Publisher’s Perspective Chad Koenen Have you ever made a joke you thought was hilarious, but completely fell flat?  That is pretty much a daily occurrence for me at the Koenen household. However, a joke that I told a TSA agent last Thursday morning was followed by an awkward silence that made me wish I could get… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda When our oldest child was 15, and we were wrestling constantly with the freedom vs. safety issue, she came home from a night out with her friends with a tale that nearly drove us to lock her in her room until she was 30. She had been out the night before with… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: Is it legal for me to have a blue soft lighted “RAM” lettering logo on the front grill of my truck? It’s not flashing, but always illuminated. Any answer is appreciated.  Answer:  No vehicle is allowed to have a blue light or any colored lights illuminated on the vehicle if it… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener The garden is full of tomatoes, many green some just getting ripe. Bunkey hates to see any garden produce go to waste or freeze if he can save it, tomatoes in particular.  Here is one way to salvage at least some of them now. Start by cutting the indeterminate tomato vines… Read More

By Al Cross Special to the Forum I love social media. They keep me in touch with dozens of friends, whom I might otherwise have contact with just every few years, or every few decades. They let me share articles that I think bring greater understanding of a subject, usually with a comment of my own, and enjoy similar… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Some of you know that I’ve spent the last few winters in a small mobile home in a small trailer court in Ft. Myers, Florida. I own the home, pay rent on the lot, like everyone else in this situation. You also know at this point that the hurricane that just hit… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I have recently noticed several semi-trucks with lug nuts on their front tires that are pointed and stick out beyond the edge of the cab. I’m concerned that they could cause damage to other vehicles. Is there a law about this?     Answer:  I believe you are referring to the… Read More

Everything Old Is New Again By Lois Wiirre Special to the Dispatch As I drove through Town the other day, I had noticed the trees along one street were starting to show some of their color. I was thinking to myself that it just cannot be that time of year,  can it? But on the TV the meterologist… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener In the early fall, the soil is still warm so roots will continue to grow. Spring planted shrubs or trees will get off to a slower start as the soil hasn’t warmed up to the optimum temperatures for root growth. Fall planted plants will begin root growth sooner, and leaf out… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor, Frazee-Vergas Forum As of Jan. 1, 2023, Minnesota’s minimum-wage rates will be adjusted for inflation to $10.59 an hour for large employers and $8.63 an hour for other state minimum wages. The current large-employer minimum wage, $10.33, will increase by 26 cents to $10.59. Other state minimum wages, including the small-employer, youth and training… Read More