Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator The recent severe weather flooded fields and basements, and damaged trees and structures across Minnesota. Many trees snapped in the wind and some were completely uprooted due to the saturated soils.  If you are dealing with fallen trees, here are a few suggestions from our tree experts Gary Johnson… Read More

Views from the Cab By David Tollefson, Columnist What a difference a year makes! I’m not the largest farmer around, but this would be a sample of what went on last year and is going on this year. 2021                                     … Read More

From Where I Sit By Pat Spilseth, Columnist Remember the cartoon of Snoopy typing the first line of his novel “It was a dark and stormy night”? Well, this time it’s me. I’m using his famous line for my weekly column.    It was a dark and stormy night…sirens were screaming warnings of looming tornados coming in… Read More

What’s on the Horizon for Public Health By Marcia Schroeder, RN, Horizon Public Health There is saying among pilots: There are those who have landed with the gear up, and those who are going to. My confession to you is I landed with my gear up. I had COVID-19! Normally I write these articles with the intention… Read More

Stoneage Ramblings By John R. Stone Last week’s unusually wet weather was something different after last year, when it seemed we were looking at every cloud hoping something wet would fall from it. Tuesday’s senior golf morning start was cancelled by rain. Wednesday we showed up and gave it a shot after believing the radar that… Read More

Notes from the Capitol By Rep. Paul Anderson The legislative session is rapidly drawing to a close with this being the last full week of work in St. Paul. There is sometimes talk of a special session to complete passage of major bills, but that likely won’t be the case this year because the two-year budget… Read More

If you don’t condemn it, you condone it From Gordy Wagner, Glenwood Have we fallen this far as a society?  The letter writer of a few weeks ago brought up excellent points concerning the vile, disgusting political signs on 210th Avenue on the outskirts of Glenwood.  I’m wondering if my friends who are Republican approve… Read More

Guest Opinion Submitted by the Starbuck VFW Post 4582 Auxiliary With MEMORIAL DAY just a few weeks away we will soon see “BUDDY POPPIES” showing up around town everywhere.  The history of the red poppy dates back to World War I when Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae noticed red poppies blooming in the battlefields where… Read More

View from a Prairie Home By Hege Herfindahl, Columnist A kind friend asked me yesterday if I wanted to celebrate syttende mai with her group in Sons of Norway. I told her syttende mai was painful for me and that I would think about it. Being a kind and compassionate person, she told me she understood. But… Read More

Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator Join University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners, Douglas County on May 21 for the return of their annual plant sale. This year, the sale will be held at the Alexandria Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Many of you look forward to purchasing plants that have been divided from… Read More