News

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture estimates that over 10 percent of private wells in some townships in southwestern Minnesota have nitrate levels above the recommended limit. Could your well be one of them?

Join us at the Murray County Water Resource booth for a fun kid’s Coloring Contest. All ages are welcome and prizes will be given to all who participate. Three bonus prizes for each category will be determined by drawing. Coloring pages are available in the Murray County Fair Book or can be downloaded at http://murraycountymn. gov. Please submit completed coloring pages to the Environmental Services Office the week prior to the fair or at the Water Resource Booth, by the fish tanks, when staff are present.

The Murray County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to report that the missing 82-year-old, Dennis Moerke, has been located safely. The individual was found near 675th Avenue and 161st Street, near Lake Wilson, Minnesota, and is safe.

As summer begins to wind down, Nobles Cooperative Electric is reminding local nonprofit organizations that Fall Operation Round Up grant applications are due by September 1. Operation Round Up is funded entirely through the generosity of Nobles Cooperative Electric members who voluntarily round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar.

Time to get your artistic flair on! Hiedi Stoel of Elevate Education in Slayton, MN is planning a new event to take place during the fair. “Celebrate fair week by showing off your creativity in Elevate Education’s first ever COLOR OUR CORNER Community Sidewalk Chalk Contest,” Hiedi said.

Minnesota gubernatorial candidate John Krhin plans to be in Slayton Sunday, August 2 as part of his statewide 87-county prayer tour. He is expected to be at the Murray County Courthouse parking lot at 2 p.m.

We thought we’d talk a little more on what we mentioned two weeks ago. On deciding where to plant, we all know what happens if we plant pumpkins next to gourds.

An update from Michelle Baumhoefner and Stacy Timms of Southwest Health and Human Services provided disconcerting financial news on Tuesday during the Murray County Board of Commissioners meeting. Cost shifts from federal to state for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) are being pushed onto counties in Minnesota and several other states.

By John Stenen What is the duty of man in this life according to the Word of God? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecc. 12:13-14. One of the great goals of the Holy Spirit of God is to make us holy. “1 Peter 1:16. Judgment day is coming for the believer and the unbeliever. The believer’s sin is done away with because we are washed clean and pure by the blood of Christ. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. If you are looking for happiness in life, the best way I know of to achieve it is to live holy; this means surrender your life to Christ, study His Word, and obey it. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc. Gal. 5:22. On the other hand, if you reject Christ, you can read about your judgment in Revelations 20:11-15. It’s not good. God bless.

By Kathy Schwartz, Murray County Master Gardener Blossom end rot on tomatoes is caused by a calcium deficiency. Calcium moves through a plant when water transpires from the leaves. Usually there is enough calcium in the soil, but the main reasons for not getting to the fruit are irregular watering, poor air flow or excessive root rot. Water regularly and prune the lower leaves.