Unwrap December's Senior Perspective to be presented with good news from your neck of the woods. Select the your area, or check out the stories from other parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. All the great local advertisers can be in these full papers, along with the puzzle, jokes, recipes and more for you and your friends to enjoy. Lindbergh Edition All around Mille Lacs Lake and specially tailored to the areas near Brainerd, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Princeton. Sharing music

This majestic bald eagle stands proudly over his dinner in front of Jeff Stave’s home in Brainerd, Minn.  This exciting cookout at a restaurant was a part of a fall colors tour through Michigan, taken by Michael Sanoski of Cushing, Minn. The fall time is harvest time! This combine is hard at work collecting stalks of corn in Big Stone, sent in by Jim Foster. Autumn leaves on this maple tree are in full flush this year, sent in by Sue Taylor from Hitterdahl, Minn. There’s noth

By Carrie Classon (Written in late September) It is the time of year for vegetable gluttony. The truth is, I am a vegetable glutton all year round. I blame my mother. My mom grew up on a farm, and when my sister and I were growing up, my mother was one of the first moms in our suburb to plant a big vegetable garden. We had beans and tomatoes and zucchini, and I don’t remember what else. I loved vegetables from a very early age. My mother would serve whatever we were eating in

Renville man awarded Air Medal, Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart for service in Vietnam By Patricia Buschette  Leonard O. DeGree of Renville prepared for combat in Vietnam. Contributed photo In 1964, much of the news of the world focused on Vietnam because of attacks on U.S. Naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces. Known as The Gulf of Tonkin incident, it escalated U.S. military involvement. Leonard DeGree was a 1960 graduate of Renville High School who still lives in

‘Being outdoors doing what I love keeps me feeling young’ By Maggie Gray John Pennoyer of Maple Grove stands ready with his camera and zoom lens, ready to capture the perfect wildlife image. Contributed photo The lake is very still, veiled in an early morning mist, every sound magnified in the pristine quiet. Then it comes—that tremolo call, eerie and beautiful, the haunting call of the Minnesota Common Loon breaking the silence. John Pennoyer of Maple Grove waits, breath hel

Brainerd couple served for decades in Nat’l Guards By Bill Vossler Having two members of one family in the National Guard at the same time can present problems, said Kristin Rajala of Brainerd. “No children, so that wasn’t a complication. But for 20 years we gave up 25 percent of our weekend free time. And when Army business comes up outside of drill time, as an officer you need to respond,” she said. Jerry Steinke and Kris Rajala are waiting for their flight overseas into, r

Florence man served 27 years as military chaplain By Gary Kass United States Marine Corps Private Charles Anderson of Renville on the day he earned the promotion to Sergeant in 1972. Contributed photo Charles James Anderson was born in 1951 in Tyler, Minn., just seven miles from his family farm near Florence. His parents were farmers and he grew up as a typical farm kid... hard work was expected. “You start with little chores,” he said, “helping Mom with the chickens... then

Long Prairie man remembers early days of SWCD By Tim King Meryl and Linda Wegner of rural Long Prairie. In the back ground is the shade garden with wild flowers that Linda designed. Meryl, who planted more than 1,000 trees in his lifetime, was the first paid employee of the newly established Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) 60 years ago. Photo by Colin King. If Meryl Wegner of Long Prairie, now in his early 80s, were to buy a place in the country today the first thin

Garfield man served in both WWII, Korean War  By Julie Parent Jim Clermont served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and from 1950 to 1951. Photo contributed  Decorated veteran Jim Clermont of Garfield, Minn., does not know why he has lived for 100 years or why he became an important part of American history. It’s “just one of those things,” he said. Jim was born on April 2, 1925. “My mother held off so I wouldn’t be born on April 1, which is April Fool’s Day,” he said. Jim,

Alexandria man served on USS Midway, discovers his photo at museum By Julie Parent A photo of Don Van Guilder when he was a Navy sailor is posted at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, CA. Photo contributed by Liz Winter Don Van Guilder of Alexandria, Minn. was watching a YouTube video about the USS Midway Museum when he saw one of two photos of himself on the bulkhead wall in the background. He was so shocked, he took a picture of the computer screen and showed it to his f

Benson woman enjoys caring for cats until they find their forever homes  By Julie Parent Jackie Coulter of Benson and one of the many cats she has fostered. Contributed photo Jackie Coulter of Benson has a sign on her front yard that says, “You can bee the change.” Jackie is a prime example of being the change. She fosters cats for the Humane Society of Swift County, and she encourages caring adults to do the same. She knows if there were more volunteers, fewer cats would get

By Rachel Barduson of Alexandria Church basement ladies are historic figures. They go a long way back to the beginning of – in my case – time. Those historic ladies were, and still are, heroes in my estimation. They provide the magic after the sermon, the potlucks, the church suppers, the annual meetings, the ladies aid. Why would they be heroes?  Because there are so many layers of detail and planning that goes into serving food at church. These ladies not only serve the foo

Renville Co. man lends his time, expertise to help visitors learn about the Battle at Birch Coulee By Scott Thoma Renville County historian Jerry Weldy gave a walking tour in early September at the Birch Coulee Battlefield site. Photo by Scott Thoma Jerry Weldy is proof positive that you are never too old to learn. Weldy, 86, a Renville County resident and historian, first became intrigued by the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862 as a young boy. He currently gives tours and presen

By Nancy Leasman of Long Prairie All work and no play….well, you know that adage well. So, Ron and I headed north, to Itasca.  A relaxing time in one of the cabins at Itasca State Park. Photo by Nancy Leasman We’d rented a cabin for one night and the next day would attend the book release of the Jack Pine Writers Group’s annual Talking Stick collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Our daughter, Dawn, the conservation biologist, had won honorable mention in the non-fi

Fargo family lived in New Orleans when storm hit, were forced to regroup, reboot life   By Carol Stender North Dakota State University (NDSU) associate music professor Jeremy Brekke has weathered many a snowstorm living in the upper midwest, but 20 years ago, he endured another kind of storm - Hurricane Katrina - and its aftermath. Jeremy Brekke, NDSU associate professor of trumpet, held a similar position at Loyola University in New Orleans 20+ years ago. He lived there  whe

Answers by Brooke Steckelberg, Au.D., CCC-A  Legendary comedian George Burns once said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.”  Brooke Steckelberg, Au.D., CCC-A  Contributed photo Some days, of course, that’s easier said than done. I often see patients who are determined to stay healthy and independent, and one key—but often overlooked—factor in aging well is the inner ear, which plays a crucial role in both balance and overall health. As people age,

Waite Park man, 91, has always loved planes, flying By Bill Vossler A friend gave this handmade airplane to Bill when he retired from his counseling job. Photo by Bill Vossler Bill Kreul of Waite Park loves to go out for breakfast two or three times a month. So what, you might ask? Lots of people do that. Well Bill takes his Piper Cherokee airplane and flies to Brainerd for breakfast. And Bill is 91 years old. “When my son Bob is available I fly to wherever we’re going, and h

Senior Perspective is stuffed with our special veterans section, and all the regular fun this November. Select your area, or check out the stories from other parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. All the great local advertisers can be in these full papers, along with the puzzle, jokes, recipes, and more for you and your friends to enjoy. Lindbergh Edition All around Mille Lacs Lake and specially tailored to the areas near Brainerd, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Princeton. Taking fl

Woman followed heart from Germany to US By Patricia Buschette For Roswitha “Rosie” Cady, it has been an exciting journey from her birth home in Aschaffenburg, Germany to her home now in Hutchinson, Minn. While Rosie is proud of her cookbook, she has accomplished much from the time she arrived in the United States unable to speak English. Contributed photo Aschaffenburg is the site of a U.S. Army base where Rosie lived with her mother and family. Her aunt owned a coffee shop w

Becker man has biked across the country to raise money for cancer research By Nikki Rajala Having completed his 4,000-mile cross-country ride, Mike Garland takes a moment to appreciate the Washington Monument while standing at the Lincoln Monument in Washington, D.C.  Contributed photo In 34 days, 12 hours and 8 minutes, Mike Garland from Becker bicycled solo from Oregon to Washington, D.C. That’s nearly 4,000 miles alone. It was a big year in a decade of pretty big years. In