Letters to the Editor

August 18, 2010

Editor's Note:
In last week’s issue a Letter to the Editor signed by Dorothy Pachan should have read Doris Pachan. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Letter to the Editor:
In response to last week's letter by Ms. Yates--I found this patronizing letter extremely offensive.
While I disagree with almost everything said, I take issue with a few particular points at this time.
1. The real reason most of our sons and daughters leave the area is NOT because the school doesn’t look pretty to them. It is because there aren’t jobs that pay a living wage. How dare you compare our school to prisons you have been in.
2. I have asked students if they have to wear their coats all day throughout the winter. They said no, the classrooms are warm, the halls are cool. This is much better than the over-heated Clarissa Elementary that often reeks of sweat and stinky gym socks. I wasn’t going to mention it, but since you brought it up, we do need a new furnace at the high school and the roof repairs really shouldn’t be postponed again.
3. The toilets at the high school work. Perhaps if one was plugged it was caused by the user?
4. We, in Eagle Bend, enjoy the amphitheater feeling and excellent acoustics of our small auditorium. I have personally seen many old goats keep their footing in there, but a new auditorium would be nice.
Which reminds me to point out that events at the elementary are hindered by the woefully inadequate parking and often dangerous gridlock that follows.
5. Although it IS very difficult to understand what is going on at our school board meetings, it seems to boil down to this:
Clarissa wants money from everyone to fix only their school (for the second time) because they think theirs is better and the Eagle Bend building is inferior.
Ridiculously high estimates are thrown out even though the majority of the tax-base lives on a fixed income and we are in the midst of a very bad recession. (Hello).
Some on the school board won’t allow Eagle Bend school to do routine maintenance on their building such as the repeatedly deferred roof repairs but instead want E.B. to destroy their own school building even though it won’t save money in the long run.
In addition, some in Clarissa don’t seem to care one diet soda pop that they are breaking the agreement and goodwill that pairing/sharing was created to achieve.
Namely-to help both schools remain open.
All this has been voted on and yet still the Clarissa school board disdainfully ignores the will of the people, the public they were voted to represent. If this preposterous proposal comes up again for a vote I urge everyone that values reason and integrity over wishful thinking and greed to send out a resounding NO! and put an end to this particular solution to the issues we face.
Sincerely,
Diane Wood

Letter to the Editor:
I am going to be a junior this coming school year at EVPS and I want to let people know that Scott Wegner helped quite a few students form bands through school music. He helped my friends and I form our band, RDB = Red Dog Blue, two years ago. He inspired me and I am sure he inspired my friends as well. He taught five people how to work as one band.
Scott was very generous and devoted. He let us use his equipment at least once a week for over a month. We would practice for hours every week and he was at every practice.
This last school year Scott helped another group of kids form a band. I was talking with Scott and he said “help”. So, I am hoping in the future I will be able to help him with his work in this area.
I would like to apologize for all of the band’s ‘shenanigans’ and occasional bad music. Scott is a very generous, inspiring person. I believe he is a very good example for the students he works with.
Sincerely,
Cody Jonas
Clarissa

August 11, 2010

To the Editor:
In a recent letter, Jean Murch of Eagle Bend asked the question if anyone agreed with her to keep the Eagle Valley High School in Eagle Bend. I’ll have to admit that I have only lived in this area for a few years, but my family roots have been here for over 100 years and my niece and two nephews are graduates of Eagle Valley High School. I know the area’s history and perhaps I can bring a fresh perspective to the controversial school issue.
The exterior four walls of the high school were a classical design built in part under the WPA (Works Progress Administration under the Franklin Roosevelt Administration). In their day, it must have been one of the most beautiful buildings in this whole region. The floors inside the building are beautiful too, but losing their luster. But now the four walls, over time, have been destroyed by implementing some pretty poor design decisions over the years “to make do.” It look like a really bad Joan River’s face lift.
The heating system doesn’t work correctly most of the time. I have heard from students that they spent an entire winter wearing their coats in the classrooms. In one board meeting, it was stated that the life of the boiler was only another couple of years before it would have to be replaced. If you’ve ever availed yourself of the ladies restrooms, you’ll find the toilets don’t flush acceptably unless you cycle them two or three times. The pitch to the floor in the auditorium is so steep that even a mountain goat would find it hard to keep a steady footing, let alone this 60+ woman who enjoys attending programs and school board meetings at the school. There is only one level of five in the school which is handicapped accessible. Installation of an elevator does not address the entire issue of accessibility.
While living in California, I participated in a weekend volunteer project with other Lutheran churches at the Terminal Island Federal Prison in San Pedro. This same prison, at one time over the years, housed Al Capone, Charles Manson and numerous members of the mafia. Somehow, when I walk into the high school, I have the same sinking feeling as the first time I walked into that prison. The lighting is poor, the walls closed in, the doors look like ones you would see in a cloister. Ask yourself this, Do we want our students to feel like they are going to be punished by going to school or do we want our students to feel like the building is a place to learn and grow with the times to meet the future? The building, as it exists, reeks of boredom and dreariness. We are selling the kids short.
I’ve had the opportunity in the past several months to attend meetings at various schools around the state (Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Sartell and others) and it’s refreshing to see the type of classrooms and openness of the common areas. These schools, too, are fully handicapped accessible. They are schools designed for teaching today’s technologies needed in the workplace today—and in the future. These are schools where students can come to school in the morning facing a spirit of joy, not gloom.
A school is not just four walls, it’s not a building to cling to the past or to an idea of keeping the school in one community over another at the risk of losing sight of a common goal—education of our young people. We need to set our egos aside. A school needs to be a living, breathing space that encourages a place to learn, a place where students are encouraged to think, a place where students have a belief in what they can achieve. It needs to be a place where the best teachers will want to teach.
I live on a fixed income, like many people in our district and if I have to give up a can of Diet Pepsi a day to help pay for a decent school, I’ll do it. I just want Eagle Valley school a place where students have pride in and will want to come ‘back home’ after college or technical training to raise their own families and pass on that Eagle Valley pride.
I hear voices bemoaning the cost of ‘tearing down’ the high school. The school building may not have to be torn down. It can be re-purposed for commercial use. Look how some of the old churches in this area have lovingly been turned into homes with the integrity of the original design retained. Some business may invest in the school building (and wouldn’t such an investment be great in our communities which need creation of new jobs?)
I recently read something that the late Paul Wellstone said: The future will not belong to those who sit on the sidelines. The future will belong to they cynics. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Isn’t it time that we give the kids of our community a safe, encouraging place where they can learn with passion and ‘believe in the beauty of their dreams?”
Ione Yates
Clarissa

To the Editor:
In last week’s edition of the Independent News Herald, Jean Murch wrote a letter that I completely agree with.
Why add rooms to the school in Clarissa, when with some long needed repairs and some renovations, the Eagle Bend school would be sound and solid for a good many years to come.
It would be a real shame to abandon this great school.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Pachan
Eagle Bend

To the Editor:
Why I’m voting to re-elect Mark Ritchie, Secretary of State
The secretary of state has many duties; one very important duty is that of chief election official. Mark is concerned about every vote cast counting. He has gone to great lengths to make sure that our election process in Minnesota is accurate and transparent. Mark Ritchie has been a fair and impartial agent of his office of secretary of state.
Mark has championed reforms in which overseas military personnel have better access to absentee balloting. Once again, Minnesota leads and Mark Ritchie is the reason!
Go to the site below and see the work that has gone into making certain that our military personnel can exercise their right to vote. Then join me in re-electing Mark Ritchie, Secretary of State.
https://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/home.htm
Retha Dooley
Sauk Centre
A11p

August 4, 2010

To the Editor:
Just curious to know how many voters in our district would vote “yes” to the Eagle Valley High School to remain in Eagle Bend?
The two million dollar bond to remodel and build two new classrooms in Clarissa would be close to covering the cost of remodeling the existing EV High School. It is a structurally sound building that has had little or no maintenance in the last 40 years.
I vote EV Elementary in Clarissa, EV High School in Eagle Bend. Anyone else agree?
Perhaps we could ask some of the alumni to contribute to the project.
If we want to keep our school in Eagle Bend--speak up.
Jean Murch
Eagle Bend

To the Editor:
August is Minnesota Breastfeeding Awareness Month, in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7. In honor of this observance, the Todd County WIC program and other organizations throughout the world are working to increase awareness of and support for breastfeeding.
The importance of breastfeeding for both mother and baby has been well established in numerous studies. One of the latest studies, published in the May 2010 issue of Pediatrics, shows that breastfeeding can also significantly reduce health care costs and prevents deaths.
According to the authors of The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States, “If 90 percent of U.S. families could comply with medical recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for six months, the United States would save $13 billion per year and prevent an excess 911 deaths, nearly all of which would be infants.”
Unfortunately, women face many barriers that can keep them from breastfeeding to recommended levels. That is why Todd County WIC program is working to spread the word that everybody has a role in supporting breastfeeding.
“It is important for everyone in the community to support breastfeeding,” said Monica Hansen, Todd County WIC Coordinator. “This includes families, friends, employers, child care providers, the healthcare system, faith communities and many others.”
“Breastfeeding Just 10 steps! The Baby-Friendly Way” is this year’s worldwide breastfeeding theme. It was chosen to draw attention to the 10 steps that help support breastfeeding in hospitals. These ten steps can be adapted to clinics, public health agencies and other settings. The ten steps are:
• Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
• Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
• Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
• Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
• Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.
• Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
• Practice rooming-in—allowing mothers and infants to remain together for 24 hours a day.
• Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
• Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
• Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.
“There are many simple things, like these ten steps, that we can do to support breastfeeding women, infants and families in our community,” said Monica Hansen. “If we all work together, we can improve the health of our babies and mothers and also save health care costs and lives.”
For more information about World Breastfeeding Week, visit http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org/.
For more information on breastfeeding, please call Todd County Public Health 320-732-4440 or Todd County WIC Program 320-732-4456
Monica Hansen, Mary Rae Haugen, Randi Valencia, and Stephanie Mitzel

July 28, 2010

To the Editor:
Over THIRTY times this year (and remember, this year is nowhere near over) we have turned on the news only to learn that someone else has been murdered. Children are being assaulted, abducted and killed. Bodies are being found in parks, rivers and along roadsides. Like many, I continue with my day-to-day tasks overwhelmed by the feeling that there is nothing I can do, comforted by the fact that it wasn’t my child on the news. That is not enough. The reality is Minnesota is my home and Minnesotans are being killed. So what can we do? Tuesday, August 3 is National Night Out. National Night Out is a way that citizens can reclaim and protect their communities. It is fun, easy but most of all effective.
While the traditional ‘lights on’ and front porch vigils remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from law enforcement, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies and meetings. It’s a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote camaraderie. While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year.
So I invite citizens to have a cook out and invite the neighbors or grab the kids and go for an evening stroll. I invite businesses and community organizations to help promote awareness or plan activities but most importantly just do something because with the rise in violent crime, we cannot just sit around and hope it doesn’t happen to us.
For more information or if you are the victim of a crime, contact Hands of Hope Resource Center at 320-732-2319 or call 1-800-NITE-OUT or visit www.nationalnightout.org
“The demise of a nation begins in its homes” ~indigenous proverb
Jamie St George
Domestic Violence Coordinator
Hands of Hope Resource Center

To the Editor:
During the aftermath of the recent tornadoes that hit the Wadena, Bluffton and Deer Creek areas, Wadena County Human Services accepted the responsibility of operating a supply/donation center at the Friendly Rider Transit Facility in Wadena.
Many staff and volunteer hours went into the operation of this site and literally thousands of bottles of water, ice chests, sheets, blankets, pillows, cleaning supplies, diapers, hand wipes, shovels, rakes, tarps, gloves, canned goods, food cards and many other items flowed through this large center to those living in Otter Tail and Wadena counties.
We were able to thank large donor organizations and church volunteer groups during the daily community meetings that were carried by local radio stations. There were also many individuals and small organizations that contributed a substantial number of items for distribution to the victims of the storm’s fury.
We want everyone to know that your generous support brought an acknowledgement of sincere appreciation to every person we served on your behalf.
Paul Sailer
Human Service Director

June 23, 2010

To the Editor:
On behalf of the Eagle Valley Parent Teacher Organization, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to the success of the Eagle Valley School District. With strong leadership, crucial decision-making, and an optimistic view of the future, we can maintain our student population and start increasing enrollment.
Like everything else, schools have become highly competitive due to open enrollment. To be competitive, we need to offer great education, extra-curricular activities and a modern learning environment. Many families believe there are better choices than Eagle Valley and more students than ever are enrolling in other districts. We have great test scores and fantastic teachers, but course offerings are dwindling. Extra-curricular activities continue to be cut. Our facilities are 20 to 30 years behind in maintenance. Paintbrushes and flower boxes will not hide the real structural problems we face.
The Eagle Valley PTO supported the recent referendum without reservation. We believe a bond would create an up-to-date and attractive facility, show that education is important to the district and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in operational costs that would be used to increase curriculum. Our group was looking forward to using our own resources to begin recruiting students back to Eagle Valley. Being able to share a vision of a modern facility, with a focus on saving money and increasing educational offerings was something that could be easily advertised and sold to the public. Unfortunately, the bond narrowly failed. What we are left with is becoming increasingly difficult to “sell” to people in and around our district.
At the last school board meeting, our group was brought up as a possible source to help with marketing our district in an effort to increase enrollment. We appreciate their confidence in our abilities and we will continue to share the many positive aspects of our district. However, we do not currently see a joint marketing effort with this school board. At this time, none of us would feel comfortable selling our current district due to the numerous unanswered questions the board has failed to address. Quite frankly, the board hasn’t given us anything new to sell.
In the past several months many on the board have demonstrated that their focus is on buildings and towns rather than our students. A school board by definition is the keystone that holds a district together, allowing students to learn and achieve at the highest level possible. It is our hope that the people of Eagle Valley will vote for new representatives this fall – people that will do what’s best for our children. If the people of our district elect board members committed to educational excellence, we will offer our full support.
In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The secret in education lies in respecting the student.” Let’s do what’s right for our students.
Sincerely,
Eagle Valley PTO
Melissa Polovick, President

To the Editor:
June is “Internet Safety Month”. Technology, specifically the internet, has opened up the world to us and brought it into our homes. Through the internet, we have easy access to a vast amount of material. This presents a new set of challenges for parents that did not exist just a few years ago. As a parent it is necessary to stay informed and be aware of the dangers children may encounter on the internet. Pornography, on-line gambling, access by child predators to your child’s information and exposure to “Cyberbullying” are just some of the dangers your child faces from the internet.
Consider the following:
• 1 in 7 children have received sexual solicitation on the internet.
• 34% are unintentionally exposed to sexual material and only 27% told a parent.
• 79% of sexual solicitation happens on their home computer.
• 23% of the children have met a stranger on the internet and 7% report meeting that stranger in person.
As parents you should know how the computer is being used, set clear rules concerning its use, keep it located in a public area of your home and talk to your children about online dangers. You should set clear boundaries that are age appropriate, such as how long they can be on the computer, what sites they are allowed to visit, what software programs they can use and what activities they’re allowed to do.
Teach your children to:
• Never share personal information
• Never tell anyone they are home alone
• Never send pictures of themselves
• Never respond to communications that are obscene, harassing or belligerent
• Always tell an adult if anything frightens them or makes them uncomfortable
• Always remember “a little data can reveal a lot about them”
• User names should never contain their personal information such as “Jane 1980”.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of an internet crime, please contact HANDS OF HOPE RESOURCE CENTER at 320-732-2319 or 1-800-682-4547.
Annette Schilling
Hands of Hope Resource Center

June 16, 2010

To the Editor:
June is Dairy Month, so it is time to thank the dairy farmers in our area. Dairy farmers supply us with milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter and a rich variety of ingredients for our health. Not only do they provide us with delicious and nutritious treats, but dairy farmers in Minnesota have an annual output value of $4.6 billion, and create nearly 40,000 jobs in the state of Minnesota. There are 101 cows on average dairy farms and dairy is 24% of the state’s total livestock receipts.
Recently, dairy farmers have had a difficult time making a profit because input costs are high and the price dairy farmers receive for their milk is not enough to cover their costs. Only one-fourth of the amount of money you pay at the grocery store for a gallon of milk actually makes it back to the farmer. Some consumers do not know where their food comes from, let alone their dairy products, and there are 4,700 dairy farms in Minnesota providing 1,000 million gallons of milk for consumers; each cow producing 6 gallons of milk per day. Educating people where their food comes from is a Minnesota Farmers Union priority, and part of that priority surrounds dairy and dairy products.
Rural Minnesota is 20% of our economic engine. This is about our local economy and where the money is spent. Dairy farmers need your support; take time this month for a dairy break. You as a consumer or as a farmer can make a difference.
Alan Perish

May 26, 2010

To the Editor:
I would like to take a moment to thank Mary Ellen Otremba for her years of service in the legislature. As many are aware, Representative Otremba announced last week that she would not be seeking re-election this fall.
Throughout her career, Mary Ellen stood with a strong voice on issues that are important to our area, protecting unborn children and defending our Second Amendment rights. She faced tremendous pressure to buckle to party leaders on these subjects. Nevertheless, she stood firm and earned perfect scores from groups like Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.
I wish Mary Ellen the best in everything she does going forward. She stands as a model of public leadership and personal integrity. I am proud to call her a friend.
Sincerely,
Mary Franson

To the Editor:
Loved ones who have gone before us need to be honored and remembered at this time of year and always. One specific way to do this is by keeping grave sites kept up. The Eagle Bend Cemetery Association, formerly known as the Order of Odd Fellows, would appreciate your consideration in helping with the cost of maintaining the grounds.
Last year in 2009, $2360 was spent for mowing while only $1925 was given to patrons. Secretary/Treasurer of the Association, Carol Becker sent 75 letters earlier this year to ask for donations. Only half of those responded. There are 146 lots with 0-6 people buried in each lot. Please consider helping this worthy organization with your time and dollars.
Respectfully,
Carol Wendel
Eagle Bend

May 12, 2010

To the Editor:
Merging the Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District with the County Zoning office, or ELRM, is a bad idea.
As you may know, this is an idea emerging from discussions between County Administrator Nathan Burkett and Todd County Soil and Water Conservation
District Administrator Sandy Rohr. I have a lot of respect for both of these individuals. Sandy has a long history of careful stewardship of the SWCD. She has done a great job. Nathan is a dedicated public servant who has some great ideas for reducing the size of county government while, at the same time, better serving the public.
Unfortunately, both of these able public servants are making a big mistake.
The Soil and Water Conservation District is not a county department. It is a separate agency governed by a board of supervisors elected by the citizens of Todd County. The SWCD was started by Todd County farmers and citizens interested in soil and water conservation, many decades ago. It was intended to be separate from county government even though county government has funded a portion of its budget. The SWCD Administrator is hired and paid by the SWCD board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors sets policy direction for the SWCD.
Zoning is, and always has been, a department of the county. A manager hired by the Todd County Board of Commissioners oversees it. For years the department has been a highly political department with one or more county commissioners being openly critical of the manager, or zoning administrator. The current administrator is the only exception to that rule in the last 25 years.
Merging these two departments will reduce the say that landowners and farmers have in the Soil and Water Conservation District that they created.
It will also put at risk all the good work that SWCD does if some commissioner, or group of commissioners, take a dislike to its administrator or her decisions.
Sandy and Nathan say they can save $20,000 per year by moving the SWCD from a privately owned building to a public building. But, as taxpayers know, public buildings aren’t free. They also say that the public will get better services when these two entities are joined.
That’s not true. Right now much of the public that uses the services of the SWCD also often uses the services of the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA is right next door. If the Soil and Water Conservation District moves across town, as Sandy and Nathan propose, farmers will no longer have the convenience of the USDA next door.
Merging the SWCD with County Zoning is a bad idea. It will not necessarily improve customer service. The projected savings are either not precise or exaggerated. And it will put the SWCD’s independence and integrity at risk.
I urge your readers to contact their county commissioner and SWCD supervisor if they care about this issue.
Sincerely
Tim King
Clotho

May 5, 2010

To the Editor:
Attention property owners of Clarissa. We are notifying you of a problem we incurred a few weeks ago.
Are you aware that if your sewer breaks in the middle of the street, in front of your house, that you are responsible for all costs?
Much to our amazement this is what happened to us.
Our sewer break was in the middle of the street. The sewer line from our home to there was in fine condition. The break in the line was in the middle of the street.
As it ended up, we had to pay for new sidewalks, regrading the boulevard, resurfacing and taring the street
Do not be surprised if there is a toll booth placed on the three hundred block of west Leslie Avenue. This will be used to help defray the cost of our ‘project’. After all, it is our responsibility to upkeep this area. A toll booth would be for the use of ‘our’ sidewalk and ‘our’ street to help cover the costs for this unexpected project we were given.
Another way our tax dollars are working for the betterment of the community. Tax dollars in action.
Harlan & Marge Darr
Clarissa

To the Editor:
I seen in the April 28 issue of the Independent News Herald that Bertha fell face first in the public funding slop pail again.
How do they do that? Five million, four hundred thousand dollars-wow-that’s a chunk of change!
Grants totaling $1,782,000 that don’t have to be paid back.What I am wondering is, if the water is hard and stinks wouldn’t you try a water softener first? We in the country do this with some good results. Of course, we also maintain our own water systems without any USDA help.
Would the grant have been more if the city would have purchased land farther away from town (you would not want to use anything close when you have all that money to dig through hills with).
After watching all the “free” money that has been spent in Bertha on housing fix ups that we in the country can’t get, but still get to help pay for over the last two years. I have a suggestion, change Bertha’s name to ‘hand-out’ because that is what it is all about.
One enraged taxpayer,
Brent Lind

April 14, 2010

To the Editor:
I understand how emotional it is for people to think about closing the doors at the high school. I graduated from there myself and have many good memories. What I can’t understand is why it seems some would rather keep the building running instead of doing what is best for the Eagle Valley School District as a whole. If we don’t start operating at one facility the high school building will eventually close anyways, AND we will have lost our district.
Most people will not support fixing and operating two buildings when we don’t need that much space. That is being wasteful with taxpayers dollars.
The school district is in a tough position. I believe some school board members are not looking out for the best interest of the district, but for the interest of a town they feel may suffer if the high school closes. I do business in Eagle Bend because I want to support Eagle Valley, not because there is a school at the top of the hill.
Brought up at the board meeting was that it’s not the building, but the teachers that make our students so great, which is 100% true! So how did we get to this point—offering less curriculum? Could it be because it is so costly to operate two buildings?
That being said, I hope the whole school board can quickly agree on a plan to do what is best for the Eagle Valley School District!
Victoria Rowe
Proud parent of
5 Eagle Valley Students

To the Editor:
Todd County Promotes Fairness, Dignity, Respect For Victims of Crime During 2010 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
With the theme, Crime Victims’ Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect. 2010 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will recall the ideals that inspired the decades-long struggle of the victims’ rights movement and challenge all Americans to honor victims’ rights.
Only a few decades ago, unfairness, indignities and disrespect confronted many victims of crime. Victims of Crime in America, the 1984 report of the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, described a “hellish” justice system, focused on offenders and indifferent to victims’ needs. A victim disabled by a crime cashed in his life insurance to pay for heat and food. A sexual assault victim faced taunts and jeers from her attacker when she was forced to sit beside him in a courthouse hallway before the trial. Then she was excluded from the trial. At that time, victims’ only “right,” declared one expert, was “to remain silent” in the face of such inequities.
In the 25 years since Victims of Crime in America was published, a grassroots movement began to combat such unfairness and launched decades of progress for victims of crime.
As of 2010, every state has passed victims’ rights laws, and 32 states have constitutional victims’ rights amendments. All states have victim compensation funds, and more than 10,000 victim assistance programs exist throughout the country. Such changes have made victims participants, rather than bystanders, in the criminal justice system.
Yet, much work remains. Victims’ rights are not always enforced. Some victims receive no notice when a trial is scheduled or an offender is released. Some courts deny victims’ right to be heard at sentencing or to be present at trials, or they fail to order restitution or issue protection orders to keep victims safe. Some victims never learn about victim compensation or receive victim services, an increasing reality during our current economic downturn. Such failures block victims’ access to their rights.
When a victim reports a crime because an officer treats her fairly, it enhances the safety of an entire community. When a court hears an impact statement or issues an order of restitution, victims learn the power of fairness, dignity and respect. Yet when our nation falls short of these ideals, we fail victims and dishonor the progress we mark this week.
Community members are encouraged to get involved in helping victims of crime. For additional information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and ideas on how to serve victims in your community, please contact Hands of Hope Resource Center at 320-732-2319 or visit our agency’s Web site at www.handsofhope.net. .
Annette Schilling
General Crime Coordinator
Hands of Hope Resource Center

April 7, 2010

To the Editor:
The election is over and the school bond issue failed. We can accept that because that’s why we have elections. It’s the American way. But elections have consequences and carry responsibilities with them.
Now that the issue has been defeated, we would expect that those who worked so hard to defeat the proposal will work just as hard for a solution. We expect that many of you will be at the next school board meeting to put forth good faith efforts and hard work for a viable and successful “cheaper alternative” that your billboard promised.
We also pray that now that the votes have been counted that you don’t turn your backs on the CHILDREN of this district and our communities.
There are two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and it is your turn to bat, step up to the plate.
Gene and Caryl Ziegenhagen
Eagle Bend

To the Editor:
After six years serving as Mayor I hope most know my personality is generally reserved by most standards. I try making sure my course of action and statements are thought out, and I live by a favorite family saying: “You never have to regret or apologize for those things you never said.”
The recent Eagle Valley vote was a difficult issue. In Clarissa, we certainly understood the impact of losing a school in Eagle Bend, and its affect on voters with a proud tradition that spans generations.
The citizens I talked with often spoke about the affect open enrollment has had on our two communities leading us to the point of choosing one school over the other because of declining enrollments. Add on top of that a tough economy, high unemployment, and I think we can all agree the close margin shows at a minimum, continued concern about what to do.
Certainly, where we go from here is a tough question to answer. That being said, and after weeks of reflection, I feel strongly one thing needs to occur right away so we can move forward quickly to ensure the long term survival of our district.
I am personally calling for Eagle Valley Board Member Jay Eckel to resign. His comments, actions, and reversals were beyond the pale in my opinion. As the Mayor of Clarissa I will NOT support any additional moves by this school board until after the November elections if Jay Eckel remains a part of this board.
I could publish Jay’s own words showing he was for various options, then against them, and again indifferent. However, in the interest of keeping this short and to the point I will refrain from rehashing those many instances.
The board can present whatever options they would like going forward, but the fact remains I can no longer trust that Jay Eckel will not again change his mind, course of direction, or opinion.
With three children in this school system it is leadership this area cannot afford and precious time we do not have.
Again, I would ask Jay Eckel to resign in the interest of being able to move our district forward as quickly as possible.
Regretfully & Respectfully,
Nathan McLaughlin
Mayor of Clarissa

To the Editor, Taxpayers, Residents, School Board Members, Students & those concerned about the Eagle Valley School District’s future:
The definition of anger is an intense emotional state induced by displeasure according to Merriam-Webster. Anger is often a result of fear: fear of the unknown; fear of being out of control; fear of loss....you get the idea.
It seems there is a great deal of this intense emotion going around in the past couple of days. Unfortunately, it is also an emotion that really gets us nowhere and doesn’t work toward solving any problems. It hinders forward progress and creates wounds, some of them deeper than we can ever know. When we let our emotions get the best of us, that is when we truly lose control. We become people that we ourselves no longer recognize.
I have witnessed a lot of unbecoming behavior on both sides of the school bond issue, both on-line & in public, in the days following the referendum vote. Sadly, this behavior has overflowed into the school itself among and between our kids. We as parents, teachers, community members, etc., have a duty to our children to teach them how to handle adversity in a mature and meaningful way. They watch our every move, even the bad ones. Our kids are a direct reflection of us, they model what we show them, they often reflect their parent’s beliefs. This reflection can and has become unnecessarily ugly.
I am deeply saddened by all of this. I want to see our school district succeed just as much as anyone else, but I am not willing to stand by and see our kids take the brunt of an outcome that was not in their hands in the first place.
When our schools consolidated in 1989, I was an incoming 7th grader. It was a year that was emotionally charged with a lot of angry opposition and it was hard on us as kids. Most of it we didn’t even understand. We didn’t get why people left, why people were angry. All we knew was that we had new people to make friends with and we wanted to keep our schools even if that meant combining them. Being a kid is hard enough without all of the hostility among community members. We adults would best benefit the kids by setting our emotions or agendas aside and being the example. By throwing insults and placing blame, all we are doing is wasting precious time and hurting our own kids!
It is our duty now to come together as one community, one district, to make the choices that lie ahead of us. Instead of publicly bashing or attacking each other, let us channel those emotions and that energy into coming up with a solution that will best benefit both Eagle Bend and Clarissa to ensure the future success of the Eagle Valley School District. No single decision will ever make all the people happy, but in my eyes, there has to be a better solution since over 50% of all the voters were not happy with this current option. Are there cheaper options? Maybe. Let’s stop living in the past and find out.
OUR KIDS ARE THE MOST VALUABLE & AMAZING RESOURCE WE HAVE!
I challenge everyone in this district to work toward a solution for them!
Now is the time to come together, forgive the past and look to the future. If not for ourselves, then for the kids, who will one day take our places. What kind of legacy do we want to leave them with? Should the unthinkable happen and Eagle Valley close its doors, is this the kind of behavior we as a community want notoriety for? I certainly don’t. I hope you don’t either.
Respectfully,
Melissa (Drayna) Ashbaugh
1994 Eagle Valley Graduate
Eagle Bend

March 31, 2010

To the Editor:
We learned recently that Washington, D.C. politics are alive and well in St. Paul. On March 11th in the Minnesota Legislature, the Democrat majorities once again ignored having any kind of fiscal restraint, passed a $1 billion bonding bill filled with earmarked/pork barrel projects.
The bill originally contained the Pope/Douglas waste-to-energy project to expand a third combuster. It is a $20 million project, and the group requested $5 million from the state to be put into the bonding bill.
The facility serves seven counties and will provide steam heat to 3M, Douglas County Hospital and Alexandria Technical College. The counties had agreed to cover the rest of the cost.
Unfortunately, Senator Langseth (DFL-Glyndon) and Representative Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), who chair the Capital Investment Committees, took this project out of the bill in favor of other projects listed below. We are truly amazed at the lack of fiscal restraint and common sense that went into putting together the bonding bill. During these tough economic times, we need to live within our means and have projects that are necessities and not luxuries.
Coincidently, a project similar to the Pope/Douglas waste-to-energy facility, but in a Democrat district was included in the bill.
These are the projects Democrat legislators want Minnesota taxpayers to be on the hook for:
• $3 million for a shade tree program
• $50,000 for a trail paving in a park
• $1 million for a campground extension
• $15 million for an extension and improvement of the “Heart of the Zoo” entrance
• $950,000 for a hockey center
• $4 million for a volleyball center
• $3.5 million for a Moorhead sports center
• $11 million for improvements to the Como Zoo
• $2 million for the Minneapolis “spoon and cherry” Sculpture Garden
• $2 million for a nature center
• $1 million a ski jump training center
• $2.2 million for a Pottery Barn in SE Minnesota
• $200,000 for the Duluth Zoo
• $5 million for an Asian Pacific Cultural Center
• $16 million for Ordway Center of Performing Arts • $16 million for Orchestra Hall
• $9.357 million for a historic farm in Elk River
We are disappointed that real infrastructure fell victim to urban goodies like sculpture gardens, sports centers and shade tree programs.
Fortunately, the Governor was able to cut nearly $320 million of pork from the bill with his line item vetoes. However, since the Pope/Douglas waste-to-energy project was not in the final bill that passed through the legislature, the Governor was unable to bring the project back into the bill. It is sad that the people of west central Minnesota had to suffer over petty partisan politics. Minnesotans deserve better.

Sincerely,
Torrey Westom
State Representative
District 11A

Bill Ingebrigtsen
State Senator
District 11

To the Editor:
2010 Census: Full Count Critical to Minnesota
April 1 is National Census Day, the day when all of us, if we haven’t done so already, should complete and return the 2010 census form recently mailed to every U.S. residence.
While the census is always important, the 2010 census is especially important to Minnesota.
The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years to count the population and determine the number of seats each state gets in the 435-seat U.S. House of Representatives.
Minnesota currently has eight representatives in the U.S. House. However, due to strong population gains in southern and western states, we could lose a seat—and the clout that goes with it—if a full count is not achieved in Minnesota this year.
Please do your part to ensure Minnesota’s interests are fully represented in Washington, DC. If you haven’t yet, take 10 minutes now to complete and mail back your census form. It’s the most important thing you can do this year to help ensure a bright future for our great state.
Brad Finstad
Executive Director
Center for Rural Policy and
Development
St. Peter

To the Editor:
This is my opinion of gratefulness for the Veteran’s recent opening of the new VAMC Clinic in Alexandria, created by Alexandria CBOC: September, 2009.
This has been a very good thing for local veterans as it is nearby and there is no heavy traffic. The clinic staff is most receptive, caring and thorough. They make a patient feel comfortable and welcome at the clinic.
May it be a growing clinic and medical center.
Alvin J. Bous
Long Prairie

To the Editor:
In 2001, the Todd County Board adopted a comprehensive plan which was prepared by a broad-based group of Todd County citizens which among other things recommended that a southwest scenic drive be created in Todd County to include the Amish businesses and which would show off the history and scenery of the area. A group of hardworking citizens undertook to create a nonprofit corporation whose purpose was to create and market the scenic drive recommended in the comprehensive plan. A Todd County property owner who grew up in Osakis donated and sent $6300 to Todd County to pay for the signs and the installation of the signs for the proposed scenic drive and the nonprofit group agreed to be responsible for the future cost of maintenance of the signs. This economic development project would cost the taxpayers of Todd County nothing to implement.
I had no idea from reviewing my real estate tax statement that Todd County must be in such good financial condition. At the County Board meeting on March 16, 2010, a motion was made by one County Commissioner to reaffirm their earlier resolution to create the scenic drive and to give it a name to which the Long Prairie Veterans organizations had no objection and make minor changes to the route to which there was similarly no objection. It seemed obvious that the remaining four commissioners had an understanding before the meeting that none of the other four would second the motion and that is what happened. In killing this economic development project without even discussing it, the board in essence spit in the eye of all those people who have worked so hard and long to implement this economic development project. They also spit in the eye of the City Council and Mayors of Long Prairie, Osakis, Burtrum, and West Union, all of whom had formally approved of the project. They also spit in the eye of the County’s own Park and Trails Board which had approved of and recommended the scenic drive and of the Long Prairie Tourism Committee which also recommended it. They also spit in the eye of Todd County taxpayers because this economic development project would bring revenue into Todd County without any cost to the taxpayers of Todd County. I had no idea Potomac fever could spread this far from Washington, D.C.
I would hope that qualified candidates will step forward and run against the County Commissioners who are elected to represent us and then refuse to discuss or vote on matters of economic importance to the taxpayers of Todd County. Two of those commissioners are up for election this year.
Randolph T. Brown
Todd County taxpayer

March 24, 2010

To the Editor:
Three years ago this board, that I am a part of and proud of it, started down a path that we all knew would be a rough and rocky journey. The need to finally face the fact that we could not continue as we are had become quite evident in our general fund balance. It was not working. A plan for the future needed to be found.
We learned very quickly that by trying to please everybody we would end up pleasing no one. Through many meetings and conversations, the plan that the board has put before the public for a vote on March 30th, was born.
This plan will save the district $200,000 or more per year over our current budget projections—reflected in savings such as less administration, food prep, janitorial, heat and electrical, etc. It has been the only plan that not only gives us all of our maintenance upgrades, but sets us on the path of adding to our curriculum.
Granted, it does not seem like a lot of money, but with the proper leadership and with a board that is not afraid of hard work, I believe this district has a great future.
To say that this district will fail in a few short years is NOT what the majority of the board believes.
With the plan before us we begin to regain the classes that were cut. Can we promise that we will not need an added referendum in the future? No, we cannot. To promise that would be very negligent on our part because we do not know the future—5, 10, or even 20 years down the road.
Two buildings in the district is a very inefficient way to run a school of our size. This plan maximizes the use of the teachers and staff.
The very unfortunate biproduct is the closing of the Eagle Bend building. There has been a lot of talk about the WORST CASE scenario, that we would have to raze the building in a few years.
To focus only on the worst case and not actively be looking for answers for the building is not how this needs to be approached.
The board is committed to finding a solution. We do not have to destroy this building. Is that an option? Yes it is, but only as the last option. How about a positive look at this building?
Think of what could be if we find someone to move in and bring jobs to our community. Yes, there are some upgrades that need to be done to the building, but we have not explored, to any big extent, what the possibilities could be.
There is a lot of talk about cheaper plans that keep both buildings open. No plan that we looked at, out of the 15 total plans studied by the Eagle Valley School board, could do what our current plan does for 4.86 million dollars.
This is the only plan that does not need an added referendum to be voted on along with the building bond. The majority of the board believes that this is the best plan for the future of our district and I believe that future is very good if this plan passes.
To keep a school in the district is vital for both towns. I can tell you one thing and that is if this plan is not approved the future for this district is very much in doubt.
Know the facts and get out and vote.
Joel Godding, Eagle Valley School board chair

To the Editor:
I was back in town recently for the Eagle Valley Alumni Basketball Tournament. This trip back to the gym felt a bit strange even though I’d been doing it yearly since I graduated in 1988. Maybe it was because age is starting to make this event a little less fun but regardless. I spent more time than I ever had walking around the lobby looking at all the trophies signifying the success of the schools.
I read nearly all the plaques on the Hall of Fame Wall and marveled at their accomplishments. There was an athlete on that wall from the 1950’s, I can’t recall his name but I thought how cool is that, a great story in the history of the community. Which community was he from, again I can’t recall but does it really matter?
There are Clarissa athletes on that wall and there are Eagle Bend athletes on that wall. Since 1989, all the graduates are from Eagle Valley, the community.
What’s going to happen to all of this history if the school is no longer a part of the community?
My understanding is that this is a vote that will mean either the school district of Eagle Valley will move all its operations to one building in Clarissa and renovate, or it may dissolve/consolidate as if it never existed.
Eagle Valley School has become the identity of both Eagle Bend and Clarissa, like it or not, that is where the history lives.
It’s where we are able to share in the successes of the previous students, athletes, and educators and where the future alumni become legends for the next generation.
What happens to the speech awards, the team pictures, the yearbooks? What happens to the teachers, the custodians, the bus drivers, the support staff?
What happens to your home values and your businesses if families are forced to relocate because they no longer have a job? What is the future of these two communities without a school, is there one?
This alum hopes that he’ll be back in the gym lobby in March of 2011 to see the newest accomplishments proudly displayed or the newest member of the Eagle Valley Hall of Fame, maybe even to play another alumni hoops tournament with his fellow alums.
Kurtis Kuhn
Class of 1988

To the Editor:
I am not against the two school buildings coming together as one. I just feel that the price tag is high, especially for all landowners in the community that will be stuck with the brunt of this bond if it passes.
I feel that the school board shouldn’t “scare” us into voting yes, but rather think more creatively to come up with a less expensive option to bring the school under one roof.
We have great teachers and administration which will not change with or without this bond.
Whether the building is in Clarissa or Eagle Bend, we are still Eagle Valley and we can’t forget that. Four short miles should not separate two great communities.
The only thing I can see that this plan needs to address is the problem of the shop and ag. departments. We already have these in Eagle Bend and they are handicap accessible. With some minimal busing, we could use what we can or purchase the old A.A. Johnson Tool building and convert that into a shop and ag. at a fraction of the cost of the bond.
I am not behind this bond, simply because I feel we don’t need to spend this much money. In today’s economy, we can’t afford it.
Jerry Korfe
Clarissa

To the Editor:
The Eagle Valley School Board has, over the past several months, studied 15 different options to look into the future of the Eagle Valley School District.
They considered the overall budget and expenses associated with the district. They considered upgrades to both sites. They considered the most economical options for running the district.
It is no longer economically feasible to operate two buildings, which consists of a total of 124,000 plus square feet. One facility, with upgrades to take care of much needed maintenance, will be almost half the cost for operations.
The upgraded facility would consist of about 77,000 square feet for future operations and educational needs.
It is time for the residents of the Eagle Valley School District to come together and unite. Remember, we are doing this for the education of our most prized possession, the youth of our community.
James Madsen
Supt. of Schools
Eagle Valley Public Schools

To the Editor:
On March 30, the residents of the Eagle Valley School District have a wonderful opportunity to allow the district to continue to be a vital part of our community and our kid’s future.
We graduated from Eagle Valley and don’t think of Clarissa and Eagle Bend as separate towns, but as the community of Eagle Valley. If we vote no and continue to try and operate in two buildings, Eagle Valley will shortly close. If we all vote yes, we think the community and students will thrive.
For those who don’t want their taxes to increase—if the district dissolves, your taxes will still go up! You will just be paying for our neighboring schools. If there is no school in Clarissa or Eagle Bend, why would many of us young families continue to stay? If and when we move, the remaining people in the community will bear a higher burden of taxes.
Because we are farmers we know our taxes will increase approximately 20% as we checked. But in our opinion the importance of keeping a local school in the community is well worth the tax increase.
Shawn & Vicki Rowe
Proud parents of 5 Eagle Valley students

To the Editor:
It was approximately eight years ago that I sat in an Eagle Valley classroom listening to a lecture about the “prisoner’s dilemma.”
The scenario plays out like this: Two suspects are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated both prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal.
If one testifies (defects from the other) for the prosecution against the other and the other remains silent (cooperates with the other), the betrayer goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence.
If both remain silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for a minor charge.
If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must choose to betray the other or to remain silent. Each one is assured that the other would not know about the betrayal before the end of the investigation.
How should the prisoners act? The dilemma speaks about how two parties will act when given the choice between the greater good and potential personal gain (at the expense of their partner). (Tucker 1950)
At the time I did not know why, where, and when this would ever affect me and shrugged it off.
Eight years later the time for this long standing psychological example to show itself in real life is upon us. The two prisoners in this real life example are of course the cities of Clarissa and Eagle Bend.
These two towns have been long time accomplices in social, religious, educational, and most importantly economic functions. The choice laid out in front of the towns is whether or not to work together to save the school they have built up together over the past 20 years.
If they both cooperate, they will indeed both pay a small price, but be better off in the long run. However, if they both turn against their long time partner, it will likely be a disaster for the economy of both cities.
Declining trends over the past 20 years will speed up faster than we really can anticipate. The most important aspect lies in having blind trust in the other to make the right decision on March 30. A difficult situation to say the least, but a dire one nonetheless.
Both towns are far cries from what they once were, but I believe with the right leadership, a strong educational institution, and some bright young entrepreneurs our communities can turn things around. In their current state, these twin towns lack the economic firepower to do it on their own.
However, if we stand united, they can be strong, vibrant, and exuberant communities throughout our lifetime. This entire debate has been about “how does this affect me” when it should be about “how does this affect us.” You have heard all of the financial and emotional arguments.
What remains is one question—will we be willing to make a small sacrifice for the greater good of both communities?
Jake Lunemann
2002 Eagle Valley Graduate

To the Editor:
As parents of students in this district, we would like to thank Mr. Madsen and the Eagle Valley School Board for all their hard work and due diligence to really explore every possible option for the future of the Eagle Valley School District.
They had a total of 15 options and with each option they looked for the very best plan that financially would allow the district to be sustainable, operate under smaller square footage to save money, and set goals to improve the curriculum with a portion of those savings, which then allows a district to grow into the future.
As taxpayers and parents, we have used extra caution when reviewing information that has come from outside the factual resource of the school board’s public meetings. We very quickly came to realize the best interest of our entire Eagle Valley community along with the best interest of the student’s future at Eagle Valley, was most likely not behind the motivation of the “concerned citizens of EV” distribution.
We could not as parents be prouder of the teachers, staff and students of Eagle Valley and fully want to watch this district grow into the future. By voting yes we realize that we are not only voting for the future of the school district, we are also voting for the future of the entire Eagle Valley community.
We truly are “concerned citizens” for Eagle Valley and we are voting yes!
Michael & Jacqueline Meiners
Clarissa

To the Editor:
Let’s put emotions aside for a few minutes and try to reason what’s best all around for everyone. Not Eagle Bend against Clarissa, but for all of us as a community.
One thing I’m quite sure that all of us would like is to keep our school district open if that’s at all possible. It’s best for the kids and the community, but what some are concerned about and all of us should be—can we make it work? We don’t want a huge debt to pay and still end up closing both schools.
The building has little to do with keeping students. True, some things like a new roof, new windows and other small items to make our school inviting need doing, but what we need also is to offer more classes to keep our students.
At this time, students going on to college have to spend a good part of their first year taking subjects that they should’ve taken in high school, such as: advanced biology, chemistry, physics, advanced math and business classes.
A new building isn’t going to address these most important needs.
Can we pass a referendum to do basic fixing on both schools and hire some more teachers? Keeping both schools versus one is definitely best for our communities. Offering more subjects is definitely best for our children.
Let’s do what’s best and not let emotions cloud our vision. If we can prove we can keep our students, when our buildings need further upkeep, I am sure the community will rise to meet those needs. There is not one of us that doesn’t want what’s best for our kids first, and for our community.
Doris Eckel
Eagle Bend

To the Editor:
Eagle Valley School Board has (for the most part) decided what they need to do to make the appropriate changes to keep a school in our district.
With that decision comes adding on to this building which of course costs money. $4.86 million dollars to be exact. That IS a lot of money and someone has to pay for that building and those monies used. That someone is us, the tax payers of Eagle Valley School District. That is the issue that has a lot of people unsure of what to do.
Nobody is holding a crystal ball telling us what our future will bring, more referendums, more taxes, more students, less students. That remains unseen, because there are only two things in life that are guaranteed—death and taxes.
We are all going to die and we are all going to pay more than we ever wanted to in taxes. The biggest difference is that people plan for death! However, here are some facts that have been given to me by sources that sign their name.
If we vote no, our school DISTRICT may dissolve, our kids will have to go to other schools and our taxes will still increase as we will still have buildings to pay for and we will be put into another school district’s tax bracket. The school taxes we pay will NOT go away.
If we vote no, 60+ employees will lose their jobs. If we vote no, there are $0 being saved, because we are still operating two school buildings.
If we vote no, there is ZERO possibility of our communities ever being more than a retirement community, but more likely becoming a ghost town. If we vote no, the values of our homes will likely go down.
If we vote no, we lose our small class size that give our kids the one on one time they need to be successful.
If we vote no, we will lose that connectivity that we have with our school staff and parents, and our kids will lose it, too.
If we vote no, we lose the relationships that are so important to the people in our community.
If we vote no, it is likely that the businesses we have in the two towns that make up the DISTRICT will not be able to thrive, therefore we lose our school, we lose our local businesses, and we lose our community. These are very possible things that could and probably will happen. We all need to realize this.
I have heard many reasons to vote no. I have heard: “They are going to tax us right off our property,” “I don’t care if the kids go to another school at least then MY taxes don’t go up,” “We need to teach our kids that if their parents can’t afford it, then they can’t always get what they want.”
I find these statements disturbing. Because these statements are not looking at the wellbeing of children. What happened to teaching our kids there are ways to prioritize and that might mean giving something up to help someone else out.
What about teaching our kids not to give up or to “settle” for less than what they deserve? I think demanding a quality education is a lesson I want my kids to understand. How about teaching our kids assertiveness and how to stand up for what they believe in?
Instead, what I am hearing is that this has nothing to do with the kids, because if it did, there would be NO talk about moving kids to another school district if this referendum passes. THAT is teaching our kids that it is okay to walk out when times get tough. That is not what I am teaching my kids.
We may have a lot of retired people living in our area, but we have a lot of working people too, this community has a lot to offer families. There may not be a major employer here, but there are jobs.
Look at the number of Eagle Valley Alumni that are self-employed and living in our community! There is safety because there are genuine, caring, loving people in our schools and in our communities. As the retired people sell their farms, it is not more retired people moving in; it’s younger people starting their families. My family is one of them and there are two more just down the road from me! We are smack in the middle of Brainerd and Alexandria, whose taxes are not cheap.
I believe those towns are only going to get bigger, more taxes, less room to roam, and people will want out of the “city” life. We are within commuting distance! Market our school to these people, market our community!
Don’t say “people won’t commute” because they will and they do! I wouldn’t move from my farm unless someplace really hot froze over. I will commute. My husband commutes, my best friend commutes, most of the parents of the children at daycare commute. Why? Because we love our community.
Folks, taxes will increase, but aren’t you willing to pay to have our children receive the outstanding education that Eagle Valley has provided for generations? (Eagle Valley is no longer on the “list” of schools that are NOT keeping up with the “No Child Left Behind Act”.)
And my goodness, 2 ROCKET SCIENTISTS, lawyers, doctors, veterinarians, business owners all graduated from here! Aren’t you willing to pay to keep our community thriving? Isn’t it worth something to you to keep our school alive? It is to me, I say vote yes for our school, and vote yes for our community.
Rocking D’ Acres
AKC German Shorthairs & Reg. Quarter Horses
Dave & Tia Dvorak

To the Editor:
To my friends on the “ vote no” committee. Regardless of how the vote goes on March 30th, you will continue to be my friends regardless of your opinion. You are entitled to it and that’s what makes America the country that it is.
I heard a lot of different reasons at the meeting in Eagle Bend on Tuesday night for voting no. If the building in Eagle Bend does not find a use by someone in the future, then it’s my feeling that all of us should pay for its demolition. But that still doesn’t mean that someone won’t come forward and purchase the building and put it to use. I’m sure the price would be dirt cheap as long as Eagle Bend could keep it on the tax roles.
If your reason is because you don’t want your taxes to go up, I understand that. I don’t like mine going up either, but I also understand that if we are to have a school district to compete with the surrounding area, this is something we need to do. In Eagle Bend, your taxes haven’t been affected much by a building bond issue over many years. Yes, you did take on some of the debt Clarissa had on their building in Clarissa, but it was a small percentage compared to what we paid in Clarissa. Buildings don’t last forever and educational needs change as the years go by. There comes a time that we have to pay the piper if we want to have a school district in this area. We are Eagle Valley, not Clarissa and Eagle Bend. Kids today know no different than Eagle Valley being their school. It isn’t like the old days when we had a good rivalry between the two towns. For you retired folks on a low fixed income, more than likely you would qualify for a tax rebate when it comes income tax time.
I have always been a glass half full type of guy, and this thing can work if we decide to make it work! And Mr. Eckel, I do understand that if the numbers do go up, that room in the proposed new project would have to be expanded. But isn’t that a good problem to have? More students, more aid dollars come in! I do understand that you wanted to let all the information come out, but let’s explain the positive of that predicament also.
The other positive that might come from this is, if it does pass, bids have been coming in under the proposed project cost. Lets be conservative and assume that it comes in at 10 percent under the bond issue. Then we would also have that money to offset expansion costs. This may not happen, but in these economic times, that’s the way bids have been going. I know people like to hang on to their money when the economy is down, but this is the best time for us to build when costs are lower and the interest rates are as low as they have been in quite some time!
I know we maybe haven’t done a good job in the past as far as marketing our school district, but I also know that this current board understands that and it will change. In the future if we could just keep the students that live in the school district, our numbers would substantially improve. With an upgrade in our facilities, it certainly won’t hurt us when is comes to selling our school to prospective students!
The way we sit right now, we have no cards to play when it comes to consolidation with another school. It’s either improve or dissolve. If we decide to improve, then down the road if we have to consider consolidation, we have something to offer. If ten years from now, we are forced to consolidate, we have an improved facility on our side and debt that has been paid down. Believe me, if the neighboring districts start to feel the pinch because of declining numbers, they are more willing to talk consolidation.
I have full confidence in this administration and staff when it comes to knowing that we have to do things differently than in the past! They know our weaknesses and will strive to improve them. They know that we have to get better in every avenue if we want to attract students. I think every teacher, administrator, board member and many members of the public are willing to make that happen.
When situations appear to be at their lowest, that is when opportunity presents itself! We as a school district can decide to do nothing and let it go by the wayside, or we can meet it head on and do something about it! I know these two communities are willing to meet a challenge when it presents itself, and this may well be one of the biggest we have ever faced! I don’t think we are a lay down attitude type of people! We do business in each town and Eagle Bend will not be a future ghost town. If we decide to vote this down, then heaven help us when it comes to the economy of both towns. Believe me, we will feel those effects!
This school board has looked at this situation for a long time and I trust them when they say this is the best way to go. I wish I could wave a magic wand and have had the least expensive building alternative be in Eagle Bend because I would have supported that also. If you are a business owner, I know your taxes probably take a bigger hit than mine, but if we dissolve, I venture to say that it will hurt you more financially in the long run. Not having a school district in the area hurts us when people are looking for a place to live or for businesses to start up. You think we are a bedroom community now, just think what we turn into with no school district. Progressive communities have school districts.
I urge everyone to vote, and for myself, it is an emphatic yes!
Sincerely,
Mark Johnson
Clarissa

To the Editor:
There it no such thing as a free lunch! If you take pride in your communities and your school you have to pay for it.
I look back with pride in my community and remember the school bonds the community passed to give me a better education.
I’m retired too, and I know it’s not always easy to make ends meet, but I also look around at the large chunk of tax dollars we as seniors are using. Both Eagle Bend and Clarissa support their seniors very well and I have never heard anyone complain about the tax dollars it takes.
Federal, State, county and local tax programs are available to us as seniors such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, fuel assistance, property tax breaks, Meals on Wheels, nursing homes, assisted living, low income apartments and housing, senior centers and hundreds of other programs.
We are no longer students, but as seniors we have an obligation to our youth. We too often tend to complain about our youth and take them for granted, but if we don’t support them and their education what can we expect from them? They are the future wage earners and tax payers that will be helping support us seniors. Maybe we need them more than they need us.
After all the time, effort and sleepless nights, the school board finally stood up and made a tough, but positive decision for our school, students and communities. Thank you!
If this bond fails, sooner or later we may lose our school district and the students could be in Bertha, Parkers Prairie, Browerville, Staples or who knows where.
With Eagle Valley students entering another district, what’s to stop those districts from issuing a school bond to accommodate all the new EV students?
Will Eagle Bend and Clarissa have enough votes to influence the outcome of that vote, especially if the state decides to divide the students in more than one or even several districts?
I see it as pay now for Eagle Valley or pay later to some other school district. We usually have no idea where our tax dollars are going, but this is one tax that has no earmarks or pork barrel junk hidden in it. This is a tax that we know is going to the school to benefit every man, woman and child, bar none, that lives in the EV School District.
I can only support the schools where I live, but I see my future as being back in your school district some day and hope when I am, there is still a school district. I wish I could vote YES now, for your students, your school, your teachers and your communities. It is so important.
Please let the students of your communities know that you remember how important your education was to you and that you care about their education, too. VOTE YES!
Bonnie Nelson
1961 graduate, senior citizen

To the Editor:
We are a few of the class of 1989, the first graduating class of Eagle Valley.
We were seniors when our two schools consolidated. As students it was a stressful year. All of the expectations any of us had for our senior year were turned upside down, from our long time social networks to our status in athletics and extracurricular activities.
People were angry and there was some very bad behavior. Some families moved their kids to neighboring districts. This is inevitable anytime a big change is needed…some will be opposed, but the families who jumped ship did it in year one, then everyone cooled off. The very angry ones were the minority.
The point is, we have seen before how emotionally charged this can get. We have also seen that change is necessary for sustainability and all the drama eventually falls by the wayside; and when it does, we move forward and become unified and even stronger.
Now, 20 years later we are no longer two towns separated, we are one as Eagle Valley. Our kids see no division between towns and we as adults shouldn’t either.
The time for a necessary change has come again, but this time we are one school, one student body, moving to one building. This should bring us closer together, not separate us.
When you ask the kids where they are from they usually say Eagle Valley (not Eagle Bend or Clarissa). They don’t distinguish themselves any other way.
With all the disruption of what we thought was so important our senior year, we can honestly say that the one thing that was not disrupted was our education.
Those of us who went on to college felt equally if not better prepared than our peers from bigger schools. We credit our excellent education not to the size of our school, but to some exceptional teachers like Gabe Rapatz, Lonna Olson, Betty Hedstrom, Leo Schmitz and Jan Hierl, just to name a few.
We were able to take advanced math, advanced chemistry, physics, and anatomy and physiology because of one teacher who was qualified to teach them all. As a more stable district we will attract more quality, qualified teachers.
We look back at our yearbook with a sense of pride. We have lost track of some of our classmates, but can name an attorney, two mechanical engineers, a data analyst, a chiropractor, a physical therapist, three teachers, an agriculture expert, a dental hygienist, at least two farmers, a local plant manager, a soldier, a nurse, a newspaper owner, and several business owners among us.
We didn’t all leave the community after high school. Four of those business owners are now in Eagle Bend or Clarissa. Our graduating class had 52 students. Eleven of us live in Eagle Bend or Clarissa today with our families and 19 are in Todd County.
People return to a community because they have roots there, and roots start in a school. We care about these communities and without a school we feel both will suffer in time.
We now send our own children to Eagle Valley because we know it is a great school. Many of us commute so that our children can attend school here. We believe a small school has many advantages over a large one. Teachers, students and parents really know each other and care.
Students can be involved in extracurricular activities and actually participate. Nobody gets cut from the team. We may not always have a record breaking season, but aren’t athletics and co-curricular activities really to teach us about teamwork, sportsmanship, and commitment, win or lose? Those are the skills that you take into life.
We believe our school can be great for years to come. The building is just the first step. We need to make a commitment as a community and we can all contribute in ways that don’t cost an extra penny, by supporting both towns with our business and getting involved with our time and energy for our school and community.
The best way to get funding to our school is to attract more students. We can compete with open enrollment if we start making positive changes now. If we are proud of our school, others will notice.
We support our school board. We all elected them to represent us and make the difficult decisions. They have been working very hard for three years to find a solution. They don’t all agree and have offered a healthy debate, which is a positive. As a group, however, they have decided on the option most likely to allow us to start saving money, making improvements and be competitive with open enrollment. We are way overdue. The time for suggesting better ideas is past.
The voters recently failed an operating referendum to continue running two building as we are. This is it. Our communities are at a major turning point. This vote will decide if we as a community want a school in Eagle Valley. This is a big deal, so please consider the sources as you take in all the information out there, and take all of the facts and what we’ve noted into consideration and vote for Eagle Valley on March 30.
Lesa (Zeigenhagen) Asfeld, former EBHS student
Donna (Hayes) Hinzmann, former CHS student
Theresa (Warzecha) Dorman, former EBHS student
Amy (Aspengren) Irlbeck,
former EBHS student

March 17, 2010

To the Editor:
After reading the minutes of the March 10 school board retreat, in our opinion it is evident that to improve education an operating referendum will be needed immediately. In other words, that means additional tax increases beyond this building bond.
If the bond is passed, there is no room for growth in the Clarissa building for increased student numbers which is projected for the near future. Another building bond would be required to add classrooms to the building. More taxes! All this within the next five years!
How much tax increase can we afford on a fixed income? Our communities have a big share of retired people so we are all in the same boat.
Respectfully,
Ed and Doris Pachan
Eagle Bend

To the Editor:
Here are two points that the voters need to be informed of before the March 30th vote. In my opinion, I believe that:
#1—The communities need to be informed that if the school is going to meet the educational plan goals set in the March 6th board retreat, in the near future it will be necessary to add additional educational spaces to the Clarissa building as it is being presented. This will require a second bond issue being passed by the voters.
#2—The communities need to know that if the Eagle Bend building cannot be sold, the district may have to pass another bond in the approximate amount of $1/2 million dollars to demolish it. That money IS NOT included in this bond issue.
In last week’s paper there was an article on the board’s retreat. I was upset when I read it because I was incorrectly credited with making several statements supporting the upcoming bond. These are the statements as they were written and then as I have corrected them, with what I thought I said:
#1—Here is the sentence from the article: Later Eckel said, it will fail if we don’t give a clear vision on what a yes vote means. Without a plan all we are doing is voting for a building.
Here is what I meant: The school will fail [long term] if we don’t give a clear vision on what a yes vote means. (That is a first step only). Without this plan all we [the voters] are doing is voting on a building (one without any room for additional offerings). This was before we had our education plan down on paper. The communities need to know that voting yes this one time on this one bond will not fix all the problems that the school is facing, it will likely require a series of yes votes on upcomings bonds and referendums as well. If anyone thinks this one building change is going to fix the district’s issues, it is incorrect, in my opinion.
#2—Here is the sentence: Eckel said that if they gave voters a clear plan of what they were voting for they would vote yes.
Here is the context I was talking about and meant it in: If we give the voters a clear LONG TERM, COMPREHENSIVE plan that includes all of the costs and gives them a clear long term picture of what is going to be required of them, I feel that they will vote for additional taxes to support that plan. BUT, we need to give them the why and how before we ask them to just trust us and vote yes.
#3—Here is the sentence: Eckel said he was going to a vote no meeting on Sunday and wanted to sell the board’s plan. Is there another option? I don’t see it. There is no other way to do it. We need to sell it.
Here is what I meant: “Eckel said he was going to a vote no meeting on Sunday and wanted to sell the board’s plan. (Education plan, not the bond, that is a completely different issue) That, I can sell. Do we have any other options except these goals we have set today? (other board members have said too, we have to meet all of these goals in order for the school to succeed, there isn’t the option as to maybe meeting only some, they are all necessary.) We can’t sell a bond as a standalone issue, it needs to be sold in the context of the education plan too, hand in hand. In other words, if you are going to vote for the bond you must realize it is just a piece of the picture, there may be more bonds and/or referendums coming that will need to be supported as well. I believe without them ALL the school will fail and we will still have to pay them off.
I understand that this letter may be counterproductive to passing the bond issue, but I cannot go back to my friends and neighbors who have been led to believe that “one gallon of milk a week is going to fix EV,” and then tell them AFTER the vote, now we need more milk. It is very important that you voters understand the commitment you are making in voting for this bond on March 30th.
I have been accused by some of trying to kill this bond issue for a whole list of reasons. I would have liked the bond issue to have been more comprehensive and long term, but my real intention in writing this is to get all of the information out there. If the voters then approve it, I will work hard to bring it forward. Whatever you decide, make sure you vote on March 30.
Jay Eckel
School Board Member

March 10, 2010

To the Editor:
I am currently a senior attending Eagle Valley High School. I have really enjoyed being a Rebel. At Eagle Valley there’s no cost for participating in an activity, organization or sport. We have many organizations that surrounding schools don’t have. At Eagle Valley, we can be involved in as many activities as we can fit into our schedules. This year I have been part of 14 different activities, organizations and sports.
I’m very proud to be graduating from Eagle Valley. Please vote yes to keep Eagle Valley going.
Ashley Perish
Clarissa

To the Editor:
Do we need to spend $4.86 million on one school?
Are you aware that the state is cutting funding to counties and cities, which means your local taxes will go up?
Passing the March 30 bond will increase your taxes. This bond is only for the building. I believe in addition to this, your school will need an operating referendum to pass so the school can operate, which is another tax increase.
By going to one school, Eagle Valley may be losing kids to other districts which is a loss in revenue to the school.
Eagle Valley will have more than the $4.86 million debt compared to Bertha-Hewitt’s $4.1 million total debt.
Can you afford this? You decide!
A taxpayer,
Dave Harren
Eagle Bend

To the Editor:
When our family moved to Clarissa almost seven years ago, we were just starting a family —Lauren had just turned one— and already education was on our minds. After finding a very unique place to live, our attention turned to researching the local schools. I can recall talking to principals and teachers from Eagle Valley, Browerville and Bertha-Hewitt. My questions covered K-12, curriculum, arts and sports. I believe some of the people on the other end of the phone thought I was crazy asking these questions for a one year old. But I wanted to make sure I was giving Lauren—now Chase and Alexander too—a quality education.
Our feeling at the time was that Eagle Valley stood out as the clear leader in elementary education. There was all day kindergarten, small class sizes, wonderful teachers and a very well rounded curriculum. Even elementary is more than readin’ ritin’ and ‘rithmatic these days.
As for high school, we didn’t feel that there was a clear leader in any of the communities. Eagle Valley’s teachers were great, and sports were treated as important to a well rounded education, but not more important than education. The one thing that gave us concern was the steady decline in the classes that were offered. As someone who loved physics in high school, it was hard to imagine my kids not having that experience.
Still, the school had a great history of being focused on education, and was suffering due to declining enrollment. We decided at that time to commit ourselves to educating our kids in Eagle Valley K-12 and promised to make every effort to improve the district so that maybe by the time our kids were in high school (15-20 years out at the time) we would have brought back some of those lost programs and even an extracurricular activity or two. After a 20 year drought, we resurrected the Parent Teacher Organization, got involved by talking to the school board, and we talked with teachers and administrators to try and figure out what we could do.
For years people in our district have realized that we had been losing students to other schools, and something had to be done. Unfortunately, the really hard decisions are usually uncomfortable to speak about. Maybe we should have been having the conversation sooner.
What is important though is that our school board took on the discussion in earnest three years ago. They had input from the community. Some of those meetings had 50–60 people attending and writing down their ideas. The overwhelming majority chose ‘save our district’ over ‘close our district’. With that guidance and hundreds of ideas, the board worked with an architect that provided around 15 options that ranged from less than $2 million to over $12 million.
After much discussion and further community input, the board determined the current option to be the best one.
Eagle Valley is buzzing with conversation about the school referendum.
I’ve heard “there are cheaper options” and “the board will come up with something else.” We all need to work with facts, and not rumors.
The question on March 30th is a yes or no vote for one option. There were cheaper options proposed by the architect, but the board wisely realized that the cheapest option did nothing to address our long–term outlook. Personally, I would vote against a cheaper option. If we’re not going to do this right, it is better to send our taxes to another district that will. As for the board “coming up with something else”—don’t count on it. At the February 10, 2010 school board meeting, all seven members stated that if this doesn’t pass, the next step is consolidation or dissolution of the district. Should this referendum fail, many parents may want to start looking outside of our district right away. There’s no good reason to keep your kids in a school that would be closing.
I’m doing what I can to help pass this referendum because I believe we can turn things around and we can have the most outstanding district in the area. If you vote Yes on March 30th and we pass this referendum, I can promise you that I’ll keep working with the PTO, talking to the board and administration, and will keep on doing everything I can to make sure that everyone follows through on their commitments to growing our district. I would like to write an editorial 10 years from now when our daughter graduates from Eagle Valley and remind you of how much positive change there was from the time we passed the referendum.
No matter what you do, please make an informed decision based on facts—not an emotional one.
Sincerely,
Michael Stormoen
Eagle Valley parent of three
Clarissa

March 3, 2010

To the Editor:
This letter is directed more towards the business owners of the Eagle Valley community, but relates to every citizen that lives or works in this community as well. As a business owner in the community I get to hear a lot of pros and cons about the school district referendum and how it’s going to affect our communities and the people that live and work in it. The problem is that I don’t think many of the business owners and the community members understand the “big picture” of how our local economy works. It seems like all I hear or read about is how this referendum is going to affect “me” or “I” and not how it’s going to affect “us” as a community.
I was talking to a couple of business owners and farmers, which I also consider business owners, the other day and one of them had mentioned that they were still undecided about the referendum because only a few of the 60+ employees of the district shopped at their store. They didn’t feel that by voting for or against keeping the district would really affect them.
If they were a little more open-minded and looking at the “big picture” they would realize that by letting this referendum fail, they are not only going to negatively impact themselves, but they are also going to negatively impact our communities.
What this business owner wasn’t seeing is that the school and many of its employees shop in my store and many other stores in our communities. In turn, these business owners and employees also spend money in their store.
So maybe they’re not getting the money directly from the school district or its employees, but as it funnels its way through our local economy it’s eventually contacting them some way, somehow.
Obviously as a business owner, our main goal is to generate revenue, this is a necessity to stay in business. Once we establish our business however, then we become an asset to the community because we not only provide a service to our community, but we generate traffic from people outside our communities. This in turn stimulates our local economy so we can offer more services and new businesses and so on and so forth.
Look at your neighboring businesses—chances are they exist because you exist or vice versa. What do you think is going to happen by letting this referendum fail and losing 60+ employees in our local communities that have a combined yearly wage of approximately $2 million dollars? You guessed it, the initial employees of our school district are going to have to find jobs in other communities.
Chances are most of them will be moving out of our communities, not only will this affect the inside source of traffic to our businesses, but eventually some of these businesses will have to close their doors.
Once we start losing businesses within our communities, we not only lose more jobs, but we also start losing traffic from people outside our communities and the downward spiral continues until we have downsized to what our local economy can support. This will not only affect the values of our businesses when it comes time to sell, but the entire values of our communities, the entire values of land and housing, and the list goes on.
So what does all this mean to our local businesses and community members? By voting “no” you’re voting against all the main reasons you started or purchased your business or land in the first place. You’re voting “no” to being an asset to our communities and to other business owners alike. You’re voting “no” to providing a diligent service within our communities that draw traffic from surrounding areas.
This is why I’m encouraging every business owner and citizen within our communities to actually stop and think of what our communities will look like in the future if we lose our school district. I don’t think Eagle Bend will become a “ghost town” by moving the school to Clarissa either, because you will still have the same people living in the same communities that will continue to travel the same routes and support the same businesses.
Hopefully years from now I can continue to send my children to the same school district, and support the same communities, and operate the same business that will eventually bring more traffic into “our” supportive communities. I encourage everyone to vote “Yes” on March 30th—for Eagle Valley Schools, for Eagle Valley Communities, and for Eagle Valley Businesses. Here’s to putting my money where my mouth is, hopefully this all makes “cents.”
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me personally or stop by my business and visit.
Sincerely,
Erik Line
Line’s Building Center, Inc., Clarissa
Supportive business owner & community member

To the Editor:
GO REBELS!!!!!
This chant is commonly used by many in the community including us, The Eagle Valley Sports Boosters. We love supporting the students of the district and hope to do it for many years to come.
The vote coming up on March 30 is vital for all of us in the communities of Clarissa and Eagle Bend. We all want to see great opportunities for the children of our district and would like to have a say in it. Now is the time to have your say. We encourage everyone to be sure to vote “yes” for Eagle Valley.
Vote yes, not only for our future, but for our past, our history. If we lose our district, we lose everything we have been. A couple things come to mind, one being our hall of fame. If we no longer have a district, we will no longer have a hall of fame. Who will recognize our outstanding athletes and the 18 we have inducted, (Wayne Aspengren, Tom Murch, Dave Burns, Cory Bennett, Sheila Schnettler, Tina Hess, Clem Lunemann, Lori Hansen, Jill Pontius, Jay Roste, Spencer Hayes, Tanya LaDue, Kathy Feda, Joe Cuchna, Ron Eilers, Rick Hest, Bryan Olson and Dale Olson)?
Sierra Benning has joined the “1000 point club” in basketball. She is one of only 12 (Spencer Hayes, Tom Murch, Lori Hanson, Dave Burns, Tanya LaDue, Joe Cuchna, Jill Pontius, Dana Dickinson, Anthony Murch, Devon Egeness, Missy Kassube and Sierra Benning), in the history of Clarissa, Eagle Bend and Eagle Valley to reach this milestone. Major accomplishments such as these will be left by the wayside if our district no longer exists.
There are so many stories, records and accomplishments like that which make up our school’s history—Cory Bennett and Julius Stone’s state championship in wrestling and the state volleyball championship from 1986 are the types of notable events that we need to preserve.
The basketball teams recently donated their time for the benefit of others. The girls team helped with a local Santa Day celebration. The boys team spends Wednesdays after school at the Central Todd County Care Center visiting and playing games with the residents. These are just a few ways the athletes give back to the communities.
Besides sports, there are many educational aspects to consider. Eagle Valley has always been known as a great educational institution, one of the best in the area. We need to keep that going strong. We should be proud and supportive of our staff and students. In this issue, you will read about the NFL group that Eagle Valley has and the accomplishments and pride that go along with that. We are the smallest school belonging to the NFL. We are raising leaders and speakers by providing them with this opportunity.
How about Eagle Valley’s FFA organization? They are a very large and strong group—One of the biggest in the area. And again this year we are sending FFA students to state. Without an Eagle Valley district, these opportunities will be taken away from our students in the future.
The art students of Eagle Valley paint the windows around the communities for the holiday season and the National Honor Society helps make the local blood drive successful. The high school band plays for various celebrations and leads our parades through the communities during our summer festivals. Who will do this if we lose our district?
We could go on and on with reasons why we should support our school.
We urge every taxpayer to be informed by attending a meeting to get the real facts. For a family with a home valued at around $100,000, it will cost you about the price of a gallon of milk a week. This is a small price to pay for our children and an inexpensive way to keep the communities of Eagle Bend and Clarissa strong and thriving into the future.
We ask you to remember that this is for the future and, as the Sports Boosters motto says.... “It’s all about the kids”.
We are changing our chant to - “GO REBELS - VOTE YES”.
Let’s continue our great traditions as “Eagle Valley”! We have sponsored a VOTE YES advertisement in this week’s newspaper in which you can clip out and display to join in the support of our great school.
Thanks for your time,
Eagle Valley Sports Boosters members
Andy Lancaster, Tanya Egeness, Mark and Janelle Lundin, Mike and Jacqueline Meiners, Doug and Nicole Wold, Lesa Asfeld, Ray Benning, Wanda Runge

Vote Yes BannerClick on this link to go to a full page, printable page to show your support for Eagle Valley.

To the Editor:
My name is Kenny. I recently lost my great-nephew “Josh”. He was only 19 years old. He took his own life from depression.
I feel he had reached his bottom, because he was seeking treatment. He was excited about going. On September 22, 2009 he had an appointment at a treatment center in the early afternoon. They turned him away because they said they didn’t have any room. Well, later that day is when he attempted suicide and passed away on September 25.
We the family feel that he might still be here if he hadn’t been turned down for treatment.
So we would like to suggest that there be a law passed that if a person goes to a treatment center on their own that they can’t be turned away. We would like you to look seriously at this. If it would save one life it would be worth it.
Please write or e-mail your congressmen about this.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Kenny Bills
Long Prairie

February 24, 2010

To the Editor:
Just a note to air our feelings on the future of the Eagle Valley School District. I commend the school board for the hard work on behalf of the students and faculty.
We haven’t always agreed with all that they have done, but we think they have our best interests in mind.
The decision has been made to go with one school building and the cheaper option is to move to the Clarissa building. We feel there is a good future to have a school for many years. We have a good faculty and support staff. We have a bond issue that is not going to be cheap, but is necessary if we want to keep Eagle Valley as a district. We have about 60 people that work at the school, including faculty and support staff. Think about what would happen to our communities if the school would dissolve. It would devastate our two communities. Many people would have to move on. No jobs.
We will have a bond issue to pay for. Don’t for one minute think that we will have a free ride if we dissolve our district. We will just have to pay some other district’s expenses. Most of our children received a good education in this district. Many people helped to pay for our children’s education. It behooves us to help pay for educating those to come.
If we don’t pass this bond, our district will dissolve. Our communities will lose our identities. Eagle Valley will be no more.
We sincerely hope this district will get behind this bond issue so that we can continue to be a viable, vibrant Eagle Valley School in the future.
Thank you for listening,
Dale & Dorothy Rachuy
Eagle Bend

February 17, 2010

To the Editor:
There are so many things to consider when going to vote for the bond referendum that the school board will try passing on March 30….what does this mean to me and my family, how will it affect my taxes, what happens to our business or our town, but most importantly what does this mean for the children of Eagle Valley? The kids are what we should be most concerned about. I am not fighting to see one building destroyed and another saved. I personally am fighting to see my children have the opportunity to have the same if not a better education than I had here.
Twenty years ago Eagle Valley provided all students the chance to take accounting, business law, anatomy, psychology, journalism, and physics just to name a few. Sadly, when I look at the curriculum now I see that none of these classes are even offered anymore. This is due to the endless budget cuts as the district tries to continue operating two buildings. When teachers retire they do not refill that position, but instead cut those classes. Now it has come to the point where no further cuts can be made, no further curriculum can be lost and still allow our students to meet the current graduation requirements. With this vote on March 30, we have the ability to make changes here in Eagle Valley. By voting yes and getting all of our students into one building the board has estimated that we will save $225,000 per year. That is money that can be spent on hiring new teachers and adding to our curriculum.
I have heard many people say that we should just consolidate, but realistically are districts going to want to consolidate with us or are they just going to wait us out and let our district dissolve so they don’t have to take on our teachers, or our problems. Can either of our neighboring districts take on all 320 (or so) of our students without having to add on to their facilities?
Have you considered what consolidation or dissolvement will mean for all of us? The loss of a school presence in either district; the loss of 60 plus jobs in the community; the loss of identity these kids will have; your voice in the outcome of all school related issues; the relationships that you have spent years and years building—with your kids’ teachers, the staff, other parents, the loss of organizations such as the sports boosters, or the P.T.O—all gone; not to mention the friendships that will be lost. Will our kids be separated from their best friends, their cousins? Will grandparents end up traveling to different schools to see their grandchildren competing against each other instead of with each other? Will our kids be harassed and ridiculed in the event that they choose the ‘wrong’ school away from where their friends ended up? These are all things that need to be considered, because consolidation isn’t the easy answer, it only brings more problems to consider.
The school board has weighed out all viable options and they, like I do, wish to keep our district intact. Sure, we can keep both buildings open, try to pass another operating referendum, but that doesn’t fix our problem of the educational opportunities being offered—that only keeps the school afloat and for how long? The only way we can keep our district open and still improve our kids’ education is to get our kids into one building. I know that 4.86 million sounds like a big number and there is no doubt it is, but I urge all of you to see what that number means to you personally and to break it down. For my family, 4.86 million means a gallon of milk a week. And to me that is money well spent for our kids’ education! So I urge all of you to Save Our School and Vote Yes for Eagle Valley!!!
Heidi Schnettler
Eagle Valley parent

To the Editor:
Escaping the Minnesota Cold!
It’s winter in Minnesota and thoughts turn to someplace warm and sunny. If you are planning a winter getaway there are some things you can do to make it not only fun, but safe.
The hotel or motel you choose is your home for the night, your sanctuary while you sleep. The following are some tips to minimize your chances of being a victim in “your home away from home.”
• Request an upper floor. Ground floors are more vulnerable-an easy access and escape for criminals.
• Look for solid wood or metal doors.
• The doors should have dead-bolts locks and a one inch throw bolt. If it looks worn or has pry marks on it, move to a different room or motel. The knob should be hotel-style with a push button on the inside to prevent former guest or housekeeping to enter.
• There should be a wide angle peephole. Do not rely on door chains or swing bars to secure the door when peeking out.
• Teach your children not to open the door unless they know who is on the other side.
• Secure all windows and sliding doors. If they cannot be secured, change rooms. Beware of balconies that can be climbed from one to another.
• If you are a woman alone or with small children, look for valet parking and ask a bellman or desk clerk to escort you to your room. Have them check all closets and the bathroom before they leave.
• Don’t talk about your vacation plans where strangers can overhear you.
• If at all possible, keep jewelry and other valuables at home when you travel.
When you find a hotel or motel that meets your standards and caters to your needs stick with it or the same chain!
Annette Schilling
General Crime Coordinator
Hands of Hope Resource Center
PO Box 171
Long Prairie, MN 56347
320-732-2319

To the Editor:
Post Office and letter carriers ask public’s help with safe and clear mailbox access
Winter storms and the cold, snow and ice are here, making it more challenging for letter carriers to deliver your mail. The Eagle Bend Post Office reminds postal customers to always clear a safe, accessible path to your mailboxes. Please follow these steps.
Make sure your mailbox itself is visible and free of snow and ice, and make sure it is safely accessible for your letter carrier. Clear your mailbox area of snow, sleet, slush, ice and debris.
If possible, do not park your vehicles in front of your mailbox. Combined with the snowy and icy conditions, this can make it very difficult for your letter carrier to access and deliver to your mailbox.
If mailboxes are blocked off and conditions are too difficult, letter carriers must consider safety and accessibility first. Letter carriers are instructed not to deliver to mailboxes and locations they consider having access too difficult or unsafe.
The U.S. Postal Service, the Eagle Bend Post Office and postal letter carriers greatly appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Kelly A. Harris
Postmaster
Eagle Bend Post Office

February 10, 2010

To the Editor:
What does abortion even mean? Historically, one does not abort a human being. Pre-born humans are slaughtered, slain, executed, destroyed, exterminated and killed, and end up in landfills and sewers.
The child-killer abortionists never ever talk about babies, children, death, dying or killing—they deny them all. They make millions of dollars every year selling baby parts for research and they want to continue to do so.
Our leaders talk of peace, yet are merchants of death. The blood of 55 million small corpses cry out to God for justice. As our late Pope John Paul II stated, “Abortion is murder and a grievous sin.”
If we vote for a pro-abortion candidate knowing his intent, we have participated in the sin of child-killing as a direct participant in an act against innocent human life. Millions upon millions of Christians are betraying innocent children by knowingly voting for pro-death candidates.
As in any just war, our goal is the removal of tyrants from office, a change in our governing authorities for the protection of the innocent and establishing justice.
Either we are the servants of the culture of life, or the servants of the culture of death. Abortion is connected to Satan himself.
After 37 years of struggle, we are a the place where pro-life sentiment without corresponding action is little more than surrender to the culture of death. If we sit back and do nothing, our very souls are in jeopardy.
Child killers do not fear our private words or sentiments, they fear clear-cut public declarations and corresponding actions.
The abortion law is an unjust law and in this case, it ceases to be a law and becomes instead an act of violence.
The sad part of the pro-life movement is that we get very little help from church leaders of many denominations.
Some church leaders are reluctant to speak out against pro-abortion candidates for fear of losing their tax exemptions for the church.
This fear is instilled by the abortionists and the pro-abortion crowd and some church leaders cave in under this lie. God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of doing what is right, just and decent.
Our economy is in a state of shambles and unless we do what it right and decent in the eyes of God, nothing will change. We have a choice.
Eymard Orth
Melrose

To the Editor:
Every year around January 22, we mourn or commemorate (not celebrate) the Supreme Court’s opinion of that date in 1973 when seven justices agreed that abortion is a right.
That misguided belief has killed millions of innocent persons and injured and tormented millions more. Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) is one of the injuries caused by abortion. The anti-life people say that is nonsense and that it exists in very few women. They have made surveys and claim the facts are overblown.
Their surveys were with women who had recent abortions like weeks or a few months before. Most of those women expressed only “relief.” And, their surveys at best, are invalid.
Other surveys taken with women who were from five to twenty years past their abortion tell a different and true story. According to the Elliot Institute of Springfield, Illinois, many aborting women have battled guilt, depression, regret and shame, as well as having contemplated or attempted suicide.
Suicide among women who had abortions is three times the normal rate and six times that of associated with birth.
Abortion is the fifth leading cause of maternal death. Other increased risks are: breast cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer, uterine perforation and future ectopic pregnancies as well as sterility.
PAS women need healing and forgiveness. They need help and it is available from Silent No More, a group of women who have had abortions and dealt with it by coming out and talking about it. Let’s not forget that there also many men suffering for their coercion or support in aborting their child.
Post abortive women may be one of the most effective messengers of the evil of abortion. Their testimony is a strong message against having abortions. Their confession and remorse guarantees forgiveness by God and from most other human beings as well. Silent No More groups can be found on the internet by googling “Silent No More.”
Another group dealing with PAS is Project Rachel in St. Cloud. They can be reached at 320-529-0407.
“Forty Days for Life” begins on February 17 through March 28 when hundreds of thousands of people will be fasting and praying in 200 plus cities across America for an end to the abortion holocaust.
Bev Heinze
Long Prairie

To the Editor:
I have always been proud to be a veteran. We here in Osakis, work hard to maintain and keep a VFW club open. Which in turn promotes membership growth, which in turn promotes veterans benefits to help those veterans who, due to physical or mental wounds, cannot help themselves. I was especially proud when a group of Osakis residents took on the task of developing a scenic trail. They asked the Osakis VFW Post 7902 to write a letter to the county commissioners to support the naming of the trail, the Veterans Scenic Trail. We did this with great pride to finally have a road, park or a scenic trail named in honor of veterans. The county commissioners voted in favor of this project and the naming of the trail.
We were in disbelief when another group of Osakis residents living on Co. Rd 55 (lake road) which was to be part of the scenic route, opposed the route and naming of the trail. The county commissioners revisited the issue and stopped the development of the trail as it was planned and the political battle continues.
It’s a blow below the belt to veterans to have a group of residents from the same community that initiated this great project, bring up past political issues and cause the possible end or rerouting of the Veterans Scenic Trail. If it were not for the men and women who were drafted or volunteered to go into battle, who now make up the veterans groups, you would not have the right to voice your opinion on matters like this. Can you imagine how the men and women in the military who are in combat areas at the present time, feel when they hear about this anti-veterans movement going on in their hometown?
To those residents of Co. rd. 55 who oppose this project, and the county commissioners who were swayed by this small group, take a good look at yourselves in a mirror and think of how veterans of the area will be looking at you in the future. To you commissioners, we put our trust in you when we elected you to make the right decisions. Please don’t let this small group of people put an end to what would be a long overdue tribute to the veterans of this area and all veterans across this great nation.
Osakis resident and
proud veteran,
Al Kral

Letter to the Editor:
I went to the informational school meeting in Eagle Bend on Saturday and unfortunately had to leave early. There were so many things that I wanted to say and never got the chance.
First of all I wanted to thank the school board, Mr. Madsen, and the other speakers at the meeting. I realized during the presentation that they have all put a lot of thought and effort into trying to save our school district. I hadn’t realized how many avenues and options that they had actually looked at and considered before coming to this decision of moving into the Clarissa school. I truly believe they are trying to do what they feel is best for our school district. Whether you feel it is the best solution or not, they are right about one thing, we have to do something.
I know many citizens of Eagle Bend (myself included) are worried about our community and its survival. It would seem that losing the Eagle Bend school, to our great disappointment, is inevitable. The question is “Can we survive as a viable city without it?” I don’t believe the survival or destruction of Eagle Bend depends solely on our school, although it is a big factor, it is essentially up to “US.” Maybe it is time for the citizens of Eagle Bend to come together and share ideas as to how we can sustain and grow as a community. For example, maybe the school building could be used as a community center. If there is a will, there is a way!
I know I have been sitting on the sideline for the last five years, letting others bear the weight of making the big decisions, but I don’t want to do that anymore. I own a home and work in Eagle Bend, my son attends Eagle Valley and I hope my girls will as well. So this town and our school are very important to my family and I. No matter what the outcome, I want to know that I took a positive, proactive approach and tried to get involved.
At least then, if I find the results disappointing, I will have earned the right to complain about it.
The only way to ensure failure is to never try.
Amber Aspengren
Eagle Bend

January 27, 2010

To the Editor:
How often have you heard someone say on election day, “I voted for the lesser of two evils?: I know I would be a rich woman if I got a nickel every time I’ve heard someone utter those words. Precinct caucuses are coming up on Tuesday, February 2 and this is your opportunity to make your choice known before the candidate’s names appear on the ballots. We are blessed in this country to have the opportunity to have a participatory democracy, but how many people really participate? In Minnesota, we have about 70% of the people voting in the general elections. It baffles me why the other 30% or so just don’t bother to show up.
In the DFL, we have a number of excellent candidates who want endorsement. Each brings unique talents, ideas and backgrounds from which we can choose to support. The precinct caucus is truly your opportunity to be participatory in the process of selecting the best candidate. The DFL caucuses begin at 7 p.m. with registration at 6:30 p.m. The caucuses will end no later than 9 p.m. There is no cost to participate.
Area locations are:
Eagle Valley Elementary Early Childhood Education room—city of Clarissa, city of Eagle Bend, Eagle Valley Township, Burleene Township and Wykeham Township.
Bertha-Hewitt Public School cafeteria—city of Bertha, city of Hewitt, Bartlett Township, Germania Township, Stowe Prairie Township and Bertha Township.
Browerville Elementary library—city of Browerville, Hartford Township, Iona Township, Little Elk Township, Turtle Creek Township and Ward Township.
Individuals who wish to attend the Republican caucuses can call 1-877-467-6466 for location information.
Please invest a couple of hours of your time on February 2 and the next time you stop in at the post office, take a look at the names on the “honor roll” memorial in the park next door. These men and women paid the ultimate price of ensuring the rights and privileges of our democracy. Don’t take it for granted. Participate.
Ione Yates
Clarissa

To the Editor:
The Constitution Party will hold a caucus on Tuesday, February 2 at 7 p.m. at the Long Prairie City Hall on Highway 71 just north of Coborn’s.
The caucus is for Todd and surrounding counties. If you are looking for an alternative to government business as usual, check out the Constitution Party.
Leo Heinze
Long Prairie

January 20, 2010

To the Editor:
Stalking: Know It, Name It, Stop It
During January 2010, communities across the country will observe National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime the affects 1.4 million victims a year. This year theme, “Stalking: Know It, Name It, Stop It.” challenges the nation to combat this dangerous crime by learning more about it.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. One in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime, for an average duration of two years. Victims may experience psychological trauma, financial hardship and even death. Eighty-one percent of the victims stalked by an intimate partner were also physically assaulted by that partner, and 76% of female homicide victims were stalked prior to their death.
At first, many victims view stalking as ”creepy” but not dangerous, underestimating the seriousness and impact of the crime. They may think ignoring or confronting the stalker will stop them. But stalkers almost never stop and confronting a stalker may escalate the violence.
Even when victims see the danger and report the crime, stalking may be hard for authorities to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime. It is a series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear. Stalking takes many forms-such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary or animal abuse. It can include unwanted cards, gifts or visits. Stalkers may use computers, Global Position System devices or hidden cameras to track their victim’s daily activities. Stalkers do not fit any standard psychological profile and many follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another, making it difficult for authorities to apprehend them.
If more people can recognize stalking we have a better chance of holding the offenders accountable and are better able to offer support to the victims and combat the crime. Hands of Hope Resource Center can offer support, advocacy for legal procedures including court hearings, assistance with Harassment Restraining Orders and community education.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of a crime or you would like more information, please contact Hands of Hope Resource Center at 320-732-2319 or 1-888-732-2319.
Annette Schilling
Hands of Hope Resource Center
PO Box 171
Long Prairie, MN 56347

January 13, 2010

To the Editor:
On behalf of those whom the Salvation Army’s Todd County Service will be able to serve in 2010, I’d like to thank the county’s communities for their support of our Christmas kettles. We raised $1690.53 in our 2009 Todd County Christmas Kettle Campaign. These are funds that will be working miracles in the lives of Todd County residents all year long.
Local businesses who allowed us to place our Christmas kettles in their establishments made this effort possible. We would also like to thank Betty Danielson, Lori and Scott Kottschade for volunteering to ring bells at our kettles in the Long Prairie Coborn’s store. Their contributions are a shining example of the true spirit of Christmas.
To everyone who supposed our Christmas Kettles effort, please know your contributions are valuable—not just in terms of the mouths it will feed or the lives that it will help reconstruct—but that you have brightened lives by letting those in need know that caring members of their own communities surround them.
The Todd County Extension Service Board of the Salvation Army is grateful to this newspaper for its support throughout the entire year.
Sincerely,
Jane Kleinschmidt, Treasurer
Salvation Army Todd County Service Unit

To the Editor:
On Thursday, January 7, thieves stole 5x6 mule deer antlers that were attached to a pole decorating the front of my teepee. They also stole 7x7 elk antlers in the same area of my front yard. Those antlers were the property of Larry Hansen.
It is disappointing to experience thievery in my hometown. Please keep an eye out for these big racks. If anyone has information, please contact me or the Todd County Sheriff’s Department.
Sharon Quale
Eagle Bend