Outside Looking In
Many people have mentioned that the boxelder bugs are coming out of hibernation and roaming around their homes as the weather starts to warm up a little.
Some longtime residents said the number of boxelder bugs last September was the most they had ever seen. Many of those bugs found a way to hibernate inside homes and are now waking up.
These bugs are very hungry now, but the food they need to survive is all outside. They want to get out of your home just as bad as you want them out.
While these bugs are annoying, they are quite harmless. Be patient and these bugs will be gone soon. But if you can't wait, some bug experts suggest vacuuming them up and empty the bag outside. But do it quickly or they will start crawling out of the vacuum when you shut it off.
Other things you can do is to make a boxelder bug spray by mixing a tablespoon of dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Saturate the bugs with the soap mixture. These bugs can't stand soapy water and will either die or at least leave the location they are clustered around.
If you see these bugs clinging to the outside of your home in the fall, they are looking for ways to get inside. So, spray them with the soapy water mixture while they are still outside. Sealing up any cracks around doors and windows with caulk helps, too.
Spring sports
We are previewing the Minneota High School clay target and boys and girls golf teams, as well as the Minneota Mudhens amateur baseball team in the Mascot this week, and will preview the baseball, softball and boys and girls track in next week's edition.
The weather still needs to warm up for several days to get the fields in shape for the season, but it's getting closer to these teams starting the season.
Although chances are that not all the teams will start on time, here is a list of the scheduled season openers:
Baseball - Saturday, April 9 at Edgerton triangular. Minneota plays Southwest Christian at 10 a.m. and Wabasso at noon.
Softball - Thursday, April 7 vs. Adrian at Ellsworth, 4:30 p.m.
Track and Field - Thursday, March 31 at Redwood Falls, 4 p.m.
Boys Golf - Monday, April 11 at Marshall Invitational. 1 p.m. (17 teams)
Girls Golf - Tuesday, April 12 at Marshall Invitational, 1 p.m. (15 teams)
Clay Target - Tuesday, March 29 at Sportsman's Club, 3:45 p.m.
Mudhens - Saturday, April 30 at Pipestone, 3 p.m.
Garage sale ads
The Minneota city-wide garage sale will be held Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 this year.
The Mascot will be running a large ad in the April 28 and May 5 issues that include individual residents hosting garage or yard sales.
The ads should be 25 words or less and will cost $6 for one week or $10 for both weeks.
To advertise your sale in this community ad, stop into the Mascot office, call 507-872-6492, or email the information to office@minneotamascot.com. Please include your name, address, phone number, and an overview of your items for sale.
Guesswork
A large jar of jelly beans can now be seen in the front window of the Mascot with instructions on how to guess how many there are. Only one guess per person please.
The person coming to the closest to the number of jelly beans in the jar. Unlike "The Price is Right", you may go over or under the amount. In case of a tie, we will call up those involved in the tie and have them guess how many of the jelly beans in the jar are black.
The winner receives a basket with treats, books donated by local authors and a gift certificate from Brad's Market that I am donating for the contest.
The books that local authors agreed to donate for the contest are: "Lettuce" by Gail (Wyffels) Boe, "Astra the Flying Cow" by Bob Borson, "Before I Get Old" by Dana Yost and my book "Out of the Blue".
If anyone else would like to donate a prize for the basket, please email me at scott@thomabooks.com.
The contest runs from now until Easter Sunday, April 17. The winner will be announced in the Mascot in the April 21 issue.
Post-prom "Tip Night"
To help fundraise for the post-prom activities, the post-prom committee is holding a "Tip Night" on Saturday, April 9 at City Hall Bar & Grill, which includes a "Pizza and Wings Buffet" for $10.99.
A portion of the sales and tip jar donations will go to for the post-prom activities. Members of the junior class will be bussing tables that night.
The Minneota Junior-Senior prom will be held May 7. The Grand March will be at the high school and the dance and post-prom activities held at the Heritage Event Center south of Taunton.