Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I noticed another vehicle that was not driving very safe the other day and saw that it had a “How’s My Driving? Call 1-800…” Should I called that number or what else should I have done? Answer: Every circumstance or situation is different. But here is my advice on when to… Read More

To the Editor, ALL PROPERTY OWNERS BE AWARE: If you are surveying property with a metes and bounds legal description, take note. (ex. “north 200 feet; thence west 300 feet; thence south 200 feet; thence east 300 feet”). If you desire to sell a portion of your property, no matter the acreage, Otter Tail County will refuse to… Read More

By Sonny Albarado Arkansas Advocate There’s been a lot of hand-wringing in recent years about the death of local newspapers, those bastions of democracy and chroniclers of community. While the loss of any newspaper hurts the people they serve, residents of rural areas and small towns are hit especially hard when a newspaper shuts down. When a… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda   People tying their shoelaces wrong forces me to rewrite a column that I’ve already done but cannot find. (Google Drive has without doubt the worst search engine ever!)  I can’t find it. So I’ll do one again. I don’t know how I learned to tie my shoes The Correct Way, but… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener Cooler weather and shorter days are an indication that gardeners need to get fall chores started. One of the most important jobs is removing all the weeds. Letting even one stay means a hundred of them to deal with next summer. There should be at least 6 weeks before the first hard… Read More

By Bob Garver Special to the Advocate “A Haunting in Venice” is director/star Kenneth Branagh’s third go-around as Agatha Christie-penned detective Hercule Poirot. The other two were 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and 2022’s “Death on the Nile.” “A Haunting in Venice” comes barely a year and a half after the latter film, though the turnaround… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I know it’s discouraged, but is it actually illegal for students to stand on a school bus while it is moving?   Answer: Minnesota state law says no person shall stand in a school bus when the bus is in motion. In addition the aisle and emergency exit of a school… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Parenting has sure changed since my generation were kids. Most of what our parents threatened to do to us for punishment back in the fifties would now involve half the local social services bureau, along with some emergency responders, the police, and the fire department. And now? It’s all “time out” and… Read More

To the Editor, The framers of our nation’s “by the people” pledge leading to our election process made a critical error in defining qualifications to run for president that is …be a natural born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years old and been a resident for 14 years. Of course, they couldn’t… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I read one of your articles about motorcyclists needing to wear eye protection. Do contacts qualify as eye protection?   Answer: Contact lenses do not qualify as protective eyewear. Motorcyclists are required to wear protective eyewear, such as glasses, goggles or a face shield, even if the motorcycle is equipped with… Read More