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 growing season. A simple… 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 how… Read More

The Prairie Spy My family in the past has had its share of contact with somewhat famous people, if by famous we’re talking about outlaws.  One such legend includes my Uncle Hugh, who had a farm in NE Iowa that bordered on some caves, where it was rumored that Jesse James and his gang hid when… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Friday, June 5 10:06 a.m. 911 hang-up on Co. Highway 10. 6:25 p.m. Assist with an elderly resident that fell outside. Officer helped spouse get him inside. 10:28 p.m. Assist with a disturbance/domestic on St Hwy 87. Saturday, June 6 2:45 p.m. Assist with a residential burglar alarm. All was well, canceled while enroute. 2:46 p.m…. Read More

Working in a farm successor  as part of a  retirement plan To the Editor, Are you one of the many farmers without an identified farm successor? Purdue University says that’s around 75 percent, and about half expect nonfamily members to take over. A gradual shift of responsibilities and ownership, plus an extended mentoring period, can help ensure the… Read More

It is the very essence of yours and my humanity that we have been given the gift of emotion. From gladness to sadness, and back again, that is our gift. My past experiences have covered a lot of emotional territory. I remember back to when I went to my brother’s oldest daughter’s wedding. I too have… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Farm…After we quit milking cows, we turned the old stanchion barn into pens for calves and goats. Currently, we use part of those pens as an alley way and a chute/headgate so we can work the cattle under cover. This includes preg checking the cows and weaning… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Farm…The total is 48 calves on the ground for the year. I don’t believe there were any huge hiccups the past week with calving. We plan to separate the cows with calves into a different pasture so it will be easier to spot the new born calves.  … Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda The year was 1969. I guess you can rightly say I survived Vietnam, although at the time, after I got home, and once in a while even now, I have to wonder. This you’re about to read? I call it:  “I remember.” I remember stepping off a jet airliner in Danang, stiff-legged… Read More

To the Editor, It’s no secret people across the state are feeling the pinch—from taxes at every corner, to insurance and medical care, costs keep climbing. Meanwhile, Governor Walz and Democrats have shown they’re not listening. Instead, they continue to make life more expensive. And when we talk about the “health” of our healthcare system, there’s… Read More