To the Editor, Wanted to end the year on a cheerful note recounting all the good things that happened. End of paragraph. Not all bad if sports and entertainment count, but experiencing the onset of what could be fatal attacks on every positive aspect of life in these formerly United States let fear and loathing creep in.  Our… Read More

By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom Harvest Church The time between Christmas and New Year’s is always a little strange to me. Christmas celebrations aren’t quite finished, New Year’s hasn’t arrived yet, and many of us are tired—emotionally, physically, and spiritually. But I’ve come to appreciate this “in-between” moment, because it gives us space to pause before rushing ahead…. Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Friday, Dec. 19 9:47 a.m. Caller wanting to report concerns about neighbor’s cats. Officer checked on the felines and they seemed to be well cared for. 9:08 p.m. Assist with a vehicle that slid off the road. Saturday, Dec. 20 2:38 a.m. Report of a disturbance. Incident turned into a homicide investigation. 11:37 a.m. Disturbance… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda It seems like lately that the sexual revolution keeps taking new directions.  But I’ve felt safe at home. At least there, such issues are overshadowed by the frozen septic system drain field, the dentist’s bill, and a new pair of shoes that hurt my feet. So it was with some dismay that… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I know you were talking about winter safety tips in your last article. Can you go over the items a person should have in their vehicle when traveling in the winter? Answer: When assembling a winter travel survival kit, it’s best to include a variety of items that prepare you for… Read More

Barbara Winkler U of M Extension Think gardening season is months away? Not so fast! As. Minnesota moves into January, you can get a head start with winter sowing, a simple, budget-friendly way to grow native plants that pollinators love. All you need are recycled containers (like milk jugs), potting soil, and seeds. These mini greenhouses… Read More

By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom Harvest Church Many people approach the Bible as though the Old Testament and New Testament are two unrelated sections bound together by tradition. Yet Scripture presents a different picture—one unified story in which Jesus Christ stands at the center from beginning to end. The writers of the New Testament repeatedly affirm that… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Notes from the Farm…Well, we had quite a week last week down in Bloomington. The DA and I attended the annual conference for the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The conference is largely for the employees of the districts with continuing education type of seminars.   We went… Read More

To the Editor, As I’m sure folks have seen by now, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) recently presented the state budget forecast, which paints a bleak picture for the financial future of our state: Minnesota is heading towards a $5.4 billion deficit. A few years ago, we were first made aware of this deficit—it’s not shocking… Read More

By Alan Linda The Prairie Spy For some reason, my memories of my father, who was a farmer his whole life, saying “That fence is 40 rods long” popped into my consciousness lately. Other than that it was a unit of measurement, I never had a clue what he was talking about. It turns out that the rod… Read More