Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I was reading your recent article about headlights needing to be on in the fog. I have asked several law enforcement officers about this and I get the same answer about a judgement call. As a commercial vehicle driver, my two biggest gripes are people driving without headlights on when… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener  University of Minnesota’s horticultural  science department’s Julie Weisenhorn says no matter how clever someone’s Instagram handle or slick looking TikTok video is, when it comes to plants, take   planting ideas with a bucket of salt. Some of these “hacks” can actually damage your house plants. This column has been guilty… Read More

To the Editor, Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, 2024 On Friday, March 29, 2024, Vietnam War Veterans Day, the Charles D. Center VFW Post 3289, New York Mills, welcomed our Vietnam Veterans home and provided each Vietnam Era Veteran a free dinner at the VFW Post.  On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we honor all those who… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener This is a really yucky time of the year. Lawns are brown, covered in twigs and treasures the dog has dragged home from all over the neighborhood. The mess is driving Petunia buggy. But now is not the time to be raking up the mess.  Until you can comfortably kneel or… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I am puzzled as to why seat belts are mandatory in vehicles along with a fine for not complying but our precious cargo in school buses are not required to wear them?   Answer: School buses are one of the safest modes of transportation even without seatbelts.  School buses are safer… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Every once in a while I forget that I am suppose to be an adult, and telling fart jokes is no longer comical. I’m assuming most people think telling jokes about bodily functions was never funny—no matter the age or situation. Of course I disagree and still think that there is a certain… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda The universe in which we live is, the scientists say, 14 billion years old.  I’m not that old, but I’m old enough to know some stuff about old. Age is relative, much like the velocity of light, which, according to Einstein, is also relative, relative to whomever is seeing the light, along… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I am looking at purchasing my first vehicle but I am worried about scams. Do you have any advice for me? Thank you.   Answer: Here is some information we recently shared on our Minnesota Department of Public Safety blog. Picture this: You are excited about buying a car. You drive… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener  Bunkey decided he has enough “gardening smarts” to start his own plants in his own greenhouse. Before he spends any money, there are a few things he needs to know. He may or may not recover the cost of the building for years, especially if he is only growing plants for his… Read More

To the Editor, Every two years, we vote for our representative to the federal government. In the Congressional Seventh District, our choices are limited. The Republican party was split by two factions, and the Hard Right won. Our Representative is Hard Right. The federal government is complicated and busy. No time to be wasted. It was designed… Read More