by Elaine Rassel We had rain, and nice rains following Easter Sunday. Last year, there was a snowstorm on Easter Sunday. Granddaughter, Gracelyn’s birthday was that day. The Marcus Fire Department did a wonderful deed when they went to the birthday person’s house on their birthday and made them Junior Firemen/Firewomen. On that day they had two houses to visit: the Regennitter girl had a birthday and so did Gracelyn. The snow didn’t stop the firemen from doing their good deed!
Last week Bensen was thought to have a broken ankle after falling over Gracelyn’s boot on the step. The update on this is that it was not broken which means he can start riding his bike again!
When Congress is in recess, Sen. Grassley begins his annual visitation of the 99 Iowa counties. It was Tuesday (April 6) that Senator Charles Grassley came to visit the MMCRU Industrial Tech Center in Marcus. This Center had its beginning in 2018 with Mr. Matt Hansen as instructor. Recently Mr. Long has joined Hansen as instructor to help with the growing number of students taking this course. This Center has been recognized by other Iowa state leaders for its program that prepares students for further education in careers in the skilled trade.
Sen. Grassley spoke to the students on the importance of this program and of what they are doing toward getting ready for local industries jobs. With the help (financially) and support of local and area businesses, this program has been very successful. These businesses are looking for skilled help and this program is one way of getting help.
After leaving Marcus, Grassley was on his way to Le Mars to tour Wells Enterprises’ new health clinic. Before he left, he was asked what most people want to know concerning his running for his 8th term as Senator in Congress. Senator Grassley began as Iowa Senator in 1981. All he could say was that people would know his decision this Fall.
Are any of you experiencing the allergy problems that I have? I don’t even care to go outside. I guess it is that time of year!
Bethany was surprised when she went to feed the barn cats and goats the other night. It is that time of the year when Spring has new beginnings. There are five new kittens_four yellow and one black/gray. They are in the goat’s feed box. The goats don’t seem to mind being fed someplace else! All the other kittens we had at the barn, she always names each of them. When they leave the barn for a new home, they have a name!
On Friday, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Prince Philip at the age of 99 years. There are many people that envied his lifestyle, but when I went to do an article on him, I found he didn’t live a lifestyle to envy. Anytime a person is in the public, nothing is secret even if someone has to make up a story.
Friday I was hungry for just one pumpkin bar, but ended up with many! I usually bake it in a 9 x 13, but it takes longer and I didn’t have time to wait for extra minutes. So, I baked it in the size pan the recipe called for_11 x 17. As it was baking, I could see the bars coming right up to the top of the pan. Thank heavens, that is as far as it went and didn’t go over the top and onto the oven! I only wanted one bar and ended up pawning off the rest of the pan. Bethany doesn’t like pumpkin but there were others that did.
There is an article about the donation that Lois Krekow’s daughter and husband left to the Marcus Public Library in memory of Lois. More poetry books will be added to the Library’s collection as well as some poetry programs in the future. After Charles’ death, Lois left a bench with two children on it where it is seen on the left side of the Library. When we were driving by one cold night, Bethany let out a yell, “I can’t believe that those kids are sitting there without warm clothes on.” Zachary and I began to laugh and she didn’t think that was funny. We let her know they weren’t real! When I told Lois about this, she laughed and said, “Well, at least she noticed them!”
Saturday night if you went through Marcus, you would have declared it was 1958! Everywhere you looked, every street in the uptown area had cars on it. There was a wedding and the reception was at the Marcus Community Center. Even the former Sunday School house in my neighborhood had vehicles taking up all the parking spaces! It was like going back in time when people came to Marcus early evening in order to find a parking space!
If you get the Sioux City Journal, you saw a half page ad asking for a reply as to what your town could use the $2.7 billion dollars the state of Iowa is supposed to be giving out. The ad begins_Iowans to see $2.7 billion for COVID relief. It’s up to us to decide how to use it. All of us have been hit hard by COVID-19 and the economic crisis that came with it. The American Rescue Plan will deliver immediate relief to Iowans and provide counties the resources we need. In Iowa, nearly $3 billion will go to state and local governments to transform our communities…but only if we make it happen.
This opportunity builds a bridge to recovery and can provide support for our broadband, healthcare, public utilities, jobs, and investment in hard-hit small businesses, and more.
What does your community need? We want to hear from you! Let us know. Write a few lines below (space provided) or online at http://bit.ly/cci-relief Mail your response to Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, 2001 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311
I don’t know where all this money is coming from. One opinion writer stated he thought it was being picked off the cherry trees located in Washington, D.C. By the time the larger cities ask for what they want, little towns like ours will be left with “wishful thinking”.
Governor Reynolds let it be known that she has rejected a federal request to accept migrant children into the state, saying the need to find homes for them “is the president’s problem”. She went on to say that her priority is the health and safety of Iowans and that the state doesn’t have facilities to house migrant children for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We have limited resources and administrative concerns. We have an obligation to take care of our children first and absent the resources or a clear and comprehensive plan for federal support, we were unable to accommodate the request and we acknowledge this is an incredibly saddening and difficult situation.”
Last month, the U.S. government picked up nearly 19,000 children traveling alone across the Mexican border. It’s the largest monthly number ever recorded. The huge increse in children traveling alone, some as young as age three, and families has severely strained border holding facilities, which aren’t supposed to hold people for more than three days but often do. It’s left the government scrambling to find space and hire staff to care for children longer term until they can be placed with sponsors.
(Next week, I will try to have an article on response to Governor Reynold’s decision if there is room for it.)
Please remember those in your thoughts and prayers who have lost loved ones recently to death, are struggling with a health problem, having financial problems due to job loss or no jobs available, or lonely. Count your blessings.
I will leave you with this quote from Julia Child (1912-2004), American chef:
“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”