This week I decided to walk down to the Bike Shop on Main Street in downtown and talk with owner Chad Kulla. He was one of the more vocal merchants at the last week’s meeting of the Marshall Downtown Business Association that I reported on in my last column. In fact, Kulla has been vocal at ...

This summer I’ve noticed for the first time some widespread effects of Emerald Ash Borer in the Marshall area. There are clusters of partially defoliated ash trees in locations such as Southwest Minnesota State University and the Eatros Place housing addition on the opposite side of town. ...

I have followed the World Series since 1965; the year the Dodgers beat our Twins. I was 9. As I got older, I realized the “World” Series isn’t really the world. The World Cup is the world, the entire world. Right now, here in the middle of the continent, the World Cup surrounds us. ...

We have begun learning about Karen (Drury) Rafson, who was born to Bertha (Weidauer) and Edwin A. Drury as the youngest of five children. Karen did not have the usual farm chores responsibilities growing up, as her older siblings were already heavily involved in the farm and house work. ...

The social news or gossip columns in the old newspapers are always fascinating to read. A special section in the newspaper was devoted to the social media of the day. The whereabouts of local people and events were often featured in these columns. Here are a few from The News Messenger of Lyon ...

Back in February, my brother and I went to Sustainable Safari, which is located in the Maplewood Mall. We needed a “pick-me-up” of sorts after the loss of our mother, so we checked out the indoor zoo at the mall. There’s also a location in Burnsville. I’ve seen mentions of this place ...