Supports original parade route

From Gordy Wagner

Glenwood

The two articles in last week’s paper concerning the placement of the Waterama Grand Day Parade were spot-on.  Why hasn’t the parade been returned to its original route after the complete streets project was finished?

A letter We received from the Waterama Board recently explaining the reasons for leaving the parade route on the edge of town states that the Pope County Sheriff, Glenwood Chief of Police, Director of Emergency Services, and Glenwood Fire Department Chief all wanted the parade to remain on the new route.  I personally visited with all four of these individuals with the following results:  Sheriff Riley said it was up to Chief Danter as it is his jurisdiction, Chief Danter said that, while it is easier to enforce in the new location, he will do whatever he is told to do.  The EMS Director and Fire Chief both said the original route is better and much safer because of the wider streets and safer staging areas.

I also visited with the businesses in downtown on both Franklin Street and Minnesota Avenue and they all enthusiastically endorsed bringing the parade back to downtown so they could show off their businesses and what they have to offer.  The phrase most commonly used by this group was “It’s a no-brainer”.

I join the many others in urging the Waterama Committee to return the parade to the route it took for over 60 years.

Prayer walk provides friendship

From Grant Hanson,

Glenwood

A couple years ago while on a prayer walk in Glenwood, I got to meet someone in a wheel chair that I stay connected with until the end.

His name was Harold Fisher.  As we introduced ourselves to each other, I found we had a connection.  We were both “veterans” and both of us had spent time on the pacific island of Guam.  Even though I served there more than 25 years after he had helped liberate the island, we had that lasting thing in common.  We were both veterans and proud of it.

As prayer walks continue, I would stop and visit Harold as he sat in his wheel chair, enjoying the fresh outside air.   We had become friends.  I am more than grateful to God for placing Harold onto my path in life.  May He bless the memory of Harold Fisher.

Scouting, 4-H shapes our youth

From Barb Kramber,

Glenwood

Thank you Pope County Tribune for the full page of recognition given to the Scouting program in this area. (PCT 2/5)

“Thank you” to the 12 businesses in giving tribute to the 12 points of the Scout Law!    

After reading this article my first thought was “I’m so glad I get the ‘real’ paper (as I call it), if I was reading this on-line I might’ve  missed it!” .

My heart was  warmed while reading through the list of all those ‘Eagle Scouts’, and the listing of the  Scout Masters who have led these young men, and all  those who have participated in the scouting program.  My father was a scout master and I boast in having 8 nephews who reached the rank of Eagle Scout.

From what I’ve witnessed I believe it’s the  scouting program and the 4H organizations that truly shape the youth of America, preparing, and readying the leaders of its future.

Congratulations on celebrating 114 years of being ‘an adventure, a journey’

Concerned about state teacher licensing requirements

From Becky Carlson,

Glenwood.

While you’ve been busy living your life, Governor Tim Walz has been quietly changing the future of education in all Minnesota schools, public and private. His self-appointed licensing board is embedding principles and practices such as critical race theory, fluid sexual identity, and gender politics into teacher licensing requirements that will usher in radical ideologies. These changes will impact new teachers earning their teaching licenses as well as all current teachers renewing their license.

The Butterfly Effect is an expression that means from little things, come big things.

Though teacher licensing may appear to be a little thing, this will impact who is allowed to teach AND what they will be required to teach in all Minnesota classrooms, whether they are public, private, Christian or charter schools.

Here are just a few of the mandates which will be mandated this July for new teachers and thereafter for teachers seeking re-licensure:

1. Focus on implicit bias and systemic racism, including “white privilege”

2. Comply with the construct of “multiple identity formation”

3. Fully affirm and incorporate identity politics into the school, including race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, economic status, and ethnicity

This is only a partial list. There is more.

Butterflies are beautiful, however, this effect is not. I know of an extremely proficient science teacher who is leaving a Minnesota school after this year to move to North Dakota so that he can remain true to his values. This, at a time, when Minnesota is experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers.

How do you respond to this? My hope is that you don’t fold the newspaper and dismiss this letter to the editor, rather, you make some phone calls, talk to your representatives and get involved with your local schools. The future is yet to be written.

Becky Carlson is a teacher at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School District.