By Rep. Paul Anderson
The Eagles Healing Nest at Sauk Centre received good news last week when the Stearns Count Board passed a resolution that allows funding for Group Residential Housing (GRH) at the facility. This is state money that flows through the county, and it will give the Healing Nest a more stable and long-term source of funding, allowing them to offer more services to the 42 veterans now living there. In its first two years of operation at the former girls’ school on the north edge of Sauk Centre, the Nest has relied mainly on donations to fund its operation. Melony Butler, administrator at the Nest, had this to say following the unanimous vote by the Stearns County Board July 29, “Thanks to all for believing and listening, but most importantly, for taking action. This shows that Minnesota does lead the way to positive solutions (for our veterans).”
Multiple levels of government were involved in getting this new source of funding for the Healing Nest. On the state level, several legislators worked on the project, in addition to the Department of Human Services and the Department Veterans Affairs. Stearns County also stepped up, and after numerous meetings with their Department of Human Services, details of the agreement were reached. Initially, it’s for one year, but the hope is that the great success shown so far by the Nest will help make this a permanent source of funding, one that could possibly be expanded in the future. It’s so great to see veterans helping other veterans at the Eagles Nest. There’s a trust among veterans that is sometimes hard to duplicate, and that trust is utilized at the Nest to help with the healing process.
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Another of the lesser-known funding bills passed during the recently-completed legislative session will provide money directly to counties to help with local efforts in fighting Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). The total is approximately $10 million and is based on the number of public boat launches in each county. Douglas County, with its 59 launches, is set to received $120,000 this year and $268,000 next year. The numbers for Pope County are $40,000 this year and $89,000 next year for their 19 boat launches. And the allocations for Stearns County, with 52 launch sites, are $115,000 this year and $255,000 next year.
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While driving through Padua last Sunday morning on the way to Greenwald for “Barley Days,” we were surprised to see water standing in fields. We later found out that area received a beneficial rain the day before, with amounts ranging over one inch! It’s amazing how quickly we went from “too wet” to “we surely could use a nice rain” to “we need rain badly.” And the usual form of precipitation this time of year is scattered thunderstorms, with some areas receiving rain and others getting little or nothing. Saw some harvesting of small grain, too, as our string of hot days has pushed crop maturity.
Last weekend was busy, indeed. County fairs took place in both Stearns and Pope counties, and we were at parades in Forada, Albany, and Greenwald. Don’t know the exact reason, but parade attendance this year seems to be higher than ever. It could partly be due to the weather, which has been nearly ideal for parade watching. Our summer festivals finish up this weekend with parades in Garfield and Belgrade.
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