Celebrate  Farmers Market week Aug. 2-8 To the Editor, Once a week in the summertime, brightly colored 10×10 tents pop up in a corner parking lot in my community. Under each one of those tents is a producer, crafter, or small business owner who has tables of goods for sale. The next farmers market in… Read More

By Jessica Carlson Otter Tail County Master  Gardener Volunteer By the time July rolls around, many Minnesota gardeners might think the planting season is over. The peas have been picked, the garlic is nearly ready to pull, if not already, and empty rows start appearing in the garden. The good news is those open spaces… Read More

By Jesse Grabow Ask a Trooper Question: I saw your recent article about the visually impaired and white canes. I don’t think a lot of people are aware for something similar for the hearing impaired. Can you talk about that?   Answer: You are correct. Minnesota has a law that when a totally or partially… Read More

the prairie spy A man, a miss, A car, a curve. He kissed the miss, And missed the curve. (I know. You’ve seen this before. I was six or seven and can remember seeing one of these close to home in Iowa, on Hwy 9, from the back seat of the family 1949 Chevrolet. Each… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Well let’s time travel back around 30 years ago. I was in college at the time, not sure which school…U of M Crookston, NDSCS Wahpeton, MSU in Moorhead or NDSU.   I believe it was sometime when I was wrestling at MSU, but attending NDSU through the TRI-College… Read More

By Alisha Asleson Master Gardener By midsummer, even the healthiest petunias can begin to look tired. After weeks of producing colorful blooms, the plants often become leggy, develop long stems with fewer flowers, and lose the full, mounded shape they had in spring. While it may seem counterintuitive, this is the perfect time to give… Read More

Question: I know school is out but I had a grandchild that served on their school patrol. Can you talk about this so people are aware and can keep all our children safe?   Answer: When you see a student safety patrol helping schoolmates cross a street or highway, you must come to a complete… Read More

The prairie spy The very first thing you noticed when you set foot in Vietnam was sandbags. Well, sandbags after you noticed the sweltering humidity and heat, I guess. Everything sandbaged. Everywhere, sandbagged. The mess hall; the outhouse–yes, even the outhouse; all buildings, sleeping areas, headquarters offices; everything. This story is about filling sandbags, and… Read More

By Jessica Carlson Otter Tail County  Master Gardener Volunteer After a long spring, many Minnesota gardeners are finally seeing the reward for their patience. Annuals are beginning to fill out containers, perennials are coming into bloom, and roses are starting to put on their seasonal display. The garden seems to finally be settling into the… Read More

Ask a trooper Question: I saw last article talking about motorcycles. I know there was a new law last year about lane splitting. Can you write about that? Answer: Lane splitting and lane filtering was legal in Minnesota as of July 1, 2025. Motorists and motorcyclists need to be aware of this new law and… Read More