Hot Pursuit - Rick Bussler - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF AN AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST

HOT PURSUIT THE LIFE AND TIMES OF AN AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST

Rick L. Bussler

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I now consider raising two children by myself for many years as the greatest achievement I have accomplished in life. No one can ever take that away from me even though some tried to be skeptical in the beginning.

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__RICK L. BUSSLER

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This book is dedicated to Rick’s parents, Clifford and June Bussler.

They continuously sacrifice and support Rick by laying down the foundation he needed to be the successful man he has become in all aspects of his life.

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F O R W A R D Hardworking. Inquisitive. Fearless. Visionary. Bulldog.

Yes, these identify Rick Bussler.

Rick was a junior in high school when he learned the Brownton Bulletin’s photographer would be leaving for college. Never lacking in confidence, he popped into the office and offered his services.

Cliff and June, his parents, were well known throughout the community as hard-working, straight-shooting, dedicated people. Their Busslers Durocs not only annually walked off with grand champion honors at the McLeod County Fair, they constantly earned top honors with their hogs at the Minnesota State Fair -- and sold many animals on the international market.

They were pillars in the 4-H and held leadership positions in the state Duroc association and the county fair organization. June is a long-time employee of the award-winning McLeod County Chronicle of Glencoe.

One might say, Rick has good genes.

With Charlie Warner, Kay Warner and Janae Paehlke, the Bulletin had a string of hardworking, award-winning, fun-loving photographers. Rick stepped right in, not only following their footsteps, but he took the department to another level. Imitation is the highest forum of flattery and picking up where those ahead have moved and improving on what’s left you, is a single achievement.

Rick excelled with the camera. The first few weeks he’d receive his assignment and get the job done. Soon he was coming up with his own ideas, first with sports photography but soon with general news shots as well. One of the Bulletin’s trademarks was a quarter-page picture on the front page. Didn’t take long and Rick would come up with outstanding ideas for this shot.

Back in those days, in our small shop, the photographer not only took the shots. He also developed the film, made the determination as to the size of the pictures and then printed them.

Soon the young shutterbug branched out into writing. His sports stories featured coaches’ quotes, solid statistics, and interesting narrative. Once in awhile he got pretty long-winded but once he was shown what was unnecessary he quickly put on the brakes.

All too many reporters and photo people tend to be timid about getting close to the action.

Rick wasn’t. Many of his sports pictures seemed to put the reader right in the middle of action.

Rick had the vision to mentally layout what the reader would like and then the tenacity to finish the job. He saw the potential in a story and he’d stick with it until it was successfully completed. He was a real bulldog. A true hard worker.

Each year the Minnesota Newspaper Association conducts its Better Newspaper Contest.

There were over 300 weekly newspapers in the state. With Rick playing a solid role the Brownton Bulletin, in 1984, became the first weekly from a small town -- less than 800 population and less than 1,200 circulation -- to win the Mills Award and be named the top weekly paper in Minnesota.

I’m proud to say Rick Bussler got his start in newspapering at my shop. It’s great to see him continue in the trade.

Chuck Warner

Former publisher of Brownton Bulletin Brownton, Minn.

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Submitted photo Future successful newspaper publisher, Rick Bussler, 3, is dressed for success with a smile.

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I love newspapers. It has been in my blood since high school when I started working for my hometown newspaper—the Brownton Bulletin. I began taking pictures in 8th grade for the newspaper.

Within a year I began writing stories in addition to photography. And by the time I graduated from high school, I was running the paper and doing everything from selling advertising to laying out the pages. In its heyday, the Bulletin was one of the best small town newspapers in Minnesota as it won many state and national awards.

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__RICK L. BUSSLER

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C

hapter One

Rick Bussler, left-shown in photo, is shown getting a copy of the Blooming Prairie Times from the prior owners Joyce and Dan Evans following the sale of the newspaper. Bussler took over the reigns this November 1, 2009.

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November 3, 2009

Bussler purchases Blooming Prairie Times Dan and Joyce Evans of Evans Printing & Publishing, Inc. have announced the sale of the Blooming Prairie Times to Rick Bussler of Lakeville.

The transaction was made final on Thursday, Oct. 28, with possession of the newspaper having taken place on Monday, Nov. 2. The new owner will be in town this week meeting with local business owners as well as civic leaders and will continue to meet with local leaders and individuals as time progresses.

This is the first newspaper purchased by Bussler and the new owner is “excited” and “elated” in wanting to know the business community, as well as the entire Blooming Prairie area. Bussler will look to increase advertising coverage through the newspaper as well as the Golden Link, and would like to increase the circulation of the newspaper through additional subscriptions as well.

The Evanses purchased the Times on Sept. of 2005 from Elsie and Ron Slinger and have been running another five publications besides the BP Times, which include theLeRoy/Southland Independent and the Meadow Area News in Minnesota, and the Cresco Times Plain Dealer, the Lime Springs Herald and Riceville Recorder in Iowa. Those papers will remain in the Evans Printing & Publishing, Inc. business.

The Evanses, with the support of local business owners, improved the newspaper by adding process four-color and attained consistent status as the Steele County legal newspaper.

“We feel blessed having to

have had the opportunity to serve the Blooming Prairie community and the surrounding area,” said Dan Evans, who added he wished he had more time to be more involved in Blooming Prairie, but had restraints due to owning other newspapers. “The people of Blooming Prairie are second to none, and we really appreciated the support and encouragement from the local businesses over the years. We would like to thank the entire business community, the many civic leaders and residents of this wonderful town. We will truly miss Blooming Prairie.”

Bussler began his newspaper career at an early age, having worked at his local newspaper, the Brownton Bulletin, (Brownton, Minnesota) in 8th grade as a photographer.

He worked his way up to assistant editor by the time he graduated from high school.

During this time, he won many state and national awards for writing and photography.

After high school, Bussler attended Mankato State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. Bussler continued working in the newspaper business at small weeklies during college.

He ventured into broadcast journalism after college when he worked as a reporter/anchor for KAAL-TV in Austin in the early ‘90s. During his stint at KAAL, Bussler often covered the Blooming Prairie area.

Most recently, Bussler has been a police officer for the Lakeville Police Department.

As part of his duties, he produces and anchors a monthly police cable show.

He plans to continue work-

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ing in Lakeville, in addition to owning the newspaper.

“We wish Rick the every best and know that the people of Blooming Prairie will welcome him and his family and be as generous to them as they were for us,” added Evans.

The former owners would also like to thank the many great employees they’ve had over the four years of ownership.

“It would have been impossible to put out the product we had without the help of our excellent employees,” said Joyce Evans. “Without their help and knowledge the Times would not have been as successful. We’ve been fortunate to have such a great staff and wish them the best in helping the new owner in the future.

We will definitely miss them.”

The Blooming Prairie Times is a vital part of the community, having served the area since 1893.

The Times was started in the late 18th century by conscientious business people who felt the little hamlet needed a source of news and advertising. It has been in business since as the Times, with a short stint as News and Times in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Krejci family of Blooming Prairie owned the newspaper over 40 years, selling it in the early 1980s and becoming the longest-running owners in its history. The Slingers owned the newspaper for 11 years, prior to selling to Evans Printing & Publishing.

November 10, 2009

First ‘Hot Pursuit’ Column “We’re in ‘hot pursuit’.”

You’ve undoubtedly heard that expression at various times in different situations over the years.

You’ll be seeing it a lot more in the future as I have decide on “Hot Pursuit” as the name of my column.

I know you’re probably thinking, why “Hot Pursuit”?

I think you’ll find “Hot Pursuit” describes a major portion of my life and what I am all about. As the new owner of the Times, I want to Rick Bussler, Lakeville police officer give you a better understand- produces and hosted LPD Journal, a monthly police cable show for last 12 ing of who I am.

“Hot Pursuit” became the years. front-runner for the name of this column as it ties together year. Even through I hadn’t had my life interests. In addition to any connection to the Bulletin being a newspaper publisher, I for many years, it was difficult am also a full-time licensed poto see the newspaper fade into lice officer for Lakeville. I just the history books. And I think it began my 13th year in Lakeville was the awful news of the paper last month. I’m guessing you’re folding that inspired me to want starting to see the parallels with to get back into the newspaper the column name. business, at least on a part-times As a police officer, I’m often basis. called upon to be in hot pursuit.

The good news is that the It may be a wild and crazy poTimes paper is in no danger of lice chase as I’m trying to track closing. Blooming Prairie is a down the bad guys. It could vibrant community that supports also be rushing off to a domestic its newspaper well. One of my situation, car crash or a medic al goals for many years has been emergency. Cops are always in to own and operate a small hot pursuit of something. newspaper. I couldn’t think of I love newspapers. It has a better place to do that than been in my blood since high Blooming Prairie. school when I started working It’s interesting how life works for my hometown newspaper— and the twists and turns that take the Brownton Bulletin. I began place over the years. Blooming taking pictures in 8th grade for Prairie actually isn’t totally new the newspaper. Within a year I to me. Back in the early 90s, I began writing stories in addition worked at KAAL-TV, Channel to photography. And by the time 6, in Austin where I was a news I graduated from high school, I reporter/anchor. I covered the was running the paper and doing Blooming Prairie area at times. everything from selling advertis- Ironically, one of the biggest ing to laying out the pages. In stories IK covered here had to its heyday, the Bulletin was one do with police. I handled the of the best small town newstragic shooting of Blooming papers in Minnesota as it won Prairie’s police chief. many state and national awards.

One would think covering Unfortunately, due to the a story like that would have unstable economic times, the steered me clear of going into Bulletin ceased publication last police work. But it didn’t. In

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1995, I joined the Waterloo, Iowa police department and worked there for two years.

I then joined the Lakeville force in 1997 and have been there ever since.

Part of the beauty of my current job in Lakeville is that I get to do both police work and media. I produce and host our monthly police cable show, “LPD Journal.”

If you’re ever bored and looking for something to do, and perhaps get a few laughs, just go to the Lakeville Police Department’s website where my cable shows are streamed online.

By now, you’re probably wondering whatever led me into police work. It was actually my TV reporting job. I did many ride-along with police officers, state troopers and deputies. In fact, some of my ridealong brought me into Blooming Prairie in the wee hours of the morning. I also covered police and courts extensively throughout the region.

As much as I love police work, I have to admit I love journalism even more. That’s what has been so neat about my cop job in Lakeville as I get to tie in both of my loves. I also realize though that I can’t be a police officer forever. Police officers often retire young.

In the coming months, you’re likely going to read about some of my cop stories. Police work is definitely an exciting profession to not only work in, but to also watch as an outside. I hope to give you some insight into the battle police officers are fighting every day with the war on crime.

I’m excited about the opportunity to publish your local newspaper. It will be a great adventure as I go in hot pursuit of producing the best newspaper possible.

November 17, 2009

Hot Pursuit

Rick Bussler, The Times publisher, first Hot Pursuit column mug shot, 2009.

Small town America is charming, especially when there are communities like Blooming Prairie dotting the countryside. I have found that part of the charm of Blooming Prairie is how vibrant of a community it is. The passage of the school referendum a few weeks ago will ensure Blooming Prairie’s charm as a vibrant community for many years to come.

I’m well aware of the controversy surrounding the referendum. It seems no community with school bond issues and referendums these days are escaping the intense public scrutiny and controversy. All one has to do is look at the vote total with passage coming only by a margin of eight votes.

Blooming Prairie voters need to be applauded for approving the referendum. I know it’s going to cost taxpayers additional money. But that might be the small price to pay for what could happen.

Let’s take my hometown of Brownton, for example.

One just needs to look no further than Brownton for a worst-case scenario of what can happen when the community doesn’t support its school. Granted, Brownton,

with a population of 800 people, is a bit smaller than Blooming Prairie. But the school district was paired with neighboring Stewart with 600 people. The joint district was named McLeod West. You’ll notice I’m using the past tense of was. That’s because the school district no longer exists.

For years, McLeod West attempted to pass referendums in various forms ranging from renovating existing buildingto-building all new to save the school district. But each time the referendums went down in defeat. To add insult to injury, the controversy divided the two towns to the point where they can’t stand each other anymore. And guess what happened last year? The school closed and now the identity of both communities seems to be disappearing as well.

Children from the two communities are now being farmed out all over the countryside to three surrounding districts – Glencoe-Silver Lake, Buffalo Lake-Hector and Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (GFW). When it comes to talking about school districts, Brownton no longer exists. Stewart is gone. And most recent McLeod West is a thing of the past.

The closure also added to an existing problem of businesses dying. The main drags in both towns are barely clinging to life. If you think you’re going to find a gallon of milk in Brownton, you better begin searching for a cow in a nearby pasture. Soon after the school shut its door, the local newspaper ceased publication. The domino effect with a school closing is devastating.

It’s like a snowball rolling down a hill out of control.

Without a doubt, the school is the lifeblood of any small community. It’s no differ-

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ent here in Blooming Prairie.

Win or lose with the past referendum, I realize Blooming was not anywhere close to losing its school. But the illustration of what happened in the McLeod West district has some value in it for people here and some food for thought if future school issues arise.

Blooming does not want to begin down the path of not supporting its schools.

Terrible things can happen if taxpayers shut out the cost of funding education. I don’t believe residents in this lovely city want to see Main St. businesses shut down or the community’s economy go in the tank. I’m also guessing most citizens here enjoy reading their community newspaper week after week. People need to realize once the school district goes, the rest is not far behind.

I also thing we all want our children to receive a quality education. Without it, we will have no leaders of tomorrow.

Small communities and small school districts can thrive – and most importantly survive.

But it takes the willingness of the people living here to make that happen. Blooming Prairie voters spoke loud and clear that they want to support their schools. It’s my hope that the positive support will continue well into the future.

I don’t want to see Blooming without a school, a vibrant business district or a local newspaper. Worse yet, the school’s mascot, the Awesome Blossoms, would be thrown into the wind.

It’s reassuring to see Blooming Prairie residents are in hot pursuit of providing their children with a quality education so close to home.

November 24, 2009

Times are a changin’ Since day one, I made a commitment to our readers to provide the best possible community newspaper that I know how. This week marks the beginning of some of the changes you will be seeing over the next few months as I zoom in hot pursuit of making this one of the best community newspapers in the state.

First of all, I’d like to point out Dan and Joyce Evans has done a wonderful job with this newspaper for almost five years. It makes my job coming into the paper much easier when there is already a first class publication in place. I hope to build upon what Dan and Joyce have done with the Times. There will be no radical changes to the paper because there is no reason to do so. The former owners had a strong commitment to local news and sports coverage. They prioritized the luxury of having color on some of the pages. And the Evans became strong boosters of civic projects.

I do not plan on changing any of that with my assuming ownership of the paper. But I want to take a good paper and make it even better. And I hope you will agree with me that we’re on the right track as we unveil some of the changes this week and in the coming weeks.

Most notably this week you will notice the size of the newspaper has changed.

Because we switched to a different printing plant in Albert Lea (it previously had been done in Charles City, Iowa), the pages are somewhat smaller. The Albert Lea printer only prints one page size. We are excited to be utilizing Albert Lea’s fairly new state-of-the-art printing plant.

Many weeklies and even some dailies, including Austin, Albert Lea and St. Paul to name a few, are going to the smaller page size. I’m told that within a few years most newspapers will likely be printed on the pages you’re now holding.

There are other advantages to the new printer as well.

Albert Lea is obviously much closer to Blooming Prairie.

In addition, we are excited to keep our printing business in Minnesota to stimulate the local and state economy.

I believe one of the best perks of the new printer will be the addition of a second section along with full color.

You will be seeing full color on the front and back pages of both sections. That means four pages of full color instead of the previous two. What a better week to start with extra color than the week when the football team battles it out in the state tournament.

Because of the smaller page size, we will be forced to reformat the pages somewhat.

In the coming weeks, you will most likely notice some changes to the type styles used throughout the newspaper.

We hope to deliver a clean looking paper that will be easy to read and follow all your favorite things.

The pages will be organized somewhat differently than in the past. For example, the opinion page, which is the page you’re now reading, has been moved from page 2 to page 4. We felt it was important to push more local news to the front of the paper on pages 2 and 3. Sports will be moved into the second section with color photographs of your favorite sporting events.

Speaking of the opinion

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page, you’ll likely notice a few changes there. We’ve added some local columns by Per Kvalsten and yours truly.

We hope to add editorials written by our news staff.

Beginning this week, we’ve added syndicated cartoonist Ed Fischer to the page as well.

We’d also like to encourage readers to write guest columns or letters-to-the-editor.

Through this page, we hope to draw attention to important local regional, state and even national issues.

It obviously may take a few weeks to get used to the changes we’re making. We are trying to make the changes slowly so we that the readers can get adjusted without too many problems.

While change is sometimes difficult for people, I think you will find these changes are a positive thing for your local newspaper. We only make these changes to benefit our readers. Even as we make these changes, there’s one thing that won’t change: our desire to provide the best local coverage. We are here to serve you by covering Blooming Prairie, Steel County and the surrounding area. You won’t find anybody else who covers this area the way we do.

Our goal at the Times is to enhance the quality of this newspaper to an even greater level than it has been in the past. We hope you like the changes we’re making and please let us know what you thing – good of bad.

Being in hot pursuit of providing a great newspaper is why we’re here.

December 1, 2009

BP Times amping up police news Ever since I can remember as a youngster I loved playing cops and robbers. I’m thankful that I fell in love with the cop part of that game instead of the robbers. Who knows where I would have ended up if I thought it was cool to be a robber.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years of being a journalist covering police and later as a police officer, it is that I’m not alone in my fascination with police.

Many people love cops. Well, maybe not necessarily the cops themselves, but certainly what they do.

While many people don’t make it a profession to become a police officer, they show their curiosity for police in many other ways. For years, CSI has been one of the most highly rated shows on television. And then there’s the hit show “Cops,” which is a real life look at the war police officers are constantly up against. I know one gal at my church who professes to watch hours and hours of Cops every week. She can’t seem to get enough of police. And don’t forget about “America’s Most Wanted.” There have been many other popular police and court shows over the years.

I think you get the idea.

The public thirsts for police and court information. People are always quick to get involved in community event involving the police. There is often a sense of ownership between community members and their police department.

It’s no different whether it’s a big city like Minneapolis or a small town like Blooming Prairie.

It probably won’t come as

a big surprise what the Times has found out through surveys conducted with readers in the past. We have asked readers what they would like to see changed or improved in their newspaper. One of the most recurring themes we’ve found from those surveys is the desire for more police news in the newspaper.

Police hungry readers will be relieved to know that the newspaper fairy has come along and granted them a wish. The Times has begun publishing more police news.

For starters, we are bringing summaries of the police activities from the Blooming Prairie Police Department and the Steele County Sheriff’s Department. Some more serious and important items from the local departments may make it on the news pages in separate new stories. The rest of the activities will be summarized in a log under the heading of police blotter.

Beginning this week, we are going to begin publishing court news from Steele County District Court. The court news will include traffic court such as speeding and seat belt citations. If you’re pulled over by any law enforcement officer in the county, including a police officer, sheriff’s deputy or state trooper, and given a citation and convicted, you can expect to see your name in the Times. We will have a tough policy when it comes to court news. All names will be published. No exceptions.

Don’t even bother calling us to have your name taken out.

In the coming weeks, we also hope to take a more aggressive approach to covering criminals who commit crimes.

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We are going to be working with the Steele County Attorney’s Office in getting information about people who are charged with crimes.

The information we will be printing is a matter of public record. Anybody can get access to this information if they want. But most leave it up to their local newspaper to get the information. On of our responsibilities as journalists is to provide police and court information. It’s a responsibility we take quite seriously.

We agree with our readers who feel the Times has been missing the beat when it comes to police and court news. Our latest effort to include this information in the newspaper should help fill that void. This beefed up police and court coverage is one way we’re attempting to listen to our readers and improve the overall quality of the newspaper.

The Times doesn’t want to miss a beat. I think readers expect no less from us. And we certainly don’t intend to let our readers down. We’re in hot pursuit of digging up the kind of information readers come to expect in their local newspaper.

Putting this information together on a weekly basis will be almost as much fun as it was playing cops and robbers as a kid.

December 8, 2009

Publisher reacts to police news Law enforcement across the country as well as close to home has been in hot pursuit of bad guys this past week.

Several headlines dealing with the police have grabbed the attention of readers this week not only nationally, but also locally. It’s weeks like these where the tragic reality of the dangers associated with law enforcement shines through.

First of all, the national headlines detailed the bloody and horrifying incident of four police officers being gunned down in the line of duty in Washington state. An ex-con came blasting into a coffee shop with guns blazing. When the bloodbath was all over, four officers were dead. A few days later police killed the gunman when he made a move for the weapon he took from one of the slain officers.

Killing anybody, especially police officers, is one of the most cowardly acts any human being can commit.

What makes this Washington incident especially troubling is that the officers were doing nothing more than having a cup of coffee together.

Residents love to see police officers taking breaks in public places where they can connect with the officers if they want.

An incident that grabbed the headlines on the local level is the officer-involved shooting along I-35 south of Owatonna.

A state trooper pulled over a vehicle near Hope for having obstructed view inside the car.

The motorist bailed out of his vehicle and ran into a nearby ditch. The man eventually crouched down and aimed what is believed to be a gun at the trooper. The trooper then fired his gun, as he believed his life was in danger.

As soon as I heard about the Steele County shooting, I had flashbacks to Christmas Eve 1997. It was a Christmas Eve I would never soon forget and made me have a deeper appreciation for law enforcement.

I was a rookie officer in training with the Lakeville force. It was a quiet Christmas Eve where we had stopped over for some holiday goodies at the local fire chief’s house.

As soon as we left his house, a fellow officer checked out with a “suspicious” vehicle at the McStop located just off I-35 on the south end of Lakeville.

We started heading in that direction to provide back up for the officer. About a minute after we arrived, gunfire erupted into the quiet Christmas night sky. The female officer who made the stop tried to get the driver of the vehicle to arrest him. He effused, revved up his engine, threw it into revers and knocked the officer to the ground. I was standing right next to the female officer as she went down.

My training officer, who was positioned in a different area from me, opened fire on the motorist, hitting him multiple times on his body. Just as soon as he ran down my partner, I had to turn around and provide the suspect with first aid for his gunshots. Imagine what thoughts were going through my mind working on someone who nearly killed my partner. The motorist ended up living and went to prison for aggravated assault. The officer recovered from her injuries and eventually came back to work.

The entire incident happened in a matter of seconds.

But what took 30 seconds or

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less to unfold changed several lives forever. We were lucky that no officers were killed in our incident. It could have ended much more tragically.

But such traumatic incidents change lives in ways that many people don’t know. I couldn’t help but think how one of our officers could have easily joined the ranks of more than 100 officers who die in the line of duty each year across America. Fortunately, Lakeville has never lost an officer in the line of duty.

Resorting to deadly force is something police officers don’t want to be faced with, but are prepared and trained to do if necessary. I hope I never have to be involved in another shooting incident again.

I know how some people love to criticize the police for whatever reason – sometimes justified, other times not. But what you need to realize is police officers are willing to risk their lives to keep everyone protected as they sleep in the comforts of their warm homes or go about their normal life activities.

It sickens me to think what this holiday season will be like for the families of the four Washington officers fatally wounded. I’m thankful that the trooper back here in Steele County didn’t end up getting injured of killed.

As evidenced this past week, police work is never routine. So whenever you see a police officer, give him or her a pat on the back and thank them for their efforts in keeping our society as safer place to live. Believe me, they will appreciate your kind comments.

December 15, 2009

Murder signals domestic abuse Details continue coming to light about a Twin Cities woman murdered on a rural road in Steele County. This story is deeply troubling on many accounts. The 19-yearold woman is suspected of being killed at the hands of her boyfriend who is alleged to have stabbed his partner.

I can’t imagine how somebody could kill another human being. Perhaps it’s my strong Christian upbringing and high morale values that make me clueless about the psych of a killer. But to me what’s even more reprehensible is how this defenseless woman died. She was viciously stabbed over and over again – 109 times to be exact. That’s not a typo: 109 times!

The murder of Kathryn Rose Anderson sheds light on a significant problem facing mostly women in our society.

Domestic violence appears at times to be out of control. The statistics are staggering. Minnesota averages 20 domestic murders every year. One out of every four women face domestic violence. There are more than 1.3 million victims of physical assault by an intimate partner in this country.

For years, domestic violence was considered a family matter that wasn’t talked about outside the home.

But domestic abuse advocates have worked hard to change that in recent years. Domestic abuse is no longer considered a private family matter. Laws have changed. Police are now mandated to make arrests in certain cases.

Kathryn Anderson was from Eagan, which is in Dakota County where I work as a police officer. I have learned

that Anderson was assaulted at least once before by her boyfriend. The now killer had been previously charged with domestic assault in Eagan.

What is even more disturbing, but not surprising, I guess, is that I found out domestic abuse advocates in Dakota County reached out several times to help Anderson after her first assault. But she never took advantage of the help available. And look where she ended up – in a ditch covered in blood with 109 stab wounds all over her body. This is one of the most violent murders I have heard about in years.

If there’s a lesson to be learned in the wake of Anderson’s death, it’s that domestic abuse victims need to break the silence and seek help.

For some reason, women are afraid to get help. Victims need to take advantage of the resources available. There are domestic abuse advocates willing to help. There are women’s shelters willing to take in abused women. Police and prosecutors are willing to hold abusers accountable for their actions.

Perhaps, if Anderson had sought out help when it was offered, she wouldn’t have ended up dead. We will always be left wondering – what if?

I’m also left wondering what led Anderson’s boyfriend to allegedly continually stab her. I know people get angry from time to time. But this is more than anger. This is intense rage. It’s also disturbing to think what kind of upbringing the suspect has in his childhood that would lead tot such a tragic outcome.

I want to encourage any

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woman or man who is being abused by an intimate partner to seek help. Call your local police department and they can point you in the direction of resources available throughout the community.

No one deserves what happened to Kathryn Anderson.

She had a promising future with a whole life ahead of her.

Her future has been cut short by an alleged knife-wielding crazed man or should we say animal. If there were ever a case for the death penalty, this would be one of theme. All we can hope for is that her killer will never see the light of day again.

December 22, 2009

Consider giving this holiday season This holiday season isn’t going to be real merry for many people. This past year has been a rough one around the country as a record number of Americans have been forced out onto the unemployment lines. The picture isn’t real rosy in Minnesota either.

As the year comes to a close, I’m so thankful for what I have in my life. I actually become overwhelmed with thankfulness, especially knowing about all the hardships going on out there. I’ve had friends lose their jobs in 2009.

And as a police officer and elder at my church, I’m well aware of the struggles people are facing.

The news is bleak this holiday season. Unemployment is the highest it has been in nearly three decades. With people being unemployed, local food shelves are experiencing a big demand for people needing food. I’ve heard some area counties report a 30 percent increase in people utilizing the food shelves this year. Police departments report crisis calls are increasing because people are feeling down and out.

I don’t want to sound all dismal this holiday season, but you can help bring a little jingle into the holidays of others who may be struggling.

It’s my wish that people will remember those who are struggling to make ends meet.

There are so many ways you can help. You can make cash or food donations to the food shelves or other charities.

People can donate toys for local charities. Many communities have giving or sharing trees. Charities are always accepting cash donations

I’ve always tried to instill in my children the importance of giving. During the holiday season, we load up the family van and the kids head to the local grocery store. The kids spent their hard earned allowances on buying groceries and then bringing them to our church for the local food shelf.

It’s such a gratifying feeling knowing that you’re helping someone who is going hungry.

Another way we’ve helped out is through our local 4-H club, which participates in a program called, “The armful of Love.” The club adopts a family and then club members head to the local store to pick out Christmas gifts for the family. My kids have experienced so much enjoyment out of that for several years.

You can also reach out in other ways. If you know of someone who is unemployed, show up on their doorstep with some food or gifts. We need to spread love and gratitude to everyone during the holidays.

This is a season of giving – not getting.

It often takes tragedies for people to come forth to help others. But this current financial crisis and unemployment has been a tragedy for many families. I hope you and your family will seriously consider helping out another family in =need. It may help you as you’re going in hot pursuit of finding happiness this holiday season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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December 29, 2009

Officer a local hero When people are asked to identify heroes, it’s sports jocks like Joe Mauer and Brett Favre that come to mind. For others it may be music heroes like Taylor Swift or Bon Jovi.

Heroes are often looked at as untouchable people who live in other cities or states.

But we also have heroes living right here in Blooming Prairie. City police officer Mark Lang is a hero who deserves some special recognition. He may not be someone who you think of as a hero, especially if he’s given you a traffic ticket for speeding or arrested you for drunken driving or some other crime. But Lang is a hero who prevented a Christmas disaster for one local family.

Lang responded to a house fire on Dec. 20 just days before Christmas at the Paula Sime residence in Blooming Prairie. When he arrived, he found flames shooting up a wall in the kitchen area. Lang instinctively grabbed his fire extinguisher and doused the flames even before the fire department arrived.

When the smoke settled, the kitchen as severely damaged.

It will likely take $15,000 to $20,000 to repair the damages.

But the important thing was the damage was confined to the kitchen area.

Lang’s quick actions likely kept the house from being more seriously damaged and may have even prevented the entire house from going up in flames.

It’s times like these where it becomes quite clear why we have fulltime police officers serving our community. Officers are most often the first on the scene of car crashes,

fires, natural disasters, medical emergencies and the list goes on.

Police work can be tedious and boring at times. I know that first hand. But there’s no greater feeling in the world than when you’re truly called upon to help somebody out of a sticky situation that could result in significant property loss or worse yet loss of life.

I remember back to a situation I found myself in back in 2001. As a police officer in Lakeville, I rolled up on a road rage incide3nt in which one driver was stabbing another in the neck with a huge knife.

One driver came walking towards me with blood gushing out of his neck. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.

Because I was there at the exact moment I was, we were able to save the man’s life. To me, it clearly illustrated the value of having police officers serving our communities. In fact, how does one even place a value on another person’s life?

Back here in Blooming Prairie, officer Lang is a hero.

He’ll likely tell you – as most police officers do – that he was just doing his job and it was no big deal. But it was a big deal.

Lang saved Paula Simes’s house form burning down.

And he saved Paula and her sons from getting more seriously injured. That’s certainly not a claim most people can make in the normal course of their jobs. Police work is a job that many people are unable to do. It takes a special person to protect and serve.

It takes someone like officer Lang. Blooming Prairie is fortunate to have someone like Lang protecting and serving

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the community. Who need to to look elsewhere for big shot heroes when we have one living and working right here in our area?

There’s no question that our local hero prevented a real tragedy from marring this holiday.

Above - Crazy Days was a community event that Rick Bussler organized himself while working at Brownton Bulletin. Bussler managed to work with advertisers and write articles for the 2nd Annual Crazy Days that took place on July 27,1984.

Above - The staff of the Brownton Bulletin which included Rick Bussler shows their Crazy Days spirit by dressing up for the community event. Right - Rick Bussler spearheaded the Brownton Crazy Day event his junior and senior years in high school. As a junior he’s in the back as a senior, again with the paper’s staff.

Submitted photos

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“

Ever since I was a young kid, I always grabbed newspapers and watched as much television news as I could cram into my schedule. In fact, I probably was one of the only teenagers who subscribed to two major daily newspapers.

”

__RICK L. BUSSLER

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January 5, 2010

Help save someone’s life, give blood I’m not one big on making New Year’s resolutions. But that doesn’t keep me from encouraging others to make their own resolutions. As you’re contemplating what to do for the new decade, here’s one idea to add to your list: help save a life by giving blood.

January is National Blood Donor Month. It’s a good time to think about how you can help out another person. By donating blood regularly, you not only make a vital contribution to modern healthcare, but you can also help save a life.

I became a regular Red Cross blood donor a few years ago. I certainly didn’t start donating as early as I could have. But now I wouldn’t miss it for the world. In fact, I’ll be giving blood again today (Tuesday). I get the biggest rush from donating blood and knowing I’ve likely helped someone in need.

Throughout January, the American Red Cross is celebrating the contributions of millions of blood donors who give patients hope. If you haven’t donated blood through the Red Cross, I think you should add it to your New Year’s resolution list and become a regular donor.

Getting poked and having blood sucked out of your veins may sound a little unappealing and scary. But take it from me it really is pretty painless.

A little discomfort is a small price to pay for someone who is facing a life and death situation and needs blood immediately.

The Red Cross says your blood donation is so much greater than a pint of blood-it is a gift of hope to a patient in need. Imagine yourself, for a moment, being the patient in

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need.

Life is full of many twists and turns. One never knows when you’re going to be laying on the emergency room or operating tables needing blood pumped into your body.

It could be a car wreck, a heart attack or some other unexpected medical condition that lands you or a loved one in the hospital.

I don’t know about you, but I hope to God there is blood awaiting me in the hospital if I ever need it. You need to consider joining the ranks of nearly 4 million blood donors across the country dedicated to changing lives, one donation at a time.

The Red Cross is governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities. It is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it.

In addition to providing nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts..

It’s reassuring to know that we have a service like the Red Cross to depend on in times of great need. Do yourself a favor, plan on donating blood this year. Being in hot pursuit of donating your blood could just save another person’s life.

Believe me, it’s something you won’t ever regret.

January 20, 2010

Earthquake devastates Haiti The devastation is unfathomable. The desperation is unbelievable. The hopelessness is increasingly mounting.

It’s been difficult to watch and see the pictures and video coming out of Haiti where an enormous earthquake rumbled through the country last week, killing thousands of people and leaving many more with shattered hopes of ever having a normal life again.

My eyes have welled up with tears many times this past week as I’ve picked up the daily newspapers to get an update on Haiti. There have been pictures of grieving relatives, people with mangled body parts, unbelievable wreckage of property. The worst ones to look at-at least for me-are the children. The look in their eyes is one of hopelessness.

As gloomy as things look over in Haiti, it’s a relief knowing that countries from all over the world are helping in relief efforts. There are supplies and relief workers flooding Haiti to help a country with a collapsed infrastructure and nonfunctioning government, which is in no position to handle this enormous crisis.

America’s helping hand is needed now more than ever before. The American spirit of giving will hopefully shine through in the coming weeks.

The survivors in Haiti are going to need food, clean water and shelter. And lots of it.

This is where we come into the picture and can help out our fellow humans. We need to step up and take charge in helping a country buried in the ruins of Mother Nature’s mighty force.

It’s unthinkable what it is

going to take to get Haiti back up on its feet. This is probably going to be the greatest national disaster of recent memory.

Perhaps the best way we can help out is by giving cash donations. Many local organizations in Minnesota are beginning to help in the Haiti relief efforts by accepting donations. Churches of all types are helping out. I know the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, for example, is currently taking donations for Haiti. Many other churches are doing the same.

Another good source for folks to donate is the American Red Cross. The Red Cross prides itself on helping people in times of disasters.

As difficult as things are close to home with our troubled economy, I hope you will find it in your hearts to help out in Haiti. Even a few dollars would go a long way in helping a crumbled, earthquake-ravaged nation.

Our tough times pale nothing in comparison to what is facing the people of Haiti. Most of them have lost everything-their homes, loved ones, what little property they had and the bare essentials of food and water to keep them alive.

Life is great in America.

Let’s give the Haitians just a small sliver of the prosperity we have come to know. Americans need to go in hot pursuit of sharing a little humanitarian aid with the Haiti people whose lives are in desperate need of help.

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February 9, 2010

Keep Sunday a day for God It takes a lot to get me annoyed, but there’s one thing I have little or no tolerance for.

It’s society’s messed up priorities when it comes to church or religion.

I don’t think I was raised much differently than most people 30 plus years agosorry, I’m not divulging my age-in which Sunday was considered a sacred day devoted to church activities.

Missing church on a Sunday was a rare occurrence for my family and if we did it was usually because one of us was sick in bed.

Life has changed in many ways since I was raised on the farm moons ago. And while I can usually accept most change, I can’t understand why society has gotten so far off track when it comes to church. This has become even more evident to me since my children have become involved in sports.

When it comes to sports, there is no such thing as a sacred day for church. Scheduling for sports activities takes place all over the calendar and at any time-even Sundays when families are supposed to be in church. I’ve been fighting this battle for years.

I have continually been at odds with my son’s basketball program because many of the games are scheduled for Sundays. I wouldn’t necessarily have a problem with Sundays in general, but quite often the games are set for Sunday mornings. That’s right smack dap during the time people should be in church.

This past weekend about pushed me over the edge. My son played this past weekend in a tourney in Edina. I found

out the games had to be intentionally pushed up to early Sunday morning to clear the afternoon schedule because of the big sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl.

I have nothing against the Super Bowl. I think it’s a great event, but I draw the line when it starts dictating the rest of our lives. It seems like some are ready to hearld the big event as a national holiday.

Being involved in sports is great for kids. But you have to question the logic of packing Sunday mornings full of sporting events. After all, less than 1 percent of kids will actually go on to higher levels of sports after high school.

The rub I have is the ongoing pervasive attitude about ignoring church and religion.

How have we become so apathetic about church that we essentially don’t care if we get to church or not?

Society is messed up in many regards. Many churches are struggling to find young people to fill the pews. I’ve been to some churches where the average age seemed like it was about 70 years old.

We’re constantly wondering why crime is spiraling out of control, especially juvenile crime. I especially see this as a police officer.

There is a breakdown of the family in many situations. I believe many ills of society are directly related to the fact that people have no church or religion in their lives. We would not have the crimes we have if more people would focus on being in church.

I can’t help but think what message we’re sending to our young people when we’re

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quick to schedule sporting activities on Sunday mornings and have no consideration about church. It’s no wonder why our younger generation is not in church.

Teenage years are such an impressionable time. If we’re not setting the example for our teens, they’re not going to know any differently. The norm is going to be that “oh I’ll get to church when I’m free of other activities.”

I resent sports organizations who are leading the drive to ruin our society and keep kids out of church. I’m in hot pursuit of challenging sports organizers to leave Sunday mornings alone and let families go to church.

Families need to be together-and on Sunday mornings that means together in church.

February 16, 2010

Hot Pursuit Our winter sure has been crappy this year. Many of my trips to Blooming Prairie this winter have with less than desirable road conditions.

There’s something else that has added to the frustrations.

Motorists who don’t know how to use their headlights.

It’s frustrating when one is driving down the road to see what seems like every other vehicle without headlights on when conditions are poor.

Minnesota’s vehicle lighting law states that lights must be displayed: 1.) at any time from sunset to sunrise; 2.) at any time when it is raining, snowing, sleet ing or hailing; and 3.) at any other time when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions or there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicle on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.

Basically, the way Minnesota’s theater of seasons goes, you might as well figure on putting your headlights on all the time-day or night. It seems as if the weather is more adverse than not.

There have been several foggy mornings throughout the area in recent weeks. But it always floors me how many motorists continue driving around without their headlights on.

Besides being against the law to not use headlights under certain conditions, it’s also downright dangerous.

Drivers are putting other motorists at risk by not using their headlights when conditions warrant it.

Working as a patrol officer

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in Lakeville, I actually love when the weather takes a nasty turn. It allows me to stop motorists who fail to use their headlights. To my amazement, most motorists never really have a good reason for not using their headlights. The biggest thing I hear from drivers is that “oh I never knew that was a law” when you point out that law requires headlights in adverse conditions.

Some motorists fail to shine their headlights no matter if the weather is a factor or not.

You would be amazed at how many people for whatever reason forget to put on their headlights even when it’s pitch dark out.

This recently happened in Lakeville where three people in one vehicle were killed allegedly at the hands of another vehicle who failed to have its headlights on at about 7:30 in the evening. This was a tragic case where the lives of a young child, mother and grandmother were ended all at once.

I realize there are many laws for motorists to know in order to operate a motor vehicle. But to me the headlight law should be as easy as knowing it’s the law to strap yourself in with a seatbelt.

Motorists give other motorists a break-put on your headlights when weather calls for it or expect a police officer to be in hot pursuit of handing over a citation to you.

I only have one message for motorists who fail to use their headlights when they’re supposed to: you’re an accident waiting to happen. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to be on the receiving end of that accident.

February 23, 2010

Wanted: Letters from readers You have likely found many changes to the Times over the past few months since I took over ownership of the newspaper. One of the changes we’ve focused on extensively and are quite proud of is developing a strong editorial page, which is the page you’re currently reading.

We are by no means anywhere close to having as strong of an editorial page as we want. We’re still finding ways to make our editorial page stronger and better, but that’s where you come into the picture. More on that in a little bit.

I had a great teacher for learning how to make a strong editorial page. My former boss, Chuck Warner, was one the best editorial writers I have ever known. His newspaper, the Brownton Bulletin, which is where I started my journalism career, won many state and national awards for best editorial page among other things. In fact, Warner, who is long retired, still writes a weekly column.

The editorial page is an excellent place for opinions to be exchanged. There are different ways in which we try to express opinions. The most prominent feature on the page is an editorial in the upper left hand corner. Editorials convey the newspaper’s opinion or stance on a particular issue or subject. We may write about issues that pop up on the local level, county or regional level, statewide or even national.

Editorials generally do not carry a by-line-the writer’s name- because they reflect the opinion of the newspaper as a whole.

We have added local

columns by news editor Per Kvalsten and yours truly.

Columns shed light on any subject, which could be light, serious, funny, sad or entertaining. Some weeks it can be a struggle to come up with something that will be interesting to readers while other weeks we’re overflowing with ideas. Our goal with the columns is to provide interesting insight on issues that affect people. We also love to share experiences that happen to us or other people in the community with every day life.

Other features that help round out the editorial page include a cartoon by a wellrespected cartoonist who has been around for decades and guest columns. We often have people who want to share opinions on particular subjects and we offer a guest column for them to do so. You’ll often find politicians writing columns to get their views across to people.

Even with all the exciting features we have developed onto our editorial page, there is one thing I’ve noticed we’re often missing. And this is where our readers come into play. It’s a feature called letters to the editor. We welcome and encourage readers to write letters to us. Without people willing to write letters, the letters to the editor portion of the opinion page will be nonexistent.

We understand that readers are not always going to share the same opinion as us on particular topics. And that’s fine.

We want to hear from readers no matter if they liked a specific editorial or column or not. We believe a strong com-

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Rick Bussler’s former boss, Chuck Warner, former owner/ publisher of the Brownton Bulletin from 1953 to 1986, is a current member of the Brownton City Council (2012).

munity is one where people are able to express their opinions freely and openly.

We want readers to comment about issues that are on their minds. Everyone has an opinion about something so let your voices be heard. We are the community sounding board for Blooming Prairie.

I want more of our readers to be a part of the Times by taking advantage of writing a letter to the newspaper. You can easily drop off your letter or column at our office, mail it or send it to our E-mail.

But for now we’re in hot pursuit of readers coming forth with their ideas, opinions and feelings through letters to the editor, which is a true trademark of a great newspaper. Our mailbag is empty and only you have the ability to change that.

March 9, 2010

Century Club has new faces A remarkable accomplishment has taken place this week. Not just one, but two new members have been added to the elite Century Club. What are the chances of a small community like Blooming Prairie to add two at one time?

Most of us likely aren’t even aware of what the Century Club is let alone ever having a chance of becoming members. The first thing that came to my mind is some big top sales group in a large company. The Century Club we’re talking about this week consists of people who have turned a century old. That’s right 100 years old.

Two local residents, Ollie Cook and Irene Filley, have turned a century old, making them the oldest residents in town. We’ve pulled out all the stops this week for this gigantic milestone by featuring our newest centurions in a feature story on the front page and a big full page advertisement elsewhere in the paper. After all, we figured it’s the least we could do for two great people who have been living for 10 decades.

If you read Ollie and Irene’s feature closely, you may find a few secrets about living to 100. Nothing can beat hearing it from the babes of aging themselves. But I also found some insight into growing old.

I came across an interesting cover story in Time Magazine a couple weeks ago. It seemed appropriately timed for Ollie and Irene’s big accomplishment. The magazine featured the science of living longer and interviewed some centurions about how they reached that magical age.

A century of life was once a rare thing, but believe it or not even with our fast paced society today, that is changing.

A key to accomplishing this is finding ways to live better.

Most of us would like to live as long as possible, especially if we can stay as fit as Onie Ponder, who at 111 may have been the oldest person to vote in the 2008 presidential election. Here’s the bright news: more of us will be able to do just that. And here’s why.

If human life expectancy continues to increase at its current rate, half of the children born in the developed world today will be around to celebrate their 100th birthday just like BP’s Ollie and Irene.

In the most recent Census, health officials predicted that by 2050, more than 800,000 Americans would be pushing into their second century of life. Those numbers are even expected to grow larger after this year’s census.

Interestingly, only about 30% of aging for most people is genetically based, which means that the other variables are in our hands. Experts contend that we control our own destiny. Those same experts have identified several behavioral and personality traits that seem to be critical to longevity. They include: not smoking, being extroverted and easygoing and staying on the lean side. In other words, the first step to longer life spans is to get back some of what we lose by living our overfed, overstressed and underactive lifestyles.

I don’t know exactly what has been contained in Ollie and Irene’s prescription for

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living into a second century, but experts recommend daily rigorous physical activity, getting 15 minutes of sun every day, choose foods that look the same when you eat them as when they come out of the ground, sleep more than seven hours a day and finally, have a purpose in life.

Ollie and Irene are giving me inspiration to fine-tune some things in my life and go in hot pursuit of becoming a centurion.

Congratulations Ollie and Irene on your amazing feat of cracking the Century Club.

This is truly a huge milestone that deserves some grand celebrating.

March 30, 2010

A mega bucks hometown hero When the Minnesota Twins signed veteran American League catcher Joe Mauer last week to a mega $185 million eight year contract, it signaled a team committed to winning in a new ball park. I also was elated because I think it might be the last piece to the puzzle ensuring the Twins become serious World Series contenders.

I certainly love to watch sports, especially since I’ve never been all that good at playing them. My kids painfully remind me of that every time we’re out in the backyard playing some hoops or catching balls. My favorite sport to watch is baseball and, of course, my favorite team is the Twins.

I never thought for a moment that the Twins would let Mauer escape from calling Target Field his home. I also knew it would take a hefty price tag to keep the hometown slugger, who by the way may go down in the years ahead as the greatest Twins player of all time. I certainly think it’s great Mauer is staying put where he belongs-in Minnesota.

It looks like Mauer hit the all-time sports lottery. I don’t want to take anything away from Mauer and what he has been able to accomplish.

He’s a superb ball player who deserves to be treated with a handsome salary.

But $185 million? It’s hard to fathom how much money that really is. What really puts it in perspective is the fact that most people won’t even crack $1 million in their lifetime of working at least 35 years.

Mauer’s mega bucks deal brings up the issue are profes-

sional athletes paid too much?

It seems that the astronomical salaries of pro players are detracting from the overall mission of sports-to have fun.

In Mauer’s case, he’ll be making roughly a measly $147,000 per game. The president of the United States earns in one year about what Mauer will take home in three games.

That amount of money seems ridiculous!

There are so many hard working, middle class Americans who will never get a glimpse of money like that.

I’m included in that group. So who is more deserving, the hard working person who has to work overtime in order to make ends meet or the sports jock, whose career is no more than a game? I would hope we all agree that the hard working “average Joe” is the more deserving of the two.

I don’t think many will argue that bankers, teachers, police officers and doctors are most often underpaid. It would be wonderful to take some of that “jock money” and spread it out amongst those people who truly make the world go round every day.

Many sports heroes end up wasting their money. That money could be used so much more productively. Perhaps millionaire sports players should make what the average American makes. What would our world be like if all the extra money that finds its way into their pockets goes somewhere else? All that money could go toward the homeless, the hungry and starving, Medicare, Welfare, the national deficit, charity, medical research, the war on drunk driving and the list goes

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on.

But most often athletes are too selfish and greedy to think of the greater causes that make the world a better place to live. They only want to make their world better.

Perhaps the fans are to blame for this mega dilemma.

After all, it’s fans like you and I that venture to the ball parks and courts and shell out big bucks to see athletes in action.

Are we fueling the fire by satisfying our entertainment wants?

I truly believe many pro athletes are making way too much money. The Twins’ Mauer can now be added to that list. Let’s just hope Mauer inspires the rest of the team to go in hot pursuit of bringing home a World Series championship.

April 13, 2010

Mini-size for a change For years, it has annoyed me how restaurants have “super-sized” everything in sight. It seems like you can’t find anything on a menu these days without it being a “supersize.” Whoppers, Big Macs, Blizzards, French Fries and soft drinks to name just a few have gotten out of hand with size proportions and helped drag our country into a huge epidemic of obesity.

That’s why I took a double take at a news story that recently came out announcing International Dairy Queen will soon begin offering a “mini” Blizzard. I about fell off my chair. How could something I’ve been complaining about for years finally take a turn for the better?

Beginning this summer, the Edina-based Dairy Queen will begin dishing out “mini” Blizzards. They will weigh in at just under 6 ounces, which is about half the size of a small Blizzard.

The “minis” are meant to appeal to ice cream lovers looking for smaller portions or lower prices-or both. The mini will cost between $1.99 and $2.49 compared to, on average, $3.19 for a small Blizzard.

Hallelujah! Just the thought has already made my expanding waistline a bit smaller.

The mini has been tested in three markets, including the Twin Cities, and Dairy Queen says it was a hit. The Blizzard, which is DQ’s flagship product, started 25 years ago. The company claims the Blizzard outsells any single ice cream treat served up by any of its competitors.

DQ needs to be applauded for taking a bold stance

against obesity. After all, I believe the world of supersize this and super-size that has gotten so many of us in trouble when it comes to our weight and related health problems.

Let’s take childhood obesity, for example. Obesity involved children has more than tripled in the past 30 years.

Take a look around you and I bet it won’t take you long to spot someone who is not just overweight, but downright fat.

It’s become a sad reality of our culture.

Childhood obesity has both immediate and longterm health impacts: obese youth are likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure; overweight children are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological problems; and obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become obese adults.

Experts estimate one in five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are overweight. That puts so many of our young people at higher risk of developing disorders like diabetes and heart disease.

And what about adults?

One-third of adults are considered obese. One study suggests that most adults will be overweight or obese by 2030 with related health care spending projected to be as much as $956 billion. I’m in trouble, you’re in trouble, we’re all in trouble. I, for one, could stand to shed 30 pounds off my waistline.

I realize one restaurant making a “mini” size won’t

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solve our obesity epidemic, but at least it’s a small step in the right direction. I hope other companies will take notice and find themselves going in hot pursuit of helping us all become healthier.

Perhaps it’s an age thing, but as I get older, I’m finding that “super-size” isn’t such a great thing. Don’t forget the old saying: “What you eat is what you’ll look like.” It’s high time we start “minisizing” more life amenities, including what we eat.

April 20, 2010

Speeders, beware Put the pedal to the metal.

Driving with a lead foot.

Cruising at dangerous speeds.

They’re all phrases associated with one of the greatest problems on Minnesota roadways-speeding. It’s an issue that seems to be cruising right off the speedometers of vehicles.

Last week the state announced a campaign to crackdown on speeding for the rest of 2010. Police agencies all across the state will be accelerating patrols to catch those motorists who are accelerating their vehicles to dangerous speeds.

The feds are helping to ramp up speed enforcement by giving the state $1.5 million in funding. That cash will allow police agencies to dedicate 20,000 hours of additional patrols. The State Patrol is partnering with county and city agencies to target specific roadways statewide that have a history of speeding activity.

Illegal and unsafe speed has been determined to be a contributing factor in 391 traffic deaths in Minnesota during 2006-2008. If you think this is a problem that just occurs on metro freeways in big cities, you’re sadly mistaken. A majority of the speed-related fatal crashes-more than twothirds-take place in rural areas where there is less than 5,000 population. I probably don’t need to remind you, but I will.

Blooming Prairie and many surrounding communities fit into that category.

As a police officer, I have responded to many fatal and serious injury crashes over the years. I’ve scraped more than my fair share of bodies off the roadways because of drivers

who ignored speed laws. My experience has found that motorists are ignoring speed limits every day, putting the lives of other motorists at risk.

Motorists generally don’t realize that there are many dangers associated with speeding. Some of those dangers include greater potential for loss of vehicle control, increased stopping distance, less time available for driver response for crash avoidance and increased crash severity leading to more numerous and severe injuries.

Traffic enforcement is something that I have always taken quite seriously in my role as a law enforcement officer. One thing I commonly hear from motorists I stop for speeding is, “Don’t you have anything better to do than stop me for speeding? Why don’t you fight some real crime?”

My answer is always the same. No I don’t have anything better to do. I am quick to remind those same motorists that the greatest threat to their safety is traffic crashes.

It’s not getting mugged, robbed or shot by an intruder.

One just needs to look at the statistics to see what I’m talking about. We have lost at least 455 people on our roadways every year in Minnesota for decades. In contrast, there were 108 people murdered in Minnesota in 2008 with more than half of those in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Now where should we be devoting our law enforcement resources?

Police officers aren’t just out to ruin your day by pulling you over and handing over a ticket that will generally cost you at least $120. It’s

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a serious job that your life may depend on it. Cops want motorists to get to their destination in a safe manner. They don’t want to pick up bodies from the roads.

If you’re used to going down the road with a heavy foot and aggressive driving, you better be prepared to carry a lighter wallet. It’s not just the fine you’ll have to worry about, but also increased insurance costs.

Cops will be going in hot pursuit of speeders throughout 2010. Believe me, putting the pedal to the metal and driving with a lead foot just aren’t worth it.

April 27, 2010

Deadly weekend in MN It was a deadly weekend on Minnesota roadways for teenagers. Ten people dead-seven of them teenagers. It can’t get much worse.

Just think about that for a moment. Seven different families have been devastated by losing teenagers who they loved dearly. I can’t imagine the grief those families are now going to endure.

I know you’re probably thinking that I write about traffic safety too much. But as I mentioned last week there is no greater threat to your safety on a daily basis than traffic crashes.

Let’s take a closer look at these weekend crashes for a moment: Winona County-One vehicle rollover involving four teens being ejected from their vehicle. Three of the four die with the fourth clinging to life.

Cambridge-Two vehicle head-on crash killing six people, including three teens.

While the crash is still under investigation, alcohol is believed to be a factor.

Onamia-A two vehicle crash took the life of a 16-year-old girl. Once again, alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash.

I don’t know about you, but hearing about these crashes gave me a sick feeling to my stomach. What makes things even worse is knowing that these crashes could have been prevented. That’s right we all need to stop dismissing incidents like these as “oh they were just accidents” and take action to put an end to this mayhem on our roadways.

Traffic safety is probably my greatest passion in this

world, especially when it comes to teenagers. I have worked on this issue for years as a police officer, journalist, volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and member of coalitions pertaining to underage drinking. I have spoken at victim impact panels, driver’s education classes, mock car crashes, mock DWI trials, school programs and the list goes on.

I have even presented on this issue at national conferences.

While enforcement is a key component to battling the war on traffic safety, education is equally important. In my job as a police officer, I have focused on both of them. I love teaching teenagers about the dangers associated with driving and what they can do to prevent becoming a statistic.

Seat belts are the simplest and most effective way to prevent death or injury in a crashespecially on roads plagued with speeding, distracted driving and impaired drivers. Seat belts restrain motorists in the vehicle’s designed protective space, giving them room to live in the event of a crash.

Impaired driving is a serious threat on our roads.

Each year, up to 200 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes on Minnesota roads.

The lessons here are simple: buckle up and drive sober.

And if you’re a teenager, don’t drink at all. Why can’t teens figure this out?

It drives me crazy that we’re killing teenagers on our roadways at an alarming rate.

In less than two weeks, my oldest child will turn 15. She is ready to begin driving with a permit. While she is thrilled to be able to begin driving, it

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scares me to death. The only satisfaction I guess I’ll have for at least the next year is that she will have to drive with an adult in the vehicle. But after that, it’s a whole different ballgame.

Over the next few weeks, teenagers from Blooming Prairie and other surrounding communities will celebrate prom and graduation. This should be a happy time and not one marred with tragedy.

Weekends like this past one can’t be tolerated. We all need to go in hot pursuit of reaching out and touching a teenager with advice about driving and traffic safety. The message is simple: this tragic carnage on our roadways can be prevented and needs to stop.

May 4, 2010

Mother’s Day tribute: God’s Angel We’ve all heard about God surrounding us with angels in our lives. Imagine one of those angels being sent from heaven as being your mother. That’s what my life has been blessed with for more than four decades.

Mothers are special in so many ways. They nurse you from the day you’re born, provide guidance as you grow up and eventually help you mature into an adult. The bond between a mother and child is certainly extra special.

But the bond you’re about to see with my mom is anything but short of being extraordinary and a miracle from God. I was blessed to grow up in an extremely healthy and loving environment. Growing up on a farm in central Minnesota with my parents, June and Clifford, is something I will always cherish. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how special it was until years after leaving the farm for “greener pastures.”

As I grew up, I only partially realized the significant role my mother played in my life.

She has always been around to support me in a loving and caring way without providing interference in my life. This became clearly evident 10 years ago when I experienced a major life setback.

I went through a painful divorce on many fronts. It wasn’t pretty. It’s not anything I’m proud of, but it led me closer to one of God’s angels.

Divorce is something I never imagined I would experience in my lifetime. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It shakes your inner core to the bone, chews you up inside and scars you for life. What made my divorce especially tough was that I had two small children stuck in the middle clinging to find some happy ground. It’s probably hard to imagine, but in some ways, divorce can be tougher on people than a death.

I’m not here to rant and rave

June Bussler (center) spends time with her grandchildren during an afternoon in the park while having a picnic.

about my divorce. Quite frankly nobody probably would care.

But what happened through the process made me realize how God truly blessed me when he sent me into this world with my mother at my side.

What I will tell you about my divorce is that I did something not many men are ever able to accomplish. I obtained custody of my children, who were at the time ages 3 and 4. I was left juggling a full-time career and raising two children by myself.

To this day, I still remember being told by someone that I would lose interest in raising the kids after a couple of years.

I think that provided me with more inner strength and determination than anyone could imagine because I wanted to prove them wrong.

This is where my mother comes into the picture. For five straight years, she helped me raise my children when I was working. In addition to working full-time Monday through Friday, my mom traveled 65 miles every Friday afternoon and stayed with us until Monday morning when she would go directly back to work again.

This arrangement allowed me to work weekend nights as a police officer. It’s also an arrangement that kept my mom and dad apart for several days at a time.

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My mom sacrificed her freedom and time away from my dad to ensure my kids would be raised in a healthy and stable environment. I’m not sure my dad was always so thrilled about being home alone all those weekends, but he managed just fine. Thanks dad for your sacrifice as well.

The impact my mother has had on my children has been profound.

Without my mom, I cringe to think about where my children would be today. It’s not that I lack confidence in my parenting skills, but my mom was there for us at a time when we desperately needed her the most. I have no doubt in my mind that God put my mom on this earth to be one of his angels as well as one of my angels.

My children are teenagers these days and don’t get to spend nearly as much time with grandma any more. She’s still around, but it’s definitely not the same as what they once had.

If there ever was a Mother of the Year contest, my mom would be the best candidate.

She helped take a family from despair and gloom to one rich with happiness and hope of having a great life.

My mom is truly one of God’s angels. Happy Mother’s Day!

May 11, 2010

Ripping fabric of society One of the worst experiences of being a police officer is mourning the loss of another brother officer. Unfortunately, this situation happens far too often in Minnesota as well as the rest of the country.

Last week I attended the funeral of Sgt. Joe Bergeron, the 26-year veteran of the Maplewood Police Department who was ambushed in his squad car while responding to a carjacking. Thousands of law enforcement officers from across the state joined together to say farewell to the fallen hero at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

My heart was aching as I stood outside the Cathedral in formation with hundreds of other officers. It was a solemn atmosphere as bagpipers played with a large American flag hung suspended from two fire trucks. The officers stood solemnly in salute. The St. Paul Police Memorial Bell sounded 26 times-one ring for each year Bergeron was an officer.

After the Mass, more than 400 police cars from departments across Minnesota drove the procession route from St. Paul to a cemetery in Little Canada with lights flashing.

What struck me as I was driving my squad through the procession was how complete strangers lined the parade route. The majority of them likely never knew Sgt. Bergeron, but that didn’t keep them from coming out and displaying their support. It was impressive what I came across along the parade route.

Adults, senior citizens, babies, young toddlers and school kids lined up along the street with many of them

having their hands over their hearts as the squads passed by.

Some held up signs thanking the officers for their service to the community. Others waved American flags to show their respect.

At times it’s easy to get caught up in the belief that nobody really cares about the sacrifices police officers make in protecting and serving their communities.

But taking a drive along the funeral procession changed all of that for me. The incredible support shown by citizens had a profound impact on me even though this was a terrible event to be at.

Cop killings, especially the manner in which Bergeron experienced, are horrific for any community to suffer.

Such brutal killings rip at the inner fabric of society. It’s a personal loss for members of the community whether they knew the officer or not.

As I stood for hours during the funeral and cemetery service, many things flashed through my mind. It brought home the tragic realities of police work. It puts officers like myself face-to-face with the reality of my own life and my own family. I certainly felt a sense of real grief for the slain officer’s family. I can’t begin to imagine what his wife and two beautiful teenagers are going to experience in the days and weeks ahead.

The killing of Sgt. Bergeron was senseless and should not have happened. Once again, evil reared its ugly head and took one of the state’s finest from us.

Perhaps the hardest moment for me came at the cemetery when a dispatcher spoke

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across the airwaves asking for a moment of silence.

“Joe, all your brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire and EMS thank you,” the dispatcher said. “Your leadership abilities were second to none, your call for duty above and beyond... His spirit will continue to live on in our hearts and prayers. Rest in peace, Joey B., Maplewood squad 4357, badge 357, is 10-7. End of tour May 1, 2010.”

It’s difficult to hold back tears when somebody comes across the loud speaker with police radio traffic noting the death of a fellow officer.

I hope the two individuals responsible for Sgt. Bergeron’s death burn and rot in hell for the grief they’ve caused his family and those of us who go in hot pursuit of keeping the peace so the rest of society can enjoy life.

May 18, 2010

Saluting EMT volunteers Volunteering is the lifeblood of small communities. There are all sorts of volunteers giving their time in various ways. Perhaps one of the most important volunteer roles locally is one we’re recognizing this week.

It’s Emergency Medical Services Week. And this week we’re going to salute the approximately 15 volunteers who make up the Blooming Prairie Ambulance Service.

They’re not just volunteers.

They’re men and women who are dedicated to saving lives in the community as emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

What makes this volunteering role so unique is that EMTs go through extensive training and must be ready to go at the drop of a hat. They live by the pager. The beeper can go off at any time of the day or night and the EMTs need to be ready to go.

EMTs respond to any medical emergency in the city and surrounding area. The emergencies could be crashes, medical situations, suicide attempts, shootings and fights to name a few. When someone is in dire need of medical attention, the EMTs race to the scene to lend a helping hand.

City police officer Jake Peterson is the president of the local ambulance. He has done a fabulous job in making sure this community has first rate emergency services.

Just how important are EMTs to this community?

Well, consider for a moment that there are more volunteer EMS individuals than paid full-time professionals.

Small towns can’t afford full-time paramedic service.

They have to rely on dedicated men and women who want to

help out their community by volunteering to do something that quite honestly can be a gruesome job at times.

Every small community has between 10 to 20 volunteers who don’t get compensated for what they do as EMTs. They do it because they love the community and want to improve the quality of life for everyone living there.

Blooming Prairie recently added five new EMTs to its ambulance roster. It’s great to see so many young faces willing to join the volunteer ranks. But the local ambulance provider always has room for more. This is a great opportunity for citizens to consider.

One of my childhood memories that has always had a lasting impression on me was when my grandma was hauled away by an ambulance late at night from our home on the farm. I was probably four years old at the time. I’ve always been thankful that there were EMTs who came to my grandma’s rescue when she needed help the most. Unfortunately, it was one of the last times I saw my grandma alive.

But bless the soul of those volunteer EMTs. It easy to take things for granted in life. But recognizing volunteers who give their all to help save lives is one of those we shouldn’t take for granted.

The next time you see the ambulance going in hot pursuit to a scene stop what you’re doing and salute the men and women committed to making our community a safer place to live.

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June 2, 2010

Meaning of Memorial Day seems lost As far back as I can remember, my family has always attended Memorial Day services at a cemetery. The importance of the holiday has been instilled into me since a young age. Sadly, I don’t think many families can make that same claim.

It amazes me how many families turn the Memorial Day weekend into a vacation extravaganza to the lake or cabin. Maybe I’m just jealous because our family never got to take one of these minivacations.

But what I’ve lost in vacation time, I have more than made up for it in honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to their country. It saddens me to think many young people have no clue what the real meaning of Memorial Day is or they have never stepped foot in a cemetery to honor the dead.

My family’s ritual for Memorial Day is simple but impactful and meaningful.

On Saturday, I traveled with my children to the cemeteries where my grandparents are buried to place flowers at their gravesites. We then attended several Memorial Day services and ended the weekend with a picnic at a regional park.

It’s alarming to see who is attending Memorial Day services. Over the years I have been at services in small towns and big cities. It never ceases to amaze me that the average age at these ceremonies seems to be 65 years old. I’m probably being a little dramatic, but the absence of young

people is startling.

What is going to happen when all these old timers pass along? The ceremonies are going to shrivel up to nothing.

I want my children to realize Memorial Day is a time we honor those who have battled to save America and provide us with the freedoms we all enjoy. I don’t want them to think it’s just a time to bail out of town and party all weekend.

Now more than ever we need to get our young people involved in Memorial Day. With America losing thousands of soldiers over the past eight years in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s important for youngsters to remember and honor the men and women who have died in service to their country.

The history of Memorial Day extends back many generations-all the way back to the Civil War. Memorial Day was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. Memorial Day was then expanded to honor veterans of all wars.

The sound of Taps still brings a shiver to my spine.

The blast of shotguns always seems to startle me even though I know it’s coming.

The presence of the American Flag is still one of the most awesome sites to look at.

The singing of the National Anthem brings a sense of patriotism to me.

I think our young people need to have more of those experiences on Memorial Day than racing around a lake in a speed boat or splashing in the

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water.

Americans need to go in hot pursuit of making sure the true meaning of Memorial Day never gets lost. After all, if it weren’t for the soldiers who died defending our country, our lives would be missing everything that we’ve come to enjoy today.

June 15, 2010

Admiring Dad on Father’s Day The limelight will shine brightly on dads all over this weekend as we mark Father’s Day. This has always been a unique day as I spend time with my dad and enjoy it as well by being the father of three children.

One of the greatest gifts I’ve received from my dad, Clifford, (and mom) is the luxury of growing up in a household where family is deep rooted and of utmost importance. I was afforded the opportunity of having two parents at home all the time. There was always something special about being around dad and working right along side of him all the time.

I can’t thank my dad and mom enough for this gift. Sadly, it’s one that I have not been able to pass on to my children.

Growing up on the family farm most likely helped me be closer to dad and mom than most other children could experience. It was always nice to be able to have dad or mom right there whenever I had a problem or needed help with a project.

In the years since I left home and became a police officer, I found that the greatest breakdown of the family has been the emphasis-and necessity-of both parents working most often outside the home. Children are often left to fend for themselves at home after school for several hours at a time. This breeds trouble in a big way.

Looking back on my childhood, I can’t remember having a babysitter. Not a one. The only “babysitter” I ever had was my big brother or my grandparents from time to time. How many kids can make that claim today?

My dad has probably been the greatest teacher in my life of the hard work ethic and its

Clifford Bussler, center, spends quality time with his grandchildren Kyrie (L) and Caleb Bussler (R) at a Twins game.

related value. Dad worked extremely hard on the farm taking care of the pigs and growing 200 acres of crops. He taught me that hard work will go a long way in achieving life success.

Because of the farm, we didn’t go on many vacations.

There was always work to be done at home. Sometimes I get a little envious of families who constantly go on vacations every year. But in the end I find that perhaps I really didn’t miss much by not going on vacation. Instead I got a valuable life lesson of working hard that has served me well into my adult years.

While I probably didn’t care for it at the time, I now miss the days of slopping the pigs and cleaning manure from the hog barns. Being a farmer and owning his own farm provided my dad with the opportunity to be his own boss and to do things the way he wanted them done. That’s probably a factor that led me to buying my own newspaper. There is something to be said about being independent and not answering to anyone.

Work hard has always been a Bussler family trait going way back to my ancestors that are no longer with us. I thank

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my dad for passing on this trait to me. At the end of the day, I always feel I have accomplished something by working extremely hard.

Dad has been with me through the good times as well as the bad times. I can’t complain about our lives. We have been blessed in so many ways.

We have never experienced any real tragedies, illnesses or bad things. The closest we came to any real family hardship is my dad experiencing open heart surgery 10 years ago. But he’s recovered beautifully and continues to enjoy life in his 76th year.

Perhaps the true test of bad times came for me 10 years ago when I went through a painful divorce. But my dad was there to help out. He supported me in ways that I never would have dreamed of. Both my dad and mom helped me raise my two oldest children during my single parenting days.

I can’t wait to go in hot pursuit of spending another Father’s Day weekend with my dad. What a gift from God to have an incredible father like my dad. Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

June 23, 2010

Tornado trauma yields raw emotions One of the hardest assignments I’ve been faced with since taking over as publisher of the Times has been covering this past week’s tornado that smashed parts of Steele and Freeborn counties.

The most difficult part of covering the tornado was interviewing a rural Hollandale family left devastated by the tornado. Jeff Ravenhorst and his family had their house and entire farmstead wiped away in seconds when one of 36 tornadoes whipped across the region.

Choking back tears, Ravenhorst explained to me that the house had been built by his great-grandpa 72 years ago.

As you can imagine, there was a lot of hard word, sweat and family pride wrapped up into the house that was completely flattened by the twister.

Quickly it became apparent to me that Ravenhorst had been overcome by tornado trauma and was still in a state of shock even a few days after the tornado.

Not much was salvageable from the wreckage. But the Ravenhorsts got one lucky break. A wall fell on top of an entertainment center housing some family heirlooms, including wedding rings, wedding dress and many keepsake photographs. Most of those items were largely intact yet.

Things didn’t get any easier when I interviewed Ravenhorst’s 82-year-old grandfather Gerrit. He was visibly shakened by what had happened as well and fought back tears looking at what a tornado did to 62 years of hard work.

But if there was ever a

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silver lining in last week’s tragedy it was that no lives were lost on the Ravenhorst farm. They left about one hour before to go into town to take cover from the nasty storm system bearing down on the region. Both Jeff and Gerrit knew things could have been much worse. They still have each other. Their lives had been spared.

Another family I interviewed broke out into tears as well as they looked at the devastation caused by Mother Nature. This particular family shared how they huddled in the basement praying to God that they be saved.

Covering tragedies is an unfortunate part of our job as journalists. As I surveyed damage across the region last week, I kept thinking to myself how fortunate many people were in that they weren’t injured or killed. One woman in southern Freeborn County wasn’t as lucky. Two more in northern Minnesota lost their lives. If any thing, last weeks tornado is great reminder to all of us how fragile life can be.

Many families have had their lived turned upside down by losing all their life possessions and worse yet their homes. But that they have their lives is anything short of a miracle.

As for me, I know one thing for sure. Chasing down and going in hot pursuit of tornado damage is one assignment I hope I never have to experience again.

July 7, 2010

Subscription campaign underway The Times is going into the money printing business.

That may be what visitors at this weekend’s Blooming Prairie Fourth of July celebration thought as they got a little excited when they saw the Times shelling out $20 bills. We likely disappointed a few people when they found out the bills weren’t real, but rather replicas promoting our newly unveiled subscription campaign.

Beginning this week, the Times is attempting to beef up our circulation a bit. Our circulation currently stands at just under 1,200. We’d like to add at least 300 new subscribers in the next few months to increase our circulation to 1,500.

Newspaper readership has taken it on the chin in the past few years. Dailies across the country have reported declining circulation for quite some time. But, fortunately, it’s been a different story for weekly newspapers. Readers have remained faithful to their local community papers. I Readership of the Times has remained steady without any huge increases or decreases.

It’s great to see that we have been holding our own despite the problems that exist for larger newspapers. While we’re thankful for the steady numbers of circulation, we’d like to add some new readers.

That’s where our new subscription campaign comes into the picture. We’re promoting a Times Blowout Special. The Times is offering a limited time special for a new 2-year subscription for $50. That’s $20 off the normal subscription rate and $54 off the newsstand rate. We’re also offering

a smaller savings deal for those who want to subscribe for one year.

We’d like you to spread the word about our subscription special. Tell all your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members and even enemies if you’d like about our gigantic subscription deal. We encourage you to share with them what they are missing by not subscribing to our paper.

Along with our big deal for new subscribers, we will continue to offer special deals to our readers who continue to faithfully subscribe. We have been offering up to two months free for those who renew We take great pride in publishing our weekly paper. Our entire staff puts in long hours to produce a quality publication week after week. Many readers have shared with us how they feel the Times does a better job than some of the other daily newspapers in the region.

As I made my rounds through the community during the weekend celebration, I was humbled by the many positive comments I heard from our current readers.

People are truly impressed with what they are seeing each week in the Times.

Ever since I took over last fall, I’ve tried to make the newspaper more engaging and inviting for people to read.

We’ve added more news, photos, color, regular features, sports and two sections. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re also committed to bringing you 16 pages of news every week. That’s a huge change from the past when many papers averaged 12 to14

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pages per week. It all amounts to an increase of nearly 30 percent more news space.

Even with all the changes, there is one thing we haven’t changed. It’s our commitment to local coverage. Nobody covers Blooming Prairie and Steele County better than we do.

Our ultimate goal is to penetrate at least 90 percent of Blooming Prairie box holdersincluding city and rural- with our newspaper each week.

Ideally, it would be nice to hit 100 percent, but we realize that’s hitting a jackpot like that is probably not going to happen.

We’re in hot pursuit of finding new subscribers who would love to receive a high quality local newspaper in their homes each week.

July 14, 2010

Uncle battles cancerous tumor If there is one thing I fear in life the most, it’s cancer. I’m absolutely terrified of hearing the word. I dread finding out about people who have cancer.

It’s a nasty disease that takes its toll on families in many ways.

I think what often scares me the most is when I hear of someone who came down with cancer and within weeks they died. It just doesn’t seem fair to me. But then I guess life is anything but fair.

It’s also concerning to me because cancer is the second leading cause of death in America right behind heart disease. They are both scary diseases that I hope to avoid like a plague.

My family has been lucky in staying cancer-free. I don’t think we have anybody who has come down with cancer in several generations on both sides of my family. Cancer is practically unheard of in our family.

But that all changed in the past month when my godfather and uncle Darrol came down with a tumor on his kidney. He went in for surgery and had one of his kidneys removed. It turns out the tumor was cancerous. At this point it appears it has been confined to the kidney that was removed. Our family is hoping and praying that the cancer is completely gone.

Over the years, I’ve done many stories on different people and families who have experienced cancer. In fact, one of my most memorable stories as a young journalist was a feature I did on a lady who had cancer and remained positive through the whole experience. The neat thing is

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this story was done 25 years ago and the lady is still alive today.

I’m hoping for the same outcome for my uncle. Even though he is 70 years old, I hope he has many good years ahead of him. He’s been such a positive influence in my life ever since I was a youngster.

He has helped me out when times have been most difficult in my life.

I guess having cancer invade our family is perhaps somewhat of a wake-up call.

It gives me the desire to continue making healthy lifestyle choices. It also makes me want to eat healthier than maybe what I have done in the past.

Having cancer hit so close to home has also made me stop and smell the roses. It’s important to not take anything for granted in life. What you have today may be gone tomorrow. The reality of that doesn’t seem to set in unless something personally touches you in a profound way like a loved one coming down with cancer.

The prognosis for my uncle looks great. He’s making a wonderful recovery and it appears the cancer was only on the kidney. He’s going to be laid up for a few months, but that’s nothing compared to what some families endure.

Heart disease runs pretty thick in my family. Now besides worrying about heart disease, I’ll be adding another concern to my list: cancer.

There’s no doubt I’ll be going in hot pursuit of finding ways to stay healthy and avoid those potentially deadly diseases.

Rick Bussler, 16, visits with Dave Moore, a popular Minnesota television personality and host of the evening news, while on a trip to WCCO-TV. Submitted photo

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July 21, 2010

Target Field hits a grand slam The home runs may not be cruising out of the ballpark like the old Metrodome that got dubbed HomerDome, but the new Twins stadium is hitting a grand slam with fans like myself.

I’ve taken in two Twins games in recent weeks at the sparkling new stadium in downtown Minneapolis. I’m beginning to think I bring some sort of charm and good luck to the stadium because they’ve won both the games.

Friday night’s victory over Chicago was as sweet as they come.

But it’s not the performance of the Twins that has me boiling with enthusiasm. It’s the return of outdoor baseball after a 28-year absence in Minnesota. Target Field is an extraordinary stadium.

For many years, I didn’t think twice about taking in baseball at the Metrodome.

But in recent years I started traveling around the country and took in a few outdoor baseball games in St. Louis, Anaheim and Arlington, Texas. It wasn’t until those outdoor experiences that I really began to realize what Minnesotans were missing with their Twins games.

There’s absolutely no question that baseball is meant to be played outdoors. It’s thrilling to now have an outdoor major league stadium right in our back yard. I can’t believe we went so many years without one.

It’s a wonderful feeling to be in the great outdoors for baseball. I love the open-air feel of the ballpark. I absolutely adore how it is smacked right between towering skyscrapers all around the exterior.

One of my favorite features in the park is Minnie and

Paul shaking hands sign in the shape of Minnesota. It’s a modernized version of the original “Minnie and Paul Shaking Hands” logo used on the team’s original uniforms from 1961 until 1986. During various points of the game, the strobe lights surrounding the Minnesota state outline will flash. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any homeruns yet where Minnie and Paul shake hands.

It’s definitely a centerpiece of the park.

Another fun feature is the scoreboard, which is the fourth-largest in major league baseball. It’s like having a large TV screen in your living room, but you’re actually at the ballpark taking in all the sights and sounds that come across the scoreboard.

I had the privilege of being at the Twins game in early July on the night they shot off fireworks over the stadium and downtown skyline. What a spectacular sight that proved to be.

Bronze statutes of Twins heroes Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew and Kirby Puckett are a classy way to showcase Minnesota’s rich baseball tradition.

I highly recommend anyone looking for a night of fun family entertainment to check out the new Twins stadium. It’s something you’ll love even if you’re not a diehard baseball fanatic.

The Twins have done Minnesota proud with this new stadium. Now let’s hope the Twins’ bats get cracking and they go in hot pursuit of winning a World Series title.

World Series or not, Target Field is most likely going to hit a grand slam with fans for many years to come. Being at Target Field is like ending up in baseball heaven.

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August 11, 2010

Enjoy our fair section This week you will have a little extra reading to do as local patrons should have received an extra paper in your mailbox.

The Times has published a special section marking the 150th anniversary of the Steele County Free Fair.

This is the first time in recent memory that the Times has published a fair edition.

A few weeks ago I took a tour of the Muckle Museum located on the fairgrounds in Owatonna. Much to my surprise, the first item I picked up was a fair edition published by the Times in 1948. I’m not sure how many fair sections have been printed over the years by Blooming Prairie, but it was neat to see at least one item with a Blooming flavor to it. Who needs blooming onions when you have a Blooming paper to read?

County fair special editions are popular around the region.

Many larger newspaper operations print special sections without very little trouble. But for smaller operations like the Times it becomes a big undertaking.

I think we pulled it off in a big way. We put together a 24 page section, which is loaded with fun facts, history, fair stories, photographs, schedules and advertisements from local businesses. It proved to be a fun project for our staff.

The fair has a rich history with many interesting stories to share with people. There is a reason why the Steele County Fair is the largest and best one in Minnesota. I think you will find it entertaining to read about all the people who make the fair go each year.

If you didn’t receive a copy

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of the section, you’ll want to make sure you pick up one when attending the fair next week. We will have many copies available at the fair.

We want to thank the advertisers who supported this huge project. Without their support, we would not have been able to put out this section.

Now it’s time for you to go in hot pursuit of some great family fun at the fair!

August 18, 2010

It’s county fair time!

One of my most favorite times of the year has arrived.

It’s county fair time. There is rich tradition that goes along with this special time of the year for me.

As long as I can remember, the fair has been thick in my blood. I grew up on a hog farm in central Minnesota and the fair was a time to showcase our animals and other projects.

I was a 4-H member for many years. My time in 4-H proved to be one of the greatest experiences of my childhood.

For many, eating fair food ends up being one of the most enjoyable experiences of the fair. But for me it was a little different. My memories had nothing to do with eating food.

The fair brings back many childhood memories for mesome happy and some not so happy.

Let’s start with one of the saddest memories when I thought the world had come to an end. I was probably 8-years-old when I slaved away over a hot oven and baked some mouth-watering cupcakes. I got them all packaged up and off to the fair we went. Once we got to the fair, I eagerly got them out of the container. With the car door open, I used a plate and had it sitting on my lap, which proved to be a disaster. Somehow the plate shifted and my prize winning cupcakes went crashing onto the pavement. I was absolutely horrified and in tears. Somehow my mom got me calmed down enough to collect what was left of the cupcakes and have them judged. I don’t even remember what placing I received, but I’m sure it wasn’t great.

Another experience that brought me to tears happened

Photo submitted

Rick Bussler, 17, takes a close look at his award winning photo he won during the 1985 county fair. Bussler, an active 4-H member, won many ribbons throughout the years at many different fairs. Bussler has passed down the 4-H passion to his children.

during a hog show one year. I always worked extremely hard with my animals by training them months in advance. It seemed no matter how much I trained them ahead of time, the pigs had a mind of their own when it came time for show.

I was parading my animal around the show floor when he decided to go berserk. He ignored everything I tried to do with him and decided it would be more fun to crawl under the bleachers. Spectators went flying for cover from this mad pig and I was left in tears trying to get him out from the bleachers.

The happy times came when I earned many grand championships with my projects and trips to the state fair. I regularly won champions with hogs, photography, demonstrations and food to name a few.

Fair time always proved to be a little stressful around

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our house as we tried to get everything ready for show. But in the end it was worth all the stress and hard work we put into it. It gave me a competitive edge that has stuck with me to this day.

Although my 4-H days have long passed, I still keep involved with the fairs. My children are now in 4-H and winning championships with their projects. In addition, it has been an exciting summer at the Times as we worked on two major fair projects, including last week’s 150th fair section and the food vendor coupons. The fair is truly a great time of the year. I hope you get to go in hot pursuit of having some great fair fun over the next few weeks.

August 24, 2010

Hog wild at the fair He was born on a hog farm, raised pigs for many years himself and now promotes the pork product through a unique way.

Dean Goette of rural Blooming Prairie has become a fixture at the Steele County Free Fair for more than two decades. He, along with his wife Kim, has been going hog wild featuring pork at the fair since 1989.

As I was strolling through the grounds during the fair, the Goette’s stand immediately caught my eye-most likely because I was born on a pork farm and have a special spot in my heart for pigs. I also love to eat pork. Mouth-watering lightly seasoned boneless chops are my favorite.

The Goettes are known around the fair as Classic Concessions. Their stand is neatly decorated and features a patriotic theme of red, white and blue colors. It especially sticks out because the stand is not a traditional commercialized and cookie-cutter type like the dozens of others at the fair.

Fair officials agree. They named Goette’s pork stand the most attractive food stand in the entire fair. “We’re more of a homemade stand,” said Kim, a little sleepy-eyed from putting in long shifts at the fair all week. “We’re kind of a grassroots stand.”

Competition is another drastic change the Goettes have been forced to deal with in recent years. When they started, there were only a few dozen food vendors and now the fair brings in more than 100 different stands.

Today, the Goettes sell considerably fewer pork chops

than they did in the early years, but still crank out about 350 per day. Dean offers the best cut of pork available on the market-a fresh center cut pork loin. For those of you keeping track, Dean estimates it takes 55 hogs to meet his demand for the entire fair.

Slaving over a blistering hot grill, Dean told me the key to flipping through as many pork chops as he does is “to do it hot and fast.” He uses a special seasoning on one side of the chop and flips them often.

What Dean finds amazing from his years of selling pork sandwiches is that people often comment about how they didn’t know how wonderful pork tastes.

“It’s a wonderful compliment to get,” he said.

Besides raising hogs, Dean got the notion to sell pork at area festivals back in the late 1980s when he was grilling for a customer appreciation dinner at Interstate Mills in Owatonna.

Dean especially enjoys the customer relations aspect of what he does. “It’s all about the relationships we make,” he said. “Over half of our customers are repeats. They keep coming back to see us at the fair and that’s really neat.”

The Steele fair is like “a mini Minnesota get together,” Dean said. “People come from all over.”

Back at home, the Goettes are launching a comeback in the hog business. They actually quit raising hogs in 1999.

They just recently made the decision to get back into raising hogs on their farm three miles south of town.

“It’s in my DNA,” Dean said with a chuckle. “I just

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love pigs.”

He also loves promoting pork. “It’s as healthy as any meat product out there,” Dean said, noting that humans need some animal fats in their diets.

“For many years, we’ve been fed a line of bull in regards to animal fat,” he said.

Touting pork has become a family affair for the Goettes.

Dean’s grown children enjoy helping out at the stand and he expects them to some day take over the pork stand.

The Goette’s have packed up their stand for another year.

And now that I can’t get one of their pork chops, I’ll be heading to the state fair to go in hot pursuit of pork. It’s one tradition that I’ll never part with as long as I live.

September 1, 2010

A born news junkie I’ll admit it. I’m a news junkie.

Ever since I was a young kid, I always grabbed newspapers and watched as much television news as I could cram into my schedule. In fact, I probably was one of the only teenagers who subscribed to two major daily newspapers.

I continued with my love for news in high school and college by working for several newspapers in my home area. I also worked as an assignment editor for KARE-TV, Channel 11, in the Twin Cities where I listened to police and fire scanners and sent news crews on breaking news, including fires, accidents, shootings, stabbings, murders and so on.

After college, my love for news took me to this area where I worked at KAALTV in Austin. I was the hard news reporter who was sent out on all the day’s breaking news throughout the region. I covered police and court news extensively in Freeborn and Mower counties.

It probably came as no surprise to many people when I took a break from the news business and became a police officer. Instead of reporting on the news, I now was able to be a part of the news on the front lines of crime.

Throughout my years as a journalist and a police officer, I have found many people have a natural curiosity for “hard news.” When we refer to hard news, we’re talking about breaking news like the tornado that ripped through the Blooming area earlier this summer.

And now it begs the question: What do you think happens when you have a news junkie running the newspaper?

You’ve guessed it, news makes its way into the paper.

From time to time, we re-

Photo submitted

Rick Bussler sits next to Diana Pierce, a reporter and anchor at the news desk at KARE 11 News around 1983. Bussler worked as and assignment editor for the station located in the Twin Cities.

ceive complaints from readers about our selection of news coverage. It seems, as the complaint goes, some readers are upset about all the “hard news” that makes it onto the pages of the Times.

This complaint has surfaced in recent weeks with the news of two Level 3 sex offenders moving into the area-one in Blooming Prairie and another one outside the city.

A newspaper’s primary function is to cover the news.

Sometimes that means doing bad stories along with the good. We don’t control what happens in our community.

We just merely report facts of what is taking place. The paper becomes a reflection of what’s going on in the community.

Some weeks the front page is going to have more hard news than other weeks. Even on weeks when we’re heavy on news, we try to balance things out with a feature story or feature photo.

It also works the opposite.

On weeks when we’re lighter

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on news, more features are going to crop onto the front pages.

There are different names for this type of coverage-good news, features and soft news to name a few. Whatever you call it, we showcase features prominently throughout the newspaper. Sometimes on the front page and other times not.

The Times is probably a bit more aggressive in covering news than what readers may have been used to in the past.

We are not going to ignore news happening in our area. To do so, we would be derelict of our duties as a newspaper and journalists.

We’ve added several features inside the paper, including a business section, community pages, education page (during the school year) and much more.

Our staff is committed to going in hot pursuit of the news whether it’s hard or soft. It’s what our readers have come to expect from us.

September 8, 2010

State fair showcases youth talent While walking the beat as a police officer at the Minnesota State Fair for almost the past two weeks, I was approached by a fairgoer with a question that made me think about the state of our youth. The question was: “Do you think youth are worse today than years ago?”

The fairgoer probably asked the wrong person that question, especially considering my role in law enforcement. After all, police officers mainly deal with teenagers in trouble so our answer would probably be a little skewed. At times, teens get a bad reputation because of the negative activities they find themselves involved in.

But a trip through the 4-H Building at the state fair quickly makes one realize that there are great kids making wonderful accomplishments all over the state. There are success stories of teens doing marvelous things in every corner of the building.

One of those teenagers I found was Kaylin Wolf, a 4-H member from Steele County’s Merry Lane 4-H Club and a recent graduate of Blooming Prairie High School.

When I caught up to Wolf at the fair, she was bubbling with excitement over her most recent achievements. She won a purple champion for her photography display and finished fifth place in the advanced showmanship for rabbits.

Wolf received top honors for a photo she took at a local cemetery. “I had this wild idea to go take some pictures in the cemetery,” she said. She staged a photo of someone kneeling at a gravesite and used the magic of photo shop

to add another person as a ghost.

Looking at her champion photo, Wolf said: “It kind of solidifies that I did a great job on this project.” She was quick to point out only 10 percent of 4-H projects are awarded purple champions at the state fair.

“These are the best of the best,” Wolf said. “To know you got a purple really makes you feel good,” she said.

This 10-year 4-H member has made seven trips to the state fair with various projects.

Wolf just recently completed her stint as a Minnesota State 4-H Ambassador. She has one more year left as a 4-H member.

She will be forever indebted to the 4-H program for what it has done for her throughout her childhood and teenage years. “It has taught me communication skills,” Wolf said.

“I have learned how to communicate effectively in a large group and how to deal with unexpected situations.”

Wolf also attributes the 4-H program to helping her gain valuable leadership skills.

“I’ve gained more self confidence,” she said. “It’s made me a better leader and how I’m better aware of what I can do,” she added.

It’s obvious that there are so many talented young people in the 4-H program. The state fair is always a great time for these young people to show off their unique talents. Wolf was just one of hundreds of teens from all corners of the state to showcase their achievements at the state fair.

As she looked around the 4-H Building, Wolf commented: “It shows me there are a

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lot of smart, intelligent kids left in the world.”

I couldn’t agree more with Wolf. And just spending a little time with Wolf quickly made me realize the answer to the question posed to me by the fairgoer. While times are certainly different, I don’t think youth are any worse today than previous generations.

Interestingly, this fairgoer agreed with me for the same reason. He also saw all the amazing work done by teens in the 4-H Building.

It’s neat to see teens going in hot pursuit of making youth shine positively in our communities.

September 22, 2010

Farmers: Use extreme caution As the Times’ special farm edition rolled off the presses this week, it marks a special time of the year for most area farmers and those of us others with rich farm ties. Harvest season is once again upon us.

I have many fond memories of growing up on our family farm in central Minnesota.

Besides operating a large hog operation, my father also ran 200 acres of crops, mostly corn and soybeans.

Even though I ended up leaving our family farm for “greener pastures,” I have many cherished memories of my time on the farm. It’s a childhood experience I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

I’ll never forget the hard efforts our entire family put into the farm operation, especially around harvest time. It seemed like it was always a race against the clock and calendar to get the crops harvested and the ground turned over in preparation for the next planting season.

My favorite aspect of the harvest season was hauling in the crops from the fields. I had a blast driving the tractor to and from the fields, bringing the crops back to the farm. I also loved the aroma of freshly dried corn as it filled the crisp fall air.

Anybody with connections to the farm knows hard work is a big part of farm life. I believe that’s where I gained my strong work ethic to this day. It’s my feeling that hard work pays big dividends in many ways.

During harvest time, my family banded together to get the work done. Besides

my parents and siblings, my grandfather and uncles came to help get the farm work done. My grandpa helped on the farm until he was nearly 80 and physically couldn’t any longer. Being around my grandpa on the farm created a special bond between us that continued until he passed away.

Farming is not an easy occupation. In fact, it is one of the most dangerous occupations in this country. While growing up, I was surrounded by some unpleasant realities of farm life.

The harshest dose of how dangerous farm life can be came one harvest season for me when I was about 10-years-old. I was working outside on the farm when I heard the news that my 13-year-old cousin was killed when the tractor he was operating tipped over and crushed him. This was an extremely tragic time for our family.

I also had a close call myself. I was operating a Bobcat and unloading rock into a hole.

I raised the bucket too high, causing the entire machine and myself to go flying into the hole. I escaped with a couple of holes on my head that had to be stitched up. Some would argue, perhaps, that I haven’t been the same since.

As a teenager working at my hometown newspaper, I profiled a farmer who lost his arm in an auger accident. The remarkable part of this story was that the man kept farming despite using a prosthetic arm.

Farmers will be burning the midnight oil in the coming weeks to harvest their crops.

While this is necessary to

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reap the fruits of their labor, I encourage all farmers to use extreme caution in operating tractors, trucks, combines and other heavy machinery. It may require farmers to slow down a bit and take just an extra few minutes to do the job safely.

Harvest time is here. Let’s all encourage our farm friends to go in hot pursuit of practicing farm safety. I don’t want this harvest season marred by tragedy for anyone.

September 29, 2010

A night with the media stars There have been many special occasions that I have experienced in the journalism and law enforcement professions over the years, but none have come close to the opportunity I had this past weekend.

I attended the Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Awards at the historic Pantages Theatre in downtown Minneapolis Saturday night. The Emmy awards recognize excellence from a wide range of media professionals in various platforms, mostly television stations in the five state area.

Broadcast professionals are nominated for Emmys prior to the awards gala. There were 757 entries from many different media organizations across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and western Wisconsin. The entries came from the largest network affiliates to the smallest local cable access, from the public and private sectors, from television to newspapers to online, universities, sports teams and health facilities.

For the first time ever, I was under consideration for an Emmy for a cable segment I wrote and produced for the Lakeville Police Department.

The segment highlighted the 30th anniversary of the Lewis House, which is a domestic abuse shelter in Dakota County.

In my particular category, I had some stiff competition as there were five other nominations. My category was near the end of the three hour ceremony. The suspense had been building all night long. By the time the winner was finally announced, I was at the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, it

wasn’t me that ended up going home with a large gold Emmy award.

But the night wasn’t a total waste. The Lakeville Police Department where I work as a police officer took home a special Board of Governors Emmy. For nearly 25 years, Lakeville Government Television has shined a light on the issue of domestic violence in its groundbreaking partnership with the police department and Lewis House. All three entities were awarded the Emmy.

Television stations as a whole and reporters, anchors, photographers and other newsroom support personnel as individuals from all over the Upper Midwest took home about 150 Emmy awards.

Veteran news anchor Don Shelby of WCCO-TV won the best-anchor Emmy. KMSP, Fox 9, took home the most hardware: 18 awards, including best evening newscast.

KARE, Channel 11, which won 16, was honored for station excellence-the equivalent of getting best picture at the Oscars. KARE reporter Boyd Huppert won five Emmys alone.

KAAL-TV, Channel 6, was nominated for a handful of Emmys. Some of KAAL’s entries included news coverage of the deadly bus crash last year near Austin and a blizzard last winter. While the Austinbased station didn’t win an Emmy, it’s certainly impressive for the local station to be considered for such an honor.

While I must admit it would have been wonderful to come back home with a large Emmy award, just being there in the midst of some of the greatest

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media professionals in the business was a unique experience.

The Emmys are proof that media organizations are putting forth outstanding efforts in keeping the public informed.

It certainly gives a small newspaper publisher from Blooming Prairie incentive to go in hot pursuit of providing Times readers with a quality product of outstanding writing and great photography each week. Reaching out for an Emmy may not be possible for newspapers our size, but we promise to turn the Times into the equivalent of an Emmy award-winning media outlet.

A dazzling night with the media stars is something I will treasure for years to come.

October 15, 2010

Celebration in midst of tragedy It will go down as one of the most horrific crashes in Minnesota history. Three close-knit brothers dying in a crash with absolutely no fault of their own.

The Backstrom boys-Matthew, Justin and Jacob- died six years ago at the hands of a drunk driver in rural Dakota County. Two of them died at the scene and the third died a short time later at the hospital.

The three boys who had grown close together in life were suddenly together in death.

Overcome with grief and deep, deep sadness, their parents were left to bury three sons and make sense of it all.

Where would one even begin to figure it out?

Since the horrifying night, their parents have traveled to all corners of the state and many other states to share their incredible loss in hopes of preventing another senseless tragedy from happening.

I have heard their parents, Nathan and Connie, speak dozens of times over the past six years. As a police officer, I have also worked with them on various prevention projects, including mock car crashes aimed at keeping teenagers sober and headed in the right direction of making good choices in life.

Every time I hear their painstaking story it hits me in the heart and I end up overcome with tears. One would think it becomes easier the more times you hear the story, but it doesn’t.

The worst part for me is seeing the Backstroms set up three empty chairs draped with the blood-soaked clothes the boys were wearing on the

night of the horrific crash. One of the articles of clothing had a blood shaped heart on it.

Or maybe it’s the security video from Walmart time stamped and showing three boys milling around the store care-free with no worries in the world. Less than an hour later, the boys laid lifeless in a ditch in their crumbled vehicle just miles from their home.

I can’t imagine the pain of losing one child let alone three like the Backstroms have experienced. In the Backstrom’s case, they have two younger boys. But can you envision losing more than half of your family in a split-second?

Miraculously, since day one, the Backstroms have never been spiteful or hateful towards the person responsible for killing their three sons. Not many people would be able to make the same claim.

They have turned a story of tragedy, broken hearts and sorrow into a story of God’s faithfulness, love, mercy, and forgiveness. They believe God has given them a story to tell.

From the beginning, Nathan and Connie went public with their story. They told everyone how their three sons each had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and they are now with their Heavenly Father.

The Backstrom’s prayer is through this tragedy, lives will be changed and God will be glorified.

On Sunday, the sixth anniversary of the crash, the Backstroms threw a big celebration in honor of their boys, who are buried a half mile down the road from their rural home in a cemetery. Once again, the message was one of hope and

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inspiration. And once again, tears filled my eyes as Nathan and Connie recounted the day that shattered their lives.

The Backstroms have truly put a positive spin on tragic story. I marvel at the incredible strength they have to keep going and share their story over and over again.

It’s certainly not a glamorous story by any means, but it’s one that Nathan and Connie continue to go in hot pursuit of teaching people to make good choices in life.

One of their surviving boys perhaps said it best at the time: “Please, please, please don’t drink and drive. It killed my three brothers.”

October 21, 2010

Click it! or Ticket!

Crazy drivers. Drunk drivers. Speeders. Drivers texting and talking on cell phones.

We’ve all seen them driving on our roads. They make the highways a dangerous place to be.

The best defense against all of the above is to click on your seat belt. But, sadly, many motorists are still ignoring the seatbelt law and not buckling up.

Not only is it evident by driving around and seeing people without seat belts, but it is also obvious by reading our court news section highlighting court dispositions of petty misdemeanors and misdemeanors. You’ll notice a huge surge this week and this is partly because there are dozens of seat belt violations.

Police officers throughout the state, including here in Steele County, are cracking down on motorists who fail to buckle up. During the month of October, officers are focusing on seat belt enforcement.

Minnesota has had a primary seat belt law in place for just over a year. The law allows police to stop and ticket motorists solely for seat belt violations. A seat belt fine can be more than $100. Previously, officers needed another reason to stop vehicles.

There are a couple of important reasons why buckling up makes sense. Seat belts hold you in the protective space built into your vehicle and gives you room to live if there is a crash. They also help you maintain control by keeping you correctly positioned behind the wheel.

In my other life as a police officer, I have responded to

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many rollover crashes. In those rollovers, unbelted motorists are usually ejected from their vehicles. And the end result? Well, let’s just say it isn’t pretty. They usually end up dying or seriously injured.

I can’t tell you how often I have seen rollover crashes in which the driver was buckled up and ended up walking away from the scene with only scratches or no injury at all.

State crash statistics show that during the last three years, more than 1,000 motorists were killed in crashes and only 43 percent were buckled up. Of course, seat belts are not always going to save you, but your chances of survival are greatly increased if you’re properly buckled up.

The state’s current campaign also includes enforcement of strengthened child passenger safety law that requires children to be in the correct restraint until they are age 8 and 4 feet 9 inches tall.

This law requires booster seats for kids usually starting at age 4 to ensure adult seat belts fit them correctly.

The message should be simple: buckle up for every ride and require your passengers to do the same. Clicking it will keep the cops from coming in hot pursuit and ticketing you and better yet, it could save your life.

“

It’s funny how one goes into a business venture thinking things are going to go one way and they end up going completely the opposite way. I never envisioned the problems I’ve experienced over the past year prior to taking on the newspaper. But I like to think my strong . problem solving skills as a police officer have come in handy many times to help bail me out of hot water.

”

__RICK L. BUSSLER

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November 2, 2010

First year anniversary at the Times A whirlwind.

That pretty much sums up the past year for me. This week marks my first complete year of ownership of the Blooming Prairie Times. It’s been a year of whirling action closely resembling the June tornadoes that roared through the area.

It’s funny how one goes into a business venture thinking things are going to go one way and they end up going completely the opposite way. I never envisioned the problems I’ve experienced over the past year prior to taking on the newspaper. But I like to think my strong problem solving skills as a police officer have come in handy many times to help bail me out of hot water.

As I look back over issues from the past year, the ones back last November are like a scary page out of a creepy Halloween production. For those of you who may not recall, a couple of the issues featured unreadable copy, large chucks of inadvertent white holes with nothing in it, pictures showing up in mysterious places, glowing typos in headlines and misspellings tossed around the pages. Let’s just say a couple of those first issues now provide us all with some good laughs. They also do a wonderful job of keeping a person humble.

We have undergone some pretty rough times here at the Times since last November.

We’ve experienced major equipment problems, staff turmoil and issues with establishing our way of doing business.

Prior to my ownership, most of the newspaper operations

were done at a remote location in Leroy. We now do a majority of the work here in Blooming.

The newspaper business is not for everyone. And that’s evident with the staff turmoil we experienced throughout the past 12 months. We’ve had major problems with a couple of key positions-graphic design and advertising sales.

We’ve had a revolving door of sorts with people in those positions.

But, despite the often stormy ride, there have been many bright spots over the year. We have successfully redesigned the newspaper from front to back, added more color, implemented two sections, increased our news coverage substantially and produced several special sections like last week’s Voter’s Guide 2010. We have basically given the Times a major facelift. We have also overhauled our website, making it one of the best in the state for our size newspaper.

Doing everything I’ve outlined above is no easy task. It’s a wonder we’ve been able to pull as much off as we have with all the staff changes we’ve experienced. One of the key mainstays through the entire past year has been news editor Per Kvalsten. He’s been with me through thick and thin and has been responsible for keeping us on task to do the things we need to do. Per is a hard worker who has been dumped on many times by other staff members who haven’t been able to hold up their end of getting things accomplished. Sports editor

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LeMar Nelson has also played a key role in getting us to where we’re at today. Age and health are certainly no barriers in keeping LeMar from doing a bang up job in covering local sports. Without the two, it’s anybody’s guess what would have happened to this newspaper.

The brightest spot of this past year has been the loyalty of our advertisers. We have had our fair share of screw-ups with ads over the year, especially in the first few months, but through it all, our advertisers have stuck by us. And for that I’m forever thankful. We promise to do better in the future.

The storm front is reversing itself in favor of the Times as I head into my second year of ownership. I am confident that things will run much smoother. I have found some of the best people yet to work at the Times. In fact, a couple of them just started in the last month.

We are a small newspaper operation. But that isn’t stopping any one of us at the Times from going in hot pursuit of producing the best quality newspaper possible.

We still have some work ahead of us, but within time, you’re going to find that the Times will become one of the best small town newspapers in Minnesota. That’s my commitment to you.

November 9, 2010

Tragedy strikes close to home Death is never easy no matter what age it strikes.

But when tragedy takes a teenager’s life, it becomes unbearable. There is nothing worse in this life than losing a young life full of so much promise.

The Blooming Prairie community is reeling after the weekend death of 16-yearold Jordan Ressler. This untimely misfortune has sent shockwaves throughout the entire community from Main St. where his parents operate a bowling alley to the high school where he was a junior.

This incident is tragic on so many fronts. First of all, no parent should have to bury their child, especially at such a young tender age of 16. My heart goes out to Jordan’s parents, who are undoubtedly grieving beyond human comprehension.

Perhaps most troubling about Jordan’s death is the fact that he and his friend were doing nothing wrong.

They were eager to show some school spirit towards the Awesome Blossoms football team. Unfortunately, they never made it to the sectional championship game in Goodhue.

A short time after they left Blooming Prairie, the vehicle they were in collided with another vehicle near Claremont. The deadly chain of events continued as a third vehicle crashed into their car. Suddenly, Jordan’s body lay nearly lifeless along the roadside. After being flown to a trauma center, Jordan died hours later.

Police officials are reporting no use of drugs or alcohol. The teenagers were

buckled up with their seatbelts. Can this incident get any more tragic?

The entire community is feeling this loss and asking why.

Why does a young teenager need to die senselessly in a motor vehicle crash?

There are no easy answers.

I did not know Jordan at all. But when I heard the tragic news, I felt like I had lost a son. I’m sure having two teenagers of my own contributed to me feeling that way.

As a police officer for many years, I’ve had up close experiences with death. I’ve had to deal with death on many occasions with people of all ages, including teens.

I’ve had to remove bodies from roadways, perform life saving techniques on people to no avail and deliver death notices to families.

Life has a way of working in strange ways. At times, it seems like life is anything but fair. The unexpected death of a teen starkly reminds us of this.

During church services this weekend, my pastor focused on All Saint’s Sunday by making it clear how we never know when our final day will come. The pastor also made clear how life on this earth is merely a blip on the radar screen in terms of eternal and everlasting life. I sat in church with tears flowing down my cheeks as I thought about Jordan and the incredible loss his family is most likely enduring.

We all need to be reminded that there is no guarantee of tomorrow. Embrace your children or any loved one as

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if today may be the last time you’ll ever see them. Hug them, love them or tell them how precious they are because you may never get that chance again like Jordan’s parents are now facing.

It’s important for community members to rally around Jordan’s parents in the coming days and weeks as they are left grieving the loss of a son. We all need to go in hot pursuit of mourning the loss of Jordan Ressler with his parents, family members and friends.

November 16, 2010

First snowstorm creates havoc It doesn’t happen to me often, but every once in a while I have one of those days where I would have been better off just staying in bed for the day.

This past Saturday was one of those days.

It started off when I woke up to my alarm clock with a throbbing headache. That usually means I haven’t had enough sleep, but keeping my head to the pillow was no option as I had to head off to work. I downed a couple of Ibuprofen to take away my aches.

But my headache seemed to suddenly get worse as I stepped foot outside my house to four inches of snow on the ground. I knew I wasn’t in for a long winter’s nap, but rather a long day at work patrolling the slick and snow-packed streets of Lakeville.

The Twin Cities area got the brunt of the season’s first major snowstorm. Somehow Blooming Prairie lucked out and hardly got anything. When I head off to work at 6:30 a.m., the streets haven’t been plowed yet. And being a little rusty with winter driving skills didn’t seem to help matters.

As I rounded a big curve, the wet sloppy snow kept pulling my van in one directionstraight for the curb and street light. With my heart pumping out of control, I braced myself for heading off the road, but somehow I finally steered my vehicle out of its slide and made the curve.

I no sooner stepped into the police station when heard the police radio cracking with accidents, vehicles in the ditch and other snowstorm-related problems. It’s not a fun way to start the work day. The only consolation I found in all of this was that it was a Saturday

and not a weekday where thousands are heading into the morning rush to work.

Just as soon as I jumped into my police cruiser, I was sent to a motor vehicle crash.

I traveled down a major road packed with snow, slush and sleet. No plows had been out on this road yet. The challenge quickly became to keep my cruiser on the road. Not an easy task. As I went down a big hill for at least a half mile, I quickly felt like I was on a wild ride at Valley Fair. My squad was doing everything but going straight. I felt like I had no control as the snow kept pulling me in every direction but the one I needed to go in. I’m not sure how I did it, but I finally made it down the hill without crashing or leaving the road.

The heavy wet snow caused many electrical problems throughout town, including some stoplights that quit cycling the normal red-yellowgreen. When this happens, the lights go to red flashing in all directions. Just as I was making a right turn, a car came blasting through the intersection without stopping. Luckily, I saw him coming and stopped before my squad became toast.

A few minutes later I discovered a front tire on my squad was flat. This was the worst possible timing as it took me out of commission for answering emergency calls.

We don’t have spare tires in our squads because of all the other emergency equipment we carry. I called for a tow truck. Of course, it wasn’t like the tow was waiting right around the corner. They were swamped as well. Finally, one hour later I got towed back to the station, but not before the tow driver damaged my squad.

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The tow’s wheel lift caught the front quarter panel under carriage and damaged it. I grabbed a different squad (this one at least had snow tires.)

The rest of the day didn’t seem to go much better.

When I stopped home for lunch, I pulled my squad into the driveway. My son had done a great job of having the driveway shoveled for me to do so. I went inside to eat and when I came back out, the snowplow had been through and piled at least three feet of snow at the end of my driveway. There was no way my squad was going anywhere. It was fortunate that no emergency call came in at that moment. I had to call the plow back to release me from being held hostage in my own driveway.

The snow just kept coming and coming throughout the day. And so did the calls for police service. In the end, Mother Nature dumped eight inches of snow on Lakeville.

During this entire time, I kept thinking about how much I hate winter. I used to love it when I was a kid, but working as a police officer in the elements has caused me to take on a whole new view of this beast we adoringly call winter.

I must admit the snowfall was pretty, but as for the aftermath it leaves behind-well, that’s a different story. Brace yourself, folks. Your turn with the season’s first snowfall will be coming real soon.

And as for my headache, it never really went away for obvious reasons. I couldn’t wait to go in hot pursuit of a nap right after work in my favorite recliner away from the police radio and snow.

November 23, 2010

News icon fades to black He’s become known as a news icon across Minnesota for decades. And now one of the state’s most popular television news anchors is fading to black and going in hot pursuit of retirement.

Don Shelby of WCCO-TV, Channel 4, ended a 45-year television news career by signing off as the 10 p.m. news anchor Monday night.

He also had been a familiar voice on the good neighbor to the Northwest, WCCO-Radio, for about 10 years before retiring from radio last year.

I have many memories of watching Shelby and his predecessor, Dave Moore, while growing up. The two together are probably responsible for turning me into the news junkie I’ve become over the years.

A few weeks ago I did a sit down interview with Shelby in the news studio at the Minneapolis station. It was a pleasure to interview a national Emmy-award winning journalist.

“My dad told me when I was a kid to find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work another day in your life,” Shelby recalled. “And that has really been so true for me.”

Shelby has many awards and acolytes to share about his career. But something that struck me the most about him was his compassion for people and doing stories that made a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

Being a “pretty face” on the nightly news isn’t what Shelby wants to be remembered by. He told me his most memorable years as a jour-

nalist came during his time with the WCCO I-Team. In addition to anchoring, Shelby was an investigative reporter, digging up stories about injustices in government, business and other matters.

During our hour-long interview, I was pleasantly surprised about Shelby’s views about police. “I’ve always been a friend of cops,” he said. Shelby said he has always liked Sherlock Holmes, which most likely peaked his interest in investigative reporting.

As a reporter, Shelby even helped solve some crimes along the way. He solved a theft of a safe from the late Hubert H. Humphrey’s campaign chairman. At the time, Humphrey referred to the incident “as the most intriguing political crime in Minnesota,” according to Shelby. Twenty years after the incident, Shelby solved the case and found some criminals from Northeast Minneapolis were responsible.

The veteran news anchor said he has worked in many corrupt cities where there are corrupt police officers. But he has found in quite different in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

“Minnesota has extremely dedicated and corruption-free environment in its police departments from the state all the way down to the local community departments,” Shelby said.

My greatest memory with the icon newsman came five years ago when I worked with him on a town forum focusing on underage drinking for the Lakeville Police Department.

A recovering alcoholic, Shel-

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by was a perfect fit to moderate the forum. He shared his story of battling alcoholism even as a teenager.

Shelby admits that sharing his story publicly may have tarnished his image as a news anchor. He knows that some people probably didn’t look at him in the same way. But he has no regrets showing how his life may have been imperfect.

The forum was a huge success in Lakeville as it helped us spread the message to teens about how deadly underage drinking can be.

Without a doubt, journalism has lost a respected news person. Shelby has been the face of tragedy, triumphs, good times and so much more for decades. Citizens of this state will lose greatly without a journalist like Shelby.

One thing I know for sure is that watching the late news will never be the same again in Minnesota without Shelby.

I, along with other viewers, will be going in hot pursuit of finding a new favorite television news anchor.

November 30, 2010

Family in danger thanks to retailers For my family, holidays such as Thanksgiving have always been sacred time devoted to family activities.

It seems like it becomes more and more difficult these days to find such time committed to the ones you love.

As I enjoyed turkey with all the fixins and playing games with my family last week over Thanksgiving, I about lost it when the television news came on reporting that retail stores were open Thanksgiving night for consumers to get an early jump on Black Friday shopping. This is absolutely insane. Have we lost all of our marbles or what?

In recent years, there have basically been two days left in the year where stores are closed for the entire dayThanksgiving and Christmas. But now the sad reality appears that Thanksgiving has given way to the money hungry society we live in.

Don’t get me wrong, as a businessman, I understand the importance of promoting deals and making money. But come on, there should be some limitations. Why are we sacrificing what little valuable family time we have left by tempting people to go shopping? I think business can survive and live one day without making the almighty dollar.

This latest venture at making money is just further evidence that our priorities are so screwed up in society. It deeply saddens me to see how family time is being sacrificed and how the family unit has eroded away almost entirely over the years.

It’s bad enough thinking about businesses being open

on Thanksgiving night, but worse yet when you think of all the workers that are being yanked away from their families and pulled in to cover the shifts. One worker interviewed on TV commented that he was okay with working on the holiday. Well, what was he going to say?

I never thought I’d say this, but I think this is almost as bad as sports teams jamming the Sunday morning calendar, keeping families away from worshipping together in church. It drives me crazy to see how families seem to come at the expense of everything else in our society.

With divorce running rampant and broken families scattered all over, someone needs to take notice and figure out how we can keep families together. As far as I’m concerned, opening up the stores on Turkey Day is just one more nail in the coffin to damaging what should be our most valuable institution in life-family.

Unfortunately, society today pulls us in so many different directions that families are losing out in a big way.

In fact, not being together is becoming more of a norm than anything. We don’t need to help things out any more by pulling ridiculous stunts like opening up stores on important holidays.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and many other holidays throughout the year are meant for families to be together, worship together, eat together, play together, laugh together and simply have fun.

The state of family in our country is in danger of

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becoming extinct. You can help by going in hot pursuit of boycotting stores who refuse to remain closed just for one day or two days a year.

What’s next opening up the stores on Christmas Day to begin our holiday shopping for the next year?

December 7, 2010

Santa baking shop December is a month of holiday festivities and traditions for families all over. I got an early jump on one of my family traditions last week and it’s one that I share with many friends, family and coworkers for the entire month.

I turned our kitchen into Santa’s baking shop as I was covered in flour and chocolate trying to whip up some holiday goodies for everyone.

When it comes to Christmas cookies and candy, I’m a baking fool. My mother gets credit for turning me into a cookie monster of sorts.

After a quick trip to the store to buy my baking supplies, I get down to business.

And this is some serious business, I might say so myself. From the crack of dawn until nearly midnight, I am stationed in the kitchen baking cookies and candy for all to enjoy.

I made no less than a dozen different types of cookies and candy. There are some favorite family recipes, some from friends and others I have collected over the years. Each one has a bit of history and a story to go with it.

Cookie baking is a special time around our house. I have involved my children and wife into the affair. When my oldest daughter came home from school on cookie baking day, she blurted out, “This is my favorite day of the year.”

Right away she began sampling some of my goods.

Even though my teenage kids are usually swimming in school work, they still find time to help old dad out in the kitchen with some of their favorites. It just warms

my heart knowing that enjoy carrying on a family tradition like this.

During the day, I’m truly in the holiday spirit as I have the Christmas music blasting throughout the entire house. There are no Scrooges allowed during this special time.

I enjoy cookie baking because it takes my mind away from the outside world and gets me into the Christmas spirit.

There are still many other holiday traditions to get done over the coming weeks, including shopping, decorating and mailing out Christmas cards. But it’s always a relief knowing that I have my yummy goodies ready to nibble on.

Christmas is coming quickly. I hope you enjoy going in hot pursuit of what makes you happy during this holiday season.

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December 14, 2010

Birthday brings new snow toy Readers who read the Times from cover to cover last week found a breaking news alert buried in the back of the second section. It wasn’t really a breaking news alert, but rather my staff’s cleverness at hyping up my birthday.

They say people soften the older they get. I found that out this past weekend as I celebrated my, well I can’t reveal exactly what age, birthday. Let’s just say it’s a few past the 40 year mark. As my kids would remind me, boy dad, you’re getting to be an old man. I jokingly tell people now that I’m becoming ancient.

Well, I finally took that old man status to heart and for the first time in my life, I became the proud owner of a snow blower. I can’t believe I’ve lived in the frozen snow-covered tundra for several decades without one.

I had been asking for a snow blower for years, but for some reason nobody ever listened to me. The hours spent shivering to the bone standing in my driveway shoveling piles of snow finally got the best of me.

The older I get the more I come to the realization that my body isn’t cut out to do what it once did. As much as I wish it would remain young, my body constantly sends me messages that “hey fool, this body can’t do craziness such as shoveling any longer.”

Many trips to the chiropractor have also given me a clue that perhaps it’s time to retire from shoveling. I firmly believe it’s raking and shoveling that has thrown my back into a tailspin for many years.

Last weekend’s forecast of the worst blizzard in nearly 20 years put me over the edge.

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I decided no more. Scrap the shoveling and bring on the snow blower. Besides, I reasoned, it’s my birthday and I need to buy something that’s not only going to benefit my family, but also me.

So on the night before the blizzard, I headed out to find a mean machine that would chomp mountains of snow and spew it back out into the yard. It didn’t take long and I found the snow blower of my dreams. I ended up with a Toro.

The next day in the midst of the blizzard with about 8 inches of newly fallen snow and at least 8 more on the way, my delivery of a new snow blower arrived. Only parents of teenage kids would appreciate the fact that I actually didn’t get to operate my new toy first. My 14-year-old son did. He had the biggest smile on his face knowing that his shoveling days had also basically come to an end.

With about 18 inches of new snow, I felt like I was in snow paradise with my new toy. I couldn’t contain my excitement. I had waited 40 plus years for this moment. With the arrival of the fifth heaviest snowfall on record, I couldn’t have picked a better time to become the owner of a snow blower. Without it, I’d still be out there shoveling my way out of the driveway.

I actually didn’t mind doing some shoveling, but I can’t handle it when there are storms on top of storms on top of yet more storms.

So, I guess I’m living proof that good things do come even with old age.

Now I don’t care how much snow we get. I’m ready to go in hot pursuit of another major blizzard.

February 1, 2011

Against all odds at the Times Great pride came over me last Thursday night as I watched the Blooming Prairie Times make history in the Twin Cities. For the first time ever, the Times won several awards for excellence in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

I swelled with pride each time members of the Times staff went across stage to accept four awards, including two first place honors.

Winning newspaper awards is no small feat. In one of the categories where we captured first place, there was no less than 46 entries.

Capturing top honors in a contest of your own peers is always quite rewarding. I am especially proud of the accomplishments our staff achieved.

But this year was extra special for another reason. That’s because of the commitment I made to our readers about a year ago.

As you may recall, I vowed to provide Blooming Prairie with the best possible community newspaper. In turning the Times into a high quality newspaper, I also committed to making this one of the best community newspapers in the state.

It would seem that winning several state journalism awards puts us on track to having an excellent community newspaper.

But don’t think for a moment that we’ve reached our peak and we’re done improving the paper. We have a long way to go in making this an even better publication than it is now.

There are two types of awards in the contest-individ-

Times photo by Annie Anderson

The Blooming Prairie Times publisher Rick Bussler, daughter Kyrie Bussler and MNA President Jake Benson hold the awards the staff at the Times earned at the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association convention held last week.

ual and newspaper as a whole.

The awards that we won were all individual ones. Next year we want to win some awards for the entire newspaper in addition to individual ones.

I am a firm believer in constantly pursuing excellence and perfection. While I know we’ll never be totally perfect as nobody is, I think it’s important to have dreams and work hard towards achieving them. One should never become complacent and stop making improvements.

This year’s awards were also special for another reason. As many of you are aware, we’ve battled some ups and downs throughout the year. Many issues have come out less than desirable looking. At times it seems as if all odds have been against us.

But through it all, we’ve stuck together and have been able to pull off winning four awards. That is an amazing accomplishment for what

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we’ve gone through over the past 14 months.

The honors we received covered several important areas of the newspaper, including writing, photography and advertising. It’s neat to such a balance in recognizing our achievements. After all, producing a top-notch newspaper requires the ability to do so superbly in all areas.

As we continue to strive for excellence, there is one thing we will always keep in the back of our minds-you, the reader. We want you to be proud of your local hometown newspaper.

It’s been a little over a year since I took over to make this newspaper better. But despite getting a few awards, our work has only begun. We’ll be in hot pursuit of providing an even better newspaper in the weeks and months to come.

February 8, 2011

4-H great program for youth Empowering young people to reach their full potential.

That’s exactly what the 4-H program does for millions of kids around the country. It is a positive youth development organization that has had a profound impact on my life.

As I look back on my years of growing up, there is one thing that defined my childhood and who I am today. It was my involvement in the 4-H program. As far as I’m concerned 4-H is one of the greatest programs available for youth.

For those who may not be aware, the name 4-H represents four personal development areas of focus for the organization: head, heart, hands and health. The organization has more than 6.5 million members in the United States ranging in ages 5-19. Today, 4-H and related programs exist in over 80 countries around the world.

This week is 4-H Enrollment Week. Steele County Extension leaders will not only be re-enrolling 4-Hers and adult volunteers, but they’re also looking for new members to join the program. The local extension office will be open extended hours on Thursday to assist with enrollment.

I know what you’re probably thinking by now: my child doesn’t need to be involved in yet another activity. Life is too hectic already. But let me assure you 4-H is probably one of the best investments of time you could ever make into your child’s life. And there is concrete research to back that up.

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, a longi-

tudinal study conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, shows youth engaged with 4-H are: • Nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school; • Nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college; • 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors; • 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.

I was involved in 4-H for more than 10 years showing hogs, taking pictures, growing a garden, making foods, demonstrating in front of crowds and much more. I found that 4-H fostered an innovative, “learn by doing” approach.

It becomes more and more clear to me the older I get what 4-H has done in my life. I attribute much of my professional and community success to the leadership skills I gained through the 4-H program.

As an example, I believe 4-H gave me the confidence I needed to seek out a job at my hometown newspaper as a 13-year-old and later become the assistant editor by the time I graduated from high school.

Not many teenagers can make a claim like that.

My love for 4-H has rubbed off onto my children. It is so neat to see them grow and develop in the program like I did. This summer my daughter will be taking part in Citizenship Washington Focus, which is an educational conference aimed at providing youth with opportunities to explore, develop and refine their civic engagement skills to be

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outstanding leaders in their communities.

There is a common myth out there that 4-H is only for farm kids. That’s the furthest from the truth. While the program centered around the farm in its earlier years, 4-H today actually focuses more on activities off the farm. Like life in general, 4-H has been forced to adapt to the changing times.

I strongly encourage all youth to consider making 4-H a part of their lives. Going in hot pursuit of joining 4-H is a choice you won’t ever regret.

February 15, 2011

Times office gets facelift If you’ve ever had a major remodeling project going on around your house, you know first hand how messy, tedious, agonizing, disruptive and costly things can get. We here at the Times have faced all of that and more over the past few months as our office is getting a facelift.

It’s funny how projects like this get started and end up leading from one thing to the next. Our newspaper issues are bound into hardcover books. I was innocently looking for a new home for these books-all 118 of them as there is one book for each year of publication. The Times began publishing in 1893.

I had a vision of building some nice wood cabinets to house the multitude of newspaper books we’re starting to accumulate. As I was trying to find a spot to put the cabinets, I started noticing how the floor was in desperate need of some attention. The blue carpet had seen its better days and needed to be replaced.

The local floor expert I brought in figured the carpeting was nearly 20 years old.

The carpeting is being replaced with ceramic tile. This has turned into being quite the ordeal. It seems like we’re constantly moving desks, files and equipment from corner to corner trying to allow the flooring workers space to do their jobs.

Ideally, it would have been sweet to just clear out our entire office to allow the floor to be put in. But there was just one small detail. We still needed a spot to put out our weekly newspaper. I don’t think readers would have

liked it if we decided to skip the paper for a few weeks.

Besides new flooring, we also decided to add work cubicles to the office as well as a conference table. We also made some equipment purchases along the way, including a new phone system and copy machine to name a few.

And no project would be complete without splashing a new coat of paint on the walls. We’re still tweaking the paint job, but soon it will all come together and look great.

We’ve also created some wall space to hang the awards we recently won in the state newspaper contest so everyone can see them when they come in.

As we made the transition to a newer office space, we also did some extensive cleaning. We found items for equipment from ancient times (well, maybe only 20 years ago, but you get the idea).

We found many items that haven’t been used in at least two decades.

I’ve been searching for all the gold that is rumored to be stashed in our office, but all I keep coming up with are old issues of the Times. It’s too bad I can’t make a mint off old newspapers. I’d be retiring tomorrow if that were the case.

This entire renovation project is aimed at improving the work environment and work flow in our office. Ultimately, it will be the readers who will benefit the most because this spanking new office will help us put out a better product each week.

The dust still hasn’t settled

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completely as there are some loose ends to finish yet, but once it does we’ll be sure to let you know so you can see what we’ve done. We’re already finding it amazing to see what a little paint, new work stations and a new floor does to improving the work atmosphere for us all.

We’re always finding ways of going in hot pursuit of putting out one of the best community newspapers in Minnesota.

March 15, 2011

Winter and gas: it’s a one two punch The one two punch. That’s what I feel like I’ve been given this winter. Sucker punched, in fact.

No, I haven’t been in any fights. Fighting has never really been my style. But Old Man Winter has been responsible for the extra punch I’ve taken over the past several months. Old Man has produced one real douse of a winter.

It’s been a brutal winter on many fronts. And it doesn’t seem to be getting much better as we head into spring. But I guess we should be more optimistic.

First, the seemingly never-ending winter just keeps hanging on. Ever since early December, it seems like we’ve had snow literally everyother-day. Snow one day followed by a day to recoup and shovel out and then snow the following day again. On and on it’s been one of those winters.

Fortunately, the Blooming Prairie area hasn’t experienced as much snowfall as other portions of the state like the Twin Cities area where I live.

I am so sick of winter.

As you may recall, I treated myself to a new snow blower last December. That’s really been the only highlight of my winter. The problem is with as many 1-2 inch snowfalls as we’ve had, the snow blower doesn’t do much good. I’m still stuck shoveling and putting my back into more pain than it already has.

The other punch I’m recovering from like a long drawn out hangover is the sting over

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gas prices. Like most motorists, I get sick every time I pull up to the gas pumps. With gas prices hovering around $3.54 per gallon, it’s draining the pocketbook. In one week at the end of February, I think gas prices shot up 20 cents.

Just last week, between the three vehicles my family owns, I shelled out more than $200 for gas. And the fun hasn’t even started yet as my teenage daughter will begin driving in less than two months. At that time, the days of having a few extra bucks in my wallet will be gone.

It makes me wonder where the gas prices are going to go.

Some predict that the prices could top $5.00 per gallon before the end of the year. I sure hope those predictions prove to be wrong, but don’t be too surprised if the gas prices shoot past $4.00 a gallon soon.

If there’s any consolation to this dilemma, I found out that adding my daughter to our insurance coverage won’t be as much of a financial drain as I originally thought. She has straight A’s in school, which provides a huge insurance break. Gee, what I save in insurance can be poured right into the gas tank.

So the battle goes on. We could still see another month or two of winter. And there’s little relief in sight with gas prices. I may as well get used to being sucker punched over and over. I’ll just need to go in hot pursuit of downing lots of Pepto-Bismol.

April 5, 2011

Intern opportunity at the Times The Times is in the hunt for a summer intern to learn the ropes of the newspaper business. This opportunity is becoming available with the help of a grant through the Minnesota Newspaper Association.

We’re looking to hire one student or 2011 graduate between the ages of 16-19 for this position. The intern will work 20 hours per week throughout the summer months and have the chance to gain valuable experience with graphic design, advertising sales or writing and photography.

No experience is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity, but a little interest in journalism or a related field would be helpful.

As we search goes on for the right candidate, I remember back to my teenage years of working at my hometown newspaper, the Brownton Bulletin. I was barely a teenager at the time when I went to our local editor begging for a job.

There was no advertisement at the time; I sought out the opportunity on my own.

Within no time at all, I was hired as a photographer primarily for school functions.

I was only 13 years old at the time. I felt like I had gone to heaven with getting a newspaper job at such a young age.

This wasn’t just a summer job; it was year-round.

It proved to be one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. Soon after I became a photographer, I took on writing responsibilities. I was interviewing coaches, teachers, the movers and shakers around town and ordinary people for various types of stories.

I became obsessed with the

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler, 16, proofs over the Brownton Bulletin at Crow River Press on July 3, 1984. Bussler was filmed by WTCN-TV, NEWS.

job. In fact, there were many times when I wrote at least a dozen stories per week. In addition, I took the majority of the pictures for the newspaper.

During my five year span, I wrote 1,735 stories and had 2,031 photographs published in the Bulletin.

As I look back on my teenage obsession, I probably was a bit too consumed with it all. My school work suffered because I was putting in about 30 hours every week at the newspaper. I remember many nights dozing off and falling asleep on top of my typewriter trying to crank out yet another story for the paper. It wasn’t uncommon for me to work well past midnight on school nights writing stories.

But I was blessed with many opportunities that other teens never got a chance to do.

By the time I graduated from high school, I was running the newspaper as assistant editor.

I did everything from writing to laying out the pages to selling the ads.

I became one of the youngest journalists ever in Minnesota to win awards at

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the Minnesota Newspaper Convention. I lost count, but I think I won more than 15 awards during my five years at the Bulletin. I also won one award for writing on the national level. Keep in mind this was all done before I graduated from high school.

Working at the newspaper gave me valuable insight into what I believe is one of the greatest professions in the world. The experience prepared me for my adult professional life. My former boss Chuck Warner, who was one of greatest small town newspaper publishers in Minnesota, allowed me to expand my wings in so many directions and taught me the value of what hard work can lead to.

The work ethic I picked up at the Bulletin has followed me to this day.

I would now love to return the favor to a teenager from the Blooming Prairie area even if it’s only for three short months. I’m in hot pursuit of finding someone who wants to gain incredible work experience while having a little fun at the same time.

April 12, 2011

Unsung public safety heroes It can be a thankless job, but yet one of the most important public safety jobs in the world.

Emergency 911 dispatchers are the lifeline to complete uncertainty and shear chaos.

They field phone calls from people when they’re most likely facing the worst time in their lives and get police, fire and medical help to where it’s needed.

Dispatching is one of those jobs that can go from complete boredom one minute to udder craziness the next.

Lives can be on the line. The goal is to get help to those who need it as quick as possible, but sometimes it’s not quick enough.

Take the 2007 shootings of a Waseca County family, for example. At 3:20 in the morning, a 13-year-old called 911 and was shot to death as he was talking to the dispatcher trying to get help for his family. The teenager and his father were shot to death while his mom was seriously hurt by an intruder.

This week is National Telecommunicators Week and it is a time to honor public safety 911 dispatchers. These professionals make the difference between life and death situations in many instances.

Being a 911 dispatcher can be a stress-filled job to say the least. I have a deep appreciation for the work done by the men and women who handle emergency calls. First of all, I used to dispatch in Waseca County for a few years while going to college. It’s certainly a challenge to try and make sense out of a call with someone screaming on the

other end.

And now since becoming a police officer, I have learned to depend on dispatchers for protecting my life and the lives of my partners out on the streets. There have been several times during my career where I’ve had to rely on dispatchers to send help after I’ve yelled for assistance over the radio. One time shots had been fired and one of my partners had been hit.

Dispatchers answer hundreds of calls every week in keeping our communities safe. In doing so, they’re busy doing multiple things at once.

They’re expected to do five or more things at once and do them all well. They may be on the phone answering a life or death call for help, dispatching officers over the radio, typing information into a computer, putting another call on hold and listening to an officer make a traffic stop.

In Steele County, all 911 calls are routed to the SteeleRice Dispatch Center in Owatonna. There are about 20 dispatchers who work aroundthe-clock 365 days a year protecting our communities.

A public safety dispatcher may play many different roles throughout a shift. They may be a therapist, doctor, lawyer, teacher, priest, secretary, politician, reporter and more.

One thing for certain is that dispatchers are the steady voice in the storm on the other end of a 911 call. They know how to handle emergencies and do it with style and grace. They care about people and want to help the best way possible.

In my mind, 911 dispatch-

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ers are the real heroes of public safety. They are unsung heroes who don’t receive a lot of appreciation and thanks for their work.

It’s time for all of us to go in hot pursuit of recognizing dispatchers for their commitment to keeping us safe as we go about living our lives.

April 19, 2011

Little things make a difference Sometimes it’s the little things in life that make all the difference in the world.

I had one of those experiences this past weekend with my oldest daughter. She had a photography assignment for school to get some old pictures.

At first I was a bit stumped as to where to direct her.

Old stuff? It’s not that easy to come by. I didn’t think offering up myself as “the old man” would be exactly what my daughter had in mind.

I then remembered a hot spot for antiques located along the frontage road to I-35 south of Lakeville. It’s called Hot Sam’s Antiques. You’ve undoubtedly driven by it when coming into the Twin Cities.

Hot Sam’s has made an irresistible display to catch everyone’s attention when driving into the metro area.

There is a submarine and a giant shark overlooking the grounds of Hot Sam’s and visible from the freeway.

For all my years of driving through that area, I never once stopped there. That’s until Sunday with my camerawielding daughter at my side.

If you collect things, Hot Sam’s is your paradise. The long driveway is bordered with old cars, trucks, machinery, quirky signs and metal sculptures. Once you’ve ventured down the driveway, a two story log cabin is filled with antiques and eclectic items.

Hot Sam’s is a trip down memory lane for those of us who have been around for many decades. This unique place is as much as a museum as an antique store.

Our stroll through the acres of antiques brought a bit of

nostalgia for me. One item that especially caught my interest was an old threshing machine. My grandpa operated one of those many years ago and serviced farmers throughout the neighborhood.

Another item that jumped out at me was a 1951 black and white police car. Even after all these years, it still was equipped with the original police radio, siren and prisoner cage. Today’s police vehicles have sure taken on a whole different look from the squads of 60 years ago.

People can spend hours just wandering around, which is exactly what my daughter and I did as she was snapping pictures of “old stuff.”

The grounds are covered with wooden sculptures, rusted cars and a surprising number of oversized rooster sculptures.

It was a wonderful time for my daughter and I to spend time together as we marveled at how times have changed.

She thought it was interesting to see all the old items.

The best part of the whole afternoon was that it didn’t cost anything to have a little bonding time with my daughter. Sometimes going in hot pursuit of the little things in life is what makes life so interesting.

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May 10, 2011

ily with a mother who is able to stay at home all the time.

It really doesn’t help matters when I see projects that have been neglected for several years. Or when I feel stressed out and pulled in a million different directions at home.

I give a lot of credit to the working moms as they’re forced to juggle it all. Being able to work full-time and handle the kids and a household once you get home is a tough act to follow.

I also think about the single moms out there. It can quickly become overwhelming trying to raise kids by yourself and hoping to hold everything Submitted photo together, including your own sanity. This especially rings Bussler family Christmas card from 1978. Cliff and June along with their three children, Jana (front), LtoR (back), Greg and Rick. true for me as I was a single parent for five years. I was the mom, the dad, the family organizer and so on. You name it; everything fell onto my shoulders.

Perhaps what saddens me growing up in the 1970s and As I was celebrating the most about all of this is 80s.

Mother’s Day this past weekthe reason for such a reversal I must admit I was spoiled end with the two important in mothering styles. I feel growing up, as I had home mothers in my life , I couldn’t society as a whole is to blame cooked meals every night, help but think about how befor forcing moms out of the lots of family time together ing a mom in today’s world is home. It’s nearly impossible drastically different than when and a mom to greet me every to make ends meet with only afternoon when I came home I grew up. one parent working. Some from school. We also didn’t It seems the biggest differdays I begin to wonder if it’s seem to have the financial ence I can find is moms who even possible with two workpressures that are squeezing stay at home and those who ing parents. families today. work. For years, there has Staying at home? WorkTo be able to stay home been an underlining debate ing? Neither is wrong. And with your children is a regarding motherhood about certainly neither of them is wonderful thing. I am forever which is the best for the fameasy. Kids can certainly turn thankful to have been raised ily. out great whether they go to My life has revolved around in a family where this was day care or stay home. possible. I give my mom tons both styles of mothering. I Moms shouldn’t despair. If of credit for raising three chilgrew up on the farm with my you shower your children with dren and being able to always mom (and dad) always being love and appreciation every be there for us. home. Since leaving home day, you are a great mom no Fast forward ahead about and having children of my matter if you work or stay 10 years and ka-boom. An own, things have changed home. earthquake shook the very dramatically. My wife works I will always treasure what existence of the family. Very full-time, and we both juggle my parents were able to do for few moms were no longer the parenting chores. me. It may not be what I’m home all the time as most of For 18 years, I was used now able to do for my kids, them were forced into the to having mom take care of but going in hot pursuit of workplace. me and constantly be around adapting to a changing world If there is one regret I have home. The idea of having to is what makes us stronger in life, it is that I have never go to a baby-sitter or day-care individuals. been able to provide my famwas non-existent when I was

Role changes for moms

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May 17, 2011

New driver in the family It’s official. Our family has become a three licensed driver household.

The long awaited anticipation of having my first teenager begin driving has arrived. My daughter, Kyrie, who helps at the Times with the website, just turned 16 and within a week she passed her behind-the-wheel driver’s test and has now sent dad into a panic.

It was a bittersweet moment for me last week as we rolled out of the driver’s exam station. On one hand, I was thrilled that my girl had passed her driver’s test with flying colors. Well, all right she had a little problem with backing and missing a traffic sign. But she passed her test and it’s all that really matters.

But, on the other hand, it is terrifying for a parent to see their child head into the world of craziness on our roadways. It sometimes seems liked drunk drivers, speeders, inattentive drivers, road rage idiots and so on are overtaking the highways. I suppose it doesn’t help that I’m also a police officer and see the mayhem first hand.

For the first time ever, my daughter is on her own-at least when it comes to driving. It’s hard to believe that I have a child driving by herself.

Many parents go through the same thing throughout the year as they release the driving reigns to a teenager. But it doesn’t make it any easier.

Just a few days before my daughter got her license, I narrated a mock car crash at one of the Lakeville high schools. In the staged sce-

nario, teens on their way to the prom crashed into each other, killing two of the kids.

It is one of the most profound ways I have seen to let teens know what can happen while driving and using alcohol.

The mock crash always send chills down my spine.

After the crash, I heard a speech by a family who lost three boys in a single car crash. What makes this story especially difficult is that the boys did nothing wrong and ended up dying together almost instantly.

For parents who are going through the same as what I am, I’d like to encourage them to continue to monitor and train teens even after licensure on a variety of road types and various conditions.

It’s important to be vigilant in training teens how to drive no matter if they think they know it all or not.

Parents also should set rules and limits for their teen driver. Some of the basics should be no-brainers. Drivers and passengers are required to be buckled up. No questions asked. There are now passenger limitations where no more than one passenger under age 20 during the first six months of licensure and no more than three during the second six months can be in the vehicle.

Perhaps one of the biggest safety rules when it comes to new teen drivers is cell phone use. Cell phones are totally banned for drivers during their first year of having a license. It is illegal for all drivers to read or compose text messages or emails.

There are also nighttime limitations for teens to fol-

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low. No driving is allowed between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first year of licensure.

As I reminded my daughter last week when I turned the keys over to her, driving is a privilege and not a right.

Privileges can easily be taken away.

Now with my daughter enjoying her new found freedom of driving, dad will be going in hot pursuit of finding something to cure his ulcer over this teenage driving business.

June 14, 2011

Life’s greatest reward There have been many things I have been recognized for over the years both personally and professionally, but there is one that stands out by far as my greatest accomplishment in life. It’s being a father.

Fatherhood has always been important to me going back to my daughter’s arrival 16 years ago. Ever since then, there have been two more children to keep me busy as a father. I treasure the time I have with each one of them.

I have always said that being a parent—whether it’s a father or mother—is more demanding and difficult to do than any other job. It’s a round-the-clock job that consumes your life for at least 18 years or more.

For me, being a father has certainly come with some challenges over the years.

I was a single parent raising two children by myself for almost six years. When I began my venture into single parenting, my children were 5 and 4 years old.

It was interesting, and perhaps even entertaining at times, to see me trying to fill the role of being a mother, father, family coordinator, sole breadwinner, entertainment director and the list goes on.

It still baffles me to this day how I made it through those days of being a single parent.

Fathers as single parents are certainly in the minority.

When I became a single father, it was almost unheard of for fathers to have custody of their children. I’m not sure it has changed much since then.

As many parents can relate, there were days when I didn’t

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler and his dad, Clifford Bussler, spends time out on the family farm on Father’s Day.

know if I was coming or going and which end was up or down. What probably made matters worse is that I didn’t really have the confidence of some family members.

I recall back to when I first got custody of my children that some family members commented I would never last at being a single parent to my two children. “He’ll get tired of it in a few years,” one family member said. Not only was that one of the most hurtful things I ever heard, but it gave me the motivation to prove them totally wrong.

And I feel I have since proved myself. My oldest children are 16 and 14 and they have been with me the entire time.

I now consider raising two children by myself for many years as the greatest achievement I have accomplished in life. No one can ever take that

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away from me even though some tried to be skeptical in the beginning.

As another Father’s Day rolls around, I am thankful for the opportunity to be a father to three children. It may be a tough job, but it certainly provides me with the greatest satisfaction in the world. I will always go in hot pursuit of being the best father I know how.

Happy Father’s Day to all dads!

June 21, 2011

Down on the farm If you’ve ever wondered where that quenching glass of milk or your favorite ice cream treat comes from, a local dairy association has come up with the perfect way to teach folks about dairy products and more.

June is Dairy Month and this weekend folks of all ages will get a rare insight into the operations of a local dairy farm. The Steele County Dairy Association is hosting a Breakfast on the Farm event at the Jon Schmidt farm outside of Owatonna.

I had the unique experience of growing up on the farm.

We didn’t raise dairy cows, but rather hogs and crops.

My parents were leading pork producers in the state back before large corporate farms took over.

Being down on the farm as a youngster is a memory I still cherish to this day. Many of my favorite childhood memories have something to do with the farm, especially taking care of pigs and showing them at county and state fairs.

One of the opportunities I relished as a 4-H member was the chance I had to teach people about animals. I did several demonstrations and we had tours of our farm educating people about hogs.

That’s perhaps why I have taken a special interest in what the local dairy association is doing for area residents. I think it’s wonderful that a group that promotes the dairy industry is reaching out to educate.

Breakfast on the Farm is one of those special chances for city folks to learn more

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about the dairy industry.

People will have the opportunity to see what farmers do with their cows and how milk gets from the farm to the store coolers. Actual milking of the cows will take place during the event.

Besides seeing the dairy operation, people will also be able to ask questions about dairy farming. Steele County’s dairy princess, Stephanie Kasper, who has lived on a dairy farm her entire life, will be available to teach the public about proper animal care relating to dairy cows.

Minnesota is home to nearly 4,500 dairy farms, which annually produce more than one billion gallons of wholesome milk and other dairy products. The dairy industry in this state generates $11.5 billion in total economic impact for Minnesota.

Dairy princess Kasper has developed a special bond with her cows over the years. She feels they all have unique personalities of their own. She’s hoping people will come in hot pursuit to the breakfast event to share in her love of dairy.

“

Ever since I can remember, I have been involved in fairs in some fashion or another. While growing up on the family farm, I showed pigs in 4-H. Though I’m no longer showing animals, it’s special for me to now be involved with the largest county fair in the state right here in Steele County.

”

__RICK L. BUSSLER

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C

hapter Two

The

Times

Serving Blooming Prairie and the Four-County Area Steele County’s Only Community Weekly Newspaper

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August 2, 2011

Improving the Times Besides being a cop great ways of improving Sculpting a princess on the beat, publishing a and expanding the Times newspaper is one of the without the community greatest jobs in the world. losing hardly anything. I Serving Blooming PPrairie andd FFour-County C AArea What’s unique and special have come up with ideas Former for me is that I get to do to enhance the qualcounty employee both every week. ity even more, make the facing In just three months, I newspaper more interestcharges will be coming up on my ing to read and find ways two year anniversary of to make the paper more owning this newspaper. readable to communiDuring my time of operties outside of Blooming ating the Times, I have Prairie. been focused on finding Step one of this process Twins excited for Kindergarten ways to improve the took place last week Nelson honored quality of the newspaper with the promotion of and possible ways of exAnn Anderson to general panding. This is certainly manager. The Times has no easy task, especially never had this position considering the unstable before, but the times are economic times we’ve all definitely right for us to been facing. have a GM in place. With Since day one, I told Anderson’s leadership in readers how I had a vithis important position, sion of turning the Times it will make the transiBPFD responds to fire into a quality community tion with our plans much newspaper and making it smoother. one of the best small town Publisher Rick Bussler revealed the new In the coming weeks, papers in the state. We re- look of the Times on September 6, 2011. we will begin revealalized this goal last Janu- Bussler’s vision is turning the Times into ing what our plans are a quality community newspaper and ary when we won three for the Times and start making it one of the best small town state journalism awards implementing some of papers in the state. through the Minnesota our strategies. We hope to Newspaper Association. begin with our expansion There’s some indication efforts in early Septemthat something greater ber.

I do nothing else in my job may soon be happening to the I’m sure you’re all dying to as publisher, I consider it Times, but we’ll have to wait know what’s going to happen. my greatest responsibility to and see a little longer.

But for right now you’re just make sure this paper continAs publisher, my job is to going to have to wait and ues and thrives for decades to look at the big picture of the go in hot pursuit of a little come. newspaper and how the paper patience. Oh yeah, and don’t Over the past year, I have can adequately serve the forget to keep reading the taken a hard look at the community for many years to Times each week.

Times. In some ways, I feel come. This often entails havlike a forensic scientist in ing specific goals in mind and which I have dissected every even laying out five year, 10 aspect of the paper. With year or even longer plans for some guidance from various the newspaper. sources, I have come to some In the case of the Times, decisions with what needs to the paper has served the happen with the paper. community for 118 years. If I feel I have found some Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Local dairy princess gets head sculpted in butter at state fair.

bloomingprairieonline.com • $1

Page 1B

Steele County’s Only Legal and Community Weekly Newspaper

Times expands news coverage, changes name

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontiernet.net A husband and his wife who worked for Steele County are facing charges after it was found that they allegedly bilked over $90,000 from the county since 2005.

According to the criminal complaint, Melissa Mensing, 46, and her husband, Larry Mensing, 53, applied for and received medical assistance benets for themselves and their four children through the county since Nov. 1, 2005.

The family received over $85,000 in public medical benets, the complaint stated. In addition, the couple received mileage reimbursements and insurance premiums that bring the cost to the county to $91,151.30.

Human Services Director Charity Floen approached county administrator Riaz Aziz earlier this summer about an investigation being done on Melissa by the Steele County Attorney’s Ofce.

“We determined that we needed to protect the rights of Melissa and protect the county’s assets,” Aziz said. To do this, the county placed Melissa on administrative leave on June 14.

“When the county attorney’s ofce released its results, we terminated Melissa,” Aziz said.

According to the complaint, Melissa worked for the county from July 11, 2006, to July 27, 2011.

Recently, she was working as a nancial worker. This position processed intake forms for public assistance, including medical assistance.

“It is not a win/win for anyone involved,” Aziz said. “The county makes an investment into everyone we as a county hire.”

Larry and Melissa have each been charged with one felony count of wrongfully obtaining assistance, a charge that brings a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 ne.

They are to make their rst court appearance on Oct. 24.

Times photo by Luke Berhow

School’s back in session

It was back to school for students and staff at Blooming Prairie Schools on Tuesday. Eager students with big smiles made their way to classes at the high school with teacher Michelle Southworth monitoring the hallway in the background.

The elementary started school ofcially Wednesday after having “Day One” the day before.

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontier.com School started today at the high school and for elementary students like twins Gabriel and Zachary Hein it was day one.

The two Kindergarten students met their teachers and began getting accustomed to what they will be doing and where they will learn this school year.

The students’ parents are Roger and Danielle Hein of Blooming Prairie. They are the youngest of six children with their oldest sibling being 23.

It has been a process that all parents go through when getting their kids ready for the year.

The supplies were purchased, school clothes are ready and the backpacks are lled to the brim with everything Gabriel and Zachary will need to learn and prosper this year. Both kids have even been looking through their

activity books with anticipation.

Gabriel and Zachary are most excited to see their friends again and be able to utilize the SMART room.

Roger and Danielle have had some added challenges present themselves when it came to getting the kids ready for their rst day. The added cost of purchasing two of everything and making sure the kids are on the same day as they begin the year were two major problems.

“At rst they had them on alternating days,” Danielle said.

“They have worked with me to x that problem.”

The rst couple of weeks at the elementary, the Kindergartners go every other day all day.

They then go all ve days after that. Without it being switched, the twins would have been separated and not able to go to school together.

Because the two children are in different classes, Danielle is anxious to see how they interact with other kids and how they react to be invited to things that their sibling may not be invited to.

Zachary will be in Mrs. Bruns’ classroom and Gabriel is still unsure to whom he will be learning from this year.

With the school year starting the kids are thrilled to be beginning a new chapter in their lives and Danielle is excited to see them on a normal, regular learning schedule.

Besides starting school, another exciting event for the boys is that they will soon become uncles. One of their older siblings is expecting a child.

“We are excited for Kindergarten,” both boys said in unison.

Times photo by Per Kvalsten

Blooming Prairie reghters put out a hay rack that burst into ames Tuesday at around 4 p.m. The re happened east of Blooming Prairie in Dodge County. According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Ofce, a person was attempting to repair the equipment when the re started. No one was reported injured in the blaze.

Volume 119, Issue 12

Established in 1893

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Beginning this week, the Times will expand its news coverage in an effort to become more countywide, the newspaper announced.

In making the announcement, Publisher Rick Bussler said the name of the newspaper will also be changed to “The Times” as a way of reecting the commitment to serving the entire region, especially Steele County.

“For years we have been the legal newspaper of Steele County,” Bussler said. “It only makes sense for us to take our paper to the next step by offering readers expanded coverage of county news.”

The Times has been designated for many years as the ofcial legal newspaper by the Steele County Board.

Bussler hopes this move will help ll a void of countywide news coverage. “We have done some county news in the past, but it’s been very limited for various reasons,” he said. “Our newest effort will allow us to offer more stories about county issues while at the same time maintaining our coverage of the Blooming Prairie area.”

The Times has hired Christene Hettinga of Owatonna to be the county news writer.

She will cover county board meetings as well as write news and feature stories pertaining to issues throughout Steele County.

The Times’ very own sports writer and community supporter LeMar Nelson was honored last Tuesday for his volunteering and generous donations to charitable organizations.

As part of the United Way of Steele County’s year kick-off, Nelson was given the rst ever Blooming Prairie Lives United award.

“When you think about giving to your county, volunteering time, advocating on behalf of children and our future, you think of LeMar Nelson,” United Way of Steele County Executive Director Evelina Giobbe said.

The event held at the Pizza Cellar in Blooming Prairie had a packed house.

“I am so proud of Blooming Prairie,” Giobbe said. “I know what Blooming Prairie does each year to help its community and residents and it’s amazing.”

“If I have in some way contributed to the community, it was a privilege not an obligation,” Nelson said. “I am a proud supporter of the United Way, Blooming Prairie Education Foundation and the local school district. The Boys and Girls Club in Blooming Prairie is the best place for kids to nd a safe environment to help with education issues and become respectful citizens and adults. I appreciate the award, thank you.”

According to Giobbe, the United Way funded programs provided services to 736 Blooming Prairie residents in Blooming Prairie last year.

“It’s a blessing that I get to serve my community,” Giobbe said. “I live in Blooming Prairie and am excited to spend the rest of my life here in town.”

This year’s corporate cam-

In addition to hiring a new writer, the Times will also offer some new features. Sheriff Lon Thiele will begin writing a monthly column, “Steele Star,” on the public safety page. The Times will start featuring the county’s most wanted criminals.

The Times will devote at least one page each week to county stories. Included on the county page will be a column called, “Steele Talkin.”

The column will be rotated on a weekly basis by several organizations around the county. This week’s column is written by Tanya Paley, project coordinator for the Steele County Safe and Drug Free Coalition.

“We have substantially expanded our news coverage,” Bussler said. “This will help make us one of the greatest small weekly newspapers in the state.

“Basically, it boils down to the fact that readers will be getting greater value for their subscription dollar,” said Bussler. “It’s exciting for us to be expanding, especially when many papers around the country are downsizing.”

Bussler noted that readers are encouraged to let the newspaper know what they think of the expansion.

See editorial on page 2A for more information about this expansion project.

Times photo by Per Kvalsten

LeMar Nelson paign leader is the Owatonna Hospital. Representing the hospital at the event was its president David Albrecht.

“Our mission is to work with the community to improve the health and well-being of the residents,” Albrecht said. “The United Way is the same. The United is a local treasure and by having the board of directors local, it is very special. By donating any amount to the United Way we guarantee your donations are in good hands and the return will be 10 fold.”

Some United Way-funded programs serving Blooming Prairie include the Boys and Girls Club, Steele County Food Shelf, Steele County Clothesline, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, SEMCAC and Healthy Seniors of Steele County.

Of the 736 residents in Blooming Prairie who received services last year, 54 percent went to basic needs, 29 percent to children and youth, 14 percent to seniors, 2 percent to families and 1 percent to health and disability.

Home of the Awesome Blossoms!

August 9, 2011 • Fair Edition

Fairs are truly memorable Fairs have always held a special spot in my heart. Ever since I can remember, I have been around fairs in some form or fashion. And to this day, I can’t get away from the fair no matter what I do.

It all started with me growing up on the family farm in central Minnesota. My first memory-going back to my toddler days- of the fair was showing hogs. My father was a large hog producer who showed hogs on the county and state levels for many years.

My summers were consumed with training the pigs for show.

My brother and I were active in 4-H. Showing hogs came as second nature for both of us. With our home fair (McLeod County) in mid-August, we started in early June walking our pigs around the farmyard trying to train them for show. This went on nearly every day up until fair.

It was always a challenge to find a cool time and a spot in the shade to make this happen. If it wasn’t the pig get ornery, it was the handler getting a little testy because the pig wouldn’t do what he was supposed to do. It usually made for some interesting times.

But all the tears and sweat that these animals often caused usually paid off in the end. We often walked away with showmanship ribbons and trophies for being the best show of our animals. In addition, we often had purple ribbon championship hogs over the entire show.

Showing the animals was always a true test of patience for me. And showing even brought me to tears-at least once. For some reason, the pigs always had a mind of their own and didn’t care too much about what I wanted them to do. One time as I was showing my prize hog, he decided enough of this pomp and circumstance and went directly for the bleachers. He piled under the bleachers, bringing me to tears and sending spectators running for cover. I couldn’t get

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler, 14, shows off his 1982 champion pig at the county fair.

him out of the bleachers. I was humiliated.

The hardest part came at the end of the fair. That was the time when our animals got shipped away to the slaughterhouse. After three months of vigorously training and being attached to the pigs, it was time to say goodbye. And saying goodbye was never easy.

I still remember lying on top of my hogs in their pens hugging them and shedding a few tears and not wanting them to let them go. They had become one of the family in so many respects.

My parents pushed me to excel in 4-H. I am forever grateful to them for the opportunities 4-H provided me with over the years. The 4-H program proved to be one of the greatest experiences in my childhood.

Being at the county fair was usually like a mini-vacation for our family. We were there every day from sunrise to sunset and even longer. I remember early morning shifts of working in the 4-H Eat Stand. My uncle and I even went on so many daredevil rides that to this day it makes us sick thinking about them.

Perhaps what became most memorable about the fair were the friendships we made.

Whether it was with other 4-H’ers, neighbors, family or even strangers, the fair was

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always the meeting spot where everyone came together at least once during the summer.

Once the county fairs were over, it was onto the Minnesota State Fair. This became a major highlight and the grand finale to our summer. I won state fair trips every year I qualified.

Sometimes it was with hogs, other times with photography and even demonstrations. It didn’t matter what I won the trip with as I always gave it my best.

Even though my 4-H days are long past, I can’t get the fair out of my blood. I have passed on the rich tradition to my children who are in 4-H. I attend several area county fairs, including the granddaddy of them all-the Steele County Free Fair. This year I will be helping man the Times booth in the 4 Seasons Building.

And as if the county fairs weren’t enough, I work at the Minnesota State Fair for the entire 12 days as a police officer.

Crazy? Perhaps. But good things come out of the fairs. I met my lovely wife while working at the state fair several years ago.

As you can see, the fairs are truly engrained in my DNA. I hope you enjoy going in hot pursuit of a great fair experience this year and make it as memorable as what I have over the years.

August 9, 2011

Best of ‘Times’ at the fair I love fairs. We have been in the fair mode for the past few months here at the Times getting ready for Minnesota’s largest county fair right in our backyard.

The Times is going to make a big splash and showcase itself at the Steele County Free Fair, which gets underway next Tuesday in Owatonna.

We’re going to make it the best of ‘Times’ at the fair.

This will be a special time for the Times as it is believed to be the first time we’ve ever had a commercial exhibit at the fair. The Times will have a booth on the south end of the Four Seasons Building.

Our staff is anxiously awaiting to greet fair visitors.

While at the fair, we will be offering an incredible deal for new subscribers. Those who have missed out with getting the Times can pick up a year subscription for a bargain price during the fair only.

New subscribers will also be entered into a drawing with a grand prize of a $300 travel voucher courtesy of Cedar Travel in Owatonna.

In addition to the huge subscription deal and giveaway, we will be handing out free gifts, including newspapers, our special fair section, a coupon directory exclusively featuring fair food vendors and other surprises.

Having a fair booth isn’t our only involvement with this year’s county fair extravaganza. This week we published a special 32-page section packed with stories and photos of people involved with the fair. The tab also featured advertisements from

area businesses.

I have a special craving for fair food. So it seemed only appropriate for us to put together a 4-page coupon directory of specials from food vendors. We want everyone to have a grand time at the fair enjoying some discounts on the great fair food.

Ever since I can remember, I have been involved in fairs in some fashion or another.

While growing up on the family farm, I showed pigs in 4-H. Though I’m no longer showing animals, it’s special for me to now be involved with the largest county fair in the state right here in Steele County.

Being at the fair is one phase of our marketing effort.

Marketing is a key to the success of any business no matter what size it is-one employee or hundreds. We recognize the importance of getting our name out into the community, especially outside of Blooming Prairie, and letting people know what we have to offer.

And what better place to do this than at an event that draws more than a quarter of a million people over six days. We want people to know that the Times is one of the best small town community newspapers in the state. We have made incredible strides in improving our newspaper over the past few years. And now it’s time to show off a little.

We’re also encouraging area residents to capture the magic at the fair by showing off their photography talents.

The Times is sponsoring a fair photo contest. Fairgoers

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can take pictures at the fair and enter them for some big prizes. More details are included in this week’s special fair section.

I encourage everyone to come out to the fair next week and find our booth. It’s fair time and time for you to go in hot pursuit of some summer fun entertainment at its finest. Reach out for the best of ‘Times’ at the fair!

September 6, 2011

Newspaper history comes alive There are not many opportunities for the newspaper industry to showcase what life was once like in the business many years ago. But there is one chance thousands of visitors to the Minnesota State Fair get each year to catch a glimpse of living history of newspapers.

It’s the Minnesota Newspaper Museum now it its 24th year at the state fair.

Since it started in 1987, the museum has been a hot spot for fairgoers. It attracts about 4,500 people each day during the fair. More than 1.4 million people have come through the museum’s doors since the beginning.

The biggest attraction in the museum is the Linotype machine. With a recent gift of a Model 5 Linotype, the museum is now home to two old Linotypes. The Model 5 was built in the early part of the 20th century. The machine has been rebuilt and was used as a working press until 1976.

The second machine is a more modern type, built in the early ‘60s.

Thomas Edison once referred to the Linotype as the “eighth wonder of the world.”

No matter what time of the day, crowds gather around the machines with awe and fascination beaming from them as the machines give off distinct smells and sounds.

The museum is not just a display of printing equipment.

It is a working museum with printers actually doing the job.

A small newspaper called the Maynard News is printed in front of fairgoers and given to them as a keepsake. This is what makes the museum a true treasure in my heart-the whole

experience is an inspiring tribute to our industry’s past.

As I grow older, I have a deeper appreciation of historical items, especially from a business that I strongly believe in. The Linotype is one of those items that helped define the newspaper industry as we know it today.

Linotypes were responsible for printing weekly newspapers like The Times for decades. The machine has 35,000 parts, springs, pulleys, wheels and gears. Only Lino operators knew how to maintain their machine.

The day-by-day work of Lino operators was to convert words typed or scrawled on paper into metal wafers called “slugs” that has words cast on one edge. When collected and locked up, hundreds or thousands of slugs provided became the raised surfaces essential to letterpress printing.

During the fair, the museum is staffed by volunteers, most of them retired printers. One of them who faithfully comes every year is my former boss from my hometown newspaper, Chuck Warner, who is in his mid 80s. It is a neat experience to hear these retired printers share stories about their past experiences in the industry.

Visitors to the museum also get to interact with current reporters, editors and publishers from around the state to learn about more about newspapers.

There are 371 newspapers being published in all 87 counties of Minnesota. Of those, 28 are daily papers and 45 college newspapers. The rest are biweekly or weekly newspapers like The Times. Steele County is home to two newspapers-

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The Times and the Owatonna daily.

Newspapers are vital because they write Minnesota’s history one week at a time. I think it’s important for people to realize the roots of the state’s papers. And the fair museum is one way to do that.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to check out the museum, I strongly encourage you to do so at future fairs.

For those who can’t get to the fair, there is a new DVD film detailing the newspaper industry at the turn of the 20th century. Anyone interested in seeing the film can contact me for arrangements.

I prefer to visit the fair museum, which has become one of the popular hotspots that I make sure I stop at during my state fair experience.

It’s not every day people can go in hot pursuit of living history that comes to life and educates them on years gone by.

September 27, 2011

One of the best in the country Two years ago when I took over The Times, I made a commitment to our readers that I would produce one of the finest small town newspapers in Minnesota. Within a year, I realized that goal by capturing several state awards.

But little did I know at the time that this newspaper would soon become one of the best in the entire nation. That’s exactly what happened this past weekend when I traveled to New Mexico to accept three national awards for journalistic excellence. Each of the awards showcased our writing abilities both for individual stories and news coverage as a whole.

It is always rewarding to be recognized in front of your peers. There was only a hand full of other newspapers from Minnesota honored at the convention. The Times was the smallest newspaper from Minnesota to win awards.

For me, it’s actually not the first time I have won a national award. Back many years ago when I was in high school and working at my hometown newspaper, I captured a top honor for a feature story. But this trip was extra special because it was the first time I won awards for my own newspaper.

And it was unique because Blooming Prairie has never gained such notoriety in the newspaper industry.

I am honored to be the first publisher to ever bring Blooming a national award-winning publication.

Our staff works hard each week to bring you the best news coverage and advertising. At times it seems like a daunting task, but it makes

it all worthwhile when we receive honors like we did this past weekend.

While winning awards is certainly a big boost, it’s not the most important thing for me. What matters to me the most is the readers. I always try to provide our readers with the highest quality newspaper possible. I strive each and every week to give you news and information that is important to your every day life.

During last week’s convention, it was reassuring to hear some good news about newspapers. Over the past few years, the national media has portrayed the newspaper industry as one that is on the verge of becoming extinct.

This is far from the truth-at least when it comes to community newspapers.

Large daily newspapers around the country have been struggling. Some have ceased publication while others have significantly cut back. But it’s a different story when it comes to weekly newspapers.

Community papers like The Times are thriving. There is a big market for hometown news in communities around the country. And while readers may not always agree with what’s printed in them, people love their community papers.

In fact, nearly 80 percent of people say they read community newspapers every week.

This is astounding. Business owners need to take note of the popularity of newspapers when deciding where to spend their advertising dollars.

I want to thank our faithful subscribers for reading The Times every week. Without our loyal readers, this newspaper wouldn’t be what it is

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today.

As evidenced by last weekend’s national awards, we must be doing something right.

And, now folks, it’s time to go in hot pursuit of putting out yet another award-winning paper.

October 4, 2011

What’s for dinner tonight?

It’s a dilemma facing families every night.

“What’s for dinner?” Family members quite often ask each other. And while mom or dad-or better yet, the kidsscramble to put food on the tables, dinner comes together for all to enjoy.

But instead of focusing on the food, families should be concentrating on something far more important. It’s having a meal with parents and children at the table together.

Last week marked the 10th anniversary of Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Family. The effort has been launched by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The center wants to show how dinner makes a difference-when families eat together, that is.

As long as I can remember, eating meals has always been a high priority in my household. As a youngster, I recall eating meals three times a day with my parents and siblings.

Many times it even involved grandparents and aunts and uncles. This was sacred time for everyone to be together, interact with each other and connect.

Since I’ve had a family of my own, I’ve tried to instill the same value in my children.

I’ll admit it’s becoming harder and harder as my kids go in many directions in their crazy teenage years. But we always eat dinner together in the evening. Well, at least most of the time.

In our household, we’ve always made it a practice to communicate with each other

at mealtime. There were two things I would request from my children at the dinner table: what was something interesting that happened to them during the day and they had to share something newsworthy going on in the world.

For me, dinner time has always been valuable family time. And as my children get older and busier with life, I’m realizing more and more how precious our time together has been over the soup of the day, a sandwich or hotdish.

It appears my efforts with mealtime may be paying off in a big way.

According to the center’s research, kids who eat meals more frequently with their parents are less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs.

They are also more likely to do well in school and have better self-esteem.

In 2010, Search Institute in Minneapolis surveyed 89,000 kids nationally in grades six through 12 on the subject of family meals; 46 percent reported they eat five or more meals with their families each week while 24 percent said they ate once per week (or less) with their families.

Researchers say children develop a sense of family support and an understanding that their family cares about them. It is also a chance for them to see their parents being ‘people’ as they all engage in conversation. Even very young children can benefit by listening to discussion between adults.

One of the greatest distractions from quality mealtime is the cell phone. I think it’s important for families to set

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strict rules about everyone, including mom and dad, turning off the cell phone during meals.

Eating together is forging some other positive benefits. Nutrition educators say families that make a point of eating together are more apt to add fruits and vegetables to the meal.

While Family Day was celebrated nationwide last week, it shouldn’t end there.

The beauty of family dinners is they make a difference any day of the year.

The next time someone yells, “What’s for dinner,” at your house, make sure you go in hot pursuit of making family time a part of your meal. A meal with parents and children at the table together will go a long way in creating a happier and healthier household.

October 18, 2011

Second year whizzes by with big improvements I’m never been one to really write about anniversaries, especially when they pertain to something other than people. But, in less than two weeks, I’m coming up on my second anniversary at The Times.

When I first thought about it, I figured I would just let it pass unnoticed. “Who cares that I’ve owned the paper for two years?” I asked myself.

But the more I kept thinking about it, the more I thought how exceptional this second year has been for me. And why not let people know about it.

The biggest accomplishment during my second year has been the expansion of the newspaper into a more countywide paper. As you’re probably aware, we have shortened the name of the newspaper and expanded the news coverage. In order to that, we have added a county news writer and an additional sales person to sell advertising.

The expansion seems to be paying big dividends. I have been blessed throughout the year, especially in the past few months, with increased circulation. We have increased our subscriptions by more than 25 percent. That’s an amazing accomplishment for any size newspaper and certainly even more phenomenal for a small paper like ours. About 1,400 people are now receiving The Times each week.

We continue to receive many positive comments about the newspaper from all over Steele County. We have even peaked the interest of people in other parts of the county that never looked at us before.

What I have found through this whole expansion project is that he people are hungry for another news source.

The Times is providBPPU adds generator ing readers with a niche of exclusively local community news that they are not finding from any other publication. Readers are thrilled with the news product we are providing and welBP Schools meet AYP, Commissioners continue battle coming us with open look to keep improving arms. It’s kind of nice being so wanted.

Besides expanding, we have also remodeled the entire interior of the office over the past year. Fresh paint, Man dies after accident a new floor, office cubes, new computers and a new home for our precious volumes Brownsdale man pleads guilty to criminal charges of old newspapers are just some of things we Ghoolish fun have done inside the office. Many people can’t believe the neat to share our efforts with transformation we’ve everyone each week. undergone.

Even with everything that When I took over in 2009, has been going on at our I made the commitment to office this year, there is one readers that The Times would thing that hasn’t changed. It’s eventually become one of the our dedication to putting out best small town newspapers a quality product one story in Minnesota. It took a while, at a time, one photograph at but guess what? In 2011, we a time and one single ad at a began winning awards both time. We are always striving on the state and national to do what’s best for our readlevels. ers and advertisers.

In January, we won four It’s time for me to go in state awards for journalistic hot pursuit of another year of excellence through the Minblazing forward with putting nesota Newspaper Associaout one of the finest small tion. And just last month, The town papers in Minnesota.

Times earned three national I’m energized just thinking awards from the National about it.

Newspaper Association.

The Times may be a small newspaper, but there are many things we are doing well. It’s Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour for the end of Daylight Savings.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

www.bloomingprairieonline.com • $1

Times

T

Serving Blooming Prairie and Four-County

Steele County’s Only Community Weekly Newspaper

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontier.com The Blooming Prairie Public Utilities (BPPU) is looking to the future. With a focus on reliability, the BPPU has added another generator to its facility.

According to BPPU Manager, Rick Kittelson, the facility installed a generator three weeks ago that was previously located at the North Branch power plant.

“The North Branch power plant decided to install a new Caterpillar diesel generator,” Kittelson said. “Ofcials in North Branch worked with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Association (SMMPA) who in turn worked with us to get the generator to Blooming Prairie.”

Kittelson said the cost of the generator was very affordable.

“It comes out to be about 20 cents on the dollar,” Kittelson said. “The generator will be used as a standby power source for the community.”

The generator is expected to put in about 50 hours a year of power.

“What this generator and the others we have do for us is simple,” Kittelson said. “They allow us to give Blooming Prairie the reliability residents are used to.”

The BPPU has six generators capable of producing 7 megawatts of power. According to Kittelson, the peak the BPPU has seen is 5.8 mega-watts.

“We are focused on being ready for the future power needs of Blooming Prairie,” Kittelson said. “If the need is there, we can handle it right here in town.

This generator will help us be ready for the power needs that we are anticipating to see in 15 years.”

The generators the BPPU have can power the city indenitely.

The BPPU, as part of SMMPA, gets its power primarily from a power plant in Becker, Minn. Other sources of power come from coal, oil, gas and wind power.

The BPPU is also very active in high efciency products such as light bulbs.

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontier.com With school struggling to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) all over the state, the Blooming Prairie School District is standing tall.

Blooming Prairie Elementary and the Blooming Prairie School District met AYP, according to Blooming Prairie School’s Superintendent Barry Olson.

“We aren’t under any sanctions or have any consequences that some schools have seen,” Olson said.

Only a subset and the high school reading scores were under AYP. “We will be looking at both delivery of the material and systemic changes,” Olson said.

Each year the benchmark goes up for schools. It is required for all schools to meet AYP by 2014.

But, this could be changing.

The state of Minnesota has sent a waiver to the U.S. Department of Education to request exibility on behalf of itself, its local educational agencies, and schools.

“If the waivers go through, the benchmarks will change,” Olson said.

This waiver could potentially allow schools to better focus on improving student learning and increasing the quality of instruction in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive state-developed plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

As part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools had to meet criteria through standards and assessments.

The only state near Minnesota that has yet to send in a request is North Dakota. Wisconsin and Iowa have both followed Minnesota’s lead.

The punishments handed out for not meeting AYP include a notice and can be as tough as restructuring of a school district.

They have been, and currently are, offering many rebates for people and businesses to purchase these high efciency products.

In 2011, residential customers in Blooming Prairie have received $6,655 in rebates and have saved 38,560 kWh’s. Commercial and industrial customers in Blooming Prairie have received rebates of $28,395 and have saved 846,487 kWh’s.

“Blooming Prairie has done very good with high efciency ventures,” SMMPA Energy Services Representative Steve Almos said. “The city has exceeded its kWh goals for 2011.

It shows how much of an effort the community has put in to save on power usage.”

A valuable website for more information is www.saveenergyinbloomingprairie.com

Wind Energy

Many residents have approached Kittelson about wind power.

New Generator

Continued on page 7A

By TINA M. ROGERS bptina.m@frontier.com The battle between the Steele County Commissioners continues to brew as they attempt to ll a key position.

Commissioners were at odds with each other at their board meeting last week. They were divided by how the process was moving toward replacing Riaz Aziz, who left the county Friday after only six months on the job as county administrator.

Previously, a transition committee had been named to run the county in absence of a county administrator. The transition committee was asked to revise the job description of the administrator. The updated description was to come back to the board for approval.

Commissioner Doug Johnson took it upon himself to place ads with six different papers without the board approval. And that didn’t sit well, at least with some of the commissioners.

Commissioner Tom Shea received a phone call inquiring about the position. He was not

Times photo by Per Kvalsten

BPPU power plant operators Tom Swenson, Jared Brown and Chuck Romeo stand next to the new generator the utilities have installed.

aware of the ad even being publicized. “I recognize what the committee did, and I’m disappointed the committee did not bring this back to the board for discussion or approval before implementing it,” Shea said.

Shea said the committee broke away from past practice.

“Since I’ve been on the board, it’s been a custom when we ask the committee to do something, it comes back to the board,” he said. “So it’s a little disheartening when you get a phone call from somebody asking about the posting for the job description online and you weren’t even aware of it out there.”

Johnson took the blame, but he hoped that, unlike St. Paul and Washington, he would like to see things continue to move forward. Johnson feels that the board needs to work together with differences put aside.

Commissioner Shea did not agree with the job description.

He responded by saying, “it needs to be more comprehensive and brought back to the board.”

Shea expressed how disappoint-

Times photo by Per Kvalsten

Benny Dornquast, and his sister Sasha, play a game during the Boys and Girls Club Halloween haunted house last Friday night. The haunted house was a success once again.

Volume 119, Issue 20

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Established in 1893

ed he was that the board process was not followed.

Johnson commented, “No point person was needed and they worked well as a team. The department heads feel comfortable calling the board if there was not enough information between their heads.”

Shea, who has offered to step down from the board to become interim administrator in the past, was very critical of the process used. He said, “As awkward as this is, we do not want to go through this again.”

He also commented, “We don’t need to jeopardize what our citizens deserve.”

Commissioner Shea understands that there is a process that is to take place; he just would have liked to see that happen.

“What I see we need in place is somebody in charge on an interim basis so we can really hammer out what our transition is.”

Realizing what the dynamics of the board are, Shea said: “You can’t cut a baby in half and I understand that. I think it’s going to be a challenge to expedite this

timeline without having some of these other building blocks in place.”

The board then looked at the job description. The description was made easier for someone to apply. The education and work standard went from a bachelor’s degree and seven years experience to a bachelor’s degree and/ or 10 years experience in a related eld.

Commissioner Bruce Kubicek felt that the board might catch a lot of sh that they would throw out anyway.

The commissioners felt that it might allow someone to apply who was highly qualied, but didn’t have a college degree.

Chair Corky Ebling communicated that he felt they needed to continue to take the transition period meeting by meeting. He really reiterated that an open discussion needed to continue.

The board agreed to approve the job description with the updated information included.

An Owatonna man died after being stuck by a motor vehicle last Friday.

According to the Owatonna Police Department, Craig Hemmingsen, 63, was walking northbound across 26th Street NE when a vehicle being driven by Gregory Anderson, 35, of Owa-

tonna, hit him.

Hemmingsen died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

The crash is being investigated by the Owatonna Police Department with assistance of the Minnesota State Patrol.

A 45-year-old man from Brownsdale pleaded guilty to three criminal charges last week.

According to court documents, David Allen Strickland hit two squad cars and a deputy with his vehicle on Sept. 10 at

around 1:45 a.m.

Strickland ed the scene but was arrested a short time later.

He admitted to being intoxicated according to reports.

He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 26, 2012.

County Board

Continued on page 7A

Home of the Awesome Blossoms!

November 15, 2011

Coupon mania saves bucks Grabbing the Sunday newspaper has always been a weekend ritual around our house. For me, reading the front-page headlines allow me to satisfy my craving for the latest breaking news.

Catching up on the news for a news junkie like me is nearly the same as a coffee drinker getting their caffeine fix.

But there is something in recent years that has become almost more important to me than reading the news in my Sunday paper. I know this is a shocking confession for a die-hard newspaper person.

While some people dive right into the funnies section to get a few chuckles, I immediately grab the coupons for mega savings for my family.

Coupon mania has set in at the Bussler house. It has spread like wildfire and pretty much involves every member of our family, especially my teenage kids. I refer to my son as the coupon king because he usually takes care of our family’s coupon efforts.

I know what you’re thinking. A 50 cent coupon and a few $1 off coupons don’t add up to much. I actually thought the same thing until a few years ago when I began tracking my coupon use. I’ll share a little later what my family saves in a year and I think you’re going to be shocked.

Clipping coupons is a great way to save money on just about everything-groceries, toiletries, household items, cleaning supplies, dining out and much more. My latest area where I’m noticing incredible savings is office supplies. You name it, there

is probably a coupon for it somewhere.

With the economy in a rut, more and more people are looking for creative ways to make their budget last longer and make their spending more cost efficient. Research estimates that there are billions of dollars worth of coupons out there. All one needs to do is grab a scissor and start clipping away.

The country’s great recession over the past few years has helped couponing make a huge comeback. Last year, Americans redeemed 3.3 billion coupons, which is a remarkable leap of nearly 30 percent from 2008.

What’s perhaps most troubling is that research shows only about 1 percent of the 300 billion coupons that are printed in the U.S. each year are actually redeemed. This means we throw away more than 400 billion dollars in coupons each year.

Besides the Sunday newspapers, another great way to get coupons is the Internet.

There are tons of coupons available just by surfing a couple key websites. Some of the more popular ones are coupons.com, pocket your dollars.com, smart source.com and coupon mountain.com.

Did you know grocery coupons can save you anywhere from 40 to 85 percent of your family’s grocery budget?

Whenever I step foot in a grocery store, my hands are stuffed full of coupons. I often get some weird stares from people as I’m rifling through all my coupons, but it doesn’t seem so weird when the cash register rings up mega

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savings. I love the stores that offer double coupon days.

Clothing stores are another great place to cash in on huge savings with coupons.

Couponing is spilling over into other areas of my life, including this newspaper. Just last month, The Times started a monthly coupon promotion featuring local businesses offering cash savings. We plan to run this promotion on the first week of each month. I encourage you to take advantage of the savings being offered by the businesses.

And now the grand total for one year of coupon savings in our house... are you ready for this? We saved $3,424 in 2009 and $3,727 last year. This year we’re on pace to crack $4,000.

Those amounts reflect only the coupons used and doesn’t factor in the regular sale prices of products we purchased.

As you can see, just a little snipping here and there with coupons can translate into mega savings.

It’s a craze that I’m confident our household will always go in hot pursuit of keeping around. Who wouldn’t when thousands of extra dollars are being stuffed into our pocketbook?

December 6, 2011

Be strong and courageous Be strong and courageous A recent trip to the movie theatre and subsequent Bible study at church has caused me to reflect on how fathers such as myself touch the hearts and impact lives of loved ones around them through their important role.

I took a special interest in the recently released movie Courageous. First of all, it is about four men, who are police officers and focus on one calling: to serve and protect.

Secondly, it is an excellent Christian-based movie focusing on being a father.

As law enforcement officers, the men are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they quickly discover that their standard is missing the mark.

When tragedy strikes home in the movie, the men are left wrestling with their hopes, fears, faith and fathering.

Protecting the streets comes as second nature. Raising their children in a God-honoring way actually becomes courageous for them.

Courageous leaves moviegoers laughing, crying and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.

After watching the riveting movie, I began studying courageous living based on the movie in a church Bible study.

The study focuses on responsibility, priorities, legacy, faith and putting it all into practice.

Both the movie and study

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have helped me better understand my role as a Christian father and helped me to be courageous in leading my family at home in a Godhonoring way.

In this week’s study, we focused on a courageous legacy and how it will impact future generations. It is important to think about what kind of legacy we want to leave behind for our children. The legacy we end up leaving will influence their faith, their family and their choices in life.

As fathers, and also not to leave out the moms, we play an incredible role in influencing the way our children are going to turn out in life. I guess I didn’t really realize until the movie and later discussions how much influence we have in our children’s lives. This should never be taken lightly.

The direction of our kids’ dating, marriage, career, service, leadership, faithfulness to God and His church, and ultimately their parenting will be a direct reflection of us and the marks we leave in their lives.

If it sounds frightening, that’s because it is. It is an enormous responsibility and doing it with success will take courage. We need to be strong and courageous as the scriptures point out.

I have always said that being a father is the toughest job on earth. It is a job that never goes away and is demanding in so many ways. And while it is often rough to handle, it is one that I treasure in my heart as my greatest accomplishment in life. Being a father is an awesome and incredible experience that I will go in hot pursuit of as long as I live.

December 20, 2011

Grinch inspires family togetherness It may have been the Grinch who stole Christmas from the people of Whoville, but that same Grinch hasn’t found a way to steal anything from our family.

In fact, the Grinch has actually inspired something that would make his heart pretty queasy.

Tradition is a big part of the holiday season for many families. Our family is no different.

We have taken the Grinch story to put a light-hearted spoof on Christmas that leaves us all in a festive mood.

Like the people of Whoville, our family rallies in support during the holidays brightly showcasing togetherness with warm-heartedness aglow. No Grinch is ever going to stop us from being together.

I know our family gathering in this heartless creature’s name would be enough to make him sick to his stomach.

For those who may not be familiar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been a holiday classic since 1957 in book format and 1966 in broadcast version. The Grinch is a bitter, cave-dwelling creature with a heart “two sizes too small” and lives high up on a mountain. He despises the merry and warmhearted Whos and makes every attempt to prevent Christmas from coming.

However, he learns in the end that despite his success in taking all the Christmas presents and decorations from the Whos, Christmas comes just the same.

He finds Christmas is more than just gifts and presents. Touched by this, the Grinch’s heart grows three times larger and he returns all the gifts.

One of the holiday traditions that we started several years ago is a Grinch party just prior to

Christmas. True to form just like the Grinch story, our gathering entails a big roast beast meal. In addition, we share goofy white elephant gifts (some of them could qualify for the world’s ugliest flea market) with each other and watch the Grinch show.

While this classic certainly comes from the world of make believe, it has a valuable life lesson for everyone. No one can steal the true meaning of the holiday away from anyone.

The true spirit of the holiday is what you can give to people as opposed to what you can receive.

The real spirit is all about giving.

Bringing family together is important, especially in this day when it seems like society pulls families apart more than promoting togetherness. Whether it’s a serious outing or something as light as the Grinch, it’s important to have a special time devoted specifically for family members.

For me, I’m always grateful for the time I get to spend with my family. No money can buy me the perfect gift for the holidays. All it takes to make me happy is time spent together as a family.

Remember that time passes by. Children grow up and move away, people pass away and life changes. Enjoy each moment as it comes. Take advantage of time that is given that may be spent with those we love and care about.

Grinch or no Grinch, I hope this holiday season finds you with a huge heart. I’ll be in hot pursuit of making sure that no Grinch steals Christmas away from our family. Happy Holidays!

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December 27, 2011

Donations needed to preserve local history As I get older, I seem to have a greater appreciation for history and especially old artifacts.

I can probably thank one of my relatives for my love of old things.

I have an uncle who has done extensive family genealogy dating back many generations. In fact, he has taken many trips to our family’s roots in Germany to learn more about the Bussler name.

His work with family history is a key reason why I have developed a great interest in watching the development of the new Steele County Historical Center in Owatonna. The center is being built by the fairgrounds and is expected to open early in the new year.

It delights me that more than 700 donors have come forward to generously donate to the new center. History buffs are apparently running rampant around the area. That’s a good thing because we need to preserve our history and what better place to do it than in a new state-of-the-art center.

Despite the hundreds of donors who have come forward already, the local historical society still needs help. The society is trying to find more history lovers to burn the mortgage with tax-deductible donations. By burning the mortgage, the society will be able to put its programming dollars to work.

Donating to the center would be a great value for anyone.

Not only would the donation be tax-deductible, but it would help ensure history is preserved for many years to come. We definitely owe it to future generations to keep history from simply fading away.

What’s impressive is that a Blooming Prairie businesswoman, Tammy Johnson,

who is an avid history buff, is leading the charge to drum up support for the burn the mortgage campaign. Johnson herself has placed advertisements in The Times soliciting help with reducing the center’s debt. It’s neat to see someone take such initiative for a worthy cause.

To a smaller extent, The Times has also tried to do its part in keeping history alive.

Besides the weekly feature of history from past publications, which we have done for years, we also recently began publishing a monthly column written

by John Gross, a member of the historical society. His next column will be in next week’s newspaper on the county page.

We have also kicked around some other ideas on ways we can introduce history to our readers.

Many may not realize it, but the majority of what we do here at The Times each week is history. We are constantly documenting events that have happened week after week. It may not be viewed as history when the paper initially comes rolling off the presses, but it soon becomes history when it shows up in your mailbox.

History is a legacy. It is more than disaster and war. History is the everyday lives of those who came before us. History is also each generation’s struggle to grow, build and preserve.

History is the legacy we leave behind for others.

There is no way to put a price tag on preserving history.

That’s why I hope you will all consider going in hot pursuit of burning down the history center’s mortgage by making a donation. To not would be a travesty for future generations.

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January 17, 2012

Postcard spurs postal blues Something happened to me last week that really made me scratch my head in wonder and astonishment. It made me think we’re back in the days of the Pony Express.

I received a postcard through the mail service from my uncle in Germany. Not a big deal, right? Well, it had been four months since my uncle was over there vacationing. He had long returned and we have been together for several family outings since then.

The card arrived in perfect shape. It was properly addressed. The only clue I received that something went array with it was a sticker indicating it had been “missent to Thailand.”

I can understand something getting missent to another country, but for four months?

“Where on earth was that postcard sitting for that long?” I wondered.

While I was a little miffed that something would take months to reach me, I really can’t complain about the postal service too much-at least when it comes to personal mail.

There is only one other time that I can remember that I had major trouble with mailing something. It happened years ago while I was in college. I mailed a tuition check only to get it sent back to me days later all shredded up in a plastic bag. I still have that check in dozens of pieces to this day.

As for business mailing, well, that’s a different story.

At least when it comes to being a newspaper publisher.

Getting my newspaper at home in Lakeville seems to be

mission impossible at times.

The papers are mailed from Blooming Prairie every Tuesday afternoon. I have received my paper as early as the next day on Wednesday and as late as more than a week later on the following Wednesday.

One time my parents, who live in central Minnesota, received their Times newspaper a month later. Boy, talk about service.

My dilemmas with the postal service are not going away any time soon. Just next week, the cost of a postage stamp rises 1 cent. And to make matters worse, the cost of mailing periodicals, which newspapers fall under, jumps up by more than 2 percent.

It looks like I’ll be singing the postal blues in the coming weeks. Maybe, if it helps the post office stop seeing red, it will be worthwhile. But, I’m not holding my breath.

In the case of my missing in action Germany postcard, I’m confident the Pony Express would have gotten it to me quicker.

Maybe a little hot pursuit action needs to be spread over the postal service to kick ‘em into high gear.

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January 31, 2012

A PR fiasco at the care center A public relations disaster.

A PR train wreck. A publicity fiasco. A nightmare involving image.

Those are just a few ways to describe the public relations storm that has hit Blooming Prairie over the past month involving the community’s nursing home.

The firings of top administrators at Prairie Manor Care Center have generated intense community interest over the past few weeks and rightfully so. Without a doubt, the board’s decision to say nothing about the controversy has turned what should have been a relatively small story into a public relations volcano.

I have taken many PR, marketing and crisis communications courses over the years both in college and in my professional career. The handling of the nursing home firings is a classic example of how not to handle public relations.

First of all, I want to make it clear that I am not taking any sides on this controversy.

I have absolutely no connection to the fired employees, current workers, board members or any of the churches involved.

Some may argue that we have only provided on side of the controversy in our news coverage. While that may be partially true, it is not for a lack of effort or unwillingness to present both sides.

We have made repeated attempts to contact board members and the interim management. No one returns our calls and, in fact, one board member simply hung up on us when we identified ourselves.

I’m not here to defend the

five employees who were terminated after having more than 50 years of collective experience at the local center.

There may be good reason for what happened, but nobody is bothering to say anything.

Prairie Manor is operated by a board of directors selected by the six area churches which own the center. The board’s failure to communicate has fueled a PR disaster.

The basic principle of public relations, and specifically crisis management, is to issue some sort of statement even if it isn’t much of one. A simple statement would have helped curtail the unrest that has come out of this fiasco.

By not commenting, the board has caused rumors to spin out of control. Community members have been left to do nothing but spread gossip and speculate on their own as to what happened. All of this has happened because no one takes responsibility to clear the air. Is this what we really want?

The board’s unwillingness to end the firestorm of this controversy no doubt is overshadowing the great work of the hard working employees taking care of elderly folks at the center. This certainly isn’t fair to the fired workers or the current employees. The board has done the community a complete injustice.

Prairie Manor may be privately owned and operated, but it involves the community in many ways. The six churches involved hundreds of community members. Dozens of loved ones are cared for by the center’s employees.

The handling of this controversy has been badly botched.

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And the community seems to agree. In a Times on-line poll last week, nearly 65 percent said the board owes the community some sort of explanation.

While the board may have had good intentions by shaking up the administration, it was short sighted in the handling of the PR of its decision.

During an interview with The Times last week, fired assistant director Pam Fate raised an important point: Are board members making a decision based on what’s best for Prairie Manor or are they making decisions based on what’s best for the board?

Because no one from the board speaks publicly about this controversy, we may never know the answer to Fate’s question.

The professional lives of several people have been damaged. And there will undoubtedly be some deep wounds in the community for years to come.

Along with hiring new management, the board at Prairie Manor may want to go in hot pursuit of hiring a great public relations consultant.

The lack of PR has certainly crushed any credibility the board has had in the community.

February 7, 2012

Making heart-healthy decisions Hearts are plentiful during the month of February. The biggie involving hearts comes on some romantic day when lovers of all ages share their hearts and lots of love.

But there is something even bigger than Valentine’s Day involving hearts that has caught my interest in recent years. February is American Heart Month.

It seems the older I get the more I pay special attention to medical issues, especially anything involving the heart.

This is something that is near and dear to me for so many reasons. Most importantly, our family has a long history of heart disease.

The heart problems facing our family didn’t really hit home until recently when my uncle completed a genealogy chart of health issues. He plotted out the exact causes of how each family member has died over the past four generations. It also detailed what some living members are battling. And the chart overwhelmingly bled redwith heart issues, that is.

About a decade ago, my father had a valve replacement in his heart and underwent a triple by-pass heart surgery.

While it certainly was a scary ordeal at the time, he has since recovered miraculously and to this day leads a near normal life.

But the heart issues involving our family go even deeper. I had a cousin who died as a teenager many years ago from heart disease.

There have been many others who have died from heart problems, but luckily not as young as my cousin. It seems the Bussler name and heart

issues are intertwined with each other.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day.

Just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease.

The disease of cardiovascular is also extremely expensive. Together heart disease and stroke hospitalizations in 2010 cost the nation more than $444 billion in heath care expenses and lost productivity.

But, as American Heart Month points out, we can’t afford to sit back and do nothing about it. We can fight back vigorously to prevent the nation’s leading killers. We need everyone to work hard at making heart-healthy choices.

In September, the Department of Health and Human Services launched a national initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over the next five years. It’s called the Million Hearts Initiative.

The initiative hopes to accomplish its goal by empowering Americans to make healthy choices such as avoiding tobacco use and reducing the amount of sodium and trans fat they eat.

These changes will reduce the number of people who need medical treatment for high blood pressure or cholesteroland ultimately prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Some other advice that could keep your heart in working order includes: • Get up and get active by being physically active for at

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least 30 minutes each day.

• Make your calories county by eating a heart-healthy diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Ask your doctor if you should take an aspirin every day.

• If you smoke, get help to quit.

Don’t let yourself bleed red with heart issues and go in hot pursuit of making hearthealthy choices. It could keep you from suffering from the greatest American killer.

March 6, 2012

I’ve been badly burned Over the past couple years, I’ve had my fair share of problems with several employees.

I usually don’t make it a habit to write about personnel issues. But the most recent one involving my managing editor has left the greatest sting yet and is causing me to vent.

Elsewhere on this page you will find a detailed account of a situation involving our newspaper that isn’t exactly the most flattering. In fact, it’s downright embarrassing and unsettling.

Former managing editor Jon Flatland was caught plagiarizing columns from columnists around the country.

His “Thoughts While Shaving” columns were copied from talented writers over the Internet.

Flatland’s actions are a gigantic slap in the face for the entire community, the whole journalism profession and me.

My frustration level is boiling to the point where I think it’s time to check myself into the stress ward. Well, okay, maybe not quite that bad. But close.

My full-time career may be as a police officer, but I consider myself as a journalist at heart and where my greatest love lies. That’s what makes this whole plagiarizing issue so difficult to swallow.

While some may find this hard to believe, the journalism field has professional ethics it follows in serving the public.

Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty.

Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility. Those who consider themselves professional

journalists share a dedication to ethical behavior.

One part of the Code of Ethics for journalists covers being accountable. It says journalists should expose unethical practices of journalists and admit mistakes and correct them promptly. Sadly, that’s the situation I found myself in this past week with The Times.

When I studied this type of thing in college, I never dreamed I would someday find myself on the hook for publishing plagiarism. Honesty is the backbone of my life and who I am. I feel like a knife has been shoved in my back.

As painful as it is for me to admit the newspaper has found itself embroiled in an unnerving situation, I have no issue whatsoever exposing the real problem. That real problem is Jon Flatland. Acting by himself and only himself, Flatland committed a mortal sin of journalism by plagiarizing over and over again.

There is no excuse for what Flatland did. We’ll probably never know what caused him to plagiarize so much. It has been going on for years-long before he ever showed up in Blooming Prairie.

I feel so betrayed. I wonder why someone who I put so much trust into to manage one of the greatest small town weekly newspapers in the state would resort to such antics as being unethical and cheating by running material he had no business publishing.

It just saddens me that I as well as our readers basically got bullshitted into thinking we had a great professional journalist with 28 years of

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experience. What a crock of you know what.

Life never ceases to amaze me, especially in the two lines of work I do every week. If I’m not busting bad guys, I’m writing about people doing some crazy things. I just never thought my writing would focus on the stupidity of a managing editor that doesn’t deserve to be in the journalism profession to begin with.

I’ve been badly burned. It’s now time for me to go in hot pursuit of finding a new editor who will treat journalism the way it’s supposed to be treated. That’s in high standards of honesty and integrity.

March 20, 2012

Times fills a void of community news This week The Times is reaching out to about 10,000 more readers than normal.

We’re saturating much of Steele County with a newspaper that is the county’s only homegrown weekly publication.

Since last September, The Times has become a countywide newspaper. We have beefed up our news coverage of the county. Each week we devote at least one entire news page to county news.

Even before we switched to a more countywide approach, readers told us that they felt a void with community news in Steele County. As we spoke to people around the county, we kept hearing the same thing over and over again: they wanted another alternative for local hometown spun news.

It only made sense for us to step up and attempt to fill this void.

Each week we offer local breaking news coverage, human-interest features, police and court news, and traffic court, as well as public record of births, deaths and marriages. We also offer locally written columns by public officials, legal notices, and much more.

No matter what we cover, there is one thing you can count on. All of our coverage is 100-percent local and community focused. As part of our expansion, The Times has branched out from covering just Blooming Prairie to reach other parts of the county, including Medford, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale. You are going to find that one of our greatest strengths is covering stories about local people.

To top things off, The

Times has won several state and national awards of excellence for journalism in the past couple years.

Readers have responded favorably to our efforts. Just in the last year alone, our circulation has shot up more than 30 percent. This is mighty impressive for a newspaper of any size, especially a small one like ours.

As we work toward expanding our readership, I recently found an interesting article focusing on readers who prefer their community newspapers for local news and information. This article solidified in my mind the importance of community journalism.

A survey taken last year shows that 74 percent of people in communities served by a newspaper with circulations under 15,000 read a local newspaper each week. The survey, which is in its sixth year, shows consistent trends.

It is clear that citizens believe in newspapers. The survey finds that the newspaper does a better job of providing background and depth on stories essential to citizens.

It highlights the strong bond between local communities and their newspapers. And it demonstrates that people do value good journalism.

Here are a few other interesting findings from the survey: - Readers share their newspapers with 2.33 people.

- They spend about 39 minutes reading their local newspapers.

- Seventy-three percent read most or all of their community papers.

So if you’re finding a

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newspaper showing up at your home when it normally doesn’t, which is the case with this week’s Times, it presents an interesting situation for you. Community newspapers like The Times are strong. We’re offering an incredible deal for you to begin receiving our newspaper every week. (See Page 8A for special subscription offer.)

A new era has dawned for community newspapers in Steele County. It’s time for you to go in hot pursuit of being a part of this exciting endeavor by subscribing to an award-winning newspaper that is totally committed to local news.

April 10, 2012

Though not pretty, national spotlight shines When I took over the role of publisher a few years ago, I never dreamed that my newspaper would some day be tossed into the national spotlight. After all, media outlets are supposed to report the news and not make the news.

But, unbeknownst to me and without any doing of my own, the unthinkable happened a few weeks back when my managing editor became exposed as a serial plagiarist.

The story spread like wildfire through the local, state and even national media. I’m still getting some backlash on the plagiarizing editor who stole the work of columnists all across the country.

One of the things that has struck me the most about this unfortunate situation is the support that our little community newspaper has received since it all blew up. I have received dozens of letters, e-mails, phone calls and even visits commending us on the way the situation was handled.

Newspaper editorial writers as well as columnists near and far have weighed in on the situation and praised us for what we did.

Actually, as I think about it, I only received maybe one or two critical comments about the situation. The rest has been praise, which is difficult to gain in today’s world of negativity and cynicism.

I guess this whole ordeal has given me an opportunity to practice what I preach even as painful as it can be. My marketing and public relations background came in handy in making a bad situation seem well, maybe not quite so bad.

A few months ago I wrote about a public relations fiasco

at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie after the board came in and swept out the top management without ever publicly making a comment. I believe I speak for the majority of people in that the board totally botched the public relations of the controversial move it made in firing the top administrators.

As I found out with my situation with having a plagiarist on staff, the best thing is to take immediate and swift action and be upfront with what you’ve done. It’s important to let people know what happened and how you’ve handled it. Full disclosure is the best policy to have when it comes to crisis situations.

It’s also important to make yourself available to the media. I fielded calls from newspapers and wire services all over the country for several days after the story broke.

Never once did I ignore those calls. Each and every news agency was spoken to in a prompt and courteous manner.

If anything comes out of this plagiarizing controversy, it is that I want other organizations to see how crisis communications should be handled. Yeah, maybe you’re going to take a few lumps along the way, but you’re going to shine in the long run.

Being honest and forthright about matters will go a long way in healing any wounds that may be created over something, especially when you may have had really nothing to do with it in the first place.

When faced with crisis management, be ready to deal with it. The public deserves some sort of explanation even

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if it’s not much of one.

Folks need to realize that if they become embroiled in a story, clamoring up and not saying anything isn’t going to make the story go away. My plagiarizing editor is evidence of that. Cooperating and giving statements will make the whole situation go so much smoother for everyone involved.

In our case, going in hot pursuit of maintaining credibility with readers is most important.

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler received a Honorable Mention during the National Journalism Contest, Minnesota competition in 1986. LtoR - State Senator Earl Rennecke, Rick Bussler, Mary O’Hara and Lieutenant Governor, Marlene Johnson.

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Submitted photo

On graduation night, Rick Bussler’s high school diploma and senior photo is put on display. This display showcases Bussler’s years of hard work and determination to work hard to follow his dreams. Bussler graduated from McLeod West Senior High School, Brownton, in 1986.

Rick Bussler stands proudly as he graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in August, 1990.

Submitted photo

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April 17, 2012

Saving a life on the police beat Many people often think of police work as catching the bad guys and tossing them into jail or writing out traffic tickets for speeders zipping down the road. But sometimes it can also mean saving lives.

I had the opportunity to save a life this past weekend in my other life as a police officer. The call came out as a man down in apparent cardiac arrest. The 911 dispatcher indicated that a person on the other end was performing CPR. Even though I was a few miles away from the call on the fringes of our jurisdiction, I made it in near record time.

As soon as I pulled up, I was greeted with a hysterical woman (still on the phone with 911) who told me to hurry up that her husband wasn’t breathing and that his mother was doing CPR. I grabbed my Automatic External Deliberator (AED) and oxygen bag.

The woman took me into a house that was getting a total remodel job.

Upon entering an upstairs room, I found a 40-year-old man lying on the floor with his mother straddled over him doing CPR. The man did not look good and it appeared we were fighting a losing battle from the get-go.

The woman jumped off her son, allowing me the opportunity to try and save him. I immediately hooked the man up to the AED. After getting the patches on his chest, the AED shocked him right away and advised my partner and I to continue doing CPR. I performed chest compressions on the man while my partner took care of the oxygen. The paramedics soon arrived to provide us with

additional help. We worked on him for nearly 30 minutes when suddenly we got a faint pulse back.

The paramedics loaded him up and rushed him to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Abbott is considered the leading heart hospital in the state if not one of the top in the nation. Within one hour of going down, the man was placed into a catheterization lab or cath lab for short. The lab allows doctors to cool the heart and the rest of the body in an effort to minimize longterm damage.

The last report I received is that the man is likely going to survive though the extent of damage to his body is unknown at this time. But the prognosis looks good.

There were several things that worked in this man’s favor. He was young and a slender person with relatively no medical history. His cardiac arrest was witnessed (by his mother) and CPR was started immediately. Within five minutes, his heart was shocked with the AED. A short time later lifesaving drugs were administered by the paramedics. And he was admitted to the cath lab within an hour of going down.

If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s take CPR courses. Anybody can go down with a heart attack at any time.

It’s also important to have access to an AED. Many large businesses and schools now have them available. They are definitely a lifesaver.

Saving a life is always gratifying in itself. I hope this man fully recovers and is able to go in hot pursuit of leading a normal life once again.

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April 24, 2012

Striving to build a stronger community Building a stronger community.

That has become my mission for Blooming Prairie thanks to a community leadership program I began participating in last week. Actually, it has always been a desire of mine, but this program is helping me see things a little differently and is giving more passion than ever to accomplish it.

Over the next four months, I will be taking part in the prestigious community leadership program developed by the Blandin Foundation and Minnesota Newspaper Foundation. The program is based on over two decades of Blandin Foundation research and training in rural community development. It is designed to strengthen rural communities by cultivating the community leadership capacities of editors and publishers. Eight newspapers from across Minnesota were selected for this year’s program, which is in its seventh year.

The specialized program is being taught by Mirja Hanson, who is a trainer with more than 30 years of experience working with communities, schools and organizations. She has been working with editors and publishers during all seven years of the newspaper program.

At a time when communities face significant economic and demographic challenges to vitality, leadership can and does make a difference in revitalizing rural life. Newspapers evaluate, develop and leverage their unique community role in building healthy communities.

The Blandin Foundation

offers eight dimensions of healthy community model as a core framework for assessing and developing vibrant and sustainable communities.

They include: life-long learning, economic opportunity, infrastructure and services, environmental stewardship, community leadership, safety and security, valuing diversity and spiritual, cultural and recreational opportunities.

One of the key components of this program is building social capital. It is important to develop and maintain relationships that allow us to work together through our similarities and across our differences.

Over the past two years of publishing this newspaper, one of my frustrations-and probably my greatest shortcoming-has been our community involvement. We tend to get so focused on cranking out a newspaper each and every week that we sometimes forget about the importance of getting involved. While I have been involved in many community programs to some extent, I always feel there is room for improvement and doing better.

The newspaper plays a key role in building a healthy community. Through our news coverage on the front page and other news pages and commentary on this opinion page, we are always trying to bring people together to make a difference in the community. It has nothing to do with agreeing with each other, but rather stimulating conversation and working toward a common goal. Our coverage is geared towards community issues and opportunities.

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One of the traditional and core values of a journalist is community leadership and involvement. It’s a responsibility that we do not take lightly.

We play a role in framing important community issues, engaging people in those issues and connecting citizens to the issues.

In the coming months, we will be engaging other groups, organizations and community leaders to help us build Blooming Prairie and the greater Steele County area into a stronger community.

More details will be forthcoming as we get further into this program.

As the program taught me last week, it is important for all of us to think globally in order to act locally and commit personally.

It’s now time for all of us to go in hot pursuit of building a stronger community.

May 1, 2012

Love of Twins spurs new feature Ever since I can remember, I have been a Minnesota Twins fan.

Some years it has been tougher than others as I have struggled a bit wondering why I ever bother. It’s beginning to look like this year could be one of those. But I need to keep in mind that the Twins have brought lots of entertainment and enjoyment to Minnesotans for decades.

When I was young, I mostly listened to the Twins games on the radio with legendary broadcaster Herb Carneal calling the play-by-play. Growing up in an era prior to the days of cable and satellite TV, it was certainly a real treat to watch a rare game or two on TV. One of my favorite childhood memories is sitting in the backseat of the car with the seatbelt buckle in my hand as a microphone and pretending I was a Twins announcer doing the play-by-play. I think this is actually where I developed some of the public speaking skills I later picked up in life.

My 15-year-old son has become an avid Twins fan.

We have enjoyed many games together at the new outdoor stadium. Unfortunately, my son is still waiting to experience his first world championship with the Twins. He’s chomping at the bit for the Twins to go all the way.

With the worst start in the team’s history, it is looking like another dismal year for the boys of summer. But let’s think positive and hope they can turn things around real soon.

Because of my great appreciation for baseball and spe-

cifically Twins baseball, The Times is launching a new feature this week. We are going to publish a weekly column, “Twins Talk” by Gordy Jones, a self-syndicated columnist.

The column is picked up by Let’s Play Baseball, several newspapers throughout Minnesota and Iowa and several radio websites.

In 2006, Jones wrote the children’s book “Baseball Guy.” Released at the baseball Hall of Fame induction, Cooperstown, “Baseball Guy” is a rhyming children’s book about baseball. The story begins with a character chasing the dream of baseball stardom.

The book covers sandlot, little league, and evolves to the majors. It actually takes you through all of the phases of baseball, while it promotes values such as respect, family, education, and responsibility. A portion of the proceeds from “Baseball Guy” goes to The Twins Community Fund.

The feature will also include Twins trivia for readers to guess the correct answer. Readers will be able to submit an entry form to The Times and those who get the correct answer will have the opportunity to win tickets to the Twins. We will have periodic drawings throughout the summer. All you need is some Twins knowledge-and a little luck at getting your entry drawn.

Twins baseball has a rich tradition in Minnesota since 1961. There have been many baseball greats to watch here over the years, including Harmon Killebrew, Tony Olivia, Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau

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and many others. The Twins have brought great joy to the state when they won the world championships in 1987 and 1991.

We hope our feature will help continue some of the enthusiasm Minnesotans share for baseball.

Spring is here and we hope you all catch Twins fever this spring and summer. Perhaps it will help spur them on to a few victories.

It’s time for the Twins to go in hot pursuit of bringing Minnesotans another world championship.

May 8, 2012

A breath of fresh air Elsewhere in this week’s Times readers will find a story about the new owners at Arndtsy’s Grill and Lanes (formerly Bunkies) in Blooming Prairie. Something caught my eye and is quite intriguing about the new owners.

Mike and Holly Arndt, of Ellendale, are going to run their bowling alley without selling beer. In making their bold statement about no beer sales, the Arndts have said they have personal convictions regarding alcohol use.

Some people are already throwing a fit about not being able to drink while they bowl.

I have one question for these critics: “What is wrong with operating a family-friendly atmosphere at the alley without alcohol?”

I want to applaud the Arndts for taking such an aggressive stance against alcohol. While I don’t necessarily advocate people to be teetotalers, I think it’s okay to limit the places where alcohol is accessible. Heck, I love having a beer, margarita or glass of wine from time to time.

But I truly believe alcohol has become so prevalent in society that people need to stop and examine how it’s ruining lives, homes, families and so on. In many ways, alcohol has become the enemy force in our society. At times, I’m left wondering what good can become of drinking and in many cases, getting totally wasted.

Alcohol affects many families in different ways. I have been fortunate to have not ever lost a family member in a drunk driving crash. But alcohol has spiraled out of control in another way with my family.

For nearly 10 years, I was married to an alcoholic. It was a major contributing factor that led to the demise of our marriage. But the real impact wasn’t felt until I left the marriage with my two young children at the time.

My children are now forced to live with the behavior of an alcoholic mother. Beginning next month, my kids, now 17 and 15 years old, will not have seen their mother for 11 years. This absolutely rips my heart out and makes me want to launch a personal crusade against alcohol. It’s beyond my human comprehension how someone can choose alcohol over their children for years. Not seeing a parent is totally devastating no matter what.

I may be a little biased, but my teenagers are as close to as what any parent would ever wish for in their children.

They’re certainly not perfect by any means, but not far off.

I’m not here to brag about them, but rather my point is I just can’t believe how a parent could ignore and disown their own kids to satisfy their love of the bottle. It’s one of the most selfish acts I think someone could ever commit.

Outside of my family, there are other ways I’ve noticed alcohol is the root of evil in our society. As a police officer, I encounter alcohol on a regular basis. I have seen enough drunks and people with alcohol problems to make me puke like a bad hangover. I would venture to guess nearly 90 percent of the work of a law enforcement officer has one common denominatoralcohol and/or drugs. It leads to murder, suicide, traffic

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crashes, crime and break up of families.

I have found alcohol tears families apart in so many ways that it makes your head spin.

Society needs to change its attitude when it comes to alcohol. Taking booze away in a popular social setting like bowling is a step in the right direction. More people and groups should follow the Arndts’ lead.

I’ll be going in hot pursuit of drinking some 1919 root beer at Arndtsy’s. What a breath of fresh air that will bring to the social fabric of the community.

May 29, 2012

A good paper builds community Taking the pulse of the community can be done in a number of ways. This week The Times is stepping forward to unveil one tool to make the community stronger.

A few months ago, Gene Trom, a former city council member, approached me with an idea to gauge what citizens think of Blooming Prairie. He proposed publishing a community survey in The Times.

The concept, which had some value and merit to doing, got pushed aside a number of times as other things came up. It took a community leadership program for editors and publishers to kick me into gear with making Trom’s idea become a reality.

As I sat in class during the two-day leadership program, I thought about Trom’s survey idea and how it could tie perfectly into something we are being required to do for the program. We need to prepare a project that helps answer the question: “How does the community see its future?”

The first phase of our project kicks off this week as we are publishing a community survey in which citizens can answer questions about how they view Blooming Prairie and the services offered throughout the city.

Some of the questions include: • What can the city do better?

• How do you see the future of Blooming Prairie?

• What services would you like to see most improved?

We are hoping for a tremendous response from community members. All that citizens need to do is take a few minutes, rate the services

of the community and write some responses to a few key questions. People can either drop off the responses at our office or mail them in.

Once the responses come back, we will be compiling the information. The results will be published at a later time. We also plan to share the results with community leaders. We want to engage other groups, organizations and community officials to help us build Blooming Prairie into a stronger community.

At times, I think this newspaper has not been as strong as it could be when it comes to building a healthy community. A good newspaper should be a catalyst in its community.

Sometimes I think even we underestimate the role our newspaper plays in the community.

Community newspapers are important community assets.

They are private organizations with a very public role. They are structurally positioned to be vital instruments for developing community health.

We play a key role in framing important community issues, engaging people in those issues and connecting citizens to the issues. The Times, like most other newspapers, is in partnership with the community.

I share in Gene Trom’s genuine concern about Blooming Prairie’s future. Trom wants to see the city succeed and be viable for generations to come. Who wouldn’t share in a vision like that?

The Times is in hot pursuit of building a stronger community. And you can help in doing so by completing the community survey.

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June 19, 2012

A sign of getting old My string of luck with having perfect teeth, or at least nearly perfect, seems to have come to an end.

For years, I’ve wondered why so many people dreaded going to the dentist. It made me wonder if the tooth fairy accidentally cast a little spell on them or what.

I have always been eager to hop into the dental chair to get my teeth cleaned and checked over by the dentist. It seemed like no sooner I’d climb into the chair that I was getting back up and given the okay for another six months. Ever since I can remember, the dentist always had good news about my teeth.

The only hiccup I had along the way regarding my teeth came when I was a teenager.

I wore braces for a few years.

But after having crooked teeth for many years, I didn’t seem to mind the braces. It was just the relentless name-calling I could have dealt without.

“Railroad tracks.” “Metal mouth.” “Zipper mouth.”

“Tinsel teeth.” Those were just some of the names I got called by friends who were just jealous they couldn’t look as cool as I did.

Sporting braces was the worst thing that ever happened to my mouth. I never had any problems. No cavities. No crowns. No fillings.

Nothing at all!

But that all changed last week when I made a trip to the dentist. I was experiencing a little sensation on one of my back teeth for a few months and decided it was time to go get checked out.

I kept hoping and praying that my string of good luck with having perfect teeth

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler taking time out to enjoy that perfect bit of that perfect apple at an apple orchard in 2010. An apple a day....keeps the dentist away....

would continue. But the amazing streak came to an abrupt halt.

“You have a cavity,” the dentist said with more confidence than I cared to hear.

“It’s just a small one, but we’ll need to put a filling in it.”

My heart about sank to the floor. I kept thinking I was having a bad nightmare. But as the drilling began and my mouth propped open to the most uncomfortable position, I knew it was true.

I sat in the dentist’s chair mumbling and cussing under my breath in disgust. I thought to myself that I had gone nearly a half of lifetime without so why now. I felt totally violated.

My worst fear now is that this one “small little cavity” is going to wreak havoc on the rest of my mouth and cause more cavities to settle in. In fact, the dentist already warned me that there are two other teeth she’s going

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to “closely monitor” to see what transpires in the coming months.

“Oh great,” I thought to myself. “I can’t go from having no cavities to a whole mouth full in less than a year.”

The dentist assured me that I wasn’t doing anything improperly in the care of my teeth. The best explanation she could give me is that the cavity is part of the wear and tear associated with aging teeth.

Great, that’s reassuring to know. Why didn’t she just say it? “You’re getting old.”

Hitting that 40 mark a few years back and now everything is going to heck. I guess I just need to face up to the fact that I’m getting old.

One thing is for sure. I’ll no longer be going in hot pursuit of venturing into the dentist office like I once did.

July 10, 2012

Andy taught us life’s lessons Even though I’ve had some close connections to television over the years, I am not currently a loyal TV viewer at all.

Besides not having any time to watch, another big reason for my blackout is the content of what’s on.

I’ll confess that I used to watch my fair share of television as a youngster.

One of my most favorite TV shows was “The Andy Griffith Show,” featuring the small town sheriff of Mayberry, Andy Taylor. It was a hit around our house and will likely go down as one of the greatest American sitcoms ever.

It saddened me last week to learn that the star of the popular 1960s series, Andy Griffith, die at the age of 86.

For years, he had been TV’s lawman through “The Andy Griffith Show” and later “Matlock” and moral compass that many looked up to for advice on life. Simply put, he taught us life’s lessons.

Griffith’s death made me think about the state of television and how it has changed significantly over the yearsand unfortunately, most often not for the better. I’d like to know what ever happened to the good wholesomeness of what TV used to feature in its programming from shows like “The Andy Griffith Show.”

There was just something about the homespun humor of the show that captured my interest. I’ll never forget the lovable characters of Deputy Barney Fife, son Opie, Aunt Bee and Gomer Pyle, the unworldly, lovable gas pumper.

Barney brought light humor to the serious nature of police work-though there never seemed to be much of it in Mayberry.

Sheriff Andy was a downto-earth sheriff who didn’t get too worked up about his job, but yet knew how to get things done when he really needed to. Andy also was America’s grandpa who had the knack of providing wisdom and reassurance.

We watched Opie grow up on the show and watched him learn the love of family and community was, and always will be the most important thing in life.

With Andy in charge, he taught us all what we seem to have forgotten over the years; that every living being on this planet has something to offer; something to teach us, if we will just listen to them. More than anything, Andy taught us tolerance.

We’d all love to live in Mayberry, wouldn’t we? We yearn for its slow pace and easy-going charm. We admire the loyal friendships and relish its true southern hospitality. We appreciate the joy its citizens find in life’s innocent pleasures. People in Mayberry just knew how to treat each other right.

Sadly, we can’t live in a fictional town. But we sophisticated residents of 2012 can learn a thing or two from our Mayberry friends. Because when we fast-forward 52 years, we see that human nature hasn’t changed. We still deal with some of the same daily challenges. We still struggle with personal shortcomings and we still have imperfect relationships.

The TV industry could now take a lesson from the Andy Griffith Show itself and go in hot pursuit of creating classics that warmed and touched many hearts each night.

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August 14, 2012

A love affair with the fair If I’m ever suspected of having an affair, it won’t be with another woman, but rather with the fair.

I have had a love affair with the fair even before women ever entered my life. I suppose I could certainly be accused of having an obsession with fairs.

Some affairs with people come and go, but to this day, my affair with the fair has never gone away or even slightly dimmed whatsoever.

There are certain things in life get so engrained into your blood and ultimately make up one’s DNA. For me, the county fair is one of those things.

The county fair, as well as the state fair, is one of those traditions that are hard for my family to break. My love affair with the fair started when I was a youngster growing up on the farm and taking part in the 4-H program.

While many families take summer vacations to lake homes or other tourist places around the state and even the country, my summer vacation revolves around the fairs in August. County fair time has always been a mini-vacation for our family, though I’m not sure why I use the term vacation in describing this. It’s not really a vacation because I end up working in one way or another throughout each of the fairs I attend.

For those who have never had an intimate affair with the fair, it’s probably pretty difficult to understand. Then again, I guess most affairs in life are pretty hard to figure out.

Ever since I can remember, my summers have been consumed with either going to the county fair or preparing for the fair months in advance.

When I was younger, I showed hogs among other projects at the county and state fairs. I was involved in 4-H. The 4-H tradition is alive and well in our family. I’m proud that my children are third generation 4-H’ers in our family.

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler organizes his garden display prior to judging at the County Fair in 1985.

Though my kids haven’t had the excitement of showing animals like my father and I had, they have carved out their own niche in other areas.

This year my 17-year-old daughter was chosen as a state 4-H ambassador and will be working in the 4-H Building at the state fair every day.

Beginning this week, my “vacation” will be hanging out at such exotic places like the Steele County Free Fair. Who could ask for anything better than a free vacation at Minnesota’s largest county fair in Owatonna?

While my 4-H showing days are long gone, I still find creative ways to keep myself involved in the fairs. The Times

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will be having a booth in the Four Seasons Building at the Steele fair. My staff and I will be busy hocking newspapers and fair special sections in addition to offering subscription specials. We also printed a special coupon section, which will be handed out in the booth, for fairgoers to use at the many fair food vendors.

Blame 4-H, blame my parents or blame anybody who hangs around fairs for my persisting love affair with the fairs. But I know one thing. I wouldn’t have it any other way and it will keep me from going in hot pursuit of having an affair with anythingor anyone-else.

September 4, 2012

Newspapers of yesteryear My background in the newspaper business spans more than three decades already, but that still doesn’t qualify me for being an old geezer when it comes to publishing. I was not involved in the very early years of producing papers. Specifically, I’m referring to the letterpress days of the industry.

Last week I had the opportunity to experience the letterpress method of producing newspapers. I volunteered to work a stint for the first time at the Minnesota Newspaper Museum located at the State Fair. The museum-now in its 25th year-is located in Heritage Square at the fairgrounds.

It’s like turning the clock back 75 years or more as one enters the newspaper museum.

The letterpress machinery works to produce a weekly newspaper like most rural small communities did back in the 1930s.

I got into newspapers in the early 1980s after the business had just begun evolving from the use of linotype machine to computers to produce copy and from letterpress to offset production. The letterpress method had become extinct by the time I had started working in my hometown.

Gone were the days of clunky, noisy linotypes used to produce newspapers. I had missed out on a time of smelly ink, hot lead and hearing the sounds of heavy printing equipment.

That’s why it was a treat for me to work at the museum and take a trip back in time. I got a valuable lesson on how the old-timers put together newspapers. It’s work I’m not sure I would have wanted to

Submitted photo

Times publisher Rick Bussler volunteered his time at the Minnesota Newspaper Museum at the State Fair. Bussler is manually feeding sheets of newspaper into a machine, which then folds the paper for people to read. The museum celebrated its 25th anniversary at this year’s fair.

do on a regular basis. It gives me a new appreciation for those who worked during that era as producing papers was extremely labor intensive.

As I watched the letterpress printing process, I couldn’t help but think how easy we have it today. With today’s computer technology, newspaper work is a breeze compared to years ago.

I actually felt kind of right at home at the museum. It got started 25 years ago thanks to the efforts of Chuck Warner, who was my first boss back at the Brownton Bulletin where I started to work when I was in 8th grade. Warner, 87, still volunteers to help out at the museum.

In 1987, the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation built the museum at the fairgrounds. The foundation is an educational outreach program

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offered by the state’s newspapers. For 12 days during the fair, newspaper volunteers from around the state print a 4-page paper, The Maynard News, at the museum.

The former owners of the Maynard newspapers donated equipment to the museum with the understanding that it would be used to educate others on how newspapers were printed during the last century.

As I get older, I understand the importance of preserving history. It’s great to see that my industry is doing its part in keeping history alive. I hope the newspaper foundation will continue to go in hot pursuit of making this endeavor available to fairgoers for decades to come.

September 11, 2012

Phenomenal growth at The Times When I purchased The Times nearly three years ago, I kept thinking in the back of my mind about all the naysayers who claimed that newspapers are facing the brink of extinction. That was certainly unsettling for a person like me going into business for the first time.

Still holding onto thoughts that newspapers are headed for the graveyard, I became even more scared a year ago when I toyed with the idea of something that had never been done before in Steele County. I stuck my neck out and expanded The Times into a countywide newspaper.

Now a year later, I’m proud to declare the expansion a successful endeavor. The growth that The Times has experienced has been phenomenal in so many ways.

Most importantly, our readership has climbed by nearly 70 percent since last September. Our circulation currently stands at about 2,100 and it is still growing every week.

The greatest growth has been in Owatonna. When I came to The Times in 2009, circulation was at 1,100.

Besides increased readership, our advertising revenue has also jumped sharply. We are able to offer a valuable advertising option for businesses at a more reasonable cost.

The success of our expansion can be measured in other ways as well. We have increased the size of our newspaper most weeks by four pages and even in recent weeks by eight pages. In August, we published the largest edition-40 pages with four sections-in the paper’s history.

Readers are getting a product

that has increased by at least 25 percent.

More pages means readers are getting more news. We consistently have at least two county news pages and a Medford news page. And while we’ve added additional news pages, we haven’t lost our touch with Blooming Prairie. The news hole for Blooming has actually increased as well with the expansion.

For the first time ever, we added a full-time county writer to help our efforts.

Dennis Ottosen has done a tremendous job in hustling down and covering community news throughout the entire county.

Just a few weeks ago, we launched our new marketing campaign, “Always local. All the time.” Throughout the past year, the one thing we have constantly heard from readers is how refreshing it is to have a newspaper focusing solely on local community news.

Comments like this one from an Owatonna resident are representative of what we hear on a consistent basis: “It’s wonderful to read about people and lives that make a difference-so uplifting and positive.”

Media research shows that print journalism is still the strongest form of media. Print reigns over radio, television and other forms of media. In fact, some studies show that print is stronger than it has ever been. The strength of print is community newspapers like The Times.

As we celebrate our success over the past year, I want to thank our readers for making it all possible. Without you, our expansion would not have been possible. I appreciate

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each and every one of our readers. I hope you will help spread the word to your neighbors and friends about what they’re missing by not reading The Times.

It has been a year since a new era dawned for community newspapers in Steele County. I am committed to going in hot pursuit of publishing one of the greatest small weekly newspapers in the state.

‘We’re healing every day’ Administrator strives to move care center forward

By RICK BUSSLER Publisher

It’s been a rocky road at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie throughout this year, but the center’s new administrator isn’t wasting any time looking back.

Susan Johnson is back at the helm of Prairie Manor for the second time this year after a brief departure. She came aboard as administrator in February, left abruptly in June and then weeks later came back after the board terminated the management company which had been at odds with Johnson. She rejoined the center July 20.

Johnson is well aware of all the turmoil that has been generated both inside and outside of Prairie Manor, but she is ready to put it all aside and get down to the business of running a care center.

“We’re healing every day,” said Johnson with strong confidence.

“We don’t look back. We’re just moving ahead. We’re all on the same path and looking forward to the future of Prairie Manor.”

She is no amateur when it comes to operating a care centers and certainly is no stranger around Prairie Manor. Johnson worked as director of nursing at the local center from 1985 to 1990. She left Blooming Prairie to work at St. John’s in Albert Lea for several years. In 2000, she became administrator of the New Richland Care Center for seven years and then served for five years at Sunrise Home in Two Harbors, Minn.

In all, Johnson has worked in older adult services for four decades. “It has always been my passion,” she said. She hopes to finish her career at Prairie Manor by serving at least another five years.

“Forty years in this industry has certainly given me experience to overcome the bumps in the road,” Johnson said, noting that it is normal for organizations from time to time to have bumps like Prairie

Times photo by Rick Bussler

Prairie Manor administrator Susan Johnson, left, loves to be out and about in the facility meeting staff and residents. She took some time out of her busy schedule to visit with resident Charles Ressler, who was being cared for by Heather Easley, a nursing assistant with the center. Johnson is settling back in for the second time this year as administrator.

Manor experienced this year.

When Johnson first considered coming back earlier this year, she liked the fact that she would be coming full circle with her career.

Her first management position was at Prairie Manor.

“Prairie Manor is a fantastic nursing home,” Johnson said. “I knew it had continued on the path of quality care and I knew it would be interesting to return here.”

Johnson is comfortable with Prairie Manor and its surroundings. She likes the small town atmosphere and especially the loyalty of the staff. She said it is highly unusual that nearly a quarter of the center’s staff has been employed there for 15 years or more.

Many nursing homes around the state are suffering from low census, according to Johnson. But that’s not the case at Prairie Manor.

There are only two openings in the 56-bed facility. “It’s highly unusual to be at 98 percent,” she said.

Prairie Manor receives high federal ratings for its overall quality of care. Though the facility is currently at a four star rating, it had been a five star center earlier this year.

The five star is the highest ranking a nursing home can achieve.

Said Johnson: “Our reputation means a lot to us. We work hard every day to maintain that. It certainly gives you a sense of pride knowing that you are associated with a high quality nursing home.”

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As administrator, Johnson is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the center. She handles all budgeting, regulatory compliance and reports directly to the board of directors.

Johnson’s goal as administrator seems simple enough. She wants to maintain the center’s high quality of care and service. “I want to make sure the environment in the center is as much like home for the residents as possible.”

The job, she said, won’t come without some challenges. Resident charges are determined by the state and there has been no increase in rates for four years. Johnson said it’s difficult to keep up with skyrocketing costs, but no additional revenue. “It’s a very challenging business,” she said.

She is so grateful and humble to be back at Prairie Manor as administrator—mostly because of the people. “The connection the staff, residents and families have in this facility is such a deep strong connection,” Johnson said. “I can’t explain what a positive that is.”

Johnson describes herself as a hands-on manager and a participative leader. “I’m involved,” she said. “I love being out and about with staff and residents. I want to get to know the residents and their families.”

September 18, 2012

Prairie Manor hits home run with Johnson It has certainly been a difficult year covering the developments at Prairie Manor Center in Blooming Prairie.

The center has ended up in the front page headlines several times and most often not in the best of light.

The on-going story of what’s happening at Prairie Manor has often been hard for us to nail down for a variety of reasons. Without reopening old wounds, it’s now time for us to focus on the future.

And that’s what led me to an enjoyable interview a few weeks ago with the new, but not new administrator at the facility. Susan Johnson has rejoined the facility after leaving abruptly for a few weeks in June.

Johnson is bringing in a positive attitude to a situation that has been anything but positive this year. She is a seasoned veteran of nursing home care administration. She has been in the business for 40 years with the past 12 years as administrator at now the third facility.

Perhaps one of her comments set the tone for the entire saga that began unraveling in January when four top managers were terminated and a controversial management company was brought in to save the place so to speak.

Johnson told me, “We’re healing every day. We don’t look back. We’re just moving ahead. We’re all on the same path and looking forward to the future of Prairie Manor.”

Johnson’s heart is in the right place. She has some history with the center. She worked at Prairie Manor as director of nursing from 1985 to 1990. She came back in

February after earning her administrator’s license and working at several other facilities around the state.

Her path to administration wasn’t a typical one as she was a non-traditional student. While holding down a full-time job, she earned her bachelor’s degree in health care administration at Metro State University in St. Paul.

She wants nothing more than to do great things for Prairie Manor. Johnson has no plans on going anywhere else.

In fact, if she’s allowed to, she wants to close out her career right here in Blooming Prairie.

Johnson hopes to invest at least five years into the facility before retiring. This is the stability needed for the local nursing home.

The new administrator is complimentary about the facility and speaks highly of what goes on there every day. “We have a wonderful group of employees who are doing great things for Prairie Manor,” Johnson said. “It’s just a unique experience to have a team of workers who have a common goal and share the same passion.”

Johnson looks at her job in a different light than what many people most likely do.

“It’s not just a job,” she said.

“It’s a calling.”

She wants everyone to know that she has an open door policy. That means for employees, nursing home residents and their families.

Prairie Manor has served the Blooming Prairie area since June 1966 as a non-profit corporation made up of six area churches. With the half century mark right around the corner in four years, Johnson

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is already planning to have a big celebration for the community.

Johnson also hopes that finances will allow her to do some updating and remodeling throughout the 46-year-old facility.

“We focus on what needs to be done,” Johnson said, noting that staff and resident needs are the most important to her.

The board has struck a home run with bringing Johnson on board. It’s obvious she is in hot pursuit of what’s in the best interests of the residents, staff and community.

September 25, 2012

Writer gives man second chance at life Sometimes it becomes difficult to find real value in one’s work no matter what you do in life.

Such is the case with myself in my other life when I’m not a publisher. We’ve picked up so many new readers in the past year that some don’t realize I juggle my time between the newspaper and being a police officer in Lakeville. (I apologize to those old-timers who are already aware of this.)

In April, I had the opportunity to respond to a medical emergency in which a 40-year-old man had collapsed of cardiac arrest while he was flipping a house. I was the first officer on the scene and immediately jolted him with the automatic external defibrillator (AED), which is a lifesaving machine found in many public places.

It didn’t look good for this man. I thought for sure he was a goner. And the statistics were against him. There is only a 5 percent survival rate with cardiac arrest patients.

But many things went right on that spring day and thanks to quick emergency response and the miracle of modern medicine, the man survived and is alive to tell his story.

He went to one of the best heart hospitals in the country at Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis where his heart was cooled in a cooling chamber. Cooling techniques let surgeons stop the heart for long periods without damaging the heart tissue.

Rapid cooling is proving to save many victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

On Thursday, I got to meet this man for the first

time since I shocked his lifeless body with the AED and performed CPR. Allina Medical held a special dinner program for heart survivors from around Minnesota at the Science Museum in St. Paul.

The Lakeville survivor got to share his story of getting a second chance at life. Allina also presented the emergency responders, including myself, with life saving awards.

At times I struggle as a police officer, wondering what good I am doing. The job can often be filled with boredom.

It seems like cops usually make people mad because they’re arresting them or giving them a ticket. But last week’s award ceremony put it all in perspective for me and gave me a clearer understanding of the significance I play in my protecting and serving role.

To know that I had a hand in getting a man to walk and talk again after he was looking destined for the funeral coffin just months ago is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

It definitely is one of the most spectacular highlights of my police career.

But it’s important to point out that one doesn’t need to be a police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, firefighter or medical person to make a difference in someone else’s life. Anyone can help out. And that’s why it’s important for people to learn CPR and how to hook up the AED on a patient.

Heart disease has become the number one killer in America. That only means one thing. As time goes on, there are going to be more and more people suffering from sudden

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cardiac arrest and in need of immediate help.

In the case of the man I saved, his mother happened to be right by him at the time and began pounding on his chest and performing CPR. She knew CPR because she had just lost her husband a few years prior to a heart attack.

I can’t stress it enough.

Don’t wait until a loved one dies before you kick into action with learning CPR. Take Heart Minnesota is a sudden cardiac arrest survival initiative with a goal of increasing the survival rate from 5 percent to more than 20 percent. Building community awareness is paramount to saving lives.

Learning CPR is easy and could mean the difference between life and death. I encourage everyone to go in hot pursuit of taking the time to learn the lifesaving techniques and you, too, could someday be credited with saving a life.

October 23, 2012

Landing a hidden treasure: LeMar Nelson One of the hidden treasures I was fortunate enough to land when I took over The Times three years ago was a loyal and dedicated sports editor covering Blooming Prairie sports and other community activities.

LeMar Nelson is celebrating his 20th anniversary with this newspaper this fall. That’s right, for the past two decades, the retired educator has been handling the sports beat and writing a weekly column. He is the only staff member who has been with me since I purchased the newspaper in Nov. 2009. I have always been able to count on him to get the job done without hardly any direction.

At almost 80 years old (in a couple weeks), Nelson is truly an inspiration to not only senior citizens, but also younger people. The man is a writing machine who lets nothing get in the way of preventing him from doing what he loves-writing. He writes, writes and writes some more. It’s not uncommon for him to write 15 or more stories each week. He puts the rest of us to shame most weeks in the area of story count.

There are two things most important to Nelson. The first is his family of three daughters and their families and a close second is writing. “If I didn’t have my writing and my family, I don’t know what I would do with myself,” Nelson said.

Nelson does so much more than just covering sports. He often writes education stories at Blooming Prairie Schools where he spent the majority of his professional career working as a teacher and principal. He’s also not afraid to jump in and write stories about other events going on around the community.

There are also the Mondays when he makes himself available to come down to the office to proofread the pages prior to them going to press. He may not catch everything, but there’s not a whole lot that slips by him.

Times photo by Rick Bussler

LeMar Nelson, celebrated his 20th anniversary of working at the Times in the fall of 2012. Nelson, who has been in the community covering stories, writing, proofing and acting as the community historian.

Let me tell you there is nothing better than having an old English instructor proofing stories.

And let’s not forget about the wealth of knowledge Nelson has for the community. He has been in Blooming Prairie since 1957 It’s pretty unusual for him to not know something about what has happened here at least in the past half century.

But covering stories, writing, proofing and acting as the community historian aren’t what strike me the most about Nelson. It’s the manner in which he accomplishes it all. He has gone through many adversities over the past two decades, especially in the last 10 years. Nelson has suffered many medical issues, including a stroke. Last spring I thought for sure he wouldn’t be back after coming down with shingles.

Not sure what it is, but somehow Nelson always bounces back. He has a love for writing that he feels obligated to share

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with our readers no matter what happens to him.

I also love his enthusiasm for the job even after doing it so long. Just a few weeks ago, I gave him a special project to work on for the upcoming winter sports season. For the first time, we’re going to put out a special winter sports section featuring area high school teams. Nelson embraced this project better than any other staff member I’ve ever had.

I could see the excitement in his eyes for getting this done.

Now I think that’s impressive for someone who should just be worried about playing cards or hanging out at the senior citizen’s club.

Landing a hidden treasure like Nelson has made me got in hot pursuit of providing a quality hometown newspaper for all of our readers to enjoy.

Brownton Bulletin staff gone crazy

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler along with the Brownton Bulletin staff, all dressed up during the Crazy Day event that Bussler spearheaed starting his junior year in high school.

Bussler, right, organized a successful community event both his junior and senior years.

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November 27, 2012

Filling a void in sports coverage Without a doubt, sports is the life blood of any community, especially in small towns like Blooming Prairie, Ellendale, Medford, West Concord, Claremont and Dodge Center.

With that in mind, there always seemed to be a little something missing in The Times when it came to our sports coverage. We have always done a great job during the season with covering games, but prior to the season getting underway, it just didn’t feel quite right.

I finally figured it out. I know what you’re thinking.

It sometimes takes me a little while to get on top of things.

Hey, at least I get it eventually.

Our newspaper has been missing coming out with a special sports section dedicated to the upcoming season. Beginning next week, The Times will premiere the winter sports season with the first of its kind sports preview section. We will have a tab packed with photos, schedules and stories previewing the upcoming season for each of the teams, including girls and boys basketball and wrestling.

What makes this project even neater is the fact that we’re including profiles of teams from several different school districts. They include: Blooming Prairie, New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva (NRHEG), Medford and Triton (Claremont-Dodge Center and West Concord.

A project like this wouldn’t be complete without sticking our ace sports reporter LeMar Nelson on the job. Nelson, who has now been writing for 20 years, has pulled together profile pieces on 12 different

teams from the four districts.

He has been working on this project feverishly for the past couple months.

I grew up in a town about half the size of Blooming Prairie so I know how important sports are to a community. I dabbled in a few sports myself, though I never was any good at them. I actually took greater pride in covering the successes—and yes, at times, the failures—of the sports teams by writing for my hometown newspaper.

I can still remember the excitement of our boys’ basketball team one year and how the entire community came together with immense pride when the team captured the district championship and fell short of a state tournament trip by losing in the regions. I know I’m dating myself now because there are no longer districts and regions. Sections have replaced them.

Last week I sensed all the pride felt by communities around the state when I attended some of the Prep Bowl football games in Minneapolis. While Owatonna didn’t come home with a championship, the community still showed incredible pride for its football team.

My hope is to capture some of the pride area schools, coaches and communities have in their sports teams through the special section we’ll be putting out next week. This has been no easy task.

I hope sports lovers will go in hot pursuit of enjoying a special section devoted to their favorite high school teams.

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December 11, 2012

Police killings rip at inner fabric of society It’s the kind of news I wish wouldn’t happen. Another police officer gets killed trying to do a job he’s been sworn to uphold.

Within the past two weeks, a Cold Spring police officer was gunned down in the line of duty while checking on a suicidal man. I was heartbroken when the news of Officer Tom Decker’s death came across. Unfortunately, this senseless act happens far too often in Minnesota as well as the rest of the nation.

On average one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty every 53 hours. Since the first known death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Cop killings, especially the manner in which Decker experienced, are horrific for any community to suffer.

Such brutal killings rip at the inner fabric of society. It’s a personal loss for members of the community whether they knew the officer or not.

For me, it’s even more personal than some. In my other career as a police officer, I encounter danger on a regular basis. Line of duty deaths such as Decker’s drive home the tragic realities of police work.

It puts officers like myself face-to-face with the reality of my own life and my own family. I certainly felt a sense of real grief for the slain officer’s family. I can’t begin to imagine what his wife and four small children are going to experience in the days and weeks ahead. Their lives have

been forever changed.

The killing of Officer Decker was senseless and should not have happened.

Once again, evil reared its ugly head and took one of the state’s finest from us.

Decker’s death spurred me to interview a police widow who went through the horrific experience of losing a husband more than two decades ago in Claremont.

Sue Lange’s husband, Gregory, was beaten and shot while responding to a domestic in the Dodge County community.

The police widow’s life has never been the same since that fateful July night in 1988. “It was all so awful and devastating,” Lange said.

“The life that we were living was taken away. We had a family of three one minute and then a family of two the next minute,” she said.

Lange, along with her son Chris, was left to cope with all the misery and heartache caused by her husband’s killing.

Now, 24 years later, yet another police family is facing the same horrible journey that Lange has battled for so long.

“It just breaks my break,” she said of this latest cop killing.

As tragic as this has been for Lange, she is quick to point out that there is hope on the horizon for surviving family members of cops killed in the line of duty. “I have found hope and support from all the people who walked this journey before me and I hope the Decker family reaches out to those who have walked that path so they don’t ever feel

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like they are alone,” she said.

Let’s not forget about the police officers that protect and serve our communities as we go in hot pursuit of enjoying our everyday lives. Most come home to their families at night, but some aren’t as lucky. As the scriptures tell us, blessed are the peacemakers.

December 18, 2012

Retiring judge frustrated with overloaded court system Something has always struck me about Steele County Judge Casey Christian. I have always been impressed with his roots and where he came from in his path to become the county’s top man to dish out law and order.

Back when I started covering police and courts as a TV reporter in Austin in the early 1990s, I always remember how awestruck I was that Steele County had a judge with law enforcement ties. It’s quite unusual for judges to have the perspective of police work in their career portfolio.

In his early years, Christian was a sheriff’s deputy for Steele County before being forced to quit for medical reasons. He then went on to get his law degree and came back to the county to be a prosecutor and later a judge.

As Christian wrapped up 22 years behind the bench a few weeks ago, I had the distinct honor of having lunch with him to reminisce about his career of catching bad guys and later sending them to jail or prison as a judge.

One thing that stuck from our conversation was his frustrations of a court system that is overburdened and overloaded with no relief in sight.

Christian knows the legal system itself isn’t without its faults.

His greatest irritation with the court system is its inability to push cases through in a timely manner. It’s not uncommon for cases to stall in the system for two or three years before they are completely done. This leaves crime victims being trauma-

tized for a longer period of time than necessary.

Christian points to a severely underfunded court system for the chronic backlog of court cases and the time it takes to get them through court.

The honorable judge made a classic illustration that seems to illuminate the problem. In 1958, there were 23 judges in the Third Judicial District, which includes Steele County. More than a halfcentury later in 2011, there were still only 23 judges in the district.

During that same time period, crime has risen dramatically. For instance in Steele County, there were 46 felonies when Christian started as a cop in 1975. When he leaves the bench in a few weeks, more than 600 felonies will have come through the local courtrooms just this year alone.

“We’re horribly underfunded and understaffed,” Christian said. “We are short 18 judges statewide. There is no money in the system.”

Besides a lack of judges on the bench, the public defender’s system is in shambles as well. “The public defender’s office is severely underfunded,” Christian said.

The reality is not what crime victims want to hear.

“If we don’t get the judges and staff we need, it is going to get slower and slower,” Christian predicts.

Christian said the slowness of the court system causes great discontent with those who are unfortunately to need the courts. “It causes people to

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have a lack of respect for the system,” he said.

Judge Christian’s time on the bench hasn’t come without trouble. He has been threatened many times. He’s had his house vandalized as well as his vehicle. One night the windows on his van parked in front of his house were shot out. Another time a large picture window in his house was shot out. The FBI has notified him at different times of various threats made by groups.

Despite the threats and frustrations with an overburdened system, Christian is pleased with his time of keeping law and order in the county. For a man devoted to being in hot pursuit of justice, he is certainly deserving of a wonderful retirement.

“

As I get older, I understand the importance of preserving history. It’s great to see that my industry is doing its part in keeping history alive. I hope the newspaper foundation will continue to go in hot pursuit of making this endeavor available to fairgoers for decades to come.

”

__RICK L. BUSSLER

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C

hapter Three

NEWS ENTERPRISE Claremont

Dodge Center

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West Concord

November 7, 2012

Changes in the fall air Just as the seasons are changing before our eyes, there are also changes taking place with your local newspaper. This is my first publication as publisher of the News Enterprise.

The addition of the News Enterprise actually coincides with the third anniversary of my owning The Times newspaper of Blooming Prairie. I guess you could say I celebrated my anniversary in grand style by purchasing another newspaper. Perhaps, I’m a glutton for punishment by adding onto my already long list of responsibilities, but I really relish the idea of transforming this paper into one of the state’s best.

Ever since I got my start in the newspaper business, I have won many awards of excellence in the journalism field. I have won many state and national awards for writing and photography over the years. In fact, I was the first publisher to ever bring home awards to The Times in Blooming Prairie two years ago. One thing you’ll figure out about me very quickly is that I have a high standard for producing a quality newspaper.

I got my jump in the journalism world at an early age.

I started working at my hometown newspaper, the Brownton Bulletin, in the 8th grade as a photographer. Brownton is a community the same size as West Concord located in the central part of Minnesota.

By the time I graduated from high school, I was the assistant editor of the paper, doing writing, layout, photography and selling advertising.

After high school, I at-

tended Mankato State University where I obtained NTERPRISE a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communica- Ownership change at News Enterprise tions. I continued to work in the newspaper business at small weeklies during college.

A Spooktacular Halloween Eve I ventured into broadcast journalism after college when I worked as a reporter/anchor for KAAL-TV in Austin in the Company brings quality early 90s. During my stint engineering to West Concord at KAAL, I often covered Stroh brings local news around the region, face to classroom including Dodge and Steele ‘Holy cows...’ counties.

Most recently, I have been a police officer for the Lakeville Police Department. In addition to being a patrol officer, I have produced and anchored a monthly police cable show.

I plan to continue working providing the community with in Lakeville, in addition to a quality product. owning the newspapers.

By now, you’re probably Which brings me to the wondering whatever led me name of this column. “Hot into police work. It was actuPursuit” became the name of ally my TV reporting job. I this column as it ties together did many ride-alongs with my life interests. Now that police officers, state troopers you know I’m a police officer, and deputies. I also covered you’re probably starting to see police and courts extenthe parallels with the column sively throughout the region. name. As a police officer, I’m I reported on several murder often called upon to be in cases and murder trials. hot pursuit. It may be a wild As much as I love police and crazy police chase as I’m work, I have to admit I love trying to track down the bad journalism even more. And guys. It could be rushing off that’s why I have ventured to a domestic situation, car into buying newspapers, crash or medical emergency. and most recently the News Cops are always in hot pursuit Enterprise. of something.

I’m excited about the opNewspapers are also in portunity to publish your local hot pursuit. We’re always newspaper. It will be a great trying to nail down informaadventure as I go in hot purtion, facts and the truth. As a suit of producing one of the weekly newspaper, we’re also best small town newspapers in up against constant deadlines Minnesota. as we’re in hot pursuit of

NEWS E Claremont

Dodge Center

West Concord

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

44 Volume 107 No. 108 • 75¢

Bussler Publishing takes over the weekly newspaper

Beginning with this week’s newspaper, The News Enterprise is under new ownership.

Bussler Publishing, Inc. has taken over operation of the Claremont-Dodge Center and West Concord weekly newspaper from Concord Publishing effective Nov. 1. Bussler Publishing also operates The

Times newspaper, a community weekly newspaper servicing all of Steele County and based in Blooming Prairie. Rick and Theresa Bussler, who live in Lakeville, own Bussler Publishing.

Terry Campbell, a lifelong resident of West Concord, has sold the News Enterprise after operating it for the past 11 years.

News Enterprise photo by Annie Anderson Rick Bussler is the new publisher of the News Enterprise. He and his wife Teri’s company, Bussler Publishing, Inc., took over ownership of the weekly newspaper last week from Terry Campbell.

By LOGAN BERNSTEIN Staff Writer

Steve Shae recently brought his design engineering expertise to town and now has taken over a vacant building in West Concord.

Shae’s company, Innovation

By Design (IBD), has moved into the former veterinary clinic building at 220 W. 1st St. The West Concord resident has accrued over 18 years of experience in the engineering field

over the years and has worked in several different positions within his field including: test engineer, design engineer, project engineer, program manager, engineering manager and, now, small business owner. He has worked for Mustang Manufacturing, Slidell Manufacturing, Blount Manufacturing and Promachine Inc., which is a similar business to IBD. While working for Promachine, Shae mostly did finite stress analysis.

“The program basically breaks

Campbell will still be involved with the newspaper, as he will work part-time in advertising sales.

“We are thrilled to take over this fine community newspaper,” said Rick Bussler, who is publisher and president of Bussler Publishing. “Having this newspaper works well in our strategic plan of being an important community news source throughout Steele and Dodge counties.”

Bussler has owned and operated The Times since 2009. During the past three years, he has led the newspaper in expanding to a countywide paper, doubling its circulation and improving the overall quality of the paper. The Times has also won numerous state and national awards during Bussler’s tenure.

As for his plans with the News Enterprise, Bussler hopes to build on the solid foundation Campbell has developed for the past decade and make the paper even stronger.

For the first time in the history of the newspaper, Bussler is adding process four-color beginning this week. Readers will enjoy full color on six pages in the newspaper, including the front and back pages of each section as well as two additional pages throughout the paper. Many photographs will now be in full color.

(Above) Bruce Rosenau, participates in the haunted house at Concord Hardware in West Concord. Rosenau spent Halloween night spooking out trick and treaters throughout the night.

(Right) Coy, 1, and his sister Autumn Froyum, 3, of West Concord, team up as they go trick and treating.

See page 6A for more Halloween photos

News Enterprise photos

by Annie Anderson

NEWS ENTERPRISE

Continued on Page 3A

a structure down into tiny little pieces on the computer and then we can put a load on it and the computer figures out how much stress is there,” he said. “Then we can see where we have areas where we need to give it some attention.”

After working in many different positions, and for several different companies over the years, Shae decided it was time to try something new. It was then that he opened IBD in Owatonna in 2006.

Shae has a degree in mechanical engineering and has been a certified licensed professional engineer since 2007. In working as a mechanical design engineer, he has seen and worked on many interesting projects. One of the first projects he ever worked after starting his own business was a release mechanism for an unusual machine.

New Triton Teacher Spotlight

ENGINEERING

Continued on Page 3A

By LOGAN BERNSTEIN Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: Every year Triton adds some new faces to the ranks of educators within its halls and every year, we go through and spotlight some of these new faces so that we can attempt to get to know them a little bit better.

Continuing the trend of hiring local faces, Triton High School’s new science teacher, Scott Stroh, is a native of Rochester and graduate from high school in Kasson. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin-

Madison where he initially studied engineering.

“I spent three years in their engineering program before I said, huh, I Stroh don’t think I want to be an engineer,” Stroh recalled. “So I switched into teaching.”

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

Continued on Page 3A

Commemorating Civil War Veterans

News Enterprise photo by Logan Bernstein West Concord residents got some excitement on Friday when several cows escaped from their enclosure and made a bid for freedom through town. Law enforcement and civilians eventually rounded up the cattle and herded them back through town and back across State Street.

75¢

Index

Education......1B Opinion...........2A News.............2B Local..............3A Public Safety..3B Community.....4A Legals............4B Faith...............5A Classifieds.....5B Halloween......6A Welcome.......6B

Hot Pursuit:

Local:

Luck lands former mayor Changes in the fall air a big cash prize Just as the seasons are changing before West Concord’s Casey’s General Store sold our eyes, there are also changes taking a winning scratch-off ticket...Page B2 place... Page A2

Proudly Serving The Triton Area

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Seven Civil War veterans will have granite pavers dedicated and placed in their honor at the Dodge County Civil War Memorial in Wasioja on Veterans day, Sunday and Nov. 11 beginning at 2 p.m.

Re-enactors from the 3rd Minnesota will join the Dodge Center Legion color guard to perform the dedication. Abe Lincoln re-enactor dale Bas-

tion from Rochester will be the guest speaker. Many others will be dressed in period clothing.

In case of inclement weather, the program will move to the historic church in Wasioja.

The Memorial is located in historic Seminary Park that is two miles north and three miles west of Mantorville. The event is free to the public.

November 14, 2012

Paying tribute to our veterans Honoring all the area’s veterans is the least we can do for those who braved combat battle and fought for our country.

For the past several years, I have always made a point of paying special tribute to an elite group of people who are known as “veterans.”

Last week in my other publication, The Times of Blooming Prairie, I took on the ambitious project of listing out the names of all 4,000 veterans in Steele County.

We devoted four pages in the newspaper to this effort.

While the list is likely quite smaller in Dodge County, I would like to do the same next year for the News Enterprise.

Veterans deserve all the recognition we can give them.

It’s great that we can recognize them in person through Veteran’s Day observances rather than remembering them during Memorial Day services.

Whether you’re a veteran from West Concord, Claremont, Dodge Center or anywhere else in this wonderful United States, I want you to know how much I appreciate the sacrifices you have made in your lives to help make our lives better.

It’s important for us to remember that freedom isn’t free. These veterans bear this out in so many ways.

On this Veteran’s Day, we all need to take a moment to thank those who have worn our country’s uniform in the past and those who wear it today.

Veteran’s Day originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Con-

gress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.

President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veteran’s Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars.

There are 21.5 million military veterans in the United States with just over a million being women. About 9 million of those are age 65 and older.

We owe each veteran a personal thank you each for serving America with honor, courage and commitment.

Without their heroics, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the freedoms that make America such a special place to live.

As a nation, we have prospered because we have always had citizens willing to rise to answer the call to serve in hours of need. I can’t think of a more deserving group who should get the utmost respect and dignity from everyone than veterans. We owe them a great deal.

Veterans have always served with distinction. They have stood proud and tall with courage, dedication and patriotism—keystones in our American way of life—as they have gone in hot pursuit of protecting our country.

And for that we owe them our gratitude.

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November 21, 2012

A change from Thanks-giving to Thanks-Buying?

As we head towards devouring a turkey dinner this week, I’m thoroughly confused about one thing. When did the national holiday get changed from Thanks-giving to Thanks-buying? I must have missed the big announcement in my busy life.

For my entire life, I have always operated under the presumption that Thanksgiving is about family, love and thankfulness. It’s the one day out of the year that brings families together to share time with each other and learn what the true meaning of giving thanks is all about. We have so much to be thankful for living in this great country.

But before we finish stuffing ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, we’re being asked to push away from the Thanksgiving table and rush out to do something we can any other day of the year— shopping. Big business is attempting to steal Thanksgiving right out from underneath us by tempting shoppers with sweet Black Friday deals a day earlier.

Two of the nation’s largest retailers— Target and Walmart— have announced that they will be opening up their doors on Thanksgiving night to let shoppers get an early jump on taking advantage of all the great Black Friday specials. Target will be open as early as 8 p.m.

Despite petitions against doing such a thing, the almighty dollar won out and stores will be flinging their doors open.

This is absolutely insane.

The powers at be with those large retailers obviously have

their priorities in life totally messed up. Shopping on Thanksgiving is absurd. Retailers are sending a message that our need to gather more things that we probably don’t need in the first place is far more important and stronger than our need to say “thanks.”

When is this country going to say enough is enough? We need to boycott those stores and let them know it’s not okay to strip away the meaning of family and Thanksgiving. The sacredness of family means nothing any more. It’s a sad reality on so many fronts in our lives.

I don’t think many will argue that family is being challenged at nearly every aspect of our lives. We sit back and wonder why families are so messed up and there is so much brokenness in our homes. The family has been under siege for years and it’s getting worse. Retailers are not doing one bit of good by unveiling their latest ploy at getting us to spend money.

Thanksgiving is about experiencing gratitude and not shopping. It’s important to set aside time to give thanks for the things we have and the things you cherish in life.

Now, in the twisted world of business, the whole concept of the holiday turns from what we give thanks for to what we need.

The upcoming holiday season features a familiar story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” I’m in the process of coming out with a new version called, “How big Business Stole Thanksgiving.”

The big difference between

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the two is that the Grinch story is make believe, but the Business story is reality.

I encourage each and every one of you to enjoy the holiday for the reason it was meant to be in the first place.

Going in hot pursuit of boycotting retailers this Thanksgiving should be right next to turkey and all the fixings on the menu.

November 28, 2012

Filling a void in sports coverage Without a doubt, sports is the life blood of any community, especially in small towns like West Concord, Claremont, Dodge Center, Blooming Prairie, Ellendale and Medford.

With that in mind, there always seemed to be a little something missing in the News Enterprise when it came to our sports coverage. We have always done a great job during the season with covering games, but prior to the season getting underway, it just didn’t feel quite right.

I finally figured it out. I know what you’re thinking.

It sometimes takes me a little while to get on top of things.

Hey, at least I get it eventually.

Our newspaper has been missing coming out with a special sports section dedicated to the upcoming season.

Beginning next week, the News Enterprise will premiere the winter sports season with the first of its kind sports preview section. We will have a tab packed with photos, schedules and stories previewing the upcoming season for each of the teams, including girls and boys basketball and wrestling.

What makes this project even neater is the fact that we’re including profiles of teams from several different school districts. They include: Triton, Blooming Prairie, New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva (NRHEG) and Medford.

A project like this wouldn’t be complete without sticking a veteran sports writer on the job. LeMar Nelson, who has been the ace sports reporter at The Times in Blooming Prairie for 20 years, has pulled

together profile pieces on 12 different teams from the four districts. He has been working on this project feverishly for the past couple months.

I grew up in a town about the same size as West Concord so I know how important sports are to a community.

I dabbled in a few sports myself, though I never was any good at them. I actually took greater pride in covering the successes—and yes, at times, the failures—of the sports teams by writing for my hometown newspaper.

I can still remember the excitement of our boys’ basketball team one year and how the entire community came together with immense pride when the team captured the district championship and fell short of a state tournament trip by losing in the regions. I know I’m dating myself now because there are no longer districts and regions. Sections have replaced them.

Last week I sensed all the pride felt by communities around the state when I attended some of the Prep Bowl football games in Minneapolis. While Owatonna didn’t come home with a championship, the community still showed incredible pride for its football team.

My hope is to capture some of the pride area schools, coaches and communities have in their sports teams through the special section we’ll be putting out next week. This has been no easy task.

I hope sports lovers will go in hot pursuit of enjoying a special section devoted to their favorite high school teams. Watch the News Enterprise for the tab next week.

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December 5, 2012

Police killings rip at inner fabric of society It’s the kind of news I wish wouldn’t happen. Another police officer gets killed trying to do a job he’s been sworn to uphold.

Just last week a Cold Spring police officer was gunned down in the line of duty while checking on a suicidal man. I was heartbroken when the news of Officer Tom Decker’s death came across.

Unfortunately, this senseless act happens far too often in Minnesota as well as the rest of the nation.

On average one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty every 53 hours. Since the first known death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Cop killings, especially the manner in which Decker experienced, are horrific for any community to suffer.

Such brutal killings rip at the inner fabric of society. It’s a personal loss for members of the community whether they knew the officer or not.

For me, it’s even more personal than some. In my other career as a police officer, I encounter danger on a regular basis. Line of duty deaths such as Decker’s drive home the tragic realities of police work.

It puts officers like myself face-to-face with the reality of my own life and my own family. I certainly felt a sense of real grief for the slain officer’s family. I can’t begin to imagine what his wife and four small children are going to experience in the days and weeks ahead. Their lives have been forever changed.

The killing of Officer Decker was senseless and should not have happened.

Once again, evil reared its

ugly head and took one of the state’s finest from us.

Decker’s death spurred me to interview a police widow who went through the horrific experience of losing a husband more than two decades ago in Claremont. Sue Lange’s husband, Gregory, was beaten and shot while responding to a domestic in the Dodge County community.

The police widow’s life has never been the same since that fateful July night in 1988. “It was all so awful and devastating,” Lange said. “The life that we were living was taken away. We had a family of three one minute and then a family of two the next minute,” she said.

Lange, along with her son Chris, was left to cope with all the misery and heartache caused by her husband’s killing.

Now 24 years later yet another police family is facing the same horrible journey that Lange has battled for so long.

“It just breaks my break,” she said of this latest cop killing.

As tragic as this has been for Lange, she is quick to point out that there is hope on the horizon for surviving family members of cops killed in the line of duty. “I have found hope and support from all the people who walked this journey before me and I hope the Decker family reaches out to those who have walked that path so they don’t ever feel like they are alone,” she said.

Let’s not forget about the police officers that protect and serve our communities as we go in hot pursuit of enjoying our everyday lives. Most come home to their families at night, but some aren’t as lucky. As the scriptures tell us, blessed are the peacemakers.

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December 12, 2012

‘Tis the season for DWIs ‘Twas the month of Christmas and New Year’s. When all through the countryside, not a creature was stirring except for a tipsy driver all snockered up with a little too much holiday cheer. The breathalyzers were warming up in the patrol cars with care in hopes that cops soon would stop drunks in their tracks.

As the holidays quickly approach, it is ‘tis the season for drunk driving. Let’s face it, Minnesotans love to drink alcohol. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can become a terrible thing if it gets mixed with driving.

I have absolutely no tolerance for drunk drivers.

Though I’ve never lost a loved one in an alcohol-related crash, I have had some close encounters myself. A drunk has smashed into me while I was driving a fully marked police car. I walked away unharmed, but just the thought of what could have happened sends chills down my spine.

Through my work as a police officer and journalist, I’ve seen the pain and heartache that drunks cause families.

There is no reason for the nonsense. It’s heart wrenching to see all the personal grief sparked by some idiot who hops behind the wheel drunk.

It’s easy to point fingers and claim that drunk driving is a problem happening elsewhere and not close to home. But I have news for you folks. Take a look in the mirror and look no further than around here.

Those who think it’s not a problem are sadly living in a fantasy world where Santas roam around throwing gifts everywhere.

December is a particularly bad time for drunk driving.

For some reason, people seem

Office (Publisher) Rick Bussler, serves as Santa’s helper during the holidays keeping the streets of Lakeville safe.

to put holiday partying and drinking alcohol together and let ‘er rip.

During 2009 to 2011, drunk driving crashes resulted in one death and four serious injuries on roads in Dodge County.

During that same period, 286 motorists were arrested on Dodge roads.

Over the next three weeks, Minnesota law enforcement is hoping to freeze impaired drivers in their tracks. Officers from all over, including agencies in Dodge and neighboring Steele and Olmsted counties, will be working extra DWI enforcement. One thing will be on their minds—find drunks before they terrorize innocent victims.

For me, it is just mind boggling to know how preventable drunk driving can be. Impaired drivers can avoid the potentially deadly consequences, harsh penalties and personal grief by being proactive and responsible

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by planning for a sober ride before you even start drinking or simply stay put wherever you’re at.

And for those who will be out and about, help police out by reporting impaired driving if you encounter it. Cell phones are the best to dial 911 to report any evidence of drunk driving like a vehicle weaving down the road.

There is no room on Santa’s list this holiday season for tipsy drivers who climb behind the wheel. This should be a magical time of the year for everyone. Cops will be in hot pursuit of drunk grinches who try to steal that magic away from innocent bystanders.

Do yourself a favor—and for my family and me as well—drive sober and carefully throughout the holiday season.

December 26, 2012

Making the News Enterprise one of the best As 2012 grinds to a close, I wanted to take a little time to reflect back on the old year.

For me, it has been a year met with many opportunities, challenges, struggles and a few bright moments along the way.

It’s not often that something comes along in which opportunity, challenge, struggle and bright spot are all rolled into one. But that’s what happened to me in 2012 as I took on the challenge of another newspaper. In November, I took over operation of the News Enterprise, which has been an interesting adventure to say the least.

For those of you who may not be familiar with me, I have a strong journalistic backbone in which I will not settle for mediocrity. I am constantly challenging my staff—and even myself, to some degree—to become better at what we do. At times I’m met with resistance along the way, but for the most part I’m usually able to bring everybody along for the ride.

I have made many significant changes to the News Enterprise since taking over just a few months ago. We’ve made some big investments to improve the overall quality of the newspaper. First and foremost, we switched to a company that has state-ofthe-art printing equipment.

The result is that you get full process color on many pages and allows us to run color photographs.

Speaking of photography, we’ve also purchased a new digital camera to allow us to take sharp photos of all the news and sporting events around the Triton area. I got

my start in the business as a photographer for my hometown newspaper so good, clean photos have always been an important part of the paper for me.

As you have probably noticed, we have revamped and redesigned the pages of the newspaper. We switched to a broadsheet format, which is the industry standard for papers. It allows much more flexibility in designing pages and I feel it enhances the overall product. We have also tried to make more sense out of the layout by grouping items together in an easier to read format.

The new format has also allowed us to add more news space each week. The smallest size of the paper has been 12 pages, which is an increase of two pages over what generally had been done in the past. The end result is that our readers benefit by getting more news and features to read each week. That’s incredible to be increasing at a time when many papers around the country have been downsizing.

My goal is to convert the News Enterprise into one of the best hometown newspapers. And while it won’t be easy, it certainly is a goal that is obtainable. I have past experience to back that up.

I faced a similar challenge with the Blooming Prairie Times when I took over three years ago. The paper had never won any journalistic awards. Within the first year, we won several state and national awards. Next month The Times will be honored with 10 awards through the Minnesota Newspaper Association, including the coveted

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general excellence award.

Awards are great to win, but the real test is with the readers. We want readers to enjoy their local community newspaper. It’s important to us that you feel proud of the paper. Please let us know how you would like it to be improved and what changes you’d like to see.

We have our work cut out for us as we roll into the new year. There is much work left yet as we go in hot pursuit of providing you with the best small town paper in the state.

Stay tuned for more exciting changes in 2013.

December 31, 2012

West Concord newspaper sold to Rick Bussler

By Gretta Becay

The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

WEST CONCORD – The West Concord weekly newspaper, the News-Enterprise, has been purchased by Rick Bussler, who also publishes the Blooming Prairie Times.

Bussler, publisher and president of Bussler Publishing, said Ann Anderson is general manager of both papers, and Logan Bernstein is the staff writer for the News-Enterprise.

The paper serves Claremont, West Concord and Dodge Center.

Terry Campbell sold the paper to Bussler in November.

“I enjoyed the business for a long time. I wish him the best,” Campbell said.

Campbell is focused on farming now. He and his wife run Coulee Crest Farm, where they raise grass-fed beef and organically fed chickens.

Bussler is also a full-time police officer in Lakeville. He has been attached to journalism since working for his hometown newspaper in high school, he said.

He has a degree in mass communications and worked as a television reporter in Austin for a time. He has been publisher of the Blooming Prairie Times since November 2009.

During Wednesday’s Dodge County Commission meeting, Bussler won the bid to become the county’s legal newspaper. Bussler’s bid of $2.99 per column inch was considerably lower than the Star Herald’s bid of $3.75 per

column inch.

As the county’s legal paper, the News Enterprise has the right to publish the county’s 2012 financial statement after it is approved by the state auditor’s office. The paper will also be paid to publish legal notices for the county, such as requests for bids.

County Administrator Jim Elmquist said, “We will still use the other county papers for some announcements.”

For small weekly papers, the legal designation brings in a nice amount of income.

“For calendar year 2011, Dodge County paid $4,953.79 for legal ads and $714.74 for other (display) ads in the legal paper,” county finance director Lisa Kramer said in an email. “For 2012 through Dec. 14 Dodge County has paid $6,781.21 for legal ads and $210.72 for other (display) ads in the legal paper.”

Larry Dobson, publisher of the Star Herald was philosophical about losing the bid.

“We’re disappointed, and we’ve enjoyed being the legal paper, but, it happens,” he said. “We’ve run into this in other places. You don’t win them all.”

Commissioner David Hanson said the West Concord paper has an improved appearance.

“It has full color now, it looks good,” he told other commissioners.

The paper is distributed by mail and available at convenience stores in Claremont, Dodge Center and West Concord, Bussler said.

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“

For those of you who may not be familiar with me, I have a strong journalistic backbone in which I will not settle for mediocrity. I am constantly challenging my staff—and even myself, to some degree—to become better at what we do.

”

__RICK L. BUSSLER

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C

hapter Four

Newspapers Awards

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Small town newspaper staff takes home top MNA award

Submitted photo

Rick Bussler with his first award. He was still a high schooler, but Rick Bussler gained a first and two seconds in the state 1984 newspaper contest. That was the year the Brownton Bulletin was named winner of the Mills award as the state’s top weekly newspaper. Left to right: Rick, Society Editor Eileen West, Publisher Chuck Warner, Photographer Janae Paehlke and MNA president Mike Parta.

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From State Award winner...

PAGE 10B • Tuesday,February 1, 2011 • Blooming Prairie Times

Times wins awards of journalism excellence 2009-2010 Better Newspaper Contest Minnesota Newspaper Association

BP SENDS 3 TO ALL STAR GAME

LIBRARY OFFERS ACTIVITIES

NEW FACE AT THE BP EDA

The Legion players had a great game./Page 2B

The BP Library is having a fun summer./Page 3A

Andrew Barbes is here to help businesses./Page 8A

Blooming Prairie Times

Human Interest Story

Tornado Recovery

‘There’s no reason I should be alive’ Victim makes amazing recovery after being rescued from tornado wreckage several other buildings on the

By RICK BUSSLER farm, including a garage, bprick@frontier.com With a fierce tornado turkey barn, horse barn and “It was my heading right for her and pump house. nowhere to go, Judith Kollar safety,” Kollar said. “I loved braced herself for the worst that place. It was my little and was convinced her life of corner of the world,” she 64 years had come to an end. said. On the day the tornado Kollar, who lived alone on hit, Kollar said she knew her rural Blooming Prairie something unusual was about farm, was tossed around in to take place. In fact, she said her house by what was later it was like she knew she wasdetermined to be an EF3 tor- n’t going to live through the day. She said she did some nado on June 17.

After the twister came rip- things earlier in the day that ping through her farm place, she normally doesn’t do. For Kollar was left for dead example, taking a bath, buried under debris. “I was which she normally does at as close to death as you can night, took place during the come,” said Kollar, who day.

One of her German lived on the farm with her three dogs. Miraculously, Shephard dogs spent the day they all survived. “I don’t huddled in the bedroom and know why we lived,” she wouldn’t come out. Kollar said. “There’s no way we packed an emergency bag.

She even made a cake and should have lived.”

As Kollar’s condition had to rely on the neighbor’s quickly deteriorated in help as she was just a few amongst the twisted metal eggs short. When the severe and wreckage, she had just weather moved into the area, enough life left to wave her Kollar picked up her cell hand. With the exception of phone and called a brother her hand, Kollar’s entire who lives in Maryland. Once body was buried in the rub- the power went out, she took ble of the worst tornado to refuge in a spare bedroom. It pound Steele County in may be a phone call that decades. It’s her waving hand eventually saved her life. that caught the eye of a Kollar looked out her west police officer searching for window when all hell was survivors. And that touched about to break out. “I saw off a dramatic rescue as this great big, huge huffing Kollar’s race to stay alive locomotive coming right at was nearing an end. “God me,” Kollar said. “It was just kept me alive,” Kollar said. mammoth. Smoke was bil“There’s no reason whatso- lowing out of it. “I said, ever that I should be alive ‘Come right ahead and get me.’ I remember telling him today.” (the tornado) to come on you Tornado Hits Kollar became a widow in fool and that I’m not afraid of 1986 when her husband died you,” said Kollar.

During this time, Kollar and has lived alone ever since. She has lived in a thought about taking cover in modular home that was built a 10-foot well pit. But she in Rochester and moved to decided against going down Prairie in the hole because she was Blooming her Township farm in 1986. afraid nobody would ever Besides the house, there were find her.

Awarded To Rick Bussler

Fun Day to raise money for Chamber

Judges’ Comments:

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontier.com

“The details knock my socks off.

A very gripping story, well told.”

Tomorrow is the big day, today if you receive the The paper in the mail.

Blooming Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce’s 16th Annual Golf Fun Day is here and the excitement is easy to notice.

For the first time, the event will have a theme.

The theme is “Mad about Plaid.” Everyone is urged to dress up and the winner will receive free entry into the 2011 Golf Fun Day. Times photo by Rick Bussler This year showcases many of the same sponsors a temporary apartment in town.

Tornado victim Judith Kollar is recovering with a broken arm at are going to smell the horrible as last. The games Kollar said, “I wasn’t er who was familiar with n’t have the fun will odor. And then the rains to be similar and afraid of dying, but I was Kollar eventually finally put gas wouldn’t stop. be even more. The 18-hole afraid of never being found things together and figured came—and event features local business out where she was. The dis- For Kollar, the rains proved (in the debris).” worst part of it all. partners and games at every With phone in hand, patcher then got emergency to be the “It was like somebody put a hole. At each hole people Kollar’s life was about to go personnel rolling her way. the chance to win fun Kollar does not believe million nails in a slingshot have into a tailspin. She heard the from consciousness and fired it at my back,” prizes. They can range lost house come off its founda- she said. “It was excruci- golf balls to clothes. tion. “I screamed the entire throughout the entire ordeal. Kollar The sponsors enjoy suppain. It was unreal. I time I was on the phone,” she But there are certain details ating so cold,” she said. At porting the community and said. “I remember saying, she wishes she would not was remembers love to give stuff away.

Kollar point, that tank propane A remember. gone.’”

I’m ‘It’s got me. then on the farm was hit, spewing getting mad at God. “I Everyone has an opportunitornado The him out,” she said. “I ty to win and no matter what destroyed Kollar’s house and gas fumes into the air and all bitched God that he has to stop all the participants are winevery other building on the over Kollar’s body. “Boy did told rain. ners. farm. “It picked me up and that ever stink,” she said, this It is a great way to enjoy Tornado Victim dumped me in the yard,” she noting that she kept trying to golf even if you don’t golf said. The tornado buried her cover her nose so she wouldregularly. For some people under mountains of debris.

Fund Trust Tornado Victim this is the only day of the In the meantime, Kollar’s entire year they grab their brother called police back in Judith Kollar clubs. That doesn’t matter.

Minnesota to report her trouIt isn’t a contest; it is a “Fun ble. But law enforcement had Wells Fargo Bank Day” to enjoy the weather difficult initially tracking her 1400 S. Oak and good friends and neighdown because there was no Owatonna, MN 55060 bors. name or address to pinpoint The event is held at the Kollar’s location. A dispatchBlooming Prairie Country Club with an 11 a.m. shotgun start. The shotgun start means that every hole will Following the storm a Prairie has seen in a long

By PER KVALSTEN have players on it and will group of about 20 people time. bpper@frontier.com start at the same time to get On the prior Tuesday, helped clean up the farm site. the event moving quickly. had never they most, For two their and Lonna, Ryan, Lonna For Ryan and Entry is only $35 and that met the family.

Hefling and their young fam- daughters, Sam and Abby, even includes 18 holes and sup“I didn’t know most of the ily, an expected trip to packed up and drove to The supper is helping,” Ryan said. per to follow.

Wisconsin saved a potential Wisconsin. Ryan was just people always a big attraction. The overwas support “The the and laid off from work tragedy. prethey did a great BPCC knows how to On Thursday, June 17, opportunity to get away for a whelming; pare very nice meals includand I am so grateful.” while the Hefling house little bit was perfect. It also job The volunteers cut down ing all of the fixings. stood empty, a twister ripped gave him time to help his If people just want to eat threw garbage away it down and with it all of their family with some home trees, did anything else they supper the cost is $15. The valuables and irreplaceable repairs. They had no clue of and event is open to the public the severity of the storms could to help the Helfings. items.

The hardest part of losing and the more the better.

The couple has lived in the thrashing the Blooming If rain cancels the event, home is the irreplacerural Blooming Prairie home Prairie area until friends their the make-up began to send them text mes- able items. Lonna mentioned July 21 will be for three years. school projects, day.

The Hefling family home sages. Then the call came the pictures, For more information or other family treasures was nothing but a basement from a neighbor that will and that are either gone or water to sign up for golfing call with a pick-up inside after change their lives forever.

Becky Noble at (507) 583“Our neighbor called and damaged. the tornado came through. If 4472.

Trip Saves the family would’ve been told us that the home was in was “I said.

3A) Ryan page on gone,” the (Continued been have might it home, Times photo by Per Kvalsten biggest tragedy Blooming disbelief; I didn’t believe it.”

Ryan and Lonna Helfing lost their home during the storms on June

Volume 118, Issue 4

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First Place

News Photo

Trip prevents disaster

Awarded To Kyrie Bussler Judges’ Comments:

“This photo is emotion packed, depicting the victim’s disbelief and confusion as well as the subtle, yet clearly heartfelt, support of his loved one.”

17.

Steele County’s Legal Newspaper

Established in 1893

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MAGENTA

CYAN

FIRST PLACE AWARDS: (Weeklies up to 1,500)

First Place

$1

bloomingprairieonline.com

Tuesday, July 13 2010

Home of the Awesome Blossoms!

YELLOW

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REGIST.

BLACK

T A relative consoles Jeff f Ravenhorst, left ff f , aft ft f er his Hol ft destroyed by a tornado Thursday night.

V lume 118, Issue 2 Vo

Established in 189

SECOND PLACE AWARDS: (Weeklies up to 1,500) HOMES, FARMS DESTROYED; LIVES SHATTERED

PAGE 4A • Tuesday, June 22, 2010 • Blooming Prairie Times

Tuesday, May 11, 2010•Blooming PAGE 8B • Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Prairie Times•PAGE B2

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 • Blooming Prairie Times • PAGE 5A

Tornadoes hit Southern Minnesota – Counties affected Steele & Freeborn – 1 Killed – 15 Injured – 44 Homes Destroyed – 2,100 Power Outages – F-4 Highest rated tornado in Freeborn – 39 Tornadoes Statewide – Unknown Estimate of Damage

Board declares county a disaster

• Blooming Prairie Times

HOMETOWN HEROES A tornado dropped this pickup into the basement of a Blooming Prairie Township home. The house was completely destroyed.

Deputy Tony David Steele County Sheriff

Sgt. Mark Lang Blooming Prairie Police

Officer Jacob Peterson Blooming Prairie Police

incredible Honoring 3 officers who displayed face of great danger. courage and heroism in the

Kollar. and destroyed the home of Judith across Southern Steele County Prairie officers and a Steele County On June 17, 2010, a tornado ripped and near death when two Blooming to these heroic Judith was trapped in the wreckage miraculously recovered thanks in rescuing her. She has since deputy faced incredible danger public safety officers.

y safety heroes for their extraordinar We thank our local public making our community safer! efforts in saving Judith and

“We are proud to have you protecting us!”

“Thank you for serving the Blooming Prairie Community.

We appreciate your dedication.”

B to Z

Hardware & Rental Center

      

323 East Main, Downtown Blooming

Prairie • 507-583-4469

  

    

  

“Thank you, officers!”

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Thank you for your heroic work.

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The house and six other buildings on the Jeff Ravenhorst farm outside of Hollandale were totally leveled by a tornado

Woman rescued

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(continued from 1A)

helped navigate them Rochester where multiple “I am hoping she makes through the darkness with surgeries were performed. a full recovery. She was his flashlight. Kollar was She is listed as fair condi- very lucky to have surhaving troubles breathing tion at this time. vived.” Peterson said. and had broken bones, The two heroes didn’t Lang and Peterson were cuts and bruises. very humble about the worry about their health; The danger was immi- experience. They both they cared about one thing nent, as they smelled leak- were very happy they and one thing only—saving propane in the area found the woman and care ing the woman’s life. and wanted to get Kollar deeply for her well-being. Both officers dedicate to safety. Because of the The rescue was a team their life to serving and downed power lines and effort by Lang, Peterson protecting Blooming road conditions, and David. They used Prairie and the surroundBlooming Prairie ambu- their training and experi- ing rural area. They don’t lance couldn’t get to the ence to ensure the safe do it for the recognition, farm. removal and transport to they do it because they Lang and Peterson used help as fast as possible. care. quick thinking to get her in the back of Steele County Sheriff’s deputy, Tony David’s pickup.

Lang had to hold on to the woman, in the back of the pickup, while driving down the road to get her to the ambulance. She was then taken to a road where they met Gold Cross ambulance.

After being taken to the Owatonna hospital, the woman was transferred to Blooming Prairie Police Sgt. Mark Lang, left, and St. Mary’s Hospital in Officer Jake Peteson

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507-583-6688

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Hilltop Greenhouse located north of Hollandale was obliterated by a tornado

4 generation farm wiped away near Hollandale

A barn and several other out buildings were destroyed on this farm located west of Ellendale

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By RICK BUSSLER Publisher What took four generations to build on the Jeff Ravenhorst farm in northern Freeborn County ended up being wiped away in a matter of seconds by a tornado last Thursday night.

As daylight set in, the reality of the devastation that took place began sinking in for the Ravenhorst family, which farms 1,300 acres north of Hollandale.

Their entire farm, including the farmhouse built in 1949

by Jeff’s great-grandpa, was leveled and hardly anything was salvageable. Six other farm buildings were destroyed during the twister, which authorities have rated as a F-1 tornado.

“My great grandpa built this house, but died before he finished it,” said Jeff, choking back tears and pointing to a cement foundation with wreckage strewn all over the place. “I grew up here and now look at it,” he said.

Even a couple days after the twister hit, Jeff was in a state of disbelief. “I don’t think reality has really set in yet,” Jeff said. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. Everything is gone.”

Jeff lived on the farm with his wife Stacie and their two young children ages 5 and 7.

They heard the severe weather warnings about an hour before the tornado ripped through their farm.

Jeff loaded up his family and went to his grandparents’ place in Hollandale.

Jeff admits, however, it wasn’t exactly the weather warnings that made them go, but rather two pesky kids persisting on going over to grandpa and grandma’s house. And it’s a good thing they did.

The house had no basement. There was a small crawl space built for severe

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weather under the floorboard on the main level. But when the vicious tornado came barreling through, the floorboard lifted off the foundation and exposed the crawl space.

The Ravenhorsts most likely would not have survived if they hadn’t sought shelter somewhere else.

“I’m just glad my family is alive,” Jeff said with tears streaming down his face.

“I’m thankful that my family is still here. What else can I say?”

The devastation was especially hard for Jeff’s 82year-old grandpa, Gerrit. He lived on the farm place for 36 years before moving into town.

“I’ve worked here for 62 years and this is what I have left,” Gerrit said, eyes filling with tears and pointing to a pile of rubble. “But everybody is alive and that’s all that matters,” he said. “Our family is all here. That’s the most important.”

Gerrit is convinced God was looking out for his family on the night of the tornado. “The Lord definitely had his hand in this,” he said. “I definitely can see nobody would have ever survived this,” he added.

Most of the family’s belongings have been destroyed. Jeff was happy to find that some personal keepsakes survived the tornado. A wall came crashing down on an entertainment center containing family albums, wedding rings, wedding dress and other personal mementos. Jeff and his family were able to salvage most of those items, including many old family photographs.

With confidence and determination, Gerrit said he believes his family will get through this hardship.

“We’ll make it and get through it,” he said.

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Prior to coming out to the farm, Gerrit’s son warned him how bad things really were. “He told me it looks terrible,” Gerrit said. “I guess I knew what to expect, but you don’t realize how bad it is until you see it first hand.”

Gerrit was visibly shaken by the devastating blow Mother Nature dealt to the farm that has been in his family for four generations.

“I didn’t sleep at all the night of the tornado,” Gerrit said. “It’s unbelievable what power a tornado has.”

The Ravenhorsts found items from their farm scattered as far away as a mile and a half. Their boat was wrapped up in a neighbor’s tree about a quarter-mile away.

Clean-up from the tornado began almost immediately as more than 75 people congregated on the farm Friday morning to help the Ravenhorsts. “We had complete strangers show up,” Jeff said. “People just wanted to help out. Without their help, it would have (made this tragedy) way, way worse for us.”

Support has been pouring in from family and friends around the area. A fellow church member of the Ravenhorst’s has provided them with a house to temporarily use in Hollandale.

They are thankful for the tremendous amount of help they have received.

“Without friends and family, where would you start?”

Gerrit asked. “You wouldn’t be able to handle anything like this (on your own),” he said. “Without the help, we wouldn’t be able to go on.”

Jeff told the Times his family plans to rebuild the house and farm.

Both Jeff and Gerrit are counting their blessings that lives were spared during the tornado.

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National Guard soldiers patrol a rural road in Blooming Prairie Township

Matt Lunaʼs house north of Hollandale was destroyed by Thursdayʼs tornado

“Take me, but don’t take my kids.”

By RICK BUSSLER Publisher As Matt Luna huddled in the basement with four others with his ears popping, he kept wondering if they were going to survive the devastating tornado pounding his neighborhood in rural Freeborn County.

“There was a time when I said, ‘Take me, but please don’t take my kids,’” Luna said.

He was relieved after the tornado lifted and left the area that he and his three children along with another adult were still alive. “We lost everything, but the most important thing is that we are alive,” Luna said.

The 48-year-old tornado victim has lived in the house demolished by the tornado his entire life.

There were also five other storage units and sheds containing a life’s worth of personal belongings destroyed by what has been rated as a F-3 tornado by weather officials.

“It’s devastating,” Luna

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said. “I’m still in shock, total utter shock.”

Much of the house’s roof was destroyed as was a back portion of the home and most of the windows.

Luna was watching television when he first heard about the possibility of a tornado coming. “It was black in the sky,” he said. He decided to get his family into the basement when the house began to shake.

“The kids were screaming,” he said. “We held hands in the basement and huddled over each other as debris was falling on top of me. I kept wondering if we were going to survive.”

As the house rocked, Luna heard a lot of rumbling. “I looked up and saw the roof was gone,” he said. “Thirty seconds is all it took. We just prayed to God that we would make it.”

Luna is especially worried about his 19-year-old son. “It’s been hard for all of us, but especially for

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By PER KVALSTEN News Editor Two important meetings were held at the city center on Friday afternoon. The first was a meeting with county officials, Red Cross representatives and city officials to compile stats from the damage and figure out the path of the tornadoes.

Steele County Emergency Coordinator Mike Johnson and Blooming Prairie Emergency Coordinator Jake Peterson went through the data and worked together to figure out a plan.

The Red Cross was sent out in teams to look at the damage and help in any way they could.

Johnson was impressed with what work the city of Blooming Prairie’s first responders did during the severe weather and made sure to ask if the emergency sirens rang, and what information was gathered so far.

County Commissioner Tom Shea was also in attendance for the emergency meeting. In the meeting four sites were mentioned with extensive damage, all of whom were outside of town. They also were working towards gathering a damage assessment for the state. Johnson told the people at the meeting that the homeowners needed to be contacted, and an informational meeting was held that evening for the residents who were affected.

“It’s fortunate that Steele County has a very dedicated group of volunteers to help,” said Commissioner Tom Shea.

A couple of hours later, a Steele County emergency meeting for the county board was held with Commissioners Shea, Johnson and Schultz to declare a local state of emergency. This allows for officials to get the funding and have the jurisdiction needed to quickly and correctly work towards recovery.

The officials were very impressed with the first responders and had many kind words to say about the work they did throughout the ordeal.

County Commissioner Doug Johnson commented on the first responders, “To see the ambulances racing to help people, and knowing that they are volunteers is pretty impressive.”

him,” Luna said. “He’s in A tornado destroyed this grain bin Sherry Kartes a state of shock and is farm in rural Blooming Prairie holding everything inside of him,” he added.

This was the first time Luna has ever experienced a tornado. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said.

The Luna family is currently staying with relatives in Clarks Grove.

He hopes to rebuild on the same spot where the tornado devastated his house. “We’ve had a lot of Several century old Oak trees were uprooted by good times out here,” Luna said, recalling all the the twisters on farms west of Ellendale bonfires, cookouts and City dodges major damage family gatherings held at the house over the years. couple of hours, as crews

By PER KVALSTEN With tears in his eyes, News Editor worked hard to get them Luna had a hard time as For the most part, the back up and running. he walked through the city of Blooming Prairie The tornado clean-up devastation. dodged the tornado dam- started first thing Friday But he feels better age from Thursday night. morning for most of the knowing that people from The majority of damage city. all over have come to help was to the trees and highResident Becky Paulson his family clean-up and had many twigs and debris line poles in the city. get back on their feet.

Street flooding caused in her yard, but was happy “We really appreciate many problems for local that’s all that happened. everything that everyone “I consider us very homeowners, as water has done for us,” Luna rushed into many base- lucky,” she said. “I was said. really worried about the ments.

Power was out for some tornadoes.” residents for as long as a Times photos by Per Kvalsten, Rick Bussler & Kyrie Bussler

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Second Place

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Second Place

Local Breaking News Coverage

Advertisement

Awarded To Rick Bussler, Per Kvalsten and Kyrie Bussler

Awarded to Eric Brown

Judges’ Comments:

Judges’ Comments:

“The picture in this photo says it all and I feel that when it comes to things like this, a picture can almost be as important as the story itself.

Still, solid work.”

“Liked the whole concept of the ad, creative and colorful. Nice job of bringing the sponsors into the ad. Told a story and delivered a message with wide appeal.

Nice work.”

The momentum is building… it’s time to be a part of a winner!

Blooming Prairie Times Your hometown state award-winning newspaper The Times (formerly known as the Blooming Prairie Times) and the staff of the newspaper were big winners at the 2010 Minnesota Newspaper Associations. The Times won several awards, first time ever for the newspaper that was started in 1893.

119

...to National Award winner!

Blossoms handed first loss

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The football team was beat by Le Center 40-35 on the road last week.

Page 6A

bloomingprairieonline.com • $1

Serving Blooming Prairie and Four-County Area Steele County’s Only Legal and Community Weekly Newspaper

Expansion hits roadblocks Minimizer CEO: New road needed

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontier.com A sprawling truck fender company is running into a major roadblock with its expansion plans.

Minimizer of Blooming Prairie is attempting to expand its operations with a new building. But the expansion has run into some hurdles that is now involving city, state and federal officials.

The locally owned company has grown by 40 percent in the last year. Because of this, CEO and Chief Visionary Officer Craig Kruckeberg is planning to build a 55,000 square foot facility on his property behind Subway just off Highway 218.

“We want to break ground on the building this coming spring,” Kruckeberg said.

The company has also began construction on a 7,000 square foot facility to make room for much needed space for the company’s shipping department.

The proposed new facility will be used to house manufacturing equipment. The building is needed more than ever currently because of its industry changing chrome poly truck fenders.

The new fenders feature the shiny chrome look and the uniqueness and quality customers depend on. “The new chrome

Illustration by Luke Berhow

Shown is an above view of the proposed street.

Times photo by Per Kvalsten

Minimizer CEO and Chief Visionary Officer, Craig Kruckeberg (middle), stands with sons Tyler (left) and Trevor (right) in front of the new 7,000 square-foot shipping department. The company is also hoping to build a 55,000 square-foot building next to this one if a street can be put in. fenders need to be in a clean environment,” Kruckeberg said.

This new building will also bring the community 10 to12 new jobs. It will also bring the area added tax dollars.

But, to do this, Kruckeberg needs the city of Blooming Prairie’s help.

“I need access to Highway 218 and more water pressure,” Kruckeberg said. “I am not asking for any money for my business. I am just asking the city to provide me with basic city services.”

Kruckeberg needs the water main fixed. The current fourinch line doesn’t provide him with enough water pressure to run the sprinkler system he needs. In order to provide better access, Minimizer wants a street

constructed to allow trucks to access the facility from Highway 218.

“If I can’t get those needs met it may come down to the changing venues,” Kruckeberg said.

The city has obstacles that have shown themselves with the process. The biggest of which is the lack of funding.

“We need help in little towns,” Kruckeberg said. “That is why I reached out to Sen. Mike Parry.”

Kruckeberg traveled to Washington, D.C. last week in hopes of getting political support for the project.

Through the Economic Development Association, a grant is available that could cover half of the almost $400,000 price tag that comes along with the proj-

ect. But, this still may not be enough.

“They just need to change the wording a little bit to allow for a graduated scale depending on city population,” Kruckeberg said. He hopes that the wording can be changed to allow the project to be affordable for the city.

“Something needs to be figured out,” Kruckeberg said. “I need space for the added staff.”

In total, the company is looking to hire about 20 new employees. With the current space limitations, the need for this project to be done is crucial.

The local company has been in business for 27 years.

Minimizer Expansion Continued on page 8A

County board torn after administrator Riaz quits

By TINA ROGERS bptina.m@frontier.com Steele County is going through a change that came from left field. County administrator Riaz Aziz gave his resignation to the board on Sept. 14. The only reasons that Aziz would give were “personal and professional.”

This has been probably the shortest tenure that has been documented in Owatonna. What exactly happened with Aziz is not quite clear.

In announcing his resignation, Aziz offered to stay on with the county until the end of October. But that is drawing fireworks amongst the county commissioners.

In a special board meeting Sept. 18, commissioner Tom Shea offered to resign his seat and become the interim administrator until things can get straightened out. Shea’s proposal brought a major division among the commissioners.

Shea feels leaving Aziz in as the county administrator for nearly an additional six weeks past his resignation date would be like leaving a “lame duck” in that position. Shea was open in admitting that he had been a candidate for the administrator position. He was later disappointed when he was not chosen as a finalist.

Shea told his fellow board members that he would do everything in his power to make this position run as smoothly as possible. He then continued to outline what he planned to “bring to the table” like accountability, discipline, passion, dedication, enthusiasm and a vision.

Shea said, “A vision without a plan is just an illusion. The Steele county board has always had a vision, but never a plan to go with it.”

Commissioner Doug Johnson opposed Shea’s proposal by countering that Shea would not

A national winner Times captures top honors

By RICK BUSSLER bprick@frontier.com Blooming Prairie is home to a national award-winning newspaper.

For the first time in its 118year history, The Times has captured several national awards for journalistic excellence.

The Times received the awards Saturday afternoon dur-

Times Bussler award.

publisher Rick shown with an

ing the annual convention of the National Newspaper Association in Albuquerque, N.M. Publisher Rick Bussler accepted the prestigious honors on behalf of the newspaper.

The newspaper walked away with three awards, including a first place honor. The June 2010 coverage of the tornado that ripped through Steele County earned The Times its first place award. The honor came in the breaking news coverage category for newspapers with a circulation under 3,000.

Commenting about The Times’ first place award, the judges said: ““This story kept grabbing my attention. Tremendously important to community.

No question about the timeliness. Headline and lead are attention-getting. Story reads well, is full of information, well organized. Good quotes and has a personal touch. Good work.”

In addition to the top honor, The Times also won a second place award for the August 2010 special section of the Steele County Fair’s 150th Anniversary. The judges commented:

Volume 119, Issue 15

“Well done - a keepsake.”

The other award was a third place honor for a feature story written by Publisher Bussler on tornado survivor Judy Kohler of Blooming Prairie. The judges said: “Headline grabs reader’s attention and the story keeps it. Hard to find greater human interest in a story than being virtually buried alive and then rescued because of waving your free hand. Good writing.”

“It’s difficult to express how thrilled I am to publish a national award-winning newspaper for our readers,” said Bussler. “This is an exceptional honor for such a small town weekly. Blooming Prairie should be proud of our accomplishments.”

Bussler said The Times strives to provide readers with strong community journalism every week. “No matter if its advertising, editorial or graphic design, our staff is committed to journalistic excellence,” he said.

Winning national awards is evidence that small town newspapers can provide strong journalism, according to Bussler.

Earlier this year, the newspaper

Times photos Kyrie Bussler

The Times publisher Rick Bussler traveled to New Mexico this past weekend to accept three national awards for journalistic excellence. Out-going National Newspaper Association president Elizabeth Parker presented the first place award to Bussler during a ceremony Saturday afternoon. This is the first time in its history that The Times has won national awards. won its first state awards through the Minnesota Newspaper Association.

Bussler noted despite winning the awards, there is still much room for improvement.

Established in 1893

“We are constantly looking for ways to make our publication higher quality,” he said. “Our readers and advertisers deserve the best product possible.”

be the county’s best first choice.

He feels that the county commissioners should follow the process. This process can be sped up by taking the number two candidate to inquire on their interest. There is also another young man that fits the criteria and talent, according to Johnson. Shea could then become the third candidate.

Johnson is concerned about making a short-term decision when commissioners still have the opportunity to openly choose a direction.

Board chair Corky Ebeling said at first that he would back Shea. Ebeling is a strong believer in bringing someone in from the community. Ebeling decided to side with the commissioners that were against Shea because he still feels that having Aziz around for another six weeks would be having a “lame duck” around.

Commissioner Mark Schultz quickly came to Shea’s defense.

Schultz said if Shea was willing to jump into the position, he would be in favor of it. He also said that some of these transition responsibilities could be on the board also.

Earlier this year when Aziz was hired, the county brought in the firm Springsted to find the best possible candidate. The bill for that search ended up costing taxpayers about $15,200. Besides Aziz, Springsted presented commissioners with four other candidates.

The board has many questions facing them in the coming weeks. Commissioners could interview the four previous candidates or hire from within the ranks of the current administration. They still have yet to decide if they should take Aziz up on his offer to stay through October.

Student numbers increase

By PER KVALSTEN bpper@frontier.com School enrollment in the Blooming Prairie School District is on the rise.

At the Monday, Sept. 19, school board meeting, school officials detailed the latest enrollment figures, which showed a jump of 28 students from last year.

To-date, Blooming Prairie Elementary School has 373 students. This is up from 364 a year ago.

Leading the way with numbers this year is the three Kindergarten classes with 62 students. Other notable class sizes include: first grade with 57 and third grade with 54.

The high school has 341 students compared to 322 last year.

The largest classes are seventh and ninth grades with 74 students each. The senior class has 58 students.

The total amount of students in both schools is at 714. Last year, the total was 686.

Home of the Awesome Blossoms!

The Times publisher, Rick Bussler, traveled to New Mexico in September 2011 to accept three national awards for journalistic excellence. This is the first time in history that the Time Times has won national awards.

120

PAGE 10B • Tuesday, September 27, 2011 • The Times

For the first time in its 118 year history,

The Times has won

3 national awards,

including a first place.

Small town newspaper becomes one of the best in the nation!

LEGION TEAM GOES 3-1

team begins BP Legion 1B season/Page

FUN ON THE DAIRY FARM

BP CITY AUDIT L SUCCESSFU its

the Farm attracts Breakfast on 3A & 8A record crowd/Page

gets high City Council 3A audit/Page ranking from

Best Breaking News Story

Times Blooming Prairie

$1

AREAd STATE roye S DEVA homes dest ADOE injured; 44 TORNan seriously om

airieonline.c

bloomingpr

Tuesday, June

22, 2010

June 2010

BP wom

Judges’ Comments:

by Per Kvalsten Times Photo in the was trapped County. Kollar

Steele ripped through tornadoes that hospital in Rochester. one of three destroyed by in Saint Mary’s Kollar was Guard. in fair condition home of Judith National She is currently Prairie Township Prairie place “Everyone has been pretty police officers.

The Blooming to be rescued by BP & Blooming so far,” he leveled her had when a tornado Kollar is understandable debris and

By PER KVALSTEN BUSSLER said. house. Judith efforts help.

“We RICK tornadoes from broken enroute to the The soldiers’ Multiple recovering Peterson yelled, have a at a squads were important throughout we power lines and other injuriesThere were especially touched down have a survivor, Saturday farm, downed night, legs

By PER KVALSTEN hospital.

Friday and to find anoth- survivor!” the region Thursday dead, Rochester caused them reported on News Editor from Steelebegan to person action of to the devaswhile crews were 14 injuries leaving one The two then The quick er way to get Electric Co-op At this time many injured and lives in Freeborn County.

Prairie Police tated home. has Waseca dig her out. total replacing Blooming to come the farm, forever by Lang and Gov. Tim Pawlenty were busy Once they got the rains began was scarred Sgt. Mark that wiped seven Minnesota downed power lines.

Peterson a destroyed down hard, water was two devastation farm places, declared as disaster areas, Officer Jake of a rural they saw A tornado warning serhouses, debris scattered everywhere, and the life counties and away the home, busiFreeborn saved weather her from one area issued by the Prairie woman everywhere. including Steele, and at least heroes extracted Blooming counties in 6:30 p.m. after Peterson debris after and Faribault area.

The vice aroundshowed a masLang and trapped under up the ness. was wild,” said T.J. for the the Minnesota. through radar “It Lang picked s Prairie southern also deployed the system moving into a tornado ripped night. began searching as 64semi-consciou sive identified governor Kartes, a Blooming help injured, sufto women, her home Thursday wasn’t until At who it Guard Kollar. and Lang Peterson the area. But the National Township farmer later As Peterson year old Judith no luck, woman and damage from protect the communities about two hours during the was fered major broke out were patrolling out for a first there affected by “It sounded Peterson saw went when havoc Woman Rescued4A) the tornado. and rural areas until Officer of the rubwith severstorm a call train coming on page person at out across the area touching like a freight (continued I the tornadoes. soldiers possible missing north of a hand pop When for Guard yard. just National al tornadoes through the and begin waving a farm located noise, I at the interAs both ble were stationed heard the roaring of down. storm hit Blooming Prairie. north a tornado.”

Once the knew it was reports as well Weather sections Blooming Prairie, The National at least Blooming Prairie out from Ellendale. coming around reported areas Service the began ripped as media outlets “We’re assisting six tornadoes of Steele to various tornadoes on department warning of through portions counties sheriff’s no one gets and Freeborn Thursday. make sure the damaged Area Twisters around 8 p.m. tornadoes through into Specialist on page 8B) 36 (continued areas,” said At least with the the state, the Mick Carranza Inside roared across day total in Tornado Coverage largest single history.

Minnesota’s of path 5A The deadly Story—Page 5A claimed the Survival destruction Kathy Government Help—Page 4A life of 66-year-old Albert Family Loses Home—Page rural Woodside of was seriby Kyrie Bussler Times Photo Lea. One woman her rural Awesome Blossoms! on Home of the area farm was ously injured Hollandale left, after his Legal Newspaper Jeff Ravenhorst, night.

Steele County’s A relative consoles REGIST. a tornado Thursday in 1893 BLACK destroyed by Established YELLOW Issue 2 MAGENTA Volume 118, CYAN

in debris trapped woman Officers rescue

••

••

widespread Twisters cause

••

••

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chaos in area

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“This story kept grabbing my attention.

Tremendously important to community. No question about the timeliness. Headline and lead are attention-getting.

Story reads well, is full of information, well organized.

Good quotes and has a personal touch. Good work.”

NEW FACE AT THE BP EDA

LIBRARY OFFERS ACTIVITIES

Andrew Barbes is here to help businesses./Page 8A

BP SENDS 3 TO ALL STAR GAME

The BP Library is having a fun summer./Page 3A

The Legion players had a great game./Page 2B

Blooming Prairie Times Tuesday, July 13 2010

Tornado Recovery

$1 ‘There’s no reaso n I should be alive’

••

Best Feature Story June 2010

Judges’ Comments: “Headline grabs reader’s attention and the story keeps it. Hard to find greater human interest in a story than being virtually buried alive and then rescued because of waving your free hand. Good writing.”

bloomingprairieonline.com

Victim makes amazing recovery being rescued after from tornado wreckage

By RICK BUSSLER several other buildings bprick@frontier.com on the farm, including With a fierce a garage, tornado turkey barn, horse barn heading right for and her nowhere to go, Judith and pump house. “It was my Kollar safety,” Kollar braced herself for said. “I loved the worst that place. and was convinced It was my little her life of corner of the world,” she 64 years had come to an end. said.

On the Kollar, who lived alone on hit, Kollar day the tornado her rural Blooming said she knew Prairie something unusual was about farm, was tossed around in to take place. In fact, she said her house by what was later it was like she knew she determined to be an wasEF3 tor- n’t going to live through the nado on June 17.

By PER KVALSTEN day. She said she After the twister came did some ripbpper@frontier.com things earlier in the day ping through her farm that place, she normally Kollar was left doesn’t do. For for dead example, Tomorrow is the big buried under debris. taking a bath, day, “I was which she today if you receive as close to death normally does at the as you paper in the mail. come,” said Kollar, can night, took place during the The who day.

Blooming Prairie lived on the farm Area with her Chamber of Commerce’s One of her three dogs. Miraculously, German Shephard dogs spent 16th Annual Golf they all survived. the day Fun Day “I don’t huddled is here and the excitement in the bedroom and know why we lived,” is she wouldn’t come easy to notice. said. “There’s no out. Kollar way we packed an emergency bag.

For the first time, should have lived.” the event will have As Kollar’s condition She even made a cake and a theme. had to rely on the The theme is “Mad quickly deteriorated neighbor’s about in help as she was Plaid.” Everyone is amongst the twisted just a few urged metal eggs short. and wreckage, she dress up and the winner to When the severe had just weather will moved into the area, enough life left to receive free entry wave into the hand. With the exception her Kollar picked up her cell 2011 Golf Fun Day. Tornado victim Judith Times photo by Rick Kollar is recovering of Bussler phone and her hand, Kollar’s with a broken arm called a brother This year showcases Kollar said, “I at a temporary apartment entire who lives wasn’t er who in in body was buried many of the same in the rub- the power Maryland. Once afraid of dying, but I was Kollar was familiar with n’t have to smell town. sponsors the horrible as last. The went out, she took afraid of never eventually finally ble of the worst tornado games are going put gas odor. And being found things then the rains to be similar pound Steele County to refuge in a spare bedroom. It (in the debris).” together and figured and the fun will came—and wouldn’t out where she was. decades. It’s her waving in may be a phone call that stop. be even more.

With phone in The dis- For Kollar, hand eventually The 18-hole hand, patcher then the rains proved event that caught the saved her life. Kollar’s life was got emergency to features local business eye of about to go personnel be the worst part police officer searching a Kollar looked out her west into a tailspin. of it rolling her way.

She heard the “It was like somebody all. partners and games at every for window when Kollar does not survivors. And that all hell was house come off its put a hole. At each believe touched about to hole people break out. “I saw tion. “I screamed founda- she lost consciousness million nails in a slingshot have off a dramatic rescue as this the chance to win fun the entire throughout and fired it at my great big, huge huffing time I was Kollar’s race to back,” prizes. the entire ordeal. on the phone,” she stay alive locomotive They can range from Kollar said. “It was But there are certain was nearing an end. coming right at said. “I remember excruci- golf balls details ating pain.

“God me,” Kollar saying, she wishes to clothes.

It was unreal. I kept me alive,” Kollar said. “It was just ‘It’s got me. I’m she would The sponsors enjoy gone.’” said. mammoth. remember. A propane not was so cold,” she said. At sup“There’s no reason Smoke was bilThe tornado tank that point, whatso- lowing then on the farm Kollar remembers porting the community and out of it. “I said, destroyed Kollar’s ever that I should love to give stuff be alive ‘Come house and gas fumes was hit, spewing getting mad at right ahead and away. today.”

God. “I into the air and all get every other building on the Everyone has an opportunibitched him out,” me.’ I remember over Kollar’s body. she said. “I farm. “It picked me telling Tornado Hits “Boy did told God up and that ever (the tornado) to come him dumped that he has to stop ty to win and no matter what Kollar became a widow stink,” she said, on you me in the yard,” she all the participants this rain. noting that she kept are win1986 when her husband in fool and that I’m not afraid of said. The tornado trying to buried her cover ners. died you,” said Kollar.

Tornado Victim her nose so she wouldand has lived alone under mountains of debris. ever It is a great way to During this time, since. She has lived enjoy Kollar In the meantime, Kollar’s in a thought about golf even if you Tornado Victim Trust modular home that don’t golf taking cover in brother called police was built a 10-foot regularly. For some Fund well pit. But she Minnesota to report back in in Rochester and people moved to decided her trouthis is the only day Judith Kollar against going down ble. But law her Blooming of enforcement had Prairie in the hole entire year they grab the Township farm because she was difficult initially their in 1986. afraid tracking her clubs. That doesn’t nobody would ever down because Wells Fargo Bank Besides the house, matter. there were find her. there was no It isn’t a contest; it 1400 S. Oak name or address to is a “Fun pinpoint Day” to enjoy the Owatonna, MN 55060 Kollar’s location. A weather dispatchand good friends and neighbors.

The event is held at the Blooming Prairie Country Club with an 11

By PER KVALSTEN a.m. shotPrairie has seen gun start. The shotgun bpper@frontier.com in a long start Following the storm time. a means that every hole will On the prior Tuesday, group of about 20 people have players on For Ryan and it and will helped clean up the Lonna Ryan, Lonna, farm site. start at the same time Hefling and their young and their two For to get fam- daughters, most, they never ily, an expected Sam and Abby, had the event moving quickly. even met the family. trip to packed up Wisconsin saved Entry is only $35 and a potential Wisconsin. and drove to “I didn’t know most that tragedy. of the includes 18 holes Ryan was just people and suphelping,” laid off from work On Thursday, June and the “The support Ryan said. per to follow. The supper is 17, opportunity was over- always a big while the Hefling to get away for a attraction. The whelming; they did house little bit was a great BPCC knows stood empty, a twister perfect. It also job how to preripped gave him and I am so grateful.” it down and with it time to help his pare very nice meals all of their family The includvolunteers cut down ing all of with some home valuables and irreplaceable the fixings. trees, threw garbage repairs. They had items. away no clue of and did If people just want anything else they to eat the severity of the The couple has lived supper the cost is storms could to help in $15. The the Helfings. rural Blooming Prairie the thrashing the Blooming event is open to the The hardest part of home Prairie area public for three years. losing until friends their home is the irreplace- and the more the better. began to send them The Hefling family text mes- able items.

If rain cancels the home sages. Then Lonna mentioned event, was nothing but a the call came the basement from pictures, school projects, July 21 will be the make-up a neighbor that with a pick-up inside day. will and other after change their family treasures the tornado came through. lives forever.

For more information that are either gone If “Our neighbor called or water the family would’ve and damaged. to sign up for golfing or been told us that Times photo by Per call the home was Ryan and Lonna Kvalsten home, it might have been the Becky Noble at (507) Helfing lost their gone,” Ryan said.

Trip Saves 583home during the “I was in storms on June 17. biggest tragedy Blooming 4472. disbelief; I didn’t (Continued on page believe it.”

Volume 118, Issue 3A)

Fun Day to raise money for Chamber

Trip prevents disaster

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4

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Established in 1893

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Steele County’s Legal

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Newspaper

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Home of the Awesome

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Blossoms!

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Best Special News, Sports or Feature Section or Edition Judges’ Comments: “Well done - a keepsake.”

We are proud to bring our readers national award-winning coverage every week!

Serving Blooming Prairie and Four-County C Area Steele County’s Only Legal and Community Weekly Newspaper

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“

Through my work as a police officer and journalist, I’ve seen the pain and heartache that drunks cause families. There is no reason for the nonsense. It’s heart wrenching to see all the personal grief sparked by some idiot who hops behind the wheel drunk.

”

__RICK L. BUSSLER

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C Officer

hapter Five

Rick Bussler

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Officer Rick Bussler of the Lakeville Police Department was praised by James Backstrom for the quick actions when he came upon the scene of this crime early morning on August 14, 2001 in the city of Lakeville. Bussler immediately administered first aid and called for medical assistance. Without this action from Officer Bussler, the victim would have died.

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Officer Rick Bussler (right in photo above) along with Jim Schiffman (middle) received a Silver Axiem Award for their work on the “LPD Journal.� This newspaper clipping came from Thisweek Life & Times edition, November 8, 2003.

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No Ordinary Man Rick Bussler is no ordinary man he tells a story in his own words His vision is clear his dreams are near his hard work is awarded no matter what happens Rick never forgets how he started From a young age he was eager to be the best as he got older, no matter how hard life became Rick never settled... ...adversity kept Rick strong Rick takes risk no matter what could be lost Rick is determined to be the best and never settles for less Everyone has a calling in life a purpose, a reason to be Rick is a born journalist who captures life as he sees it and tells everyone’s story but never his own To know Rick is a pleasure to walk down the same path following his footsteps he leads to success Rick is a true example someone that you can learn from now as he tells his story in his own words Rick Bussler is no ordinary man ~ Annie Anderson

This book was created and compiled by Annie Anderson, General Manager of the Times and the News Enterprise.

January 19, 2013

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“

Hardworking. Inquisitive.

Fearless. Visionary. A bulldog.

”

__CHUCK WARNER

Former publisher of Brownton Bulletin

Rick Bussler has more than 30 years of experience in the journalism field dating back to his high school days when he began working for his hometown newspaper, the Brownton Bulletin. He obtained a mass communications degree from Mankato State University and began his full-time media career as a television news reporter in Austin, Minn.

He has been the publisher of The Times newspaper in Blooming Prairie, Minn. since 2009. In addition to The Times, Bussler also owns the News-Enterprise in West Concord, Minn.

He also juggles a full-time career in law enforcement as he is a police officer in Lakeville, a suburb of the Twin Cities. He lives with his wife, Teri, and three children in Lakeville.

“

Like the energizer bunny, Rick was always looking for ways to assist the paper. He wasn’t content being a photographer and a reporter. Summers are downtime for advertising at small town weeklies farming areas. So Rick talked the civic and commerce into crazy days. As a junior in high school, he set it up and spear headed a very successful event. Rick was a great employee and I was very fortunate to have him. Rick worked hard to gain good goals .

”

__CHUCK WARNER

Former publisher of Brownton Bulletin

“

Rick Bussler’s move from reporter to owner/publisher at the same time he was establishing himself as a full-time law-enforcement officer is a tribute to his dedication to doing a job well. Whether in hot pursuit of a really bad guy or a really good story, he has shown that effective communication, clear thinking and honest hard work are a guaranteed path to success. __DR. MARSHEL ROSSOW

”

Professor of mass media Minnesota State University, Mankato

“

Rick Bussler has had a rich and varied career as a TV news reporter, police officer, and newspaper publisher. And, hey, he’s an incredible writer! Bussler embodies the essence of his Minnesota roots: a tough and tenacious guy with an incredible work ethic. Yet, beneath all that lies an intensely loyal and compassionate father and friend. I’ve been privileged to work with Rick in some of his different roles, and hold great respect for this unsung hero. __BETH BEDNAR AUTHOR

DEAD AIR: The Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit

”