The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda We had a large family gathering here on the farm some three weeks ago. It was late evening after a supper of great leftovers that had been left over from the gathering. About then, a bat came swooping over our heads. That’s not good. It gets worse. Another flying bat joined the party…. Read More

Publisher’s Perspective Chad Koenen Summer vacation is a great reminder of the simpler things in life. There are family trips, extra time with your kids and a chance to enjoy some additional daylight after work. Summer vacation is also an annual reminder that many of us have no idea what the younger generation is doing… Read More

By Jessica Carlson Master Gardener intern In Otter Tail County, when Master Gardener Bev Johnson is mentioned, (and don’t forget Bunky) I immediately think of a relatable gardening article written with personalized garden wisdom, peppered with tangible, real-life instruction and useful information. I recall years of reading her article in our local newspaper dating back well into… Read More

By Cora Hoffer senior policy associate,  Center for Rural Affairs Energy affordability and reliability are being threatened in rural America, with costly consequences for families, farmers, and small-town economies. On July 23, the U.S. Department of Energy rescinded a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee for a new high-voltage transmission line designed to deliver power across the Midwest, including low-cost… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda The term “mad as a hatter” predates Lewis Carroll’s character in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. (Where it was used.) It refers to the 18th and 19th-century hat-making industry in England, where hatters used a mercury nitrate to treat fur, exposing the workers to toxic fumes that caused mercury poisoning. This condition… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: It seems like we have been seeing a fair amount of rain along with flash flood warnings. Can you talk about what motorists should do if they encounter such a thing?   Answer: Flooding can happen when streams and rivers overflow, dams or levees break, snow melts rapidly, or during heavy… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda This is the third–and last– of “Three things I’ve learned.” (One hopes that one has learned more than that in this entire lifetime. But the rest isn’t at all clear, as those of you who are growing older probably agree. Don’t like; maybe just agree.)   I learned this on a service… Read More

To the Editor, The Otter Tail County Relay for Life is completed for the 2025 year. All the hard work, planning and preparations are completed and discussed. We will make some changes for the next Relay, but overall it was a very successful event. There are many of you that we would like to thank for all… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener Gardens are going crazy this summer. Vines are so long they look like they are heading for the nearest interstate. Tomato plants are topping their cages and weeds are flourishing. Time for gardeners to take control before they can’t get in the garden for all the foliage. Start with the vines…. Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I have a new driver in the house and they asked a question that got me thinking. If someone has a crash and hits a power pole, what should they do in that situation? Answer: If your car comes into contact with a utility pole, wire or power box, you should: •… Read More