'Tis the season for hunter's orange, buck tales, and great homecooked meals.

With various organizations in the area hosting hunters dinners, even if a hunter never sees a whitetail, he or she can enjoy a great meal almost every night of the week. At Saturday evening's meal at the VFW in Engadine, one could hear plans being made for the next enjoyable meal.

It was nice to see a former classmate from the Engadine Class of 1963, Darwin Hahn, who traveled north for hunting season and family time.

Also in the area are John Jansen and his brother-in-law, Bud Mann of Higgins Lake. They have a hunting camp around Struble Lake.

Bob Smith and his family, whose summer and hunting getaway is on Hiawatha Trail, are here from the Lansing area, along with the folks at the Jackson home on the corner of Borgstrom Road and Hiawatha Trail.

Joining Dale and Evelyn Burgess at their home as the sun went down on opening day were hunters Bob Kovalaski, John Rondo, and Mark May. Evelyn cooked most of the day, while the guys waited for the big one they knew to be just behind the next pine tree.

Successful hunters whose names appeared on the buck list at the Rexton General Store were Matt Sackrison, Zach Keeler, Paul Downey, Steve Cole, Joe Devereaux, and Jim Sorenson, to name a few.

To plan a surprise birthday party and pull it off as a real surprise always leaves the honoree wondering "how in the world did I not pick up on that." Such was the case last Saturday afternoon as ladies from the area gathered at the fellowship hall of the Rexton Mennonite Church in celebration of Rosie Prater's 86th birthday.

Lori Wyse, along with her children, Ben and Sara, joined Lori's son and family, Josh, Shannon, and Penny Ott. While here, they all celebrated the 51st wedding anniversary of Lori's folks, Clyde and Pat Plue.

Welcome back to the neighborhood to Bob and Candy Aldrich, who enjoyed a few months in Kentucky.

The Bethlehem Lutheran Church on M-117 will host a free meal Wednesday, December 10, from 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. The meal that evening will be homemade soup and sandwiches. Everyone may attend.

Birthday wishes to Misty Martis November 19, Ken Browning November 21, and Jeffery Dishaw November 22.

Anniversary wishes to Ruth and Elmer Brown, who will celebrate 65 years November 20.

Continued get well wishes to Heidi Kerridge, Jean Bentley, and Gloria Johnson.

A long and happy retirement is wished to Marion Danielson, who will be shutting off the typewriter and computer this week.