There she sat:  My sister at 8 years old on our rocking chair, pumping her legs up and down as she cried and screamed.  We didn’t know what set her off as our family watched her carry on. It must have been dramatic since I can still see it in my mind’s eye although I was… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda For the next three weeks, these columns are going to be short. I’m calling this “series” of columns “Things I’ve learned that you might like to know about solving problems.” Maybe. That title is, I admit, kind of long. How about we call them: “Stuff I’ve learned.” Problems can come in many… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener We know that after June 21st the days start to get shorter. We think of July 4th as the middle of summer and much too late to start any plants. Actually, if you’re a plant, summer is just perfect growing weather.  August means peak soil warmth and warm nights – a… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I was driving in the metro area the other day and I witnessed a bus driving on the shoulder. Is this allowed?   Answer: Transit buses and metro mobility buses are permitted to use the shoulder of a freeway or expressway. Buses can use the shoulder only when main-line traffic speeds… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda I’ve been alive long enough to witness marvelous changes. Good ones. Probably. You decide. In 1966, still trying to avoid going to Vietnam, I started courses at the University of Iowa. I noticed a posting on a school bulletin board. The University Speech and Hearing Research Institute was looking for a part… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: Somebody was trying to tell me the other day that it’s ok to throw out their fruit peels along the highway as they break down fairly quick and it shouldn’t be an issue. I disagreed and told them garbage is garbage. I asked if they would want someone to throw… Read More

To the Editor, On Independence Day, President Trump celebrated our country with a historic win for the American people: he signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. I was honored to play such a pivotal role in the development of this legislation as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax policy,… Read More

To the Editor, Representative Michelle Fischbach has failed to stand up for Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District. Her support for the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) — despite its devastating consequences for rural communities — reflects political loyalty over constituent needs. In rural America, Medicaid is a lifeline: it covers 1 in 4 residents, half of all births, one-fifth… Read More

I would like to thank the Veteran Quilters Group: Nancy Olsen, Anna Olson, Cindy Davis, Donna Geiser, Dyann Tigges, Janet Gregorich, Jan Moeller, Janice Huwe, Jean Fellerer, Kay Tougas, Lisa Henderson, Marion Hansen, Pauline Boyer, Sharon Imsande, Terri Valois, Scarlet Dittmann, Jean Nielson, and Judy Dykhoff for the beautiful quilts.  Lisa and Donna did the… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Someone reminded me the other day that I should put the following tale down in writing. It goes like this: Way back in the early seventies, when we had just moved up here to Boatville, I worked for the local Co-op. (Yes. So long ago that it was still abbreviated.) I… Read More