|
Eating pork is safe
|
|
|
To the Editor:
In late July the Fillmore County Pork Producers held their 39th Annual
Pork-E-Que in Fountain. As always, everyone had a great time visiting
with farmers, area residents, and volunteers while enjoying a delicious
smoked pork chop dinner. Kent Dornink, Scott Winslow, Duane Bakke, and
the BBQ team talked with Sen. Sharon Ropes about the topic of the novel
influenza A virus (also called H1N1.)
We all shared disappointment that misconceptions persist about this
sickness being tied to pork because of the unfortunate name - swine
flu. The H1N1 virus is being called swine flu because of the 1918
outbreak in Spain. That early-century virus became known as the swine
influenza virus because it attacked both humans and swine.
We agreed to work together on a reminder during flu season to clarify
that H1N1 has no connection to consuming pork. Here are some important
and timely facts:
The Minnesota Pork Producers website states that the H1N1 flu virus
that infects humans has not been identified in U.S. hogs. It is not
transmitted through pork or pigs. H1N1 is not a food-safety issue.
Minnesota pork producers are committed to food safety, public health and safe animal care.
As a registered nurse and co-chair of the Minnesota Senate Agriculture
Committee, Sen. Ropes verified with the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) that it is safe to eat pork. Their website clearly states that
you cannot get infected with the HIN1 virus from eating pork or food
products.
The CDC reports that the H1N1 virus is spread through person-to-person contact, not through food.
The CDC is providing guidance to state and local governments to prepare
for and respond to this disease. Additionally, the center coordinated
the manufacture of a H1N1 vaccine which they anticipate to be available
this month. The H1N1 flu may present serious illness and should be
evaluated by your physician.
Do not, however, worry about eating that pork chop, ham sandwich, pork
roast, bacon, sausage or finger-licking ribs - national health care
websites confirm that you are perfectly safe! We are all working
together for a healthy and safe flu season.
News and information are constantly being updated, contact Sen. Ropes’
office at 651-296-5649, Minnesota Pork Board at 507-345-8814 or the
Center for Disease Control at 800-232-4636 with any questions.
Jointly submitted by
Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes
and Kent Dornink
Minnesota Pork Producers
Executive Board
|
|
|
Slow down through Sheldon
|
|
|
To the Editor:
This commentary is in regards to changing the speed limit in Sheldon to 45 mph. Twenty years ago we bought our small farm in the middle of Sheldon because the speed limit was 30 mph. We are frequently pulling out of our driveway with a horse trailer, camper or a flat bed and the current speed limit allows us to do so relatively safely. When County 10 was paved a long time ago (before we moved here) they put a curve right in the middle of town to miss our barn. Thus anyone pulling out on either side of the barn with a fast vehicle coming from the opposite direction is a hazard. At 30 mph they can usually stop, at 45 this would be more difficult. We are not the only ones pulling onto the highway with trailers. Several of our neighbors have campers, snowmobile trailers, 4-wheeler trailers and wood trailers.
Recently we have made many calls to local businesses to ask them to have their drivers please slow down when going through town. The big trucks were going through town 60-80 mph. Most of them responded immediately and now the trucks do slow down. One business took several calls from us and some of our neighbors, and then a near wreck finally did the trick.
I am the one that asked the Sheriff’s office to put out the electronic speed reminder. It was here about two weeks. It worked really well for the first few days, then everyone figured there were no consequences for speeding and continued to do so. No amount of signage that is put out there is going to slow drivers down. Until the officers that rarely patrol our area get into the pocketbooks of the speeders, they will continue to blow through here like it is an interstate. If drivers want to go 55 mph they can travel Highway 76 and leave our small community alone. We liked it just fine when there was less traffic and kids could play safely in their yard without the worry that a vehicle is going to swerve to miss someone pulling onto the highway and end up in someone’s yard.
Also the speed limit through Black Hammer should not be changed. We do not attend church there but we do drive that way occasionally. There are a lot of events taking place in the church, not just on Sundays. Also there are a lot of seniors that attend church there. Dodging speeding vehicles is not easy for them, especially in the winter. If the speed limit is changed to 55, then drivers will feel they can go through at 65. That area is hilly and winter will be a real problem.
It boggles my mind that the state wants to endanger the safety of residents in a small town to satisfy the wants of people that need to speed through life a little faster. By going through Sheldon at 45 versus 30 will probably give the driver a whole extra 10 seconds. It just might speed them up enough that they smack the deer that are always crossing the road.
Drivers just get your lazy fannies out of bed earlier, leave home sooner and slow down.
Sheila Ness
Sheldon, Minn.
|
|
|
What’s really happening in D.C.
|
|
|
|
President Obama is not to be underestimated, he does not show his emotions, he is a good speaker and taking down the Clinton dynasty was one of his accomplishments, and they still do not know what hit them.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
A tribute to a special teacher
|
|
|
To the Editor:
I was pleased to read the story of Marie’s Book Fund of the Winona Community Foundation, which appeared in the Argus last week. Marie Mahle definitely was an inspiration to many. Her teaching was so motivating to me as I worked through my years in school. Marie was my second grade teacher and I loved her. She let me correct simple papers for her after school and I thought it was so special to spend time with her. She made me feel so important.
While in college I was privileged to spend time in her kindergarten classroom to fulfill my observation and participation requirement. Later, when I became a teacher, I taught with Marie. After Marie’s retirement, she visited my classroom as a grandparent of one of my students. She shared an idea with the children of starting their own treasure boxes with items they could collect and store in any container they wished. She brought an envelope for each child filled with items she had saved at home. They were unique items that even their parents probably did not have. Her grandchild was so proud of her. I was proud of her. My students were thrilled.
Later when I retired from teaching I attended the Bell Ringers Breakfast for the teacher retirement group. It was my first meeting. Marie Mahle won a door prize and she stood to announce that she wanted me, her second grade student, to have the door prize. We had come a long way in our friendship. What wonderful memories I have of Marie Mahle, or Mrs. Johnson, as I knew her in second grade.
Now the children of the area have an opportunity to know Marie through the books that have been donated to the Caledonia Public Library in her memory. They will have a picture of her and a free book that honors one of the most inspirational and dedicated teachers I have known.
Laurel Rusert
Caledonia, Minn.
|
|
|
Writer takes objection to Todd Paddock’s letter
|
|
|
To the Editor:
I’m not sure why Todd Paddock did not understand Paul Ibisch’s letter to the editor about funding for Minnesota colleges and universities. Paul’s has impressive experiences, insight, integrity and political intelligence that show through in his letters, since he was a pastor before he decided to run for political office, and is now teaching at a university.
It must be Paul’s conservative values that bothered Todd Paddock so much that he wrote the recent letter, rudely claiming he knew what Paul Ibisch’s intentions were and accusing him of wanting to cut education funding.
Those of us who write letters should not have to endure hateful attacks that try to make other candidates look better. Sharon Ropes has been our state senator for a few years now, so she and her record can speak for themselves.
Since Todd Paddock brought up the subject of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s latest funding cut for colleges and universities, I would like to point out some of the political “game-playing” that led to it. As we know, it is the job of Sharon Ropes and the other legislators to develop the budget for the state, including education funding. After the governor gets a budget from the congress, he can work on it and finalize it. From what I understand, the Democratic congress tried to make Governor Pawlenty “look bad” by “dragging their feet” and sending him a very unreasonable, inflated budget “at the last minute.”
Instead of accepting that huge increase in the state debt, Governor Tim Pawlenty boldly stepped in and made some cuts “across the board” just before the deadline. That way state funding continued without interruption. The Minnesota legislators should have and could have made some of the tough budget decisions to balance the budget and to fund Minnesota education more fully, but they chose not to work together. Now some Democrats are blaming our Republican governor for the funding cuts so they can help their political campaigns.
Paul Ibisch’s letter to the editor on 9-30-09 was written very fairly, as it put blame on the economic realities of today. Teamwork is needed to improve the economy and job situation in Minnesota – not divisive politics. My hope is that Paul Ibisch will be the Republican candidate for state senate and we will hear more of his practical ideas for improvements in our district and in our state.
Mary Knutson, RN, MSN
Caledonia, Minn.
|
|
|
Recent letter must have hit a nerve
|
|
|
To the Editor:
You know that Paul Ibisch must have hit a nerve in Sen. Ropes’ camp when you see Todd Paddock respond in the Argus. Paul’s original letter was about the partisan manner in which Sen. Ropes had portrayed the matter of state funding for colleges/universities in a press release. Todd Paddock, a member of the Executive Committee and Media Committee for the Winona County DFL, seemed to be falling all over himself as he tried to defend the original press release. Facts are facts, and the study is available for anyone to read. Attendance at our colleges has outgrown the ability of the state to pay. It stands to reason that people would be going back to college during difficult economic times. Sen. Ropes has been a part of legislative sessions which could have addressed the funding issue. I thought Paul’s letter was quite fair in not laying the blame at the senator’s feet. Mr. Pollack’s attempt to undermine Paul’s letter was a mistake. It shows how the Winona DFL and their cronies are waging their campaign (skip the issues and aim low). Many people are tired of that kind of behavior.
Doug Baker
Lanesboro, Minn.
|
|
|
