Lake Region Times * Page 2 Wednesday, December 21, 2011 .... ( , LAKE REGION ,TIMES @ ODDS 'N ENDS Eagle Lake * Madison Lake * Pemberton * St. Clair Jamestown Township * LeRay Township @ LAKE REGION TIMES @ EDITORIAL PAGE O LAKE REGION TIMES ** a ,, Lake Region Times n-tzg 513 Main Street P.O. Box 128 lmm  nl ' .  Madison Lake, MN 56063-0128  , USPS 001-940 • Jllk'/ ' PH: 507-243-3031 Fax: 507-243-3122 E-mail: lrtimes@hickorytech.net or lrt@hickorytech.net Published Wednesdays in the heart of Minnesota's hunting and fishing paradise, the beautiful Southern Minnesota Lake Region. Member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Subscription.rates: $37.00 per year for Blue Earth County addresses, $43.00 for other Minnesota addresses, $52.00 for all addresses outside Minnesota. Advertising and news item deadline is 12:00 no.on Friday for publication the following Wednesday. Periodical postage paid at Madison Lake MN. POSTMASTER: Send address changc to  Lko Ik$ion Tim€a, PO Box 128, Madison Lake, MN 56063-0128. JERRY GROEBNER, Publisher & Editor RUSS GROEBNER, Proof Editor The Many Changes of Christmas As we look outside this  week, we may think about how different this Christmas will be thdn it was last year. By this time, many of us have had enough snow for the year. This year there will be NO Snow to shovel, to make the roads treacherous, to track into grandma's house, or to go out to play in. I can remember many winters like this, but then again, I can remember many that were just the opposite. We have always had changes, and we will continue to. Some changes are just a little difficult to accept, especially as we get older, and perhaps, a little (I said a Little) more set in our ways. As a former choir director at All Saints in Madison Lake, I developed a real appreciation for Christmas music which I always loved, but then it had more meaning. So many of the Christmas services are almost as void of the traditional Christmas Carols as the public schools are of the word CHR/STMAS. But, the one tradition that we seem to have lost, in most parishes, is the Midnight Mass. A Midnight Mass at 4:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m., or any other time, other than midnight, is not a Midnight Mass, or for the other denominations that have had Midnight Services, a Midnight Service that is not at midnight just is not the same. There was just something magical about being awake and in church at the time Christmas Eve became Christmas Day, the day the Son of God was born. I know times have changed, and often time we wonder what happened to that magic. Every space was filled at SS Peter and Pauls where I attended church for my first 20 congregation from the" front of the church, it was clear that people, young and old, were there for that magical moment, that devout time, when everyone came together to celebrate the Birth of Christ. Have times changed on their own or have we caused these changes because of how we have forgotten those magical times? Silent Night-Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Joy to the World the Lord Has Come, and yes, We Three Kings all told a story, a great and magnificent story of that great time when Christ was Born, and is reborn each and every year, for us all to celebrate and sing about this O Holy Night, as we Hark The Herald Angles Sing, as we all Come All Ye Faithful. Merry Christmas! God Bless Our Troops. Keep Then in Your Prayers! iN I Hi I i NII llNiUinnliU II lid Keep Jack Zimmerman in your prayers. Send him a note at: PFC Jack Zimmerman, Megan Zimmerman 7027 FM 78, Apt 1102 San Antonio TX 78244 **** €€************** €€ €€** New Laws Effective Jan. 1, 2012 MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES The following are some of the new laws that take effect Jan. 1, 2012. The asterisk following the bill number denotes the language that became law. Summaries of all laws passed by the 2011 Legislature are available online from nonpartisan House Public Information Services at www.house.mn/hinfo/Newlaws2011-0.asp. Business and Commerce Insurance claims law modernized A new law brings insurance statute covering portable electronics claims into the 21 st century. The law allows claims processors-supervised, non-licensed insurance adjusters to enter data into an automated claims adjustment system. The computerized system is designed for data collection, calculation and final resolution of portable electronics insurance claims. A licensed adjuster may supervise up to 25 people for that purpose. The law makes other clarifications about who is eligible to seek a Minnesota portable electronics claims adjuster license, including those with out-of-state licensure and residents of Canada, under certain conditions. Rep. Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) and Sen. Dave Thompson (R- Lakeville) sponsor the law. HF1405*/SF1125/CH95 Health and Human Services Nursing home reimbursement rate formula changes A new law conforms state statutes to new federal requirements related to case mix classifications and reimbursement rates at nursing homes. The new rates will be based on an updated minimum dataset or any new version mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that nursing facilities are required to complete for all residents. The new law also states that the health commissioner shall establish resident classes according to updated resource utilization groups. The law also makes technical and clarifying changes to body art technician licensing and inspection statutes. Additionally, the law permits counties and the state to contract with facilities in a bordering state for detoxification services for Minnesota residents. It also allows Minnesota detoxification facilities to contract with bordering states to provide services to residents of the bordering states. Pep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) and Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) sponsor the law. HF 1508/SF 1286'/CH110 Donation for anatomical gift program In addition to being asked if they want to be an organ donor, people applying for a driver's license or state identification card will be asked to contribute $2 to a donor awareness campaign. The same question will be posed when registering and transferring title on a motor vehicle. The money will be used as grants to federally certified organ organizations and nonprofit organizations that advo- cate for organ and tissue donation. Funds will also cover all Department of Public Safety expeases to implement the program. The law is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth) and Sen. David Senjem (R-Rochester). HFS08*/SF892/CH80 Transportation Carbon monoxide awareness testing A new law taking effect May 25, 2011, required that information about carbon monoxide poisoning be included in the driver's manual and be part of driver's education training. Beginning Jan. 1, those seeking a driver's license will be tested on their knowledge of carbon monoxide dangers. Sponsored by Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury) and' Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood), the so-called "Tyler's Law" is the result of a December 2010 tragedy when Tyler Lavers, a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, was accidentally killed when installing stereo speakers in his car. He backed his car into the garage at the family's cabin to be closer to the tools and best lighting. With the garage door open, he started the car at some point to test his speakers. Despite a ventilated garage, the very cold air created a higher output of carbon monoxide from his engine, and combined with a confined space, allowed the deadly poison to concentrate where he was .and ultimately killed him. HF650*/SF 1042/CH70 Lake Region Times Your Community Newspaper For Eagle Lake, Madison Lake, Pemberton, St. Clair Jamestown Township & LeRay Township To Subscribe Call 507-243-3031 President Obama Comments on Iraq Withdrawal "Good afternoon, After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq is ending. In recent days, many of our troops have come home and been reunited with their families for the holidays. Over the next few days, a small group of American soldiers will begin the final march out of Iraq. This moment of success is because of their sacrifice. More than 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq. More than 30,000 of these brave men and women were wounded. Nearly 4,500 gave their lives. America's military families have borne a heavy burden. As we mark the end of this war, we need to show our veterans and their families that they have the thanks of a grateful nation. Take a minute to look back at the moments that brought us to this point, then share a personal message of gratitude with those who have served." Minnesota Income Tax Brackets and Rates Income Tax Brackets for Tax Year 2012 The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today that the state's.individual income tax brackets for tax year 2012 will expand by 2.4 percent. State law requires the department to adjust the brackets to compensate for increases in inflation. Expanding the brackets prevents taxpayers from paying higher taxes solely because of inflationary increases in their income. Since tax year 2000, Minnesota's income tax brackets have expanded nearly 35 percent as a result of inflation. The bracket adjustments are based on the change in the U.S. Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the average of the 12 months ending August 2011. The department adjusts the brackets each year by the inflation factor and rounds the result to the nearest $10. The brackets apply to tax year 2012. Taxpayers who make quarterly payments of estimated tax should use the following rate schedule to determine their payments, which are due starting in April 2012. Minnesota's tax rates remain the same. 2012 Minnesota Income Brackets and Marginal Tax Rates on Taxable Income 5.35% 7.05% Married, filing jointly Married, filing separately $0--$34,590 $34,591--$137,430 $0--$17,300 $17,301--$68,720 Head of household $0--$29,130 $29,131--$117,060 Single $0--$23,670 $23,671--$77,730 The marginal tax rate is the rate of tax paid on a particular range of incomes. 7.85% "$t37,431 & over $ 68,721 & over $117,061  over $ 77,73 l/& over Remember our Soldiers at Christmas Please remember our military men and women who cannot be home with their families this Christmas. Say a special prayer for them and their families that they may all be reunited safely. I Complete Mechanical & Body Repair 11 Import & Domestic JJ 1109 E. LeRay Ave • Eagle Lake, MN 56024  " Office: 507-257-3730" Fax'. 507-257-3469 n0=mare,%, years, and then again, in It's theLeaders who - ,.,- ,.-t'Jlil I?d'l,l'JL'tl'l'l;f311dll'dlL(l Madison Lake. Looking down " "; ' "' " " "' " "' "  " "' "  " "  " " " " "" " " "  from thechoirloR, and later ' Happy nouuays simply out into the Advertise in the Time  ..... T T__ 1 o ..1 .,,._...,. tn all thngo € e w real 031 .v .,.A ..,=vv,, as Region Times for as little as $37.00 peiyar. ' 1!i1 out and. mail the form below or call 507-243-303 l: li } " • .................... " ........................... 2""'" ........... : ..... { ................. ...... 'NowAeee .............................. ,,. ...... ' .......... I m honored [; ............ :i ............... ...... 'L=:=; ......... ' ...... ' ......... :'= Minnesota $43 00 per year Visa Mast Card Discover ]_ [U 5UJi. VU 111 , I II¢trlct /zLv '3 = __ . 1 JL 1  l,,, .,,- .mu,,, o : Card Number" , Expiration Date: / "I have enclosed $ For a  New subscription Date: Subscription Renewal Signature Month Year Name: . Address: City: State: Zip: Clip and mail to: Lake Region Times Subscriptions .are not refundable but can be transferred to a • PO Box 128 new address or recipient for the balance of the paid tenn. Madison Lake, MN 56063-0128 Wishing you a Merry Christmas Senator ]ulie Rosen Please call my" Capitol office with any" concerns: 651-296-5713