May 30, 2017 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dave Says By Daris Howard Midlife Adjustments Dear Dave, My husband and I are in our 50s, and we have just $12,000 to pay off before we’re debt-free. We’ve paid off almost $70,000 in debt in the last two years. We would like to buy a house soon, but we know we also need an emergency fund. It would take us almost a year to build up an emergency fund, so should we make adjustments to the Baby Steps since we’re getting older? Dawn Skipping to the altar Dear Dave, My wife and I make good money, and our daughter’s college education is pretty much paid for through pre-paid tuition and scholarships. We just started your plan to get out of debt and take better control of our finances. When we get to Baby Step 5, which is saving for college, can we substitute that with saving for a wedding? Bob Dear Bob, That would be fine. I’m glad you’re thinking ahead. It’s always a good idea to save toward a wedding if you have the financial resources to do so, because weddings are real and they’re coming. The average wedding in America today runs around $35,000. Of course, you don’t have to pay anywhere near that amount to make it a beautiful occasion. Your household income, debt, savings and other factors will all play into how much you can afford. Just remember to pay cash for the wedding, Bob. If you have to go into debt to make it happen, then you’re talking about too much money. It’s as simple as that. Crunch the numbers with your wife, and see what you two can handle. And remember, there’s absolutely no correlation between the cost of a wedding and the success of the relationship! — Dave Dear Dawn, No! It shouldn’t take you two a year to build up an emergency fund considering the rate at which you’ve been paying off debt. You need a fully funded emergency fund or three to six months of expenses set aside before you start saving for a down payment on a home. You’ve been making great progress, and you obviously have a good income to be able to pay off debt that quickly. Maybe in your case you could lean a little more toward the three-month side with your emergency fund before you start saving for a house. Then, after you’re all moved in, you could revisit the emergency fund and beef it up to six months. Just stay on course and stick with the plan, Dawn. Fifty isn’t old. * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and busiYou two have plenty of time to get your finances in order, find a ness, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven bestselling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave great home, and look forward to many great years ahead! Ramsey Show is heard by more than 12 million listeners each — Dave Dave RAMSEY week on 575 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com. Increase Diversity, Plant Trees To Prepare For Emerald Ash Borer PIERRE, S.D.- Spring is the best time of year to plant new trees to get them established. With that in mind, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s (SDDA) Resource Conservation and Forestry Division (RCF) encourages South Dakotans to plant different varieties of trees. May 21-27 was Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Aware- ness Week. The ash tree species are commonly used as urban street trees, wind breaks and shelter belts. Native ash species have no natural defense against the EAB. “Although EAB has not yet been confirmed in South Dakota, it’s estimated that about one-third of our urban and community trees in the state are ash,” said state forester Greg Josten. “Now is a great time to consider planting trees for any reason, but one good reason is to ultimately replace ash trees that may later succumb to emerald ash borer.” Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer only attacks true ash trees. The larvae feed beneath the bark, disrupting the COUPON DC Lynch Shows 8 Rides for $ 10 Spring 1 Ticket Per Ride May 25–31 Open To The Public except Zipper (2) Additional coupons available from mall merchants Pancakeast Breakf Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits & Gravy, French Toast 7.00 All You Can Eat $ Children 6-10 $4.00 • 5 & Under Free Sunday, June 4th • 8 - 12:30 VFW Post 791 209 Cedar, Yankton • 665-3562 Biggest Sale Of The Year! St. Benedict Parish movement of water and nutrients and killing the tree within several years. EAB is now found in 30 states, including neighboring Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. “Since trees can take decades to grow but provide a lifetime of benefits, homeowners want to take special considerations when deciding what to plant,” said SDDA forest health specialist Dr. John Ball. “The good rule of thumb is we don’t want to see more than 10 percent of a community’s trees in any one genus. That means no more than 10 percent maple, 10 percent oak, 10 percent any other genus of tree. My recommendation is to look and see what’s being planted down your neighborhood and plant something else. We never know what the next threat might be.” For more information, go to http://sdda.sd.gov/ conservation-forestry/ forest-health/emerald-ashborer/default.aspx Rummage Sale & Bakery Maria looked out the back of the truck as they traveled along through the darkness. She looked at the German soldier resolutely holding his gun in the ready position. As she considered what lay ahead, her mind turned back to many years previous at the grade-school playground. She was only six and had been playing with some girls when she noticed another girl their age. The girl’s blond hair fell loose over her tired blouse. Maria pointed to the girl. “I’m going to ask her to play with us.” The other girls laughed. “Are you crazy? No one wants her.” “That’s exactly it,” Maria said. “And she needs friends, too.” Maria was the most popular girl in first grade, and the other girls didn’t argue. Maria learned the girl’s name was Helga, and Maria soon had her playing with them. But at lunch time, Maria saw Helga go off by herself. Maria watched her and realized she had nothing to eat. Maria walked over to Helga. “I have extra lunch, would you like to share?” Helga barely raised her eyes but gratefully nodded. From then on Maria shared her lunch with Helga every day, and Helga became one of Maria’s best friends. Maria told her father about Helga, and her father, a good man, searched to learn more. One night, to Maria’s surprise, her father came into the kitchen followed by Helga’s family. Besides Helga, there was her mother, her father, and two older brothers. As they ate, Maria’s father and Helga’s father discussed business. Apparently, Helga’s father had had his manufacturing company destroyed in the Great War. Maria’s father offered to use their meager savings to finance the rebuilding of it. As the two girls’ fathers stood and shook hands, Helga’s father said, “No good deed ever goes unrewarded.” It was a phrase Maria heard him often say, as over the years the two families became close friends. Helga’s father rebuilt his company, and Maria’s father prospered from the investment. But then the Nazis rose to power. “Maria, it’s not safe for Jewish families like ours,” her father said one day. “We’re sending you to France to go to college.” Away at school, Maria was homesick. But when she found out that Jews were being rounded up in Germany, she feared for her family. Her last letter from her father told her to cease communication and to protect herself. She hadn’t heard from her family since. She didn’t know if they were safe or not. Then the war came to France, and the Germans started rounding up Jews there. She had heard that Helga’s father was using Jews in his factory. Maria wondered how, after all her father had done for them, that they could do that. She also heard that Helga’s brothers had joined the German army. Her thoughts came back to the present, and she looked at the German soldier. The image of Helga’s brothers came to her, and she felt bitterness toward Helga’s family. She and the other Jewish girls from her college had been taken in the middle of the night. They had ridden for a day in the cattle car of a train and then loaded into this truck. When they stopped at a check point, she heard the driver tell the guard the truck had “Jewish workers.” Maria had heard that the Jews were better off dead than doing slave work. The thought made her hatred for Helga’s family continue to grow. Suddenly, the truck stopped, and she wondered where they were. The soldier ordered them out of the truck. It was the middle of the night with no moon. The darkness was thick around them. In the darkness, a lantern was held in front of her face, blinding her. Then a voice she recognized yelled, “It’s her! We finally found her!” It was Helga. Maria quickly found herself enveloped in Helga’s arms. To Maria’s tearful query, Helga laughed. “Father uses the company as an excuse for Jewish workers, then sends them to England. The boat is waiting for you and your friends.” She handed Maria a paper. “Here’s the address where you will find your family.” When the German soldier escorted Maria to the waiting boat, she realized he actually was Helga’s brother. 1500 St. Benedict Dr., Yankton (1 mile west of Walmart & 1 block south) Wednesday, June 7th 8AM-8PM Thursday, June 8th 8AM-8PM Friday, June 9th 8AM-12PM •Red Hat Items •Lots of Sizes Up to 3X •Depression Glass 30+ Pieces •Lots of Antiques •Sporting Equipment •Holiday Decor KOLACH DAYS June 8 - 11, 2017 • Verdigre, Neb. REAL ESTATE RENTALS saTurday, JuNe 10 AUTOMOTIVE *Czech Music & Kolach *5K Run/Walk & 10K Run Social at Alpine Village *U-Hop Inflatables *Variety Show *Turtle Races *Sand Dig friday, JuNe 9 *ATV/UTV Ride *Poker Run *Pool Party *Duck Races *Lego Man *Bean-Bag Tournament *Beer & Wine Tasting *Lego Man *Pancake Feed *Free Jazzercise Class *Variety Show *VHS Alumni Banquet *Royal Ball *Street Dance (Red Eye) *Polka Dance Contest *Movie/Dance Lessons suNday, JuNe 11 *Beer Garden/Music *Polka Mass A complete listing *Grand Parade can be found at: *Kolach Eating Contest *Polka in the Hall www.verdigre.org. *Fire/Rescue Open House EMPLOYMENT Thursday, JuNe 8 No Good Deed Sponsored by the Verdigre Improvement Club MERCHANDISE COUPONS the Missouri Valley Shopper and missourivalleyshopper.com is your complete source for buying and selling. Windy Wilson looked through the notions aisle at the store and finally picked out the package of needles he wanted. Big ones. The big ones are easier to thread and it’s harder to drop them and stick yourself. Mrs. Andrews walked past him with her shopping cart. “Going to do some sewing, Windy?” “Oh hi there, Miz Andrews. Well … you know how it is. Gotta have a modiclum of needles around in case a cow cuts herself up on a bobwire fence.” “Oh I see,” she said, wandering off. Annette George, owner of the Soup ‘R Market, stood by the cash register and smiled. Windy’s at it again. Windy went into the personal hygiene section of the store and picked up five packages of dental floss. The unflavored kind. Then he went up to pay for them. “Hi Annette.” “Hey Windy,” she said. “Starting another quilt?” He looked around. Okay, no one close. “Yep,” he said. “Thought I’d try a Grandma’s Flower Garden pattern this time. Looks like a booger to piece together, but I might could be ready for it.” “Who’s it for?” Annette asked. She knew Windy made these quilts for others, often anonymously, because there are some folks who wouldn’t understand an old cowboy and camp cook who sewed quilts for a hobby. She also knew he sewed them with dental floss because it was stronger than thread and was easier to thread through one of those big needles. “Randy Jones and Katie Burchell’s baby,” he said. Annette’s mouth dropped open. “You mean, they’re expecting?!!!” “Well,” Windy said, “I heard they got engaged.” “Yes?” “So they’ll prolly get married, don’t ya think?” “Okay…?” “So someday they’ll have a baby and this quilt is for the kid.” “Windy,” Annette said, “that could be … years.” He grinned. “At my speed, Annette, I figger I might jest be right on time.” MV Shopper CLASSIFIEDS M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y Everything you need is just a click or call away! Place an ad today by calling 605.665.5584 MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y IN PRINT & ONLINE To place your ad call... 605.665.5884