Breaking News

Features

Bring something to dinner

Dear Annie: My wife and I are both retired seniors. We sold our house and moved to the town where our son, daughter-in-law and grandson live. My wife loves to take the little guy swimming and do many other activities with him. Every Sunday, we have a family dinner at our home. They come with much joy, and we all have a great time together. My question is about the fact that they never bring anything, such as a bottle of wine, and they have never invited us out to dinner or to have dinner at their home. Are my expectations wrong, or did we simply miss the boat with our son’s 42-year ...

Should I travel alone?

Dear Heloise: You offer travel hints for families, but what about us single women who want to travel but can’t convince anyone else to go with us? Isn’t it dangerous to travel alone to foreign countries? — Andrea Y., Pulaski, Tenn. Andrea, first check with the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) to find out which countries they ask you to stay away from. After that, go online and check out travel sites for suggestions and advice. Traveling alone doesn’t have to be scary, lonely or dull. You’ll meet people, conquer your fears and have a nice time ...

Measles vaccines

Dear Dr. Roach: In a recent column on the measles vaccine, you wrote: “Older people may lose immunity, and some people born between 1963 and 1967 may have received an inactive vaccine.” Wait, what?! How do we know if we were not properly vaccinated, and what should we do about it? — L.T. Answer: There were two types of measles vaccines available between 1963 and 1967. One type was a live, attenuated vaccine, and there were three strains given: the Schwarz, Edmonston B and Moraten strains. If given on or after the 1st birthday, these strains continue to provide lifelong immunity. ...

Doing his best

MARSHALL Like most Minnesotans, Ted Stamp doesn’t blink when he’s confronted by harsh winter weather conditions first thing in the morning. Instead he carries on with his daily routine, preparing to make the trip from River Winds Apartments on Jewett Street at the east end of Marshall ...

Changing lives — one chair at a time

MARSHALL Action Trackchair has been in the business of changing lives for 10 years — providing freedom, independence and mobility for its customers. Reflecting back over the last decade, owners Tim and Donna Swenson, as well as employee Alan Macht, said real-life stories of people whose ...

The gift of life

BALATON Balaton native Alyssa Kirk is willing to live the rest of her life with only one kidney to try and improve — and potentially save — the life of her 12-year-old cousin, Kristina Lunsford. Lunsford has been on the donor list for a year and Kirk has undergone testing that spanned ...