Jordan Rasmussen
Published: December 4, 2008

HAZEL GREEN - At Budden’s Tree Farm owner Dick Budden is an expert and he has been selling Christmas trees for seven years.

“We sell 2 to 300 every year. We are in the season right now selling Christmas trees as a matter of fact we have some costumers right now,” said Dick.

Dick went to help his costumers so I looked around to find that perfect real Christmas tree. I came across one that was too small, one looked like a Charlie brown tree, one was not green enough, one had no top to it, and one was so big I did not think I could cut it down myself.

When I finally found my tree,  Dick started to cut it down, then I tried but it was too hard, so Dick used his chain saw to cut down my tree.

Dick described the best Christmas tree.

“Some trees hold their needles better than others, of course the most popular Christmas tree is the Frasier Fur, and everybody wants a Frasier,” said Dick.

After cutting down my tree it was time to warm up with Kay Budden’s hot coco.

“Over the weekend over three days, I serve over 210 cups of hot chocolate,” said Kay.

It tasted amazing!

“I just don’t want to miss the joy on some of the kids faces, some of the kids look so happy, you no some kids are so glad to, we got a tree we got a tree, ya know,” said Kay.

It was now time to take my tree home and decorate it.

Budden Tree Farm is located at: 1908 Sinsinawa Road in Hazel Green, Wisconsin

There phone number is 608-748-4523.

Jordan Rasmussen can be reached at Jordan.Rasmussen@loras.edu

They have been said to heal the sick and restore sight. The Mazechelli chains may be the priest’s link to sainthood.

“The church has said over and over yes this man has something to teach us,” says Sister Lois Hoh.

Father Samuel Mazzuchelli is the founder of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin and he is on his way to sainthood. In 1993 he was declared venerable by Pope John Paul II and he is now at step two in the sainthood process.

“To move from that to the next state which is blessed the church looks for a miracle,” explains Sister Hoh.

One local family believes they received their miracle.

“He had gotten sick and we didn’t know what was wrong with him,” says Linn Tranel, Matt’s mom.

At age two Matt Tranel was diagnosed with E. Coli which affected his kidney.

“We didn’t know we just had to wait it out and see,” adds Linn.

The family’s uncertainty caused Matt’s aunt to step in.

“She called and said that she would bring Father Mazzucheli’s chain up to pray with Mathew,” said Linn.

When the chain arrived; “we started to see a little improvement when the chains were brought up,” said Linn.

“When you hold your child’s arms and he’s just laying there limp and you have no idea what the outcome is going to be… Matt fully recovered,” explained Linn.

Matt continues to be active today. No one can explain why praying with this sacred item works, but for the Tranel family and Sister Hoh it has impacted their lives and provided hope in the most difficult times.

“There are too many instances where that chain comes about and it seems to really help people,”  said Tom Tranel, Matt’s father.

Sister Hoh invites everyone to experience the exhibit but if you do.

“Let father speak to you. Come and experience for yourself,” says Sister Hoh.

You can find out more about Father Mazzuchelli and see his chain by visiting the exhibit at Sinsinawa Mound Monday through Saturday from 9:30a.m. to 4:00p.m and Sunday from 12:30pm to 4:00pm.

Emily Allen can be reached at Emily.Allen@lctv13.com