Time to put down our weapons… From Phil Stumpf Glenwood By the time many of us read this letter, the 47th president will have been sworn in. All the major media outlets will have covered the ceremony. Another topic the networks have been covering for the past couple of years are the ongoing wars, country… Read More

Cyber Moment By Mike Pfeiffer, Cyberfyfe LLC.  Welcome to our series where we explore the unique cybersecurity challenges and strategies tailored to different generations.  From the Greatest Generation to the up-and-coming Gen Alpha, digital threats vary just as widely as each generation’s comfort and familiarity with technology.  In this series, we’ll delve into how cybersecurity risks… Read More

Stoneage Ramblings By John R. Stone How much regulation is “just right” and how much is “too much.” It is probably a different view depending upon whether or not the person or business is being regulated or a person benefitting from regulation. We have regulations for just about everything under the sun. And we have them… Read More

View From the Cab By David Tollefson, Columnist Thanks to a good friend who lives in Wisconsin, but whose family has vacation property in Pope County. He alerted me to an article originally printed in the Des Moines, Iowa Register, but published in the January 5, 2025 issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, concerning the future of… Read More

Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator Winter in Minnesota is tough—not just on us, but also on our trees and shrubs. Snow, ice and road salt can really take a toll on woody perennials, leaving them bent, broken or even dead by spring. But don’t worry! With a little preparation, you can help your plants… Read More

The Outdoors By Scott Rall, Outdoors Columnist The winter we never had last year has appeared this year. At least in the form of decent ice as a result of day after day of below zero temperatures during the overnights. Most of the local lakes in my area are at 14-15 inches of solid clear ice… Read More

Ask a Trooper By Sgt. Jesse Grabow, State Trooper  Question: Do you have any advice on what a person should do if they are driving along in the dark and their headlights go out? Answer: If your headlights suddenly go out, try using your parking lights, hazard warning lights or turn signals—one of them may work and give… Read More

View From a Prairie Home by Hege Hernfindahl, Columnist Sometimes it almost scares me. How much I love. How deep it is. How vulnerable loving someone makes me. But it is worth it. To love. My heart seems to swell within me when I think about people I love so much. My family. And there are so… Read More

From Where I Sit By Pat Spilseth, Columnist French Existentialist writer Albert Camus wrote “In the midst of winter I found there was within me an invincible summer.” Today my windows are covered with crystalline frost, spider webs of feathery ice formations. Obviously, a draft is present, stealing heat from my house. However, the mosaic patterns are… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective By Tim Douglas, Publisher Just when we thought the new balance in the Minnesota State Legislature would force our representatives to be less partisan, we are witnessing a swing the other direction. On election night, House DFL leadership was disappointed that their majority had turned into a 67-67 tie with Republicans. Seats the DFL… Read More