The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Some time ago, at a place where I worked, everyone came back in on Monday morning, with everyone eager to share their weekend behaviors with everyone else. Just like kindergarten show and tell, kind of. Bob (not his real name, because the real names are changed here to protect word murderers, which… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I’m pregnant and I’ve seen seat belt attachments that clip under the seat and say they make belts safer for pregnant people. Are these safe to use?   Answer: I contacted the expert who is the Community Programs and Occupant Protection Manager for the Minnesota Safety Council and here is what… Read More

By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom Harvest Church Scripture teaches that the life of faith is best when lived through a long vision—a way of choosing today what will bring blessing tomorrow. This kind of vision begins with understanding God’s promises and trusting that His work often unfolds beyond what we can immediately see. When God brought Abraham outside… Read More

Garver’s Movie Review Bob Garver Previously, in “Wicked:” Aspiring witches, green-skinned outcast Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and pink-and-popular Glinda (Ariana Grande), started off as enemies at school, but then became friends. They decided to go their separate ways after discovering a plan by the nefarious Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) to blame and punish animals for problems in the… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Chief…Winter has arrived. Last Tuesday was the first whopper of a snow storm. There were not too many incidents in town, but the outlying areas definitely had some traffic issues with vehicles off the road.   Larry told me that the roads that had not been driven on… Read More

The Prairie SpyAlan “Lindy” Linda The English language, about which I have written intensely, never fails to enchant me, especially up here on the northern end of the great rural American prairie. That’s because, around here, you have to stay alert for Finnglish, which is a hybrid cross between English and Finnish that is heard… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I want to make sure my child is safe in the car, but I’ve heard that some car seats sold online are fake or don’t meet U.S. safety standards. How can I tell if a car seat is unsafe? Answer: Good question. I reached out to the expert who is the… Read More

By Becker County  Master Gardeners Holiday cacti require short days and cool night temperatures to initiate flower buds. Keep these plants in a brightly lit, cool location (55-65º F at night, 60-70º in the day). They require 12 hours of complete darkness at night to prompt bud formation. Too much water and not enough light can stress… Read More

By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom Harvest Church There are times in life when God calls us to step out of our comfort zone. He might nudge us toward a new direction, ask us to take a stand, or invite us to pick up our cross and follow Him. And while others may not always understand or join… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Farm…Pigs in a blanket. That was my Halloween costume. Always good when one can make fun of themselves.   Deer hunting came and went this year on the farm. We had six of us hunting and only got one deer. Opening weekend was my weekend off so I… Read More