The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda This young Marine popped into sight out of the Vietnam jungle, maybe 50-60 meters out and away from me, where I sat watching a peaceful tropical morning appear from the top of my sandbag bunker. It was a tranquill morning. And then it wasn’t. I had a locked and loaded M14… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow With the holidays upon us I wanted to share a message about distracted driving. Here is some information we recently shared on our Department of Public Safety blog. “It was supposed to be a routine trip for 20-year-old Megan Severson. On Oct. 17, 2019, Severson was driving from Preston in southeastern Minnesota… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Every few years, a new device that is a “guaranteed unbelievable breakthrough in energy savings” comes along. Back in the sixties, a “new breakthrough in the dynamic viscosity of hydraulics” was the latest heating “discovery.” This device, which as I remember weighed quite a bit, like around 30 or 40 pounds, bragged… Read More

By Bev Johnson Master Gardener Petunia has always envied her Mother in Law’s ability to grow Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus. They are huge, the size of a bushel basket and she gets them to bloom at the proper time. Petunia finally got up the courage to ask Alma (she is quite a formidable woman) if she… Read More

To the Editor, My colleagues at West Central Initiative often smile when I say, “Donor Advised Funds are the coolest thing,” because they know that this mantra of mine is so very true. Not only do Donor Advised Funds help the donor with charitable giving throughout the year, but what our donors do with these funds… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda As time goes by here on the farm, we have been watching my Amish neighbor handle a crop of corn on acreage which he has rented from me. Finding just a mere one or two words to convey how both entertaining and instructive this viewing has been is difficult. What of course… Read More

To the Editor, Rural small business owners and agricultural producers can decrease energy costs through energy efficiency measures and the installation of renewable energy systems such as solar, with the help of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  Grants are now available for up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, and guaranteed loans are available… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: Hello, I am looking at getting my kids an e-scooter for Christmas. I was just curious before making the purchase what are the laws and rules for these things. Answer: Motorized foot scooters (also termed “electric scooters” or “e-scooters”) have seen a marked increase in use recently, primarily due to their… Read More

To the Editor, New York Mills Area Food Shelf Thanks Teachers, Students and Parents.  We are reminded once again what a wonderful community we have in New York Mills.  In November, students from the school participated in a food drive called Fill the Yeti, sponsored by Leighton Media, J & K Marine, Builders First Source and Bremer… Read More

By Adam Johnson New York Mills Superintendent December is here, which brings basketball, wrestling, snow, and holiday celebrations. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Girls basketball season started with a close loss versus Underwood and a victory over Verndale. The wrestling season started on December… Read More