This has been a very different year as far as our weather has been. We have had our share of storms, severe weather warnings, and heavy rains. However, we shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves as it has been less severe weather here than all of the severe weather warnings that have been issued throughout the United States.Many areas have had severe storms, hurricanes and in some areas, floods that have gotten out of control. I don’t understand the weather, nor the weatherman! I just enjoy the nice weather when we have it and hope for the best when severe weather is predicted. I still have to say I think we have been very fortunate in our little corner of Minnesota to receive moisture when we needed it and to miss the strong wind and the hail that follows as well as all of the other kinds of bad weather. Our crops are looking good and if we can avoid an early frost — all will be well.The big news from Steen this week has been the Steen Labor Day softball tournament that has been going on for many, many years. They had a late start on Monday due to some rains so they had to wait for things to dry off. However, there was a good crowd and a lot of good games. The Steen team came in third as they defeated the Beaver Creek team. Congratulations to them! This ended the softball season for this year. Thanks to all who have worked so hard this year. Congratulations to Elizabeth Elbers, a long time resident of the Steen Community who now makes her home at the Tuff Home in Hills and who celebrated her 96th birthday this past weekend. We hope she has many more!Paul and Carole Aykens, Orange City, Iowa, and Joyce Aykens, Worthington, were Sunday visitors in the home of their mother, Jo Aykens.The young people from Steen Reformed Church attended the LifeLight concert at the fairgrounds in Sioux Falls Sunday evening. There were several others from the Steen area that attended the concert also. Everyone enjoyed it very much.Art and Henrietta Boeve attended the Labor Day pancake breakfast at the Hills Christian School gym on Monday.Delwyn Huenink entered Sioux Valley Hospital Wednesday afternoon. He had developed infection in the knee that he had surgery on recently and they had to operate again. He is doing well and we wish him all the best. Sunday afternoon visitors for Delwyn were Henrietta Huenink and Norma and Wayne VanWyhe, Lester, Iowa. Ralph Sandstede, Roseville, Ore., passed away on Monday, Aug. 16, at the age of 79. He was the son of the John Sandstede family who were residents of Steen several years ago. Henrietta Boeve and Gert and Dick Hup attended the Reformed Church Bible Conference at Lake Okoboji on Saturday. The speaker was from Des Moines, Iowa, and was very good. The Senior Saints from northwest Iowa, presented a program that afternoon. Their theme was "JOY." It was a very good meeting. Public education has become a very important part of all of our lives. In today’s world we are hearing more and more about it. I grew up when an 8th grade education was more than many, many young people had as most of them had to stay home and help on the farms. They were taught many things in the home such as loving parents, helping others, and working together. I think our education today has more to do with business and technology and has to do with many different things than when we were in school. We often hear people say a "liberal education" and many of us wonder "What is that?" in today’s world. I would like to share with you this article titled, "Liberal Education" written by Thomas Henry who compares both sides: "That man, I think has had a liberal education who has been so trained in youth that his body is a ready servant of his will, and does with ease and pleasure all the work as a mechanism it is capable of. Whose intellect is a clear, cold logic engine, with its parts of equal strength, and in smooth working order gossamers as well as forge the anchors of the mind. Whose mind is stored with a knowledge of the great knowledge of the great law of its operations. Stunted ascetic, is full of life and free, but whose passions are trained to heal by a vigorous will, the servant of tender concern;Who has learned to love all beauty, whether of nature or art; to hate all vileness, and to respect for others as himself."These are some words in this that we probably do not know the meaning of but I think when you finish the reading you will understand it is the person, not the machine!
