A big thank you to folks in Staples.

Some very professional people in Staples took care of us this past weekend when we had our family reunion while camping at the Dower Lake park. They (fire department and city workers) sent us to the Care Center where they took care of us for a couple of hours. They gave the kids water and took care of them.

To top it off, during this time, our 15 year old grandson lost his hat, which had been given to him by his uncle, who had worn it in Iraq serving in the Marines.

He looked all over for it but could not find it and was scared to tell his mother. It meant the world to both the boy and his mother (her brother had given it to her son). Finally on Tuesday morning, I contacted the City of Staples offices. The ladies there got hold of Kevin Grondahl, who passed word onto the park workers, already working on clean up at the park after the storm. Those workers quickly checked out an area and found the hat. I’m driving over this week to pick it up.

We are so grateful and thankful to all involved this weekend in helping us, first during the storm and afterward with this personal loss of something that meant a lot to a 15 year old boy (and his whole family).

Duane Bartelson, grandpa Dent, Minn. Nickie Bartelson, mother Dallas Bartelson, grandson Barnesville, Minn.