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Minnesota State University, Mankato
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The academic Turning the pages on balancing act 50 years of Greek Life
How to manage school, work when life gets in the way MADELYN PUNG
staff writer
College life can be a time when the lines between balancing work and play become a little blurry. The demanding life of a college student may consist of harmonizing the rigorous coursework, an active social life, participation in extracurricular activities, the balancing act of finances and much more. All these combined while trying to adapt to a new and fluid environment where change seems to be relentless are enough to stress any young college student out. Everything is competing for a student’s attention. Juggling these demanding responsibilities can cause students to build up an unhealthy amount of stress, due to the lack of equilibrium in their priorities. The key, however, is to discover opportunities to revive energy and ensure a sense of balance between obligations and accountabilities. Without stability, students are more susceptible to crashing and burning. In order to avoid an offset, students must learn to manage their time in an effective manner. Successful time management may require saying “no” to anything of unimportance, whether it’s the heap of laundry to be washed or the demand for a Skype session with friends or family. Determine what can wait by prioritizing and eliminating what is not critical. “Focus your time and attention on things you can control,” psychologist and co-author of “The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life” Robert Brooks told webmd.com. In addition, sharing the load and asking for help may also
promote balance. If students are finding themselves sinking into a puddle of confusion, they shouldn’t hold back, but rather request assistance. Professors and counselors are there for that precise reason, waiting to be utilized. While college can be a time of mass chaos and stressful nights, it is important to stay physically and psychologically healthy and take time for yourself. Students typically come from a place where their basic needs are taken care of. Now that such rudimentary responsibilities have been added to their plates, it is crucial to take a proactive approach to ones health. When students find themselves overwhelmed with responsibilities, sometimes exercising or walking away and grabbing a snack can help. In particular, natural green foods are proven to boost a person’s mood. If a student needs an energy enhancement or a reduction in their feelings of exhaustion and tiredness, they should opt for a glass of ice-cold water with a twist of lemon, versus caffeinated beverages. Green tea is also a good choice because it doesn’t dehydrate your body and cause shaking, like coffee and energy drinks do. It can help students stay awake, improve their immune systems and increase their metabolism. In the book “Active Wellness” author Gayle Reichler examines how coffee actually causes stress. “The caffeine begins to stimulate your central nervous system, triggering the release of stress hormones in your body, causing a stress ‘fight or flight’ response,” Reichler said.“If you are simply sitting at your desk, you may feel a short charge of alertness, quickly followed by feelings of
Balance / page 3
Creative writing graduate tributes Greek Life in new book
• courtesy of the integrated marketing office Ashley Portra is a creative writing graduate and is a Graduate Assistant of the Greek Community and Off-Campus Housing at MSU. ERIC PERRINE
staff writer
A new book celebrating Minnesota State University, Mankato’s 50 years of Greek Life is now available for purchase online and at the Barnes & Noble Centennial Student Union location. The book, titled “Our Chapters, Celebrating 50 years of Leadership, Scholarship, Service and Friendship,” was written by MSU graduate student, Ashley Portra, a Master of Fine Arts
– creative writing degree candidate. Portra also serves as the graduate advisor for the Greek Life organization. After a year in the graduate advisor position, Portra, a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, was approached by John Bulcock, assistant director of Student Activities for Greek Life and Off-Campus Housing, to write a book celebrating the 50th anniversary of MSU fraternities and sororities. “I think that he recognized that a 50th anniversary
HOW TO SPEND YOUR SUMMER INFOOTBALL MANKATOGAME MAVERICKS DOMINATE AT HOMECOMING PAGE 5 9
is a good time to do something like this,” Portra said. “And, so, after a year in this position he approached me and asked if I wanted [the] opportunity and really, it was something I couldn’t pass up. I saw it as a pretty important opportunity, so I jumped at it.” “Our Chapters” is Portra’s first endeavor into a full-f ledged book. However, she was hired partly for her “considerable writing skill,” which she has demonstrated through short stories, essays, TV commercials and scripts as the director of a small sports company in North Dakota, according to Portra. The book focuses on four core values: leadership, scholarship, service and friendship, which are mentioned in the title. Choosing these values made it easier for Portra to focus on the personal stories she wanted to intertwine with the historical narrative, which would represent what the fraternities and sororities have built up to and demonstrated over the past 50 years. Fifty years of MSU fraternities and sororities has demonstrated “resilience within the community,” according to Portra. Starting small as any other university club or organization would, the fraternities and sororities had to show others what they were all about in order to recruit members. The recruitment and eventual expansion of the fraternities and sororities wasn’t immune to backlash. The backlash was present in the ’60s and ’70s during the Vietnam War and women’s liberal movement, which created “dissention among the students,” according to Portra. Those sepa-
Greek Book / page 4 SPORTS
5 7
INDEX: VARIETY A&E
6 9
CLASSYS
11 7
Page 2 • Reporter
News
Tuesday, October 2, 2012T
What employers are looking for
Employers seek hardwork and experience in graduates
• web photo Nearly 700,000 college graduates were unemployed in 2011, some students choose additional schooling over the poor job market. CHRIS HOUCK
staff writer
In a time where a struggling economy is in a steady recovery, college students may have a more difficult time finding a job once they graduate than in times past. However, there are opportunities for up and coming graduates to bolster their resume and prepare to find a job in a competitive market. Kristin Underwood, Assistant Director and Graduate Survey Coordinator at Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Career Development Center works with hundreds of students on a weekly basis in order to help them make an
easy adjustment from the college life to the working world. “It’s a tough market out there,” said Underwood. “We do have higher unemployment and unrelated employment rates than past years due to the economy, but our graduates still do very well in the job market.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 700,000 college graduates were jobless in 2011. Also, only less than half of the 2.7 million college graduates had a job within their area of study. “Employers want hands-on, real-world experience,” stated Underwood. “Internships are imperative. I find students
who have a more competitive advantage, have learned more about the skills they can bring to the table, and have a better understanding of their career goals are ones who have completed internships.” In a press release issued by Chancellor Steven Rosenstone of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, he brought up several key points that students should keep in mind when they go looking for jobs. “Character matters,” said Rosenstone. “Employers are looking for employees who show up on time, work hard and are willing and able to work effectively with others. Simple enough, but important to keep in mind.” One important aspect for college students to consider when beginning a job search is the amount of time it takes to get their first experience in their field of choice. “The biggest misnomer about the Career Development Center is that you only need to come in right before graduation,” said Underwood. “We do help with job searching, absolutely. But, we also help with choosing and changing majors, identifying career paths, finding and applying to internships, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, and even applying to graduate school.” The type of degree that a student has does affect the possibility of finding a job as well. While the economy endured a downturn a few years ago, majors in areas
such as architecture and urban planning are currently sitting at about an 18 percent unemployment rate, according to studentsreview.com. So while the economy is recovering development jobs are still hard to find.
Even though there are still some majors, such as ones that include engineering, that finding a job easier with their low unemployment rates, there will always be a need for college
Employers / page 4
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
News
Homecoming Review More security, less minors
MOLLY HORNER
staff writer
The Mankato Department of Public Safety is working on scanning the final number of tickets and parties over Homecoming. by Wednesday. Homecoming 2012 was a success, according to many MSU students. “I was happy to see how many people were engaged in the Homecoming activities this year and it’s always a good time to see friends outside of the classroom,” Taylor Evangelist, marketing major at MSU, said. Matt DuRose, Mankato Public Safety Commander, only found two parties Friday evening that was most significant containing many underage alcohol consumers. “It’s hard to compare MSU Homecomings. Looking back to 2003 when there was civil disturbance to having anything from snow to flying temperatures as high as Saturday’s,” DuRose said. “There were certainly a large number of people off and on campus.” With College Town doing a good job of enforcing their own policies this year and taking those extra steps to prevent all
the big parties, it really helped Public Safety. College Town implemented a variety of rules and conditions over the Homecoming weekend, such as guests signing in with a resident, a shut down at 3 p.m., and guests and residents on the list after 3 p.m. were the only people admitted back into College Town. “I thought it was the best year ever. I didn’t think it’d be able to top last year because College Town wasn’t as strict then, but this year was even better because the weather was perfect, didn’t have to work and I got to see everyone,” Therese Mahon, nursing major at MSU, said. It was a busy weekend with a lot of vehicle and foot traffic but nothing really of significance, according to Mankato Public Safety. “I loved it! The weather couldn’t have been any nicer and the Maverick pride was strongly exemplified,” Courtney Lynch, nursing major at MSU said. Updated information and figures will be out Wednesday, according to DuRose.
Reporter • Page 3
BALANCE continued from 1 agitation.” Eliminating all distractions can also reduce anxiety. A free Mac application called SelfControl, can be downloaded as a tool to dodge distracting websites like Facebook or Twitter. It works by blocking accessibility to websites after entering in the chosen Internet site and an amount of time to be denied entry. Once underway, the block cannot be undone until the time is up, eliminating all possible procrastination. “I find that when I’m stressed with everything I have to do what ultimately helps me is to turn off my phone and disconnect from all sources of social media,” MSU freshman Rachel Miller said. “If I don’t, I think I’m logging into Twitter for a quick five minute break, but before I know it I’ve been on the website for an hour.” Don’t let the stress of work inhibit your academic potential and the ability to move forward. Sort out what really matters and what does not. Prioritize your tasks based on the level of importance and critical deadlines. Never forget there are specialists, resources, and programs available on campus, that offer support and help. Listen to your body’s needs by maintaining a nourishing diet; it will prove advantageous. Procrastination can be as deadly as a snakebite. Don’t let the deferment of the things you have to do, be the cause of failure. While attending a university, upholding a healthy balanced life is essential to achieving success.
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Page 4 • Reporter
News
GREEK BOOK “They had to work really hard to build a reputation and get people involved, and, then, throughout the years there’s been a lot of backlash from the University community, the Mankato community and the Greeks.” continued from 1 rated by the war and liberal movement viewed the Greek community as something exclusive. “They had to work really hard to build a reputation and get people involved,” Portra said. “And, then, throughout the years there’s been a lot of interest but also a lot of backlash from the university community, the Mankato community and the Greeks, they’ve really had to focus on what they were about and what they wanted to be about. So, being around here for 50 years and being very strong to this day, I think is really important.” Those who purchase the book will have the opportunity to read testimony from MSU President Emeritus Margaret Preska and her relation to the Greek community. Readers will also see rarely seen documents and photographs from members of the Greek community. Research for the book was conducted at MSU’s University Archives and Southern Minnesota Historical Center, which is located in Memorial
Library. Library archivists helped Portra access the records and information she needed. After four months of library research, she began interviewing past and current members of the Greek community. Proceeds from the book’s sales will go toward future Greek community programs and scholarships as well as already established programs, according to Portra. Proceeds will help students register and travel to leadership opportunities and conferences. “So, some of those funds, I think, will go toward helping those students register for events or travel to those events, because that can be a large burden on our students and we want to make sure that MSU’s getting the same opportunities that every other university in the nation is as far as going to those conferences,” Portra said. The book sells for $20 plus tax at Barnes & Noble and $26, which includes shipping and handling, online.
EMPLOYERS “Immediate, career-specific knowledge and skills are essential to success.” continued from 2 graduates, no matter what field they study. “Immediate, career-specific knowledge and skills are essential to success,” said Rosenstone. “Equally as important to employers are the foundational skills: the ability to think critically, write and communicate effectively, collaborate and work in teams, lead, and solve complex problems.” While there are some majors that employers are looking for above others, the choice of study is always up to the individual. “In a tough job market,” said Underwood, “you typically get about a 5 percent return on investment when sending out resumes, meaning that you will get about 5 interviews if you send out 100 well-crafted, tailored resumes. Bottom line, it’s a tremendous amount of work, it’s exhausting, and you will get rejected. The folks that do find jobs are the ones that persevere, don’t give up.” The tagline for the Career Development Center summarizes the process that they believe is the best way to get a job after college: “Discover your passion, develop your skills and experience, launch your career.”
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Page 5Tuesday, • Reporter
October 2, 2012
Sports
reporter-sports@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5227
Sports THIS TODAY (10/1/12) NO EVENTS SCHEDULED
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 WEEK IN MAVERICK SPORTS: WEDNESDAY (10/2/12)
NO EVENTS SCHEDULED
FRIDAY (10/4/12)
SATURDAY (10/5/12)
4 pm WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Augustana 7 pm VOLLEYBALL vs. Wayne State 7:07 pm WOMEN’S HOCKEY @ North Dakota
1 pm FOOTBALL @ Augustana 2:07 pm WOMEN’S HOCKEY @ North Dakota 4 pm VOLLEYBALL vs. Augustana
THURSDAY (10/3/12) NO EVENTS SCHEDULED
SUNDAY (10/6/12) 1 pm WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Wayne State
FOR MORE COVERAGE OF your favorite Maverick TEAMS VISIT: MSUMavericks.com
Mavericks cruise to 5-0 after 30-10 Homecoming victory
The MSU defense was once again unstoppable as the Mavericks defeated Concordia St. Paul to remain undefeated. JOEY DENTON
staff writer It was just another day at the office for the Minnesota State University, Mankato football team on Homecoming Saturday as they defeated the Concordia Golden Bears of Concordia St. Paul 30-10, getting the squad to a 5-0 start for the fourth time in school history. For the second week in a row, the Maverick’s offense started off slow going in to halftime in single digits. Junior placekicker Sam Brockshus connected on two field goals (29 yards, 39 yards) to give the Mavericks their six points in the first half. Head Coach Aaron Keen knew the offense got off to a slow start, but their defense kept them in the game in the first half. “The great thing for us is that we had a great defense while our offense was getting our momentum going and getting there feet wet. To hold that team to three points in the first half was just a tremendous job by the defense,” Coach Keen said. The (5-0) Mavericks started the second half with an offensive surge, driving the ball 70 yards down the field to score their first touchdown of the day on a 12-yard run by redshirt
freshman quarterback Mitch Brozovich. After an interception by sophomore cornerback Kelend Smith in the 3rd quarter, the Mavericks again marched down the field for a six-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Conner Thomas. With another touchdown and field goal in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks scored 24 points in the second half. The team kept with their game plan and in the second half the holes were opening up for them. “We were just pounding the rock all day, and we knew eventually it would break through and it did in the fourth quarter,” Brozovich said. Besides a 51-yard touchdown late in the game, the Maverick defense was dominant again. The team only allowed 69 yards rushing on 25 carries and took the ball away on two interceptions, which both translated in to points. Redshirt freshman defensive end Josh Gordon led the way with eight tackles (four solo) and 1.5 sacks, and he’s noticed a lot of confidence on the squad. “The defense has a lot of confidence. The focus is on everybody doing their job,” Gordon said. After running over 330
yards last week against MSU Moorhead, the no. 12 Mavericks dominated the line of scrimmage again rushing for 216 yards. This marks the fourth game of the season the Mavericks rushed for more than 200 yards. Brozovich led the way with 97 yards on 23 carries. “We make our money in the run game, and those guys up front feed off that,” Keen said. “They know that we are
going to find ways to rush the football.” Brozovich had a slow start to his second career start, but he picked it up in the second quarter connecting with senior receiver Adam Thielen a few times to pick up momentum. After getting injured last week against MSU Moorhead, Thielen came back Saturday and caught five passes for 89 yards. Even with the slow start,
Brozovich threw for 175 yards on 12 completions. “He’s a mentally strong competitor. He can take me getting on him,” Keen said. “He understands that we have a lot of confidence in him and his abilities.” The Mavericks start to get in to the thick of it in the South Division as they travel to Sioux Falls, SD to take on Augustana (2-3) on Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Sophomore Nathan Hancock fights for a loose ball with a Concordia player as MSU took down the Golden Bears 30-10 saturday afternoon.
MSU splits weekend of NSIC competition The Maverick volleyball team stifled St. Cloud State in four sets before being swept by Minnesota- Duluth. TIGE HUTCHESON
staff writer
It would appear that the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball picture is still far from being crystal clear. After entering the weekend riding a three-game win streak and playing some of its best volleyball of the season, the no. 10 Minnesota State University, Mankato volleyball team split its pair of matches over the weekend, downing St. Cloud State 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19) before being swept by no. six Minnesota Duluth 3-0 (2624, 25-20, 25-14).
In Friday’s match, the Mavericks found themselves in an early one-game hole against St. Cloud State (1-6 in the NSIC, 5-10 overall) after dropping the first set 25-22 but managed to climb out before it got deeper. The Mavericks stormed back to win the second set 25-16 and never looked back, finishing the match with set wins of 25-19 and 25-19. Kayla Berning led the Mavericks on offense with a match-high 15 kills while MSU also got contributions from Courteney Steinhauser (13 kills) and Chelsea Fogarty (12). Kelli Elhardt led
MSU’s defense with 18 digs and Fogarty added 15, while freshman setter Ellie Van De Steeg connected the dots and finished with 42 assists. But while St. Cloud State represents one of the NSIC’s most struggling teams, Minnesota Duluth (6-1, 15-1) is the complete opposite. Fresh off of a huge 3-1 win over no. four ConcordiaSt. Paul, the sixth-ranked Bulldogs entered Saturday with a ton of momentum and managed to keep it rolling. The Bulldogs’ offense, arguably the best in all of Division II, overpowered MSU’s offense, finishing with a .255
hitting percentage and held MSU to .088 (well below MSU’s average of .220). Junior hitter Kate Lange, who entered the weekend as Division II volleyball’s most dangerous offensive threat, lived up to the hype with a match-high 18 kills. Fogarty led MSU with seven kills and 14 digs. The Mavericks will look to start a new win streak this weekend as they play host to no. 20 Wayne State and Augustana. Wayne State will enter the weekend with a 6-1 NSIC record (13-3 overall), and are led by freshman hitter Lauren Sieckmann (48
kills), junior Cori Hobbs (41), and senior Melanie Placke (33). Augustana comes to Mankato with a 5-2-conference record (11-5 overall) and are led by junior Holly Hafemeyer (188 kills), senior Jordan Spatenka (166), and junior Taylor Hrdlichka (132). In NSIC volleyball, there are no “down weekends,” but after seeing a mix of big wins and losses, the Minnesota State University, Mankato volleyball team has a great chance to respond with a pair of wins at home this weekend.
THIS TUESDAY’S A&E CALENDAR
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A&E
TODAY’S TRIVIA
QUESTION:
MSU Jazz and Singer/songwriter Miguel
On this date, 1959, what Rod Sterling show premiered on CBS?
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reporter-arts@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5157
University jazz Group’s First Performance MSU Department of Music’s Oct. 9 performance includes a variety of genres
SUNNY SHRESTHA
staff writer
A
s the leaves in the trees around Mankato are slowly turning red and brown and falling to the ground, the environment is changing both outside the University and inside the classroom. With midterms on our doorstep, every Minnesota State University, Mankato student is feeling the full swing of the semester. An exam here, an assignment there, a project to work on and a quiz to prepare for, really the pressure of studies is touching everyone here at MSU. For some of us this might be good, but many are in need of a breather. The breather here is always right around the corner. The Music Department at MSU is famous for providing students with great performances, music concerts and, every now then, drama. This time around too, the department has decided to organize a Jazz event featuring the MSU Jazz Group on Oct. 9. The event is going to take place in the Elias J. Halling Recital Hall of the Earley Center for Performing Arts, 320 Maywood Ave at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Douglas Snapp, Director of Jazz Studies, who is going to direct MSU ensemble’s Jazz Mavericks’ Big Band, Pop singers and Pop Choir, confirms that this event is more than just a Jazz event. This is the first event of the year for the Jazz groups, so Snapp is bringing on all of his ensembles and jazz groups together. Groups like Jazz Combo are currently rehearsing by themselves to bring in a spontaneous “flavor” of jazz music. Many differ-
ent Jazz choir bands are supposedly going to present famous Beatles songs, as well as songs like “We Are Young,” by Fun. The music is definitely going to have jazz fused with pop and other genres as Snapp believes, “Don’t mean a thing, if it aint’ got that swing.” However, to Snapp, the main highlight of the night will be the announcement of the Al and Bette Wortman Vocal Jazz Scholarship. This is the first time the Music department is giving this kind of scholarship. Talking further about the scholarship, Snapp reveals that the scholarship is being collected and provided by former MSU professor, Al Bette Wotman, along with 40 other Music Alumni. Hannah Ehresmann, a Bachelor of Arts graduate, is going to be the first recipient of this first time scholarship in vocal jazz. Snapp realizes that the scholarship is going to help many students, and will invite several new talents in the coming years. Ehresmann will also perform in this event and we hope that the creator of the scholarship Wortman will also be present during the performances. With a new improved sound system installed in the performance hall, preparations went on with full enthusiasm in the Performance Arts building. All of the things considered for the night, I believe will be a memorable one with lots of jazz music oozing out of the hall. A jazz event like this is sure to be fun. So if anyone wants to get their taste of jazz and other styles mixed with jazz, this event is among the best options. See you there! • web photo
Miguel Scores on Sophmore Album
ALEXANDER RYAN ROUNDTREE
• web photo
staff writer
O
ne of the perils of being a rising singer is the pressure to expand upon what made your sound significant to begin with. Much of the time the end result is a “love it or hate it” reception that is fueled by ill-advised collaborations and dragging one’s sound too far from the concrete platform that had been set before them. Miguel is an artist that knows how to expand. His 2010 debut All I Want Is You was a major treat for those that favored their R&B with-
out compromises. It spawned hit singles and started a run that culminated at the end of 2011 with a stellar hook on Wale’s “Lotus Flower Bomb.” While the sophomore slump is easy to succumb to, Miguel shows no signs of backtracking but rather a virtuoso ear for crafting first-rate music. Kaleidoscope Dream is perhaps the best argument for those that claim R&B music has become downtrodden over the years. It places Miguel against a backdrop that is completely his own, with a voice that is the perfect complement to the excellent production that makes up the album. The seamless pattern of artistry is the result of the fact that Miguel writes all of his music while also lending his hand to producing a few tracks. Kaleidoscope Dream strikes a balance between a world where the atmosphere is both relaxed and honest. It is this same honesty that allows Miguel to shine in a predisposed genre that often favors clichés. What Miguel does well is approach his craft with a veteran’s ear, being able to break down conditioned walls to reformat what R&B should sound like. Often artists that take on this task blend elements that overpower their sound resulting in a sonic catastrophe. Kaleidoscope Dream makes good on its title. It is in fact something that blends old, with new and rock elements with 80’s musicality and the attempt never falls flat. This is an R&B album in the truest sense, but it does not exist within the parameters of a formulaic effort. This is a commendable piece of work not only
for this reason but for the fact that the album is a great listen without any filler. Kaleidoscope Dream’s lead single “Adorn” is still fresh in listeners’ ears and stands as an album opener to be reckoned with. Highlights include previously released “Use Me” and “Do You…” that live up to the hype of what Miguel has become known to offer. Perhaps the only fault of this album is how it was released. The release schedule happened in three parts with Miguel releasing the first three songs in July and the next three in September. Kaleidoscope Dream’s release holds the last five unheard songs along with the previously released tracks. The issue is that essentially people feel like their grabbing a five song EP instead of a full project. Regardless, Kaleidoscope Dream stands as a great testament of artistry and beckons to be heard from top to bottom. For an artist, candor is a great quality to have and here it is used admirably throughout. The future looks bright for everything that Miguel is involved with if his present ability for song-crafting stays close with him. On album closer “Candles In the Sun” Miguel ponders “look at all these people/searching for a reason/ searching for a peace of mind/ Say we’re all created equal/ that’s what they teach us/ but that ain’t how we treat each other/ the truth is that we need each other.” Always insightful and aware; Miguel delivers.
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(10 miles south on Hwy. 22)
bandrautotrucksalvage.com
Caregivers Needed!! Be a part of the Prairie River Home Care team!! We are looking for dedicated, compassionate caregivers to join our team, providing in-home care to all ages in the Mankato & surrounding areas. Competitive wages! EOE.
Please call us @ 1-800-598-5546
Page 8 • Reporter
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012