A couple of things stand out for me. First, our county has lost 3.1 percent population between 2000 and 2005 while the state as a whole has grown 2.1 percent in the same period.

I went back to look at our population since 1900, when our census stood at 20,676 and peaked at 22,923 in 1920. In fact, Marion County had more people than McPherson had in the early 1900s. We have steadily declined since 1920.We now have about 14 people per square mile in our 943 square miles.

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Government and schools work best when the population is increasing and the valuation of property increases each year. Then there is more money available each year to fund services and mill levies can be reduced to raise the same amount of money. Same is true for private business. More people in proximity shopping always helps.

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A smart guy I know in the computer field said he thought people should have to get a license to operate a computer just like they do to drive a car. Makes sense to me.

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I had never thought about this before, but with a treadmill you never go downhill. It's either level or uphill.

One could build a wedge and mount the treadmill on it to get the downhill effect I suppose.

These thoughts don't affect too many people, but just thought I should bring this perspective out in the open.

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The wicked winds we've been having lately have really caused some problems around town. The wind plays no favorites. One day it gales from the south and the next from the north.

The directional signs downtown have been blown over with regularity and the metal covering the facade at Cooperative Grain & Supply on North Main was torn loose from the south end Friday night.

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The fence around our deck was also a victim of the high winds. Part of the south run of fence came loose at the center bottom post, and the winds moved the post about 3 inches to the center since it isn't fastened directly to the roof below it.

I thought I would use a round glass bottle for a fulcrum to pry the fence back to where it belonged before adding an angle iron brace. Bad idea. It broke in a million pieces so I used a brick instead.

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Grandson Louis has switched from soccer to gymnastics. He thinks doing flips is quite exciting and can't wait to master the feat. He is as flexible as a pretzel so it's the perfect venue for his energy.

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You might remember the cabinet shop that was located just north of the Lumberyard back in the '50s. It was owned and operated by Jacob Bartel. He and his wife, Rosella, owned and lived in the house that is now Designer Images on Ash across from First Mennonite.

My dad worked there in the summers and I would try to be there around break time when it was time for an orange pop or a root beer. The pop wasn't totally free because I was a gopher some of the time.

The Bartels were some of the nicest people I have known and they treated us like family.