
              Caleb Kern & his family
            634-7907

"Open the Valve in 2012" Let the fun flow at the 155th Dodge County Fair

There isn’t much that is more American than the old county fair. The fair just goes back to the very heart of everything and what makes us great. It's just a wonderful tradition. Dodge County Fair is the one County Get Together to promote education, and entertainment for the young and old.

Dodge County Fair, July 18 - 22, 2012 will be an EXCITING WEEK with many new attractions. Grandstand Attractions include: Thursday, July 19th Tractor & Semi Truck Pull Friday, July 20th HAIRBALL BAND Saturday, July 21st Demo Derby (Dedicated to Maynard Swanson)
Midwest Rides will be back with the carnival rides. Be sure to purchase advance ride tickets prior to the fair opening on Wednesday, July l8th. They can be purchased at any of the banks in the Dodge County, Hardware Hank in Kasson, Casey's in West Concord or Mantorville and the Fair Office.
The Commercial Exhibits will be in the former Horticultural & Fine Arts Buildings. Crops, grains, flowers, vegetables and FFA will be displayed in the Pavilion. And the Fine Arts will be in the Women's Building with Foods and Creative Activities. There are many new vendors coming that you won't want to miss. Outside the Four Seasons Arena there will be lots of equipment, campers, etc. Some other outside vendors will be located just west of the Fair Office. Be sure to take a look at the updates done in the Women's Building with the Equal Share Grant received through the Legacy Act.
What more excitement could you want? Scarecrow will be roaming the grounds on Friday and Saturday along with Dave Ferrell (woodcarver). Vogel's Exotic Petting Zoo and the FFA Kiddie Barnyard will be at the Fair all week.

You will also want to visit all the exhibit buildings to see the 4-H exhibits, Open Class exhibits, and Animal Barns. Maybe you would like to see the judging of the animals and there are many Open Shows which can be exciting to watch. 4-H and FFA kids have put in many hours to get their projects and animals ready for the Fair. Check out what our Future Leaders of Tomorrow are doing. 4-H & FFA programs teach so many life skills.

Beer Garden Bands include: Lost & Found on Thursday, July 19th. Standby on Saturday, July 21th. Also there will be Wine Tasting on Thursday, Frozen T-Shirt Contest on Friday, Bean Bag Tournament and Bud Girls on Saturday. Other things in  the Beer Garden include punching bag, pull tabs, juke box and video games. Check out the new exciting look in the Beer Garden.

Senior Citizen Day is Thursday, July 19th. Semcac will be doing a picnic type lunch, followed by music in the afternoon by "Casey and the Goodtimes". Seniors planning to attend the lunch should make reservations by calling Sunwood Manor at 507-634-7526. Daycare & Family Day comes on Friday, July 20th. Bobbie Cox & her Sonflower Puppets will be performing on Friday and Saturday. You will find her at the Free Stage which will be located by the shelter on the grounds.

There have been many people over the years of the Dodge County Fair, who have been instrumental in making the Fair a success. On Sunday, the Fair Board will be honoring some of these special people by inducting them into the "Hall of Fame". People to be honored this year include: Madelyn Beckstrom, Millie Trapp, Leonard Prescher, Kendall Boyum, Dean Wright and Don Spillman. Sunday's program will also recognize: veterans, Farm Family of the year, commissioners, honorary Fair Board and present Fair Board members.

Plan now to help us "OPEN THE VALVE in 2012" at the Dodge County Fair to enjoy the competitions, educational & commercial exhibits, plus, don't miss that great Fair food, midway ides and much, much more.

For more details visit the website: www.dodgecounty freefair.com

Anyone in the county can be a voting member of the Dodge County Agricultural and Mechanical Society. To be a member, dues need to be paid by the close of the Dodge County Fair, July 22, 2012.

Torn

I am really torn on what to do with bloggers on our DCI web site. Currently people are allowed to make comments without signing their name. We do screen what is written and have had to delete inappropriate comments.

I am a little old school (all right, more than a little). If a person is unable to submit an unsigned Letter to the Editor why should they be able to make a comment on the web site and not give their name?  To me writing a comment on the web and and not signing a name takes much of the credibility out of the content. If you have an opinion and want to express it then tell us who you are.

What do the readers think? I posed that question on the DCI web site this week.

If we were to require people to sign their name the comments would drop considerably. That's just the way people are. They have an opinion, want to share it with the world, but want to share it anonymously. Maybe I don't get it. Being in the newspaper business I put my name to everything I write. Why shouldn't anyone else?