The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda As if it isn’t bad enough that this winter of 21-22 has come at us time and again with a kick-butt-and-take-no-hostages attitude, it now seems determined to last forever. Driveways all over are shrieking their outrage. Sidewalks scream obscenities, demand better shovels more often. Vehicles drink more and demand less salt… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener This is a miserable time of year for gardeners. The only green you see is in your house plants. You have repotted them, given then their spring tonic, fertilizer and your fingernails are clean. Now what? Only in Ireland can you plant spuds on Good Friday. They get away with it because… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I have heard some talk about HEAT patrols that the State Patrol is a part of. Can you explain what this is? Answer: HEAT stands for Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT). Motorists will see a significant State Patrol presence on freeways around the state through August as troopers focus on… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective Chad Koenen If riding a bull is one of the most exciting 8 seconds in sports—Easter egg hunts could be the most exciting 5 minutes of the spring.  On Saturday, Dani, the girls and I attended three different Easter egg hunts in the area for the newspaper. It’s our annual Saturday of Easter… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda A recent trip to my snowy mailbox down at the end of the driveway produced a letter from the Jury Summons Processing Center for this county. Oh for joy: A summons for jury duty. I’ve never served on a jury. I know without being told that jury duty is nothing like… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I’ve noticed you use the word “crash” and not the word “accident” when talking about incidents while on the radio. T.V. and the newspaper. Why is that? Answer: I’d be glad to talk about this as I am passionate about this topic and it is certainly intentional. The spark for this… Read More

To the Editor, Minnesota has a massive state government surplus of approximately $10 billion and our state’s citizens are among the nation’s highest taxed at a time we’re all looking for some relief. People are paying increased costs at the gas pump, at the grocery store, on their energy bills and pretty much everywhere else these days… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda A recent letter from the Wadena County Historical Society’s Lina Belar began: “You are part of a colorful and fascinating history…” It goes on to say: “You are a part of a wave of young dreamers who set their sights on a new way of life, owning a piece of land… in… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener We all know one; the guy who cuts his grass so perfectly that it looks like he used a razor and a ruler. Who trims his hedge with a T S square and if he could, would vacuum the leaves off his trees in the fall so they wouldn’t fall on the… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I saw your recent article about flooded roads. Do you have any advice on what a person should do if their vehicle plunges into the water? Answer: The dynamics of such an incident are ever-changing, so there is no one answer that will cover it all. Having witnessed and responded to… Read More