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Farewell
To the Editor:
A very good friend and mentor taught me an important lesson about “goodbyes.” It was at a time when his and my working relationship was bearing down on its final minutes. We were in my office and it was “that time.” Do we hug or shake hands (neither one of us are huggers)? What should our final words be? He stands up … I stand up … he reaches out to shake my hand and says, “Josh, God crossed our paths for a reason. I learned a lot from you. That’s what life is all about. It’s about taking the opportunity to learn from people around you. Instead of being sad that our paths are going to split, I choose to thank the good Lord for putting you in my path to begin with.” At that moment he left my office like so many times before. He left me pondering the meaning of his powerful words. Wow, what an approach to life!
Many of you know that I resigned my position as secondary principal in Menahga. If you didn’t, now you do.
I am not going to waste your time talking about me and where I am going. It doesn’t matter. What matters is Menahga. You have something great here. The community has the ability to feel like home to anyone … how nice. It’s the small things that Menahga citizens do that allowed my family to feel at home. For the sake of “good quality of life” please continue to smile, wave, and greet all people.
Support your school, it’s a great one! I have had the good fortune to work with several administrators throughout the state of Minnesota. I often spend time listening to their accomplishments, challenges and programming goals. Comparatively speaking, here is what I have learned about our schools: 1) The Menahga Elementary reading program is excellent and envied by other schools, 2) while over 90% of Minnesota schools have experienced, or are currently experiencing, budget cuts, the Menahga school district has maintained good financial status without asking taxpayers for more money through local levies, 3) the high school’s brand new online program (a first of its kind) is going to bring more elective classes to students while maintaining teaching staff, 4) average class sizes (K-12) have stayed below the state average, and 5) the district supports student learning. Rest assured that the previously listed accomplishments are a reflection of hard work and commitment by all employees of District 821.
I have learned a lot in Menahga, which I am truly grateful. I am sad to leave, but “I thank the good Lord for putting you in my path to begin with.” Students, some of you have heard me say, “When life presents you with seemingly undeniable opportunities, take advantage of it even if you are scared, sad, anxious, or uneasy.” I can now say from experience, easier said than done. I am not leaving because of anyone or anything that happened here, but simply because another opportunity presented itself. Thank you for everything, Menahga!
Josh Nelson
Menahga
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Guest Column –
Be Proud to be an American
By Bryan Golden
Lowlifes Love Flowers
To the Editor:
The lowest form of life is the person who thinks it is okay to steal plants and flowers or any other type of decoration from cemeteries.
Over the past weekend, two hanging baskets of flowers were stolen off my late husband’s grave at the Jim Cook Cemetery in Shell River Cemetery. Every day I watered those two baskets along with one other, three planters filled with flowers, and the shrubs which were put out there in memory of Jerry. On Sunday afternoon when I went to water, I was so disappointed to see those baskets gone.
I just hope that whoever you are, you sleep well at night knowing that you are the lowest form of life – stealing from the dead. Shame on you!
Connie Juntunen
Menahga
Patriotic Presidents
To the Editor:
I realize it seems a long way off, but I´m in the preliminary stages of planning for this year´s Patriot Day program for 9-11-08.
Since we are in a major election year, a good part of the program will be about our presidents. If you have special memories or connections to a past president and would be willing to share something about him, please contact me; I´d love to hear about it. Some of the information may be shared at our program by you, me or someone else.
I would like community input about which president people think had a great deal of positive impact on our country? In times of war or adversity, which president reached out to help the common man? In times of trouble, which president fostered motivation in our citizens to prosper despite hard times?
This program is not intended to – and won´t – become anything politically motivated. Rather, I feel it could be an opportunity to educate our children and community about some of our great past leaders. In turn, it is my hope that by participating in this program, we all can become more aware of just how important the job of President of the United
States truly is.
Thank you in advance for your interest in this program. If you would like to share your thoughts, please contact me by phone at 218-252-6178; send me an email at: jweyer@menahgak12.mn .us; or write me at: 14951 368th St., Menahga MN 56464.
Jean Weyer,
Grade 2 teacher
Menahga Elementary
Americanism Chair,
VFW Post 6206 Auxiliary
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