The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda I was sitting on the south side of the little—and old—granary here on the farm the other day. It was midafternoon, the sun was shining on me, it was one of those perfect early summer days. Not too hot; not too cold; just right. Off to the north, I could hear the… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener Most gardeners have a problem area in their “estates.” An ugly shed, a deck with 6 feet of bare legs, a neighbor’s ugly fence, the places you can’t plant a coverup hedge. The solution could be a vine.  Boston ivy will grow almost anyplace except in full shade. Actually, if you… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I thought I heard something about a new law in regards to caretaker information included on driver’s license or identification card record. Do you have any information on this?   Answer: You can now use your Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) records to let law enforcement know if you’re the caretaker… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda (I found the first wood tick of the season; here’s my favorite wood tick column.) I sat in church last Sunday and marveled as I usually do at how one’s mind tends to ramble past thoughts much more freely there. Is it the austere tones of the interior decorating? The largeness of… Read More

Ask A TrooperSgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I was just talking with someone the other day and they mentioned there is an age requirement for operating an “e-bike.” Can you get me more information on this?   Answer: When it comes to E-bikes, a driver’s license or permit is not required. However, the minimum operator age is… Read More

To the Editor, May was a very busy month in Washington as the House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  In mid-April, the House and Senate agreed to a budget resolution, which set House Committees off to the races to draft legislative recommendations based on the agreed budget targets. One of the largest of these components… Read More

To the Editor, With embers from Minnesota’s wildfires still smoldering and Canadian smoke darkening our skies, it’s worth remembering that fires burn more than trees—they consume peatlands, a living foundation beneath our forests that has protected us for centuries. Once lost, these carbon-rich wetlands cannot be replaced. Peatlands are waterlogged wetlands filled with thousands of years of… Read More

Despite record-high wind and solar generation, the U.S. renewable energy sector faces uncertainty. Tariffs and potential repeals of federal funding are creating roadblocks to the further buildout of energy projects. Wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects have helped revitalize rural communities by creating jobs, generating new tax revenues, and providing lease payments to landowners. However, energy… Read More

Tucker’s Telegram Tucker Henderson Life is often unfair. It can be incredibly challenging at times with its many stressors and obstacles. Unfortunately, life can also be far too short. We’ve seen that as a community time and time again over the past several years. I first think of Wade Salo who passed away in 2020 after… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Summer is coming, and for the first time in the history of automobiles, the number of fifteen-year-olds hitting the highways in a driver’s education car is decreasing. That means, maybe, that this hormone-riddled, vacuum-headed generation—and weren’t we all– has figured out that it is safer to log on than drive on. One… Read More