Remember the big bold letters, ‘Fact or Fiction’

Once again the Great staff writer Deb Bently wrote an interesting article that appeared on the front page of the Star Eagle Newspaper in New Richland, Minnesota, dated Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Deb wrote about 22 firefighters from Ellendale, Medford and Blooming Prairie completing about 12 hours of training to learn the best techniques for rescuing someone who has gone through ice into icy waters.

The first three hours were classroom training and then to Beaver Lake for on-the-ice training.

Ellendale Fire Chief Logan Busho explained “the idea was to get practice that felt almost like a real-life emergency, where we rush to the location and start preparing all kinds of equipment that we're not sure we're going to use, but know we might need.”

“At this point all readers of this paper are reminded of the ‘Big Bold Letters’ fact or fiction’ for the rest of the story.”

Many years ago three young boys (our son, Dan, was one of the three) Jumped into a small row boat, attached a motor and proceeded across Beaver Lake wide open from the East Landing. Suddenly the boat quit moving. They looked at the motor, but there was no motor, they forgot to fasten the motor properly!! They spent many hours diving for the motor with no motor to be found.

I found out about the ice rescue training, so I secretly attached a small underwater camera to the rescue flat oar lock on the underside of the raft. My result in checking the camera was lots of big Northerns, big Walleyes, but no motor.

Genie and I saw a pair of Tundra Swans in a harvested corn field by Clarks Grove on Sunday, March 9, 2025 after the 9-inch snowfall on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. We stopped and listened as they honked to each other. She said, “Dear one, should we nest around here or keep going?” He replied “Let's wait a few days and check out the pond by Alert and Becky Thofson.

Remember, that is where you and I met as babies and besides I heard KATE Radio out of Albert Lea say it was an “Alert” day. I think that was an invitation to stay and raise our babies.” She replied, “Deal.”

Once again I must compliment Genie on her common sense as I sat on a lawn chair in the garage and watched neighbors with their driveways facing north grunting and groaning March 6th to clear the snow. In looking for a house to live in when moving into Albert Lea from Beaver Lake Genie, said “The garage must face south” and so I enjoyed my vantage point inside the garage just watching!!

We started seeing all the spring birds (robins, blackbirds, red finch, etc.) on March 13th.

Did you know Marie Tesch of Waseca is such a good sport in fishing through the ice on Clear Lake in Waseca, she announced “Russ dear, you don't have to take me ice fishing on my birthday this year. Just take me out for dinner on my birthday April 1st (seeing as how Russ had complied with the law and removed the fish house from Clear Lake, he honored her request!!) And now you know an intelligent couple playing give and take.

How does a going-to-be-90 on st. Patricks day Norwegian celebrate her birthday? By having a birthday party at her Church including singing happy birthday during the Church Sunday Service the 16th of May. Yes, the beverage came with cream and sugar along with coffee refills. Happy birthday, Ruth Thompson.

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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.