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April 9, 2014
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PAGE 12
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SMALL TOWN PAPERS INiJ, 5
217 W COTA ST
SHELTON. WA 98584-2263 "
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Volume No. 29
NUMBER 33
12 PAGES
Plus supplements in
local edition
Serving:Walnut Grove, Westbrook, Storden, Dovray, and Revere areas
Maximize your
SNAP Dollars:
• Use Supplementary Nutrition
Assistance Program) Dollars
to purchase Seeds/Plants
By Angela Larson,
CFS Director: Western
Community Action
When most peop/e think about the SNAP
(Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program),
they think about benefits that people use to pur-
chase groceries in local grocery stores. The
majority of funds are spent on food at the gro-
cery store. However, a little known fact is turn-
ing into a rising trend in the world of SNAP
benefits. Recipients can purchases seeds and
plants with their SNAP benefits, as long as they
are purchasing from an authorized SNAP retail-
er. It's important to note that the only seeds and
plants that may be bought with SNAP are those
that are used to grow and produce food. So no
flowers or decorative plants would be allowed.
This option is beneficial for a few reasons.
First, locally grown foods are healthier for us.
When a person grows the food themselves, they
know if there have been any pesticides or other
chemicals used on those food items. A person
can even choose to have an organic garden.
Also, whole foods are much better food choices
than canned and processed foods that are readily
available and easy to use as they don't contain
additives and preservative, etc. that we may
want to avoid. Participants who grow their own
food also feel a sense of accomplishment and
pride in the food that they are able to bring into
their home.
Finally, if your planting and harvesting are
successful, it is possible to get a great deal more
food than a person would be able to purchase
from the grocery store with their SNAP ben-
efits. For every $1 dollar spent on seeds, home
gardeners can grow an average of $25 worth of
produce. Saving money this way helps a house-
hold's benefit last longer, and they may be able
to afford foods that they would otherwise would
not.
If you are someone who has never gardened
before, consider gardening with a friend who
has had more experience. There are also many
resources on the internet for people who are
just learning the steps to creating a successful
vegetable garden. Another option is to learn
gardening skills by giving your time at a com-
munity garden. This is a great place to see a
wide variety of foods being grown and to talk
to people who have a love for tending to and
producing fresh, healthy foods. If you live
near the Marshall area, one option is Western
Community Action's community garden pro-
gram called Community Blooms. This garden
is located at 'WCA's main office site and is
always looking for more people to participate.
People interested can assist with preparing the
land, planting, tending/watering/weeding, and
finally harvesting of the food that's been grown.
Everyone who participates is welcome to share
in the food produced. This might be a great first
step before starting your own garden or a way to
give back by teaching others if you are already a
pro!
For more information about SNAP, please
contact Margaret Palan at 507-537-1416, exten-
sion #2116, and for more information about
Community Blooms garden, please contact
Allan Bakke at extension #2135. Western
Community Action is a proud community part-
ner of the United Way of Southwest Minnesota.
These two youngsters were fighting a losing battle last Thursday afternoon shoveling a street
in Westbrook.
Spring storm
Really!
• Last Thursday a
strong spring
storm blanketed
the area with six
to eight inches of
snow
Tom Merchant
Sentinel Tribune
SPECIAL -- It seems like
for the second year in a row we
have had a winter that just
doesn't want to give up. Last
Thursday afternoon wet snow
began to blanket the area, and
by Friday morning over six
inches of snow fell in the area.
It left a big mess for local
street crews to deal with.
The good news is that with
the angle of the sun beating
down on us, the majority of the
snow was gone by Monday
morning. By the time most of
you read this mother nature is
doing an about face with tem-
peratures climbing into the
low seventies and sixties. But
don't get too comfortable, as
the forecast shows tempera-
tures the first of next week will
drop back into the high thirties /
or low forties.
On the good side spring
sports are getting back in gear
with practices and games in
the mix for the rest of the
week.
For Westbrook Walnut
Grove Athletic Director Leo
Theisen, weather makes his
job much more difficult with
having to reschedule so many
events.
Of course area farmers are
chomping at the bit 'as they
wait to get into the fields to
prepare for planting the crops.
They are all hoping that the
temperatures stay steady high-
er and that we don't get a lot of
rain.
Getting the crop in the
ground in a timely manner can
mean a huge difference in the
quality and quantity they will
get at harvest, not to mention
all the other hazards
that can effect it.
People should also
be conscious of farm
equipment on the
roads during this busy
season as they go
from place to place.
Left: This
robin looks
perky after
likely
walking in
snow the
past
couple of
weeks
MISSING PAPERS
• Last week due to a software
glitch several of our subscribers
did not receive their Sentinel
Tribune
Tom Merchant
Sentinel Tribune
SPECIAL -- Apparently the compa-
ny that designed our new circulation
software was the same one that devel-
oped the Mnsure software.
For some reason recent renewals did
not show up on the computer list for
delivery. Several people called and we
told them they could pick up a copy of
the Sentinel Tribune at our office or in
Walnut Grove at our vendors.
We apologize for the inconvenience,
and will do all we can to insure you will
receive your Sentinel Tribune in a timely
fashion. Although we cannot guarantee
the post office will always do that. In
regards to the last comment, the problem
is seldom ever in our local post offices.
The vast majority of our delivery issues
happen after they leave the local post
offices. With the exception of Westbrook
and Walnut Grove area papers, papers
outside the area go to a distribution cen-
ter in St. Paul and are routed from there.
Please let us know if you are still
missing your Sentinel Tribune.
Pageant
Auditions
Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant
Auditions will be held April 11 from
4:00 - 9:00 p.m. and April 12, 8:00
a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Walnut Grove
Catholic Church.
Children under 16 years of age are
required to have a parental permission
slip.
Looking for volunteers interested
in acting, set crew, concessions, hair,
makeup, and costumes.
INDE X :::
ON RECORD PAGE 2 EDUCATION
IN SIDE PAGE 3 SPORTS
VIEWPOINT PAGE 4 AREA NEWS
FAITH & FAMILY PAGE 5 CLASSIFIED ADS
COMMUNITY PAGE 6 AREA NEWS
COMMUNITY PAGE 7
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