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It's time for the hard side

Local Columns

I would like to think that most of us enjoy apple juice. Talking about apples seems very appropriate at this time of the year. Our local apple orchards are full of hanging little balls of apple goodness. Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, and it's filled with colors and festivities. We should always appreciate this season by stopping, looking and sensing the beauty of it. As we know, things will get more challenging very soon because the hard season of winter will envelope us in its cold arms. However, not all hardness is bad because it's very easy to bring together hardness ...

Shot suggestions and choke points

Local Columns

The early season flush of a sharptailed grouse – or better yet a nice group of them — can provide an exhilarating rush to kick start fall in the field. As autumn progresses, however, the remaining birds learn fast, and once the sentry sharpie takes to the air at a distance, it’s likely ...

Gone antiquing

Community Voices

Our old neighbor Al Warnes had a knack for malapropisms that were unintentionally amusing. For instance, “transplant” always came out as “replant” as in, “She got a kidney replant.” And “rummage sale” was unfailingly pronounced as “rubbish sale.” That last turn of phrase ...

Mall’s challenges have potential to become new opportunities

Community Voices

The Market Street Mall is up for sale again, and many people wonder what the future will hold for it. The Independent published a top of the front page story a week ago in which mall owner Dan Kallevig confirmed that the property is for sale. He wants to continue operating his Kal’s Motor Group business in the mall after the real estate is sold. Kallevig, from Wadena, bought the Market Street Mall in 2023 when it came up for sale after a bankruptcy process. The fact that he wants to stay is a real plus. He’s not simply walking away from it after three years. It has Kal’s and ...

Two journalists with passion for news

Community Voices

I am a big fan of newspapers in general and local journalism in particular. My reading world took a blow when two friends announced their retirement in the same week. Fritz Busch is stepping down to a part-time role as staff writer at The Journal in New Ulm. Deb Moldaschel is leaving the Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch where she has been helping out after a stint as editor. Fritz and Deb are my age and I’ve known them as far back as I can see. The age we are is made interesting by seeing how all of us boomers wrangle with this thing called “retirement.” Many of my friends are ...

Spending taxpayer money by the numbers

Letters to the Editor

Taxpayer cost of the June 2025 military parade: $25-45 million Taxpayer portion of the cost of the White House East Wing demolition and proposed ballroom: $307-352 million Taxpayer cost of renaming the Department of Defense: $52 million (Pentagon estimate) Taxpayer cost for the reflecting pool: $16 million Taxpayer cost for the proposed renaming and renovations of the Kennedy Center: $257-285 million Taxpayer cost for the proposed Trump arch: $15-100 million Total project costs: $672-850 million Taxpayer costs for 108 days for the Iran war: $113.3 billion ($2-3 ...