Gardeners should avoid committing ‘planticide’ By Bev Johnson Master Gardener Every gardener has committed “planticide” at some time or other. Planted an acid lover in alkaline soil, a sun lover in the shade or a plant that likes damp feet in sandy soil.  Put a plant that wants “peaty” soil in regular garden soil. Or planted… Read More

Mursu Dairy would like to thank whomever it was that nominated us for the 2022 MN Milk Producer of the Year award. We would also like to thank our family for their wonderful help. Bridget (Weller) for many hours put into the Kindergarten field trip and husband Brad. Trent (Mursu) with various farm duties and wife… Read More

To the Editor, Long-time New York Mills Area Food Shelf Board of Directors members retired from service and leadership at the February annual meeting. Ronda Koehler has been the long-serving chairman of the group, providing overall leadership and guidance, as well as working at the monthly Food Shelf distribution day. Board member Bonnie Welter organized and… Read More

Everything Old is New Again By Lois Wiirre Special to the Dispatch The Ides of March means “the first new moon of a given month,” which falls between March 13-15. And for any Shakespearean fans, March 15 was the day Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. It also set the stage for civil war and the collapse… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Here’s a column for those of you–us–who heat with wood.  Wood is cellulose, a carbon based catch-all that includes a lot of different fuels. Paper, field corn, oats, beans, all kinds of grass. And so many more that it’s useless to keep listing them. All of these substances share a common trait: When… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: What am I supposed to do if I am at a railroad crossing and need to report an emergency?   Answer: Call 911 and provide the needed information. Every highway-rail crossing has an Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign that provides a 24/7/365 telephone number to report problems or emergencies at the… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Virgil M. bought the farm next to ours in Iowa, when I was 13. He didn’t come to farm, and rented the land to dad. He had just sold his large electrical wiring business in another town, trying to slow down a bit as he approached his sixties. He wasn’t slowing… Read More

Tomatoes, peppers should be planted 6-8 weeks before they are put in the garden By Bev Johnson Master Gardener Bunkey wanted to get a head start on his garden a few years ago. He planted tomato and pepper seeds on March 1. They popped up by the end of the first week and took right off. The last… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective Chad Koenen If there was a silver lining to last week’s massive snowstorm that essentially brought this area to a standstill on Wednesday it was that the storm occurred on March 1. As I made my rounds last Wednesday, I think I heard at least a dozen times the old saying of “In… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: Is it illegal for a vehicle pulling a trailer to have a ladder or ramp hanging from the side of the trailer?   Answer: You are able to have ladders or ramps secured to the side of an enclosed trailer as long as you do not exceed the width of 8… Read More