Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor
Emeritus, University of Minnesota

Saving your life can be a race against the clock.

It can happen to anyone.  You are driving to work when you are struck by
another car.  If you are seriously injured, your recovery and even your life
can depend on how quickly the emergency medical team arrives, what type of
treatment you get and how fast they get you to a hospital.

Unexpected injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to
44.  Most are from car crashes.  Burns, gunshot wounds, serious falls and
sudden cardiac arrest are other medical emergencies that require immediate
treatment.

The minute a life-threatening injury occurs, the clock starts ticking on the
“golden hour.”  That is a term used by emergency crews.  They know that the
first 60 minutes after severe trauma can be critical to survival.  Quick
action is even more crucial in the case of cardiac arrest, when the heart
stops beating, and the person passes out.  Starting treatment within the
first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

The good news is that emergency medical care has greatly improved over the
past four decades.  It is critical to call 911 or your local emergency
number right away if someone’s life seems to be in danger.  Your prompt call
summons trained emergency medical crews to the scene.  They can begin
medical care immediately.  For life-threatening injuries, their goal is to
get the patient to a trauma center or hospital as quickly as possible.

If the pre-hospital time is very short, patients with severe trauma will
have better results.  If it were not for the paramedics assisting and
transporting patients in a timely manner, trauma deaths could be two or
three times higher than they are today.

Scientists continue their efforts to improve emergency treatment.  The most
important thing you can do is call 911 when a medical crisis strikes.  And,
if you are able, help the victim before emergency teams arrive.

When to Call 911
Call 911 right away if you think someone’s life is in danger.  Here are some
signs of a medical emergency:

*       Uncontrolled bleeding
*       New or sudden difficulty breathing
*       New chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
*       Loss of consciousness
*       Unexplained seizures or convulsions
*       Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision

If you would like more information on “When a Medical Emergency Strikes”
contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus
University of Minnesota at  <mailto:waldn001@umn.edu> waldn001@umn.edu.  Be
sure to watch for more Family Living Focus(tm) information in next week’s
paper.

I wrote an article about the rules of elec- tric foot scooter use a few years ago. This was at the beginning when we saw a few out and about. Scooters of that type have surged in popularity recently with most cities seeing a huge rise in the number. I wanted to see what they were like for my- self, so I rented one and went on a ride. My first thought was they were fast, I was surprised how quick they felt while riding. It was a fun way to get around and I can certainly see the appeal. I don’t see the popularity going away and more and more kids seem to be riding the rentals and having their own.

Fun but dangerous is how I would describe these scooters. I would have loved these as a teenager. I have heard rumblings from citizens concerned for the safety of the kids riding them. My honest thought is that Brown County will see a death or serious injury happening to a rider on a motorized foot scooter in the next few years.

There are laws for these scooters that I will go over again, but most par- ents didn’t see or follow the laws last time I wrote about this. This article really goes out to the par- ents and guardians of the kids riding these scoot- ers. If you don’t inform and teach your children about the safe way of riding these scooters the chance of your kid being involved in a life chang- ing incident goes up. Anytime we drive any- thing, there is a possibil- ity of a life-changing ac- cident happening. Using safe driving techniques, safety equipment and following the rules helps reduce the risks.

What makes these so dangerous is the lack of protection while driving them, the speed they travel, and kids are not usually known for following the rules on their own. Our kids need to be shown and watched for their own safety. We wouldn’t let our kids play on a busy street, so letting our kids drive these scooters outside of the laws seems like the same thing to me.

The state recognizes these scooters the same as a bicycle.

• All traffic signs must be obeyed, I have seen many kids blow though the stop sign by my house while I am outside. I cringe when I see it be- cause one of these times there will be a car that the rider does not see.
• Riding these scoot- ers on the sidewalk is prohibited.
• No one under 12 is al- lowed to ride these scoot- ers. If your child is 11 or younger, they cannot ride a scooter. Officers are not going to stop kids to check their age unless it is obvious that they are well under 12. It is the parent’s responsibility to keep their child safe and not allow children under 12 to ride scooters.
• Helmets must be worn by anyone under the age of 18. Falling off a bike and hitting your head on a bike is danger- ous — I can’t imagine the damage that will be done falling off a scooter going 15 to 20 MPH.
• Scooters on the street must ride as close to the right-side curb as possible.

Please speak with your kids about being safe and following the rules to help keep them safe. No one is one hundred percent safe on a road, we can only try to minimize our risk. Please be safe and have fun.

Youth interested in watching small children or wanting to stay at home alone are invited to participate in the Babysitting Clinic. Topics include emergency and safety measures, child growth and development, handing the small baby, discipline and playing with children. Youth ten years of age and older are eligible to participate. The class is held in Room 134 at Sleepy Eye High School from 8 to 10 a.m. July 22-26. Certificates of attendance are provided at the end of the course.

Youth with speaking parts for “Little Mermaid Jr” will be having afternoon rehearsals the week of July 22^nd. Scripts have all been picked up so lines are being practiced at home. The set is nearly complete as well. The following week all 65 cast members will be coming to practice in preparation for the shows on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3.

The 4-H program is having a Backyard Adventures Day Damp on Friday, July 19 at Sportsman’s Park in Sleepy Eye. Time is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Explore how to identify plants, get to know animals and how the ecosystem connects people to nature! Students need to bring their own lunch and do not have to be a 4-H member to attend.

ECFE staff and advisory board members will be at Party in the Park on Thursday, July 25 with program information as well as games for preschoolers to play. As usual, a supply of free books will be shared with families of preschoolers.

The ECFE Book Wagon will be visiting South Park on Wednesday, July 31, at 9 a.m. and Keifer Park at 10 a.m.

The next motorcycle safety class will be on July 27-28 on the Sleepy Eye School parking loit. There are two more offerings available in August. Sign-up by visiting the website http://ridesaferidesmart.com

The Bell Museum STEM One-Day Camp is being held at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center at Lamberton. Grades 1 and 2 attend Tuesday, July 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Grades 3-5 attend Wednesday, July 31 or Thursday, August 1 10 am-4 p.m. Students will meet researchers and take a closer look at soil, bugs, plants and the science behind where our food comes from. They will spend time outside learning about different plants and animals, playing games, and going on a tour of the grounds. Registration is online using the address in the Community Ed summer brochure.

Participants in the recent outing to see “Beautiful the Carole King Musical” saw a great production at the Chanhassen. The singing and dancing is always spectacular!

The next outing planned is to the Minnesota State Fair on Monday, August 26 which is senior citizen and kid’s day with discounted entry fees. Sign up is requested by August 16.

The Community Education office is located in Room 109 of the Sleepy Eye High School.  Summer office hours are 9 am to noon, most weekdays. If the office is unattended, you can call and leave a message on voice mail, 507-794-7873, and we will get back to you with more information. Another option is to email staff with questions and to sign-up: pat.stevermer@sleepyeye.mntm.org or sandy.brinkman@sleepyeye.mntm.org

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota      

Summer is here and it is time for cooking outdoors with family and friends.  It is important to follow food safety guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing foodborne illness.  Use these simple guidelines for grilling food safely.

From the Store: Home First
When shopping, buy cold food like meat and poultry last, right before checkout.  Separate raw meat and poultry from other food in your shopping cart.  To guard against cross-contamination

which can happen when raw meat or poultry juices drip on other food put packages of raw meat and poultry into plastic bags.

Plan to drive directly home from the grocery store.  You may want to take a cooler with ice for perishables.  Always refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours.  Refrigerate within 1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F.

At home, place meat and poultry in the refrigerator immediately.  Freeze poultry and ground meat that will not be used in 1 or 2 days; freeze other meat within 4 to 5 days.

Thaw Safely
Completely thaw meat and poultry before grilling so it cooks more evenly.  Use the refrigerator for slow, safe thawing or thaw sealed packages in cold water.  You can microwave defrost if the food will be placed immediately on the grill.

Marinating
A marinade is a savory, acidic sauce in which a food is soaked to enrich its flavor or to tenderize it.  Marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.  Poultry and cubed meat or stew meat can be marinated up to 2 days.  Beef, veal, pork, and lamb roasts, chops, and steaks may be marinated up to 5 days.  If some of the marinade is to be used as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a portion of the marinade before putting raw meat and poultry in it.  However, if the marinade used on raw meat or poultry is to be reused, make sure to let it come to a boil first to destroy any harmful bacteria.

Transporting
When carrying food to another location, keep it cold to minimize bacterial growth.  Use an insulated cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep the food at 40 °F or below.  Pack food right from the refrigerator into the cooler immediately before leaving home.

Keep Cold Food Cold
Keep meat and poultry refrigerated until ready to use.  Only take out the meat and poultry that will immediately be placed on the grill.

When using a cooler, keep it out of the direct sun by placing it in the shade or shelter.  Avoid opening the lid too often, which lets cold air out and warm air in.  Pack beverages in one cooler and perishables in a separate cooler.

Keep Everything Clean
Be sure there are plenty of clean utensils and platters.  To prevent foodborne illness, do not use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry.  Harmful bacteria present in raw meat and poultry and their juices can contaminate safely cooked food.

If you are eating away from home, find out if there is a source of clean water.  If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning.  Or pack clean cloths, and wet towelettes for cleaning surfaces and hands.

If you would like more information on “Barbeque and Food Safety” contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus University of Minnesota at waldn001@umn.edu.  Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus™ information in next week’s paper.              

Happy Independence Day to each of you. We are so fortunate to live in this country! A big “thank you” goes out to our Fire Department for their tremendous work in displaying the fireworks on the 4th of July evening. And wasn’t it a wonderful display! It’s too bad the Knights of Columbus had to cancel their noon activities, but as it turned out, it was the right call. I’ve been asked several times why we couldn’t have postponed our fireworks display as some other communities did. When we purchase our fireworks, we sign a contract with the insurance company through the League of Minnesota Cities to launch our display within a 24 hour period. Though we have this restriction, it allows us to save on the bottom line.

One item on the agenda for the July 9 City Council Meeting will be the approval of the purchase of a new ambulance. The City has a seven year rotation on its ambulances so our newer one is a 2017 and our older one is a 2010. Interestingly, in 2017 the ambulance we purchased cost $189,517. This year’s bid on a 2024 is $290,322. That is a pretty steep increase, but every measure to lower the price that was available has been applied including being part of a purchasing group. Fortunately, the State legislature approved a measure this year to help communities with rising EMS costs and so we have received a grant of $110,000. It is proposed that we would use this entire amount to help offset the cost of the purchase.

I’m sure you are experiencing these rising costs at home as well. There’s no doubt that costs are rising very rapidly. As we begin work on next year’s budget, the Council is really going to be challenged to keep our City costs down. There will likely be some decisions that lead to cutting services versus raising taxes. Hopefully we can keep cuts to a minimum while keeping costs down.

Over the last several months our City Manager, Bob Elston, and I have been attending meetings of Cottonwood Middle Minnesota Advisory Council to assist in developing a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for this area. Tied to this 10 year plan is comprehensive allotment of funds to improve water quality. Lots of state and federal funds are linked to the plan.

Fortunately Sleepy Eye Lake has been tied into this plan along with an effort to impact our concerns about sedimentation in the lake and its east arm. All of this will unfold as the plan is implemented here in the future. But we’re very fortunate to have been mentioned in the Plan as it should have some very positive implications for our lake’s future.

The EDA is looking at other housing options in the City hoping to increase options. Good things are happening in Sleepy Eye.

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota  

The idea of eating more protein continues to gain popularity.  Some people may think the way to build body muscle is to eat high-protein diets and use protein powders, supplements, and shakes.  However, there is no solid scientific evidence that most Americans need more protein.  Most of us already get all we need.  Some of us may even be eating much more than we need.

Proteins play a key role in our bodies.  They make up about 15% of the average person’s body weight.  You probably know proteins as the major component of muscle.  Muscles flex arms and legs, contract our hearts, and create waves in the walls of our intestines to move food along.  All this muscle activity accounts for most of the energy our bodies burn.  The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn and the more food you need to maintain your weight.

Proteins also perform crucial activities within all the cells of your body.  They move molecules from one place to another, build structures, break down toxins and do countless other maintenance jobs.  Proteins play an important structural role in cells as well, making up a sort of miniature skeleton.

Proteins are actually chains of small molecules called amino acids.  Some of these chains are constantly being broken down, and new ones are strung together to take their place.  Your body can make some of these amino acid building blocks, but not all of them.  The ones you cannot make are called essential amino acids.

Meat in general is a good source of protein, with a full mixture of all the essential amino acids.  However, it can be high in fat.  Try to select lean cuts such as top round and sirloin.  Poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes (dry beans or peas such as lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans) are also good sources of protein.

Most Americans already eat about 12-18% of their calories as protein.  Most Americans do not need to worry about getting enough protein.  Unless they have some other medical problem, most people are meeting or exceeding their protein requirements.  Since protein is such a common component of most foods that you eat, if you are eating a relatively varied diet, you are getting enough protein.

Some people, such as vegetarians, do have to pay attention to the protein in their diets.  While animal proteins have all the essential amino acids, plant-based proteins can have low amounts of some.  That is why vegetarians have to eat protein from several different sources to get all the different amino acids they need.  If you do not eat enough of certain amino acids, it does not matter if you have more of others.

Vegetarian food combinations that give you complete protein, for example, include rice and beans or peanut butter and bread.  Eggs are also a good source of complete protein.  People who do not eat eggs or dairy products need to be particularly careful to get all the essential amino acids they need.

Another group that may not get enough protein is older adults.  A recent study of men and women in their 70’s found that those who ate the least protein lost significantly more muscle than those who ate the most protein.  Maintaining muscle is particularly important as you age.  Older adults who lose muscle in their legs and hips are more likely to fall and have injuries like broken hips.  Those who do not maintain strong muscles as they age might also have trouble doing basic things like getting up from a chair, walking up stairs or taking a stroll through the park.

For most Americans, however, there’s little benefit to eating more protein than they already do.  In long-term studies of high-protein diets, researchers have found that most differences in weight loss can be explained by the amount of calories people eat rather than their protein intake.  High-protein diets may make some people feel fuller, but that effect has been hard for researchers to tease out, because many high-protein diets are also high in fat.

There are questions about the benefits of protein supplements as well.  Advertisements for protein powders and shakes say their products have essential amino acids that the body cannot make.  That is true but if you are eating a varied diet, particularly animal protein, there is skimpy, if any, data that it is better to eat protein in supplement form than in food.

In special cases, these products can prove useful.  For elderly people who cannot eat enough protein or patients with diseases that leave them malnourished, a protein supplement can be one way to help get enough protein.  But be sure to talk to a doctor or nutritionist before trying this.

Is it possible to eat too much protein?  There is insufficient data to say that a person can eat too much protein.  There is evidence to suggest that people with certain diseases and conditions should limit their intake.  For people with kidney disease, for instance, a reduced-protein diet may help delay the progression towards kidney failure.

If you are like most Americans, though, you do not need to worry about eating enough protein.  Recent weight loss, muscle fatigue or a drop in muscle strength may be signs you are not eating enough protein.  But they may be signs of other problems as well.  If you have any of these symptoms, you need to see your health care provider to pinpoint their cause.

If you would like more information on “Making and Maintaining Muscle – How Much Protein Do You Need?” contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus University of Minnesota at waldn001@umn.edu.  Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus™ information in next week’s paper.              

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota        

The summer storm season is upon.  Unfortunately, with rough weather sometimes comes emergencies and damage to property.  Emergency situations can bring out the best and worst in people.  Following is advice to deal with the latter as well as some important tips about dealing with your utilities in an emergency.

First of all, be very, very aware and cautious of all the schemers and scammers that come out of the woodwork in times of harsh weather.  From regular contractors who get greedy and start price gouging to the out-and-out con artists who will take your money and provide nothing in return, homeowners need to be very vigilant.  Hiring the wrong person can result in additional damage to your property and, worse yet, a significant, even devastating hit on your finances.

Whether you have been unfortunate enough to be in the path of rough weather or not, here are some tips to pay attention to:

• Never hire someone who comes to your door unsolicited.  During times of harsh weather, legitimate contractors are far too busy to bother with door-to-door solicitations, and your chances having a scammer on your front porch jump up considerably.
• Do not ever feel pressured into signing a contract or hiring a person to do work, even emergency work.
• Do not be swayed by enticements of “a sizable discount if you sign up right now,” or threats like “if you don’t get on my list right now, you won’t get another contractor out here for months!”
• Never pay for services up front!  Never, never, never!  No legitimate contractor should ever ask for more than a reasonable deposit – ideally 10%, but in a genuine emergency you may need to pay up to 25%.
• Get all the pertinent details of your agreement in writing.  Even if it is just a temporary roof patch, get something in writing with the name and license number of the contractor, along with the amount you are being charged for the job or the contractor’s hourly rate.

Certainly, there are pressures in an emergency situation, but never hire a person or a company unless you take a moment to assure yourself that they are properly licensed and bonded.  You can verify the information with a phone call or a quick check online, and failure to do so could leave you in a dangerous position in terms of liability.

In any kind of emergency, large or small, caused by Mother Nature or caused by you forgetting to shut off the stove, one of the single most important things you need to know is how to shut off any affected utilities.  It is crucially important that you know where all of your utility shutoffs are, and how to operate them.

You need to take the time to:

• Locate each shutoff.
• Make sure that the area around the shutoff is clear of debris, stored items, overgrown landscaping, or anything else that could interfere with quick and safe access.
• Make sure you completely understand how to shut each one off.

If you would like more information on “During Emergencies Beware of Scammers” contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus University of Minnesota at waldn001@umn.edu.  Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus™ information in next week’s paper.              

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota        

Celebrate America’s family dairy farms by kicking back with a tall glass of milk and learning some fun facts about dairy foods.

Few things are as refreshing or nutritious on a warm summer day as a tall glass of cold milk.  With essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin A, plus protein to help build and repair muscle tissue, milk is a great choice for many active people.  Even more exciting are the foods made from milk including a slice of cheese temptingly melted over a grilled hamburger or a dish of ice cream providing the perfect summer dessert.  No wonder the dairy industry chose June as the perfect month to celebrate dairy foods and the family dairy farms that produce them.

What Is National Dairy Month?

National Dairy Month is an annual observance in the United States that takes place during the month of June.  It is a celebration of the dairy industry and aims to promote the consumption of dairy products while recognizing the contributions of dairy farmers and the importance of dairy in the American diet.

During National Dairy Month, various activities and events are organized to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of dairy products and the economic impact of the dairy industry.  It serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the role of dairy in a healthy diet, highlighting its contribution to providing essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, protein, and more.

The History of National Dairy Month

National Milk Month was established in 1937 by a group of chain stores to promote drinking milk and increase demand at a time when cows were turned out to pasture and milk production was at a peak.  It ran from June 10 to July 10, with the original theme of “Keep Youthful – Drink Milk.”  The National Dairy Council stepped in to promote the cause in 1939, adjusted the timeframe to encompass the month of June, and renamed the event “June Dairy Month.”  In 1955, the American Dairy Association took over the promotion of June Dairy Month, which has developed into an annual celebration of the contributions the dairy industry has made to the world over the centuries – actually, millennia.

Fun Facts About Dairy Foods

Milk Facts

• United States dairy farms produce roughly 21 billion gallons of milk annually.
• All 50 states in the United States have dairy farms.
• Dairy farmers are paid by the hundredweight (100 pounds), not by the gallon. There are approximately 8.6 pounds of milk per gallon.
• 99 percent of all U.S. households purchase milk. The average American consumes almost 25 gallons of milk each year.
• About 72 percent of the calcium in the U.S. food supply comes from dairy foods.
• To get the amount of calcium in an 8-ounce glass of milk, you would have to eat seven oranges or six slices of wheat bread.
• Fresh milk will stay fresher longer if you add a pinch of salt to each quart.

Fun Facts About Cheese & Other Dairy Products

• The natural yellow color of butter comes mainly from the beta-carotene found in the grass cows eat.
• Americans eat more than 300,000 tons of yogurt per year.
• About 300 varieties of cheese are sold in the United States.
• The most popular cheese in America is Cheddar.
• Vanilla is America’s favorite ice cream flavor.
• It takes 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese.
• It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make one gallon of ice cream.
• It takes 21.8 pounds of milk to make one pound of butter.
• If Wisconsin were a country, it would rank fourth in the world in terms of total cheese production, behind the United States, Germany, and France, and just ahead of Italy.

Dairy Cow Facts

The modern cow is descended from a now-extinct wild bovine called the aurochs (pronounced OR-ox).  Humans domesticated the aurochs about 10,000 years ago and have been consuming cows’ milk ever since.  The first cow in America arrived in the Jamestown colony in 1611 and, until the 1850s, nearly every family had its own cow.  During June Dairy Month, let’s celebrate the dairy cow and the products made from her milk with some fun dairy facts!

• The average dairy cow weighs about 1,400 lbs.
• Cows have 32 teeth, all of them on the bottom with a dental pad on top.
• Cows have an acute sense of smell and can smell something up to six miles away.
• A cow eats 90 – 100 pounds of food and drinks about 35 gallons of water (the equivalent of a bathtub full) every day.
• A cow spends about 6 hours eating and 8 hours chewing its cud every day.
• A cow does not actually have four stomachs, but a single stomach with four compartments:
  • Rumen – The first part of the cow’s stomach helps break down complex plant products like grass.
  • Reticulum – The food is then mixed with saliva to produce a cud, which the cow brings back up to her mouth to chew and break down further.
  • Omasum – Where all the water is absorbed out of the food.
  • Abomasum – Where the food is finally digested, as in a human stomach.
• A dairy cow produces an average of 6.3 gallons of milk daily. That is more than 2,300 gallons each year and 350,000 glasses of milk in a lifetime.
• A cow is more valuable for its milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt than for its beef.

Now that you know more about milk and dairy products than your friends do, why not get everyone together for a grilled cheese and ice cream?  Celebrate June Dairy Month!

If you would like more information on “June Is National Dairy Month: Fun Facts About Dairy Foods” contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus University of Minnesota at waldn001@umn.edu.  Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus™ information in next week’s paper.              

by Matt Andres, Sleepy Eye Chief of Police

I want to start off by thanking the citizens who have helped with keeping the grass off the streets. We have spoken to some, and overall, the conversations have been positive. I feel the results are good and we are not seeing as much grass on the streets. Please don’t stop what you are doing — again, if this helps keep our lake healthy it is worth the little extra work. Thank you all that are doing your part.

I have a couple of other subjects I wish to discuss this month. One of our Officers was bumped by a motor vehicle at an accident scene recently. The Officer was directing traffic, with flashing squad lights on, standing on the street pointing at cars, in broad daylight and was still hit by a car. The car was not moving fast, and the officer was not injured but how easily it could have been a disaster.

When people driving come upon an accident, I understand human nature is to want to see what is happening. I am asking everyone to deny that nature and realize that this is the time to slow down and look for objects in the roadway. You won’t see much looking at a crashed car, so focus and look for people in the roadway.

If an Officer is directing traffic lock your eyes on that Officer. The Officer will direct you, so people are safe. These scenes are chaotic and passerby traffic not paying attention only makes them worse and more dangerous. If you want to see crashed cars that badly the Brown County Fair Demo night is always great.

The other subject is dogs. Every spring and summer the number of dogs getting loose from their property climbs quite a bit. Please be a responsible dog owner and keep your pet on your property. Not only is it dangerous for the dogs, we have lost one to traffic this year, it can be dangerous to people.

I understand that your dog loves you, but it may not love the stranger it comes across. We try to be a very friendly Police Department; we write few citations to citizens in these situations. As we keep catching the same citizen’s dogs over and over it feels like they don’t care for their pet or for other citizens. We understand that this can happen once to anyone that owns a dog. We don’t have an issue with that, it is the citizens who continually have this issue.

The pound fee in Sleepy Eye is $20 the first day. There is a city ordinance that can be charged. If your dog is off your property, it does need to be on a leash.

This is my 21st summer in Sleepy Eye, maybe I am just getting old and tired of the same dog issue. Please take care of your dogs and have respect for the other members of our community. We don’t want to write tickets, but it feels like it is coming. People are taking advantage of our kindness, and the situation is not getting better.

by Mayor Wayne Pelzel

I was given the honor of making a presentation at the Memorial Day gathering at Home Cemetery. As I prepared for the talk, it caused me to reflect on the tremendous sacrifice some have given for all of us to live in this great country. I particularly called to mind three men from our community who died in the jungles of Vietnam within the span of a little over a year about the time I was graduating from high school. They were Gerald Milbrodt, Larry Barnes and Ron Sandmann. I salute these men and all who gave their lives. I thank all those who served as they also give us the freedoms we enjoy. I have visited the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC, and paid tribute to their names and all the others inscribed on those walls. The sacrifice of these men and women leaves me feeling that I have inadequately given back for the freedoms I have enjoyed.

I also salute our community’s graduates as they prepare to go out into the world. When I’m given the opportunity to address our graduates, a message I always share with them is this: “Go and get the training and education you need for your chosen career. Then, come back to this community and serve the people of this area.” We need our graduates to come back as these young people will be leaders of tomorrow. Congratulations, graduates! We’re looking forward to your return.

Driving by the lake on these beautiful spring days and seeing all the people using the lake for boating, fishing, camping, hiking and biking always gives me a warm feeling. We are so fortunate to have that wonderful gem in our community. We had some of our grandchildren out there the other day and they all were able to catch fish. The fish kept them active and involved. It’s a great place to take kids fishing.

I’m happy to report that our police officer, Taylor Bolinger, who was injured in a motorcycle encounter with a deer a few weeks ago is making progress toward recovery. He is home from the hospital now and recovering nicely.