TO THE EDITOR:
I’m writing to support Kim Noding for Big Lake City Council in the special election on April 13. I’ve known Kim for years and I have personally seen that she loves and wants to serve Big Lake and its residents. She’s had a lot of experience in volunteering for, starting, and running various community support organizations. When she saw a need for a place to have a unified gathering of information, she made it happen!
She and her family have owned and run a local business for almost 30 years. Kim also played a significant role in bringing a $50,000 grant to Big Lake in 2016 because of her daily efforts in motivating people to vote for Big Lake during the Michelob “Celebrate Your Lakes” contest. I know her to be an honest, smart, compassionate and dedicated human being. Because of what I know of Kim’s character, her instincts, and her experience, I believe she would be a great addition to the Big Lake City Council – so I encourage you to vote for Kim Noding on April 13.
Sincerely,
Kathy Arneson, Big Lake, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
18 Congressmen and women spent the day at the border and took videos and spent 45 minutes reporting to all the journalists that were there. The Biden border disaster worse than they thought. The border patrol had begged Biden to keep Trumps policy in affect but, of course, did not. Now, it is a humanitarian crisis beyond control. We all know it is the democrat goal of fundamentally transforming the nation and this is it. Basically, almost everything Biden said in his press conference about the border was a lie. 17,000 children, mostly teenagers are being held in, yes, cages, so where is the media? Oh, that’s right, Biden won’t allow them in. Every Congressman/woman begged Biden and Harris to get to the border to see it but apparently, it is the plan they don’t want to change because now, all they need to do is get these people registered to vote democrat. As the Congressman/woman said, this is a humanitarian crisis created 100% for political reasons and yes, they even saw dead bodies in the river. The cartels make roughly $14 million a day in transporting these people and the border patrol are acting as babysitters instead of catching the drug smugglers, their main job. As they reported, this is the greatest humanitarian man made disaster in decades and it is all for politics and votes - one that Trump had taken care of and all now reversed. Sick and sad indeed.
Regards,
Gordon Schmidt, Loretto, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
We elect legislators and school boards to represent us and our values…not bureaucrats. State employees share data and recommendations with our representatives who should write our laws.
Presently, many regulations, rules, and standards with the force of law are enacted by people appointed by politicians.
Just a few examples.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has the power to enact Minnesota’s clean car initiative (based upon California’s model) as a rule. There has been pushback. GOP state senators have threatened to take the rule-making authority from the state regulator, at least for auto emissions. The Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association sued the MPCA over the proposal.
Electricity costs are approved by state regulators, not elected officials. Minnesotans paid less than the national average for electricity before 2016. Efforts to increase renewable energy and reduce/eliminate fossil fuels have caused higher costs…paid for by us.
While school boards determine curricula for students, the academic standards for graduation are determined on a ten-year cycle. The governor appoints a panel to review and revise the standards that sends their findings to the commissioner. An administrative law judge makes the rule law.
In our representative government, we elect officials to act for us.
Barry VanBuren, Clearwater, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
On this Easter weekend I, one who professes faith in Jesus, believing Him to be the Son of God who came to this earth to die for our sins, who rose from the dead, and is preparing a place for us, must apologize.
As much as I would like everyone to come to know Jesus, I must admit that for much of my life I acted more like an enforcer, than one who trusted God.
While I convinced myself that I was acting out of love, I have since discovered that instead of demonstrating Christ love, I was focused on proving myself and trying to force my understanding upon others. In the process, I neglected what Jesus Christ did and taught.
Like those in Jesus’ day who were keen on rules and on what must be done to make society “right,” I forgot that my main job was treasuring God and others as God treasures us. Simply put, “It is easy to love and to treat respectfully those who agree with us or those from whom we seek favor. But what about the others?”
And so, upon this Easter Weekend as we remember Jesus’ willingness to suffer wrongs to invite us into a relationship with Him, I just wanted to let you know that despite how I or others may make you feel, you are treasured and are loved.
Humbly Yours,
Curtis Hed, Becker, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
Years back, a TV showed an image of a Native American man with a tear rolling down his face superimposed over a roadway littered with trash.
We have allowed our culture to disrespect a lot of things—road ditches and waterways are disgusting visual proof.
Several days ago a Twin Cities TV news showed the Mississippi, near Minneapolis, with bottles and cans lining the shores. A recent National Geographic dedicated many pages showing the oceans choking with trash. Our highways, county roads and even some farmland might as well be distinguished as landfills—although most of those are better kept. I saw a steer eating at a haybale with a plastic bag in its mouth.
You would think our local communities, and their businesses, would take more pride in their image—including roads at the edge of town. Street modernization, including pavers, and adding landscape are nice but it’s all but lost when litter is allowed to filter in.
Communities could create friendly billboard competition “Help Us Keep Our Town Free of Roadside Litter”.
What’s it going to take to create a healthier attitude—maybe one town to take up a little more pride.
Thomas Godlewski, Clear Lake, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
Stones can be used in many ways. Just like religious texts, our use of them depends on our perspective. If I look at an old shed, meaning to tear it down, I will use the hammer in my hand to destroy. If I look at the same old shed, wishing to restore it, I will use that hammer to build. Same tool, but used in completely different ways. Just like stones, our tools and words can be used for either destruction or construction.
But when we are a people being attacked, our tools often become weapons. This is a temptation for anyone. One persecuted group, believing their values and way of life were threatened, took up stones against a man they identified as “Satanic”. But this self-defense, that man proclaimed, was not the way of his followers. For he was willing to die for those who called him “enemy”. Today, he’s being stoned all over again by the people who wear his name.
Want courageous action? Look into your enemy’s eyes. Look long and hard. You might just drop your stone. Because in locking eyes with the enemy, you might just see your brother, sister, mother or Father gazing back.
Brody Hed, Becker, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
I am writing in response to a letter published last week and also to comment on a prior opinion article titled “Courageous Action.” This piece had a lot of new information to look into; I love being able to think deeper than just what I am told as I am sure many of us readers do. I personally read that article as an attempt to give eyes to see and make known pieces that seem to be missing; he was encouraging those, who are willing and called, to think critically and act boldly. Something in the later letter needing names reminded me of a “name” Mr. Morgan, at the restraint of finger pointing, all-out slander and malicious intent in the article, opened my eyes to-things that I think may be plain to see but hard to depict.
If you are looking for a “name” to identify who is behind the wrong going on everywhere, may I suggest a few? How about accuser, tempter, deceiver and father of lies?”
You see, we all face these battles of having cunning tricks played on us and are looking for whom to give the blame. Just the other day in consciousness my sixth-grade son said, “I wish I could run up to the devil and keep saying, ‘JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!’ until he runs away crying by himself!” Can we see, too? These are the Davids who will learn to “unite and take down” the giants of our day. It’s not up to Mr. Morgan to give us the answers. We will know by the fruit they produce. Let’s devote ourselves to knowing better the Way, the Truth, and the Life so that we, too, can see clearly and carefully select smooth stones like David had done. We can be fully dressed with the Armor that we are promised, complete and invulnerable.
Rachel Pink, Clear Lake
TO THE EDITOR:
When someone runs for office, I want to know how they are going to vote. I don’t really care what they have volunteered for in the past. We don’t elect people because we owe them something.
There is a city council election on April 13. Although I cannot vote, what happens in Big Lake city affects me in the township. We need someone who will protect property rights, encourage business development, and keep Big Lake a safe, beautiful place to live.
I have known Kim Noding for almost 25 years. She loves living here in Big Lake and wants to give back to this community. She is a small business owner who has raised her children here. Kim Noding has views that she is not shy to express. Go to her Facebook page (Kim Noding for Big Lake City Council) and see where she stands. Then vote on her views. You’ll see why she is the best choice.
Heidi Ewing, Big Lake, MN
