I’ve been reading the book “Prairie Fires” by Caroline Fraser. I chose it for a couple of reasons. First was that it involves Laura Ingalls Wilder who, along with her family, lived at De Smet, South Dakota for many years. De Smet is about 40 miles west of our farm, so it feels like a ...
It is always interesting to read candidate information before an election. A public forum article contrasting the two Senate candidates for District 15 appeared in the Independent, Tuesday, Oct. 13. The writer wrote in support of a “well qualified woman on the ballot.” This candidate, Andrea Boettger of New Ulm has 47 years of experience on various councils and boards and presently serves as the “Chair of the Region Nine development Commission.” Running for the same senate position is Braxton Seifert of Marshall, “just getting started as a 21-year-old.” The letter ...
As we go to the polls on Nov 3, we should assess the candidates we vote for and, party aside, consider whether they share our values. Remember one of many values John F. Kennedy stood for: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what can you do for your country.” The most basic value we expect from our officeholders is public service. Not self-service. Our President is taking from our country for himself. His tariff policies have hit farmers hard, destroying a marketplace that took years to build and escalating the price of farmers’ input costs which cripples the average ...
I am writing in support Zack Filipovich for state auditor. First off, Zack is the only accountant in this race which makes him well qualified for the position. The job of state auditor is a very serious position and we need someone who is not only qualified but also trust worthy since it oversees how tax dollars are spent. The office is about local communities and listening to those local communities and that is something Zack has demonstrated while showing up all over the state. He is a proven leader, public servant, and has served greatly on the Duluth City Council. It seems that ...
Autumn is the season of cool weather, brightly colored trees, first frosts, bountiful harvests and school Homecomings. It’s also a season of migration. Creatures that spend the summer in northern regions of North America travel south where they can have a comfortable winter. My familiarity with migration has involved two species. The first is the monarch butterfly, which flies all the way to southern Mexico. The second is the Canada geese. They go from Canada to Missouri through a fly zone that includes southwestern Minnesota. The butterflies were plentiful in 2026. I grew ...
Mid-term elections are fast upon us. Mr. Trump says that we should pretend that his name is on the ballot. Okay then. I get to follow two Congressional races. Congressional District One is most of southern Minnesota and District Seven is most of western Minnesota. I am on the edge in CD7. CD1 begins at my line fence which borders two townships. There is a longtime Republican incumbent serving in each of those. I assume they would be happy with you pretending Mr. Trump was on the ballot when you see their names. Trump’s popularity has sunk to historic lows nationally. But support ...
