By Elaine Rassel
Monday night was the City Council meeting. Joe Frangione spoke to the Council in regards to the accidents happening at the Junction of HWY 143 and HWY 3. He and several others want to have a petition out stating a stop light should be there. This is to go to the IDOT. The IDOT at this time is only planning on moving the East turn lane but only after they can get contractors to bid on the job.
Another person asked for a “Tax Abatement Under the Marcus Urban Revitalization Plan”. Check into this if you think you may qualify.
We finally got the Veteran’s program straightened out in that it was in Remsen not Marcus as printed in the S.C. Journal. There were only 14 Veterans who signed in and sat up front in the Remsen school gym where the program was held. There were more but they didn’t sign in and I didn’t know who they were.
The students did a good job in presenting this Veterans Day Program. There was a table off to the side that I did explain in the Program write-up as to what it meant. The speaker was Dave Nicks who gave an interesting and inspiring presentation. He was presented with a wooden flag with the inscription, “A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him”.
Hopefully there is room for the Story Behind “Taps”. It becomes more meaningful when you know how it came about.
I could have gone to Bensen and Gracelyn’s Veterans Day program but then I wouldn’t have found a parking place at Remsen unless I wanted to walk from the far east end of the parking lot.
The school boards will not re-organize until December even though I thought it was November. The City starts with new members and a mayor in January.
The snow arrived before leaves could be picked up. There is still a chance that the weather will be warmer and the way the wind has been blowing, leaves will be dry enough to pick up.
The Belgium Waffle Breakfast was on Sunday but ended at noon. There weren’t as many there when I went but just after 11 o’clock, the cars began to come. Zachary ate enough waffles to call it his “supper”!
Did you see where the Cemetery in question about moving by the Brick Company is going to remain? I hope to have more information on this later on.
I couldn’t figure out why the person that bought Sanow’s house across the street from me was trimming the maple trees up. Now they are going to go down completely.
Mid American is supposed to be cutting them down_maybe the trees are close to power lines? If any trees are to replace these, it will take a good many years for this to happen. It sure looks bare over there. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have my trees for shade.
I was in on the middle of a story of a veteran who has PTS and was shown on early morning television. For years he has been having nightmares and is always hearing gun shots. He had tried to commit suicide twice but failed. Now there is a medicine that is being experimented with him and it seems to be working.
How ironic it was when a few days ago there was a similar problem with children. The ones talked about were having nightmares and going back to “wetting” whenever. They were also striking out at others for no reason at all. The doctor talking about this problem said it could escalate from a pet or another person dying, adult caretakers that argued about things pertaining to the child and the child thinks he is the reason they are arguing. Or, it could be that what they are used to, has changed. Children do get upset if what they are used to has changed. Adults have to realize that if their child is having no trouble and suddenly show signs (nightmares, wetting, or attacking others) that maybe they are the reason. Why upset a child when they are doing well but just to satisfy the adults. If there is a problem and now the child is unhappy, find out what it is before it is too late.
For $9.95 and free shipping, you can get from “Bright Ideas”, a hand-held instrument that you can go across something you want crossed out and it leaves mixture of lines, etc. No more putting things through a paper shredder, just swipe this across (for instance, bank numbers) anything that otherwise would be shredded. The backside was shown and none of what had been crossed out was visible. How long will it take for some “hacker” to figure out how to look through this “lock-out”?
The Fire Dept. was up at the Bork and Jorgensen houses on Saturday. Evidently they were training as some smoke was coming out of the J’s house. They were not burning either of these down. There is equipment up where the future bank is going to be. Evidently this house is going down soon.
Have you been in the big stores lately and noticed that right after Halloween, Christmas is present. Even Christmas music is being played. What happened to Thanksgiving?
How are you going to celebrate Thanksgiving? If you don’t want to cook, there are stores that will get a meal ready for you. The prices range from a small amount to $249. For the person who doesn’t want to cook, they would probably pay anything no matter what the cost!
I just got word that a Junior at MMCRU (Kamden Steffen) had open heart surgery on Nov. 11. Things are not going so well at this point. If you would like to donate to a benefit for him, checks can be sent to Iowa State Bank PO Box 549 Remsen, IA 51050 or any donation can be dropped off at any of the MMCRU offices.
It doesn’t seem possible that Christmas is closer than we think. It is that time when children want a puppy or kitten. The following story is food for thought.
It is a very common request for a child or even a teen to request a “puppy” for a Christmas gift, but are you ready for life after the puppy stages? The average dog lives for a dozen years…are you ready to commit for twelve years? Will you have a child and still have enough time to care for your dog and the baby? Will you be moving in the next 12 years and if so, will your next home be pet friendly? These are just a few questions you need to consider before you decide to adopt a super sweet, totally dependent, puppy as a Christmas gift.
When you get a puppy, it will make messes as it is not housebroke. They will chew toys, carpet, anything around because they are not trained. Would you bring a newborn baby home and get angry when he has accidents? You have to expect accidents with a puppy. They cannot train themselves…training is your responsibility.
The arrival of a dog changes a household considerably…for years. Someone has to be responsible for their daily needs—feeding, exercise, health care, grooming. The decision should be thought about, talked about and negotiated, and a new dog doesn’t necessarily have to be a puppy. There are many older dogs who would make wonderful companions. Old dogs, like Jake, have a special sort of dignity and charm all their own, if only they are given a chance.
“Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the pound_not a creature was stirring, except one lonely old hound. His dim eyes could see the shelter was decorated in holiday trim. And poor old Jake kept waiting for a visit from Him. All of his friends had found a new home. Except for old Jake, all cold and alone. But Jake knew it was Christmas, the gift giving season.
He hoped his friends were placed for the appropriate reason. He had seen it before the holiday gift…A new dog at Christmas…gave everyone a life. But, a dog isn’t a gift. It’s a lifetime commitment. The dog that on Christmas who brought so much joy, Ends up tossed aside. Like an old worn-out toy. The dog becomes a problem, they don’t
want around, And often the Christmas pup ends up back in the pound.
The night grew colder, and no one came. Who would want an old, all crippled and lame? So Jake closed his eyes and drifted to sleep. It was a good nap, all peaceful and deep. Jake didn’t wake up that Christmas Eve night. But he had found his new home…everything was right. He was in his eternal home, where he was loved, he knew. Old Jake’s Christmas wish had finally come true.
Keep in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost loved ones to death, have health problems, are struggling financially even though they have a job, encourage those who are not working to find a job, and to those who are distanced from friends and family, find a way to build a bridge instead of a wall.
I will close with this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American poet: “Write on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”