ST. PAUL — Minnesota gained jobs for the second consecutive month in June, with employers adding 3,400 positions on top of the 2,500 jobs that were created in May, according to figures released last week by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Those increases came after Minnesota employers trimmed 10,100 jobs in April. However, overall the state has added 1,900 jobs through the first half of the year, compared with a U.S. loss of 438,000 jobs during that period.

National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 5, and Hutchinson Police Services is seeking residents to help host block parties in their neighborhoods.

Anyone interested in being host or seeking more information about the event, may call Sgt. Eric Kilian at the police station, (320) 587-2242.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)

The University of Minnesota Extension of Carver County will be hosting a “Farmer to Farmer” Field Day on from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Engelmann Dairy, 11664 County Road 9, Plato.
The event is free and no registration is required. Lunch will be served courtesy of the Carver County Dairy Core Team.

Easements onto rail authority property requested by the cities of Hutchinson and Lester Prairie are the major agenda items for a meeting of the McLeod Regional Rail Authority planned at noon Tuesday, July 29.

Chairman Sheldon Nies also is expecting an update on progress in the preservation of the former Dakota Rail-Great Northern depot in Hutchinson.

The meeting takes place at the Hutchinson VFW Post, 247 First Ave. S.E.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)

An alleged near mid-air collision and resulting on-the-ground altercation could leave a 40-year-old Hutchinson man facing fifth-degree assault charges.

According to Hutchinson police, a 51-year-old Waconia man told them on July 2 that another plane almost struck his Cherokee aircraft while making his landing approach at the city-owned airport south of Hutchinson about 6 p.m. June 29. The man, a regular visitor to the Hutchinson airport, was accompanied by his 22-year-old son.

A 20-year-old Lester Prairie man has been charged with a felony drug charge after being arrested Tuesday, July 15, for allegedly shoplifting computer game equipment from Wal-Mart.

Hutchinson police were called to the store at about 4:15 p.m. on a report that a man tried to shoplift items worth $122. Andrew Jon Woodall was arrested. During the arrest, police allegedly found him in possession of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Charlette Taylor, 93, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, July 17, at the Birchwood Hospice House in Hutchinson.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 21, at Shalom Baptist Church in Hutchinson. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson.

A gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to services Monday at the church.

Arrangements are by the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online condolences may be directed to www.hantge.com.

Cheers to all who helped make the annual Junior Master Gardeners Day Camp a huge success. The children really enjoyed learning about our wonderful world. Special thanks to the speakers Linda Sederstrom for showing us the importance of bees, Eric Dubbelede for teaching us about the water we use and Ryan Frietag for telling us how to be good caretakers of the earth.

This is our favorite community service event we do for children and we appreciate all who participate and donate for this event. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

McLeod County Master Gardeners

From Shari Colvin
Hutchinson

This week is National Parenting Gifted Children Week.

All children are special gifts and all children have special gifts. However, only a small percentage of children are gifted and have special parenting and education needs. These are children who may as preschoolers teach themselves to read or master multiplication concepts. They may use logic and advanced vocabulary to argue like a lawyer, or construct an elaborate fantasy world. They may fill every room of the house with their collections or experiments.

From Sgt. Jacalyn Sticha
Minnesota State Patrol, Mankato District

When someone is starting something new, and they are inexperienced, young, going in a million different directions emotionally and physically, distracted and the thing they are starting is the most dangerous thing they will do on a daily basis, doesn’t it make sense to move them into the task slowly? Shouldn’t we graduate them into the complexities as they become more experienced, focused and mature.

Voters who want school improvements — but want them on their terms — got just what they ordered Monday night.

The District 423 School Board’s plan for upgrading schools appears to satisfy voters’ desires for fiscal responsibility while accomplishing the goal of upgrading or replacing old, worn-out buildings.

From Joan Nott
Hutchinson

Observing parents and their children in a store is very interesting. Now we need to teach our children to make choices, but let’s get real.

Parents need to be responsible to make many choices for their children especially when the child is younger than 13. Consider this, asking 2- or 3-year-olds if they want to ride in the cart in the store or walk. Picture this, if these children had been put into the carts as infants and that habit was continued until they were old enough and responsible enough to walk, then there would be less fuss and crying.

From Gerald Messner
Hutchinson

Yes, I am proud to be an American and I am also proud to be a veteran of the U.S. Army. I am very aware of the price that was paid for the freedom we enjoy in America today.

I am proud to be called an American. Even though my ancestors came from Germany, I do not want to be referred to as a German-American. As far as I am concerned being a citizen of America has taken away the “German” part. Please don’t get me wrong, for the most part I am kind of proud of my German ancestry (except for a few things).

From Russ Goldstein
Hutchinson

It seems these days the No. 1 topic of discussion is the high price of gasoline and the never-ending question, "How high will it get?"

Paul Thompson carries a business card with two words displayed in large type across the top: “LIVE UNITED.”

Those words are more appropriate than ever for Mr. Thompson, who is executive director of the United Way of McLeod County. Last week, the local United Way, which funds services provided by more than 40 local agencies, merged with the Glencoe Area United Fund.

Hutchinson’s hodge-podge of zoning districts, some of which don’t allow any development except by permit, was identified by consultants last year as a possible roadblock to future development along some of the city’s key transportation corridors.

Since then, city leaders, including planning staff, the Hutchinson Planning Commission and Hutchinson City Council, have been working to fix the situation.

How many Hutchinson residents read the “2008 Drinking Water Report” the city’s Water Department sent out earlier this month?

Probably not many, plant supervisor Dick Nagy readily admitted Tuesday as he sat at his office in Hutchinson’s new $15 million plant overlooking the intersection of State Highway 7 and Prospect Street. The report, required by the Minnesota Department of Health, actually contains interesting water plant facts.

A case of possible road rage Saturday night, July 12, apparently led to an alleged assault and car crash in Hutchinson following the completion of a tractor pull competition at the McLeod County fairgrounds.

According to police, a Silver Lake man, Blake Mader, reported that he was in a line of cars waiting to exit the fairgrounds at the Century Avenue Southwest entrance when Kelly Peters, 26, of Winthrop tried to edge his 1999 Jeep into the line from the side.

People who want to teach but don’t have the full credentials will have an opportunity to become certified as short-call substitute teachers under the Minnesota Limited Short Call Substitute program.

A two-day program to prepare individuals to apply to become short-call substitute teachers and to register with school districts in the 9-county area will be Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 11 and 12.

By Dean Malvick, University of Minnesota Extension

Soybean rust has been a concern in the U. S. since it was first detected in the southern U.S. in late 2004. When favorable conditions occur, soybean rust has the potential to cause significant damage to soybean production in the U. S. Soybean rust infections have been detected in fields in the southern and central U.S., but not in Minnesota. However, spores of the soybean rust pathogen have been detected in Minnesota.

Gold Country Seed, based north of Hutchinson along State Highway 15, has named Anthony “Tony” Jensen as its chief financial officer as of July 14.

“As our business continues to experience rapid growth, Tony’s experience will greatly assist our ability to manage our business,” Gold Country Chief Executive Officer Dennis Sjogren said.

Six more residents headed to Hutchinson City Center Tuesday to file candidates for City Council seats up for election this fall. That brings to an even dozen the number of people who will seek office.

That means there will be a primary election for the two council seats on Sept. 9, unless some candidates withdraw by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 17.

By Rosemary Heins, University of Minnesota Extension

Late night TV has many advertisements for debt settlement. It sounds good: “Cut your debts in half,” “Eliminate your debts in half the time” and many other amazing claims.

But what is the reality of debt settlement?

Debt settlement is attempting to negotiate or settle a debt with a creditor in an effort to get them to take less than the amount owed. Companies are not likely to negotiate a lesser amount if you are current on your payments. They may be more interested in doing so if a consumer is past due several months.

By Trina Barno, University of Minnesota Extension

Anyone who has ever tasted fresh-picked, mouth-watering Minnesota berries knows that they are one of the greatest rewards for enduring the long and bitter Minnesota winters. Summertime berries are not only juicy and delicious, they are loaded with important nutrients, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Berries are extremely versatile foods that can be incorporated into any meal, used in juices, smoothies, teas and other beverages, or eaten alone for a delicious grab-and-go snack.

By Kim Asche, University of Minnesota Extension

School is out and the kids are celebrating that their formal book learning is over for the summer.

This is the time of year parents scour newspapers, flyers and brochures for educational, entertaining and recreational activities for their children. While some will be cooking, running the household or doing farm work, other children will be bussed to camp and yet others will roam with friends from their neighborhoods.

The Southwest Initiative Foundation’s mini-documentary titled “Just Imagine” received the Marketing Award during the summer conference of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota.

Southwest’s communications specialist Karen Grasmon accepted the marketing award last month from Association President Cathy Bennett.

A proposed new home for Hutchinson’s Head Start program is back on the Hutchinson Planning Commission agenda tonight.

Developer Jim Fahey plans to build a 2,400-square foot building north of his existing Edina Realty/Fahey Auctioneering building at 904 State Highway 15 South.

Billed as the most exciting event of the McLeod County Fair, the night of Autocross action just got even better.

The Speed Channel has signed on to travel to Hutchinson to record the show and air it on a future date.

That is great news to event organizers AJ Forcier and Jon Christensen, who expect a car count of more than 100 this year.

Teresa Kittridge of Waconia is the new executive director of the Renewable Energy Marketplace-An Alliance for Talent Development
.
A key purpose of the project is to increase long-term sustainable economic vitality by helping businesses in west central, south central and southwest Minnesota meet their workforce and talent development requirements to compete in the renewable energy industry. It is funded by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Hutchinson 12s are one win away from a Pee Wee Reese A.A.B.C. state title after going 3-1 this weekend at Roberts Park.

The Tigers beat Rockford, 14-6, Watertown, 32-10, Saturday before beating Maple Lake for the third time this season by a run, 9-8.

In the game with the Irish, Hutchinson plated four runs in the final inning to rally from a three-run deficit.

The Tigers will play the winner of Maple Lake and Howard Lake-Waverly at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the championship game at Roberts Park.

Here is a shot of the team from an earlier tournament in Fairmont: