Second cross country meet

CC TEAMS RUN WELL AT WEBSTER CITY           

Despite intermittent rain and cold winds, the SWG boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Webster City August 30 for the Lynx Invitational, which is held annual on the Links Golf Course.  Both Eagle teams placed tenth overall for the third straight year.  “This is a very respectable finish,” said head coach Dean Breitsprecher, “as this meet is not classed.  In other words, we were competing directly against large schools like Fort Dodge Senior High and Algona.”

            The fifth-ranked (2A) girls from Humboldt took home top honors with 79 points.  Eagle Grove (84), Algona (104), and Roland-Story (105) were right behind.  St. Edmond’s finished 6^th and FDSH was 8^th.  The Eagle girls had 219 points.  Thirteen teams competed in the girls’ event.

            “I was really pleased with how hard out teams competed,” said Dean.  “The quality of the competition was very high.”

            Emma Luhmann, sophomore, once again led the way placing 13^th with a time of 17:05.  Solveig Orngard (22^nd, 17:40), Natalie Willialms (52^nd, 19:18), Morgan Strauss (62^nd 19:50) Caitlin Pace (76^th, 21:57),Nicole Williams (86^th, 23:50), and Emma Clausen (88^th, 25:39) also competed for SWG.

            Senior Miles Propst spearheaded the Eagles effort placing 44^th with a time of 19:38.  Cody Breitsprecher (52^nd, 20)2), Colen Bills (53^rd, 20:16), Tyler Hinman (56^th, 20:39), Randy Schwering (58^th, 20:43) and Zach Hansen (86^th, 23:43) also ran for the varsity. 

            Two freshmen Eagles ran in the junior varsity race. These were freshman Malachi Swanson (51^st, 21:59) and Joe Sedlacek (71^st, 23:36)

            The second-ranked (class 3a) boys from Boone took home top honors with 56 points.  Host Webster City captured runner-up accolates with 66 points.  St. Edmonds (94), Humboldt (112), FDSH (122),  Algona (162) all followed. The SWG boys placed tenth (263) out of the 14-team field.

            The next cross country meet will be September 8 at Jefferson. This will also be the first junior high meet.

First Cross Country Meet of 2011

SWG Eagles Start Season Off Strong

            Both the Eagle girls and boys team had their strongest finish in years at the Manson-Northwest Webster Invitational August 25.  Sophomore Emma Luhman led the Eagles with a runner-up (2^nd place) finish.  She one this race with a PR (personal record) time of 16:10. Winning the race was Prairie Valley’s Jaclyn Rittgers, who is currently ranked 12th in 1A.

As a team the Eagles finished in 2^nd place with 61 points behind St. Edmond’s with 40 points.  Prairie Valley finished 3^rd with 69 points.   Ridgeview finished 4^th (114), South Central Calhoun finished 5^th (122) and the home team Manson finished 6^th with 156. 

            For individuals, the Eagles had four medalists. In addition to Luhmann,   Senior Solveig Orngard placed sixth (17:01) , Senior Natalie Williams placed tenth (18:05), and Sophomore Morgan Strauss placed twelfth (18:38).  Also running well for the Eagles were Senior Caitlyn pace (31^st—20:25) and Emma Clausen (49^th).   Freshman Nicole Williams is hurt and can’t run yet.

            The boys’ team also had a strong start, with a third place finish behind St. Edmond’s (25 points) and South Central Calhoun (98) points.  The Eagles had 107 points and were led by Sophomore Randy Schwering, who finished in twelfth place.  Also medaling for SWG were Senior Miles Propst (18^th--19:26); Sophomore Colten Bills (21^st—19:42), and Senior Cody Breitsprecher (22^nd—19:52).   Senior Tyler Hinman placed 29^th (20:24); Sophomore Zach Hansen placed 68^th (23:16), Freshman Malachi Swanson placed 69^th (24:31), and Freshman Joe Sedlacek placed 70^th (24.48).

            The next meet is Tuesday, August 30 at Webster City.

August 30 column: "99 great sales on the road, 99 great sales. Stop the van and shop around. 99 great sales on the road.”

            Okay, my parody of “99 bottles of beer on the wall” pretty much stinks, but it does summarize Dean, Paddy, and my Highway 141 Garage Sale adventure.  Yeppers—we went to 99 garages sales in two days. I wanted an even hundred—but somehow that just didn’t happen.  I did go to four sales in Ogden on Thursday evening, but Dean said I couldn’t count them.    Scroooge.

            This year we took our favorite “junior picker” Patrick with us—and he came home with the “pick of the trip.”  We were very early in our adventure Friday  morning at farm outside of Woodward.  I was paying for a fire pit ($5!) and a runner’s water pack (also $5—but not as good of a deal since I don’t know what in the heck a runner’s water pack is), and I notice Paddy helping the owner unload a trailer.  I told Paddy how nice it was of him to help the lady move her foosball table. She said, “Oh, he just bought it.”  WHAT??  Paddy just BOUGHT a full-sized, wooden foosball table?? Yeppers—for ten bucks.    It took up the entire back of the van , leaving very little space for other bargains.  By the end of the day we had collected so much stuff that Patrick had to squeeze himself into a space the size of a postcard. The foosball table was a great deal and the kids are having a lot of fun with it, but we have absolutely no place to put it, so—you guessed it—my Jag is now parked in the driveway while Paddy’s pick sits in the garage.

            My best find was a HUGE outside umbrella with its own stand for five dollars.  Problem was—it was broken. Handyman Dean was able to fix it and our backyard now has a new shady area. At the same sale I took home a FREE wicker chair and table.  Sure, they were damaged—but just perfect to use a plant stand in my flower bed.

            We had a great day Friday, when we headed TOWARDS Des Moines.  We ended up in Harcourt, for their citywide sales, which were excellent this year.  We collapsed in bed after 12 solid hours of garage sale fun.  Saturday, however, we really didn’t have much luck as we headed the other direction down 141 towards Jefferson.    Paddy didn’t go this time (we couldn’t drag his exhausted butt out of bed), so Dean and I set off on our bargain hunt alone.  We still had fun—just didn’t find too many good deals.

            Actually, we went to quite a few sales that were a little frightening.  We pulled into one rural yard and Dean announced, “If they start playing banjoes, I’m outta here!”  This was the sale where the flower garden that looked so beautiful from a distance turned out to be composed entirely of plastic flowers.  Not silk—mind you—but garish plastic.  Needless-to-say, we didn’t buy anything there.

            At the very next sale, I was told in all seriousness by a woman that I could have one box of glasses for $2 or both boxes for the bargain of $5!    I told her I would take one box—twice—and pay $4.  That really confused her and I ended up leaving that sale without any glasses whatsoever. 

            Highway 141 sales are always held the first weekend in August.  If you are into bargain shopping at all, I urge you to write them on your calendar today.    After two days of saling, you can go to the Harcourt Appreciation Days parade and then play a little bingo in the city park.   My two boys received two huge bags of free candy at the parade.   (Josie was riding with the junior high band.)  What better way to end a weekend of bargains than with free candy and entertainment?   

Turning the Tables on Terry

          

The inclusion of three local post offices on the “perhaps to close” list set me to thinking: what exactly would closing post offices look like?  After quite a bit of thought and research, I think that it might make life EASIER for small town Americans.  

            It amazes me that the people that call for “smaller government” and “cutting the budget” get so upset when this actually happens. Take Governor Terry Branstad:  He has asked for a moratorium on Iowa post office closings. The same Terry Branstad that stuck by his guns, gol durn it, when it came to freezing education budgets doesn’t want the federal government to close small town post offices (particularly the ones that rent their space from him—there are a dozen such post offices).  So—firing teachers and leaving children without resources:  good fiscal policy; but closing post offices in microscopic towns that aren’t even incorporated;  NO WAY JOSE!

            I have a friend that is a raging Republican (yes, it is an odd friendship) that brags of voting for Branstad and “getting rid of Culver.”   The same friend was really ticked off when schools started cutting teachers in his kids’ school.  Apparently he didn’t think zero percent growth for schools would affect him.

            Sorry, folks, but massive budget cuts affect (or at least should affect) EVERYONE.  However, the post office cut, unlike the school budget freeze and the recent decision to close three dozen Iowa Workforce Development offices, could turn out to be a GOOD thing for small town Iowans.

            First of all, it would necessitate mail delivery to the door—like most of America enjoys already.  No more driving down to the post office to pick up the mail—which would be sad because of the loss of the social aspect—but would be way more convenient, particularly to senior citizens during those treacherous icy months.  Yes, it certainly is nice to have a gathering place for folks and in some small towns (such as Burnside) the post office is the one and only place for this to occur.   However, it is not the federal government’s role to provide socialization for its citizens.

            Secondly, it would bring more traffic into existing small town businesses. The US Postal Service says when they close a post office, they try to set up a satellite station in a local business.   In other words, instead of buying a book of stamps at the post office, citizens would go to Casey’s or the grocery store.  And—while they are there, they might pick up a loaf of bread or a birthday card for Mom instead of waiting to do this during a weekly trip to a larger town.

            However, towns like Burnside with absolutely no businesses would be in a pickle with this plan. The only “business” in Burnside is the school—which is probably the post office’s biggest customer.   I’m thinking Karla, Sharon, and Beth have enough to do without also dispensing stamps!    Perhaps a stamp machine or purchasing postage on line would be practical in the very small towns without businesses.

            Streamlining the post office system (which loses money every year) seems like a prudent way to cut the budget.  And although I mourn the death of small town America, I can’t use “it’s all our town has” as a reason to spend unnecessary money.

Hell must be freezing over because this liberal democrat approves of a budget cut and the Republican governor is against it.    I guess when the tables turn, they turn big time.

VEDUCATION 2011: A NEW TWIST ON AN OLD TRADITION

          

The annual Breitsprecher family Veducation (educational vacation) was quite a different experience this year.  First of all, Dean decided to join us for the first time ever.  Usually it is just the kids and Mom that trek across Iowa, looking for local museums and cuisine.     Secondly, we expanded the trip to five days (generally it is only a day or two) and spent the first part of the week simply vacationing—nothing educational added in.

            Sunday after church, we piled into the van (after saying a tearful good-bye to Josie’s new puppy Bella) and headed to Siren, Wisconsin.  My family has been vacationing on Mud Hen Lake for . . .  ever.  My grandparents used to fish there before my Mom was born—before World War II even.    Going back to Mud Hen means going back to my childhood.  What an honor it was to share this with my children.

            Of course, things are different at the lake. Most notably is the damage done by a tornado that ravaged Siren about ten years ago.  The cabins where we used to stay (Mother Jones’ Lakeside Resort) are, quite literally, gone with the wind.    This time, my folks had rented a modular home that was put up ten years ago after the tornado took out another family cabin.    This home was right on the lake and I must say that even though it wasn’t rustic, it sure was nice to have two working bathrooms and air conditioning.  At Mother Jones, one had to shower across the street and the cabins, though charming, were definitely primitive.

            We pulled into the cabin around 6:00 PM and were greeted by my dad and mom.  The kids immediately headed to the dock on this perfect summer night and were in the water before I had the suitcases unpacked.    We spent three days swimming, boating, fishing, eating, and visiting old friends.   Just watching the wildlife was amazing. One morning, as I was drinking my coffee on the dock, a baby deer swam by.  We spent quality time with a family of loons every day and also visited with “Ace” the Eagle from time-to-time.  It was truly magical.

            One thing that I really noticed was home scents can take me back to my childhood. Not only was the smell of pine and lake water (not to mention fish) reminiscent of earlier, simpler times, but places like the drugstore in Siren still smelled like I remember.  My mom used to take me in that same drugstore when I was a girl and buy me Archie comics and Tiger Beat magazine.  We stopped in to get some cortisone for Paddy’s sunburn—and I immediately had an overwhelming urge to buy a mag with Tony DeFranco on the cover.

            We reluctantly left the cabin Wednesday morning and headed to Davenport, for the more “educational” part of the trip.  That night we went to an A-league ball game between the Quad City River Bandits (the St. Louis Cardinals A team) and the Dayton Dragons (the Cincinnati Reds A team).  We were in the second row, right behind home plate. Our seats were literally better at this professional ballpark that at a high school softball game—we were that close.  The River Bandits won and a good time had by all. My favorite part was our waitress.  Yeppers—a cute girl came by every inning or so and took our order.  She would then go and track down all the food and drinks we wanted and bring them back to us.  WAY better than annoying vendors roaming the aisles selling peanuts and beer.

            Thursday we headed to LeClaire, Iowa to the Antique Archeology store.  This is the shop run by the History Channel’s “American Pickers.”  Dean, Patrick, and I LOVE this show and couldn’t wait to meet Mike, Frank, and Danielle in person.  Although the “pickers” weren’t there, we still had a good time.  We then went to the Buffalo Bill Cody museum, which was nothing special.  After lunch, we walked around the historic district, looking at all their cute shops. I must say we fell in love with the town of LeClaire.  It is much like Galena, only smaller and more affordable.

            Speaking of Galena, that is where we headed next, where we stayed at our favorite hotel The Irish Cottage and toured the home of General Grant.    The trip was a resounding success, although the kids sure complained about the educational parts.  As a matter of fact, all three kids were in agreement that we should have spent the entire week at Mud Hen and not even bothered trying to have a more “traditional” vacation.

            “But, kids,” I said emphatically, “the education is the most important part.” Then I remembered that Paddy learned about how baby loons are born with soft down feathers, which they have to lose before flying south for the winter and that Josie learned that eagles return to the same nest every year and that Cody caught fourteen fish one very early morning with his grandfather —and I realized you don’t have to be in a museum to experience some serious education.

            Maybe next year we’ll just skip the driving and the hotels, and spend more time reaching back into my childhood.   As much as I love learning about Iowa history, it just doesn’t beat jumping off the pontoon or making s’mores by the fire. 

Upcoming School Board Elections

School Board Elections Set for September 13

Candidates can file papers until August 4 with school board secretary

            School districts across the state will hold elections for school boards September 13.  For the Southeast Webster-Grand district, three spots are open this election cycle. These are Sean Walen in District #1, Dan Hansen in District #2, and Todd Lundgren in District #3.

            People interested in running for school board have from July 11-August 4 to file papers with their district’s school board secretary. For SWG, this is Karla Flickinger, whose office is in the Burnside building.  Nomination petitions may be obtained from the school board secretary, the county auditor’s office, or online at www.sos.ia.us/elections/electioninfo/schoolelections/html.

            SWG has a seven-person school board, which is comprised of three districts.  District #1 is represented by Rob Scott and Sean Whalen and starts about one mile south of Dayton and goes south.  District #2 is represented by Rob Stapp and Danny Hansen and covers just the surrounding area of Dayton about two miles out and to the river.  District #3 is represented by Grant Gibbons, Todd Lundgren, and Dave Hainzinger and covers the Lehigh and Harcourt areas and to the west and north.

Coupon Goddess Update

I think today is the FIRST time I've made money on couponing.  I had a free bread coupon at Kmart as part of their rewards program.  The bread was $1.79 and they gave me the entire $2 off--so I made 21 cents!    Seriously--I expect TLC to call me any moment to be on the second season of Extreme Couponing.    I also got a free Kraft Mac-and Cheese (the good kind with Velveeta)--that had a $2.99 value (I had to buy $30 worth of groceries to get it, but that was a given anyway) and $10 off my entire bill--which was another reward coupon. Oh yeah--and ten times the reward points on this purchase--so I have something like a gazillion Kmart rewards to cash in on my next trip.    My receipt said I had $123.72 of total savings--how cool is that?????? AND--they gave me another free bread coupon at check out. 

I believe that Kmart is the most "coupon friendly" of the stores.  I strongly recommend joining the rewards program.  I've never been a Kmart fan until I started couponing.  Now it is a weekly trip for me. 

Have pretty much decided NOT to renew my Sam's Club membership when it expires. I did the ten weeks for ten dollars introduction offer and we like it--but except for a few items it really isn't a better deal than anywhere else--and THEY DON'T TAKE COUPONS.  I will say alcohol and fresh fruit are cheaper at Sam's and I got my Keurig for a heck of a good price--but, other than that,  you can find the same deals pretty much everywhere if you watch the sales. 

Anyone else out there have a Sam's Club opinion?? I'd love to hear it.