By Benjay Hamm Special to the Forum When the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago, newspapers throughout the colonies shared the life-changing news with their readers.  With all of the enormous changes in this country and media since 1776, it’s noteworthy that more than 5,000 newspapers are still informing their communities about what… Read More

Graduation for high school and college students has once again happened, and as this current group of students gets closer to that time when they enter the job market, there is a lot of effort on their part to find jobs. Jobs are harder to come by. This waning job market has some difficulties to… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Farm…(Week of the week before since I forgot to send it to the paper). Another new calf tagged this last week. It took me a few days to find her after the initial morning I found her in the weeds, brush. There were a couple… Read More

By Jesse Grabow Ask a Trooper Question: I have a slow moving emblem for my vehicle. Can I use that when I am driving at normal speed limits or must I take that off?   Answer: Vehicles designed to operate at 35 miles per hour or less must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem. The use… Read More

How to identify new and  emerging leaders To the Editor, Every thriving small town has one thing in common: people who are willing to step up, invest their time, and work alongside others to make their community better. Strong leaders don’t just keep good work moving forward. They inspire others, build momentum, and help shape… Read More

Question: I am serving in the military and my driver’s license is about to expire. I am not sure when I will be able to get it renewed. What are my options?   Answer: As an active duty U.S. military, Peace Corps or foreign service member who had a valid, unexpired Minnesota driver’s license or… Read More

By Bre Harris Otter Tail County Master Gardener It’s mid-September, the gardening season is winding down quickly, and I, for one, am ready to start packing it all up. The birds are fattening up on dried sunflower heads, the tomatoes are slowing down, and I’ve picked, watered, weeded and battled bugs. It’s been another fruitful… Read More

Although we all hope for the “good old days,”  meaning, those days when people could be people and behave accordingly, perhaps those days weren’t all that good. Here are some of the medications we used to take a hundred or so years ago. They’re not listed in any order, because all of them are about… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Chief…With school starting I should let you know of a new Minnesota law regarding school busses vehicles stopping when the bus is picking up or dropping off the kiddos.  “Drivers must now stop at least 20 feet from a school bus as soon as its… Read More

The prairie spy I shouted at Lt. S., my first officer, who is in charge of a lot of stuff. “Lt. S!”  “Lt. S!” “What’s wrong with our ship?” (Our ship to which I am referring is The Big Red House Rocket Ship, riding in which we have been making our steady way around the… Read More