Garver’s Movie Review Bob Garver Prior to what I will generously call his “new take” on “The Mummy,” director Lee Cronin was best known for 2023’s “Evil Dead Rise.” Original “Evil Dead” director Sam Raimi had a new movie out earlier this year with “Send Help,” and he didn’t put his name in that film’s title…. Read More

By Alice Martin Special to the Dispatch Do you think that any Minnesotan doesn’t recognize the call of our state bird, the Common Loon?  That iconic, haunting call has been incorporated into so many advertisements for vacationing in Minnesota and even in songs by Sam Smith, Calvin Harris, Doja Cat, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, just to… Read More

By Ruth Koehler Special to the Dispatch Have you ever wondered about someone in your family you know little about? My person is Aunt Ida, Dad’s younger sister.  I know she was born January 16, 1898, never married, moved around a lot for employment, including Chicago, California, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Brainerd, and Crosby, Minnesota. She had eight siblings,… Read More

(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 spirit? The communion with… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda It was a quiet Saturday morning in Boatville, at Hippie Hardware on main street. I had one of The Young Girls–my daughters–with me that morning. (Yes, this Young Girl–the youngest of the three, was the one I had fired twice and hired three times, which fact most of the people in… Read More

By Jessica Carlson  Otter Tail County Master Gardener In Minnesota, the growing season often feels brief, but it does not have to limit what gardeners can achieve. By starting early and using various techniques, gardeners can create favorable conditions for their plants both in the spring and again in the fall. These methods help maximize the time… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: We are starting to see a lot more fog with spring time. Can you provide some advice for driving in those types of conditions.   Answer: This is a great topic. Here is some information from the National Weather Service for driving in fog. If you must drive in foggy conditions,… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda After 50 years of killing apple trees, I would have thought that I would have it all figured out by now, but no, such is not the case. Not even close. So you want to plant one apple tree? Or 30. Not much changes, except you do need two in order for… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: In your last Ask A Trooper article, you provided some information on pulling trailers. Can you talk a little more about trailer requirements?   Answer: Here is some additional information on trailer requirements: • Maximum length — 45 feet • Maximum width — 8 feet 6 inches • Maximum height — 13 feet 6 inches… Read More

To the Editor, Retirement from a farm business may not mean moving away or giving up on mentoring the next generation, but it does entail transferring management decisions to someone else. It can be a gradual or sudden process. It may be driven by long-term goals, by sudden health issues, or events outside your family. When should… Read More