When you’re trying to make the stars your old friends and getting to know your way around the constellations you need all the help you can get. Asterisms can be wonderful tools to get the job done. Asterisms are large and obvious formations of stars that are very easy to find. They are not ...

The sun was shining and the temperature was warm as I headed to Walnut Grove last Friday. I decided to volunteer at the “Little House” cast reunion that day, and I was curious to see what the weekend would bring. Nine of the stars from the show were scheduled to be there, and fans from all ...

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re at peak cherry season, particularly cherries from the Northwestern United States. In fact, slight climate differences throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana ensure that ripe cherries are being harvested from June through August, and ...

Which one would it be: Fetzer, Toasted Head or Josh? Blind wine tastings are interesting but not always a vehicle to perfection. Here’s what I mean by that... For about the last 40 years, a wine’s worthiness has been measured by a number of dynamics — including its color, aroma, sense ...

We recently had a display at the Marshall Farmers Market where we asked willing residents to respond to a recycling survey. Recycling has Golden Rules. These are the basic rules to follow when recycling anything. When residents follow these simple rules, recycling works better for everyone. ...

The tinny buzz of the mosquito hovering annoyingly close to my ear was almost enough to distract me from completing the draw on my bow string and setting up the umpteenth arrow of the day. With a sideways exhale that pushed the micro-menace away for a few more seconds, I steadied and clicked on ...

Hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since I’ve been to the moon. I didn’t personally go, of course. For one thing, I lacked the tiniest modicum of training or skills that it takes to become an astronaut. I have stuff, but none of it is the right stuff. For another, I was 11 years ...

For young people whose parent passes away, Social Security is here. Losing a parent is both emotionally painful and, often times, devastating to a family’s finances. In the same way that Social Security helps to lift up the disabled and seniors when they need it, we support families when an ...

There’s planet congestion this month as Saturn joins Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter in the early evening Marshall heavens and in my book it’s the best planetary telescope target. I’m certainly not alone in that opinion. I hear oohs and awes and many other reactions during my star parties ...

Last year was the first time we visited Lake Herman State Park near Madison, S.D. It was still winter and snow was on the ground. Ross had noticed the railroad village near the park and said that we should come back in the summertime to see what it’s all about. Well we did head to Madison ...

The best way to get and stay hydrated is, of course, by drinking water. In our bodies, water helps to digest food, transport nutrients and oxygen to all cells of the body and it helps cushion our joints and organs as well as carry waste products out of our body. Staying hydrated is also ...

Sitting on the shelf in the wine store, two bottles of wine were having an intense conversation. The red wine believed it was a better wine because of its strength, deep red color and hefty spicy taste. The rosé countered it was a better wine because its color was soothing, its aroma was ...

Question: Can you give out information about fog lights? I notice a lot of people have them on and when I am meeting them on the road in the evening or at night, some are very bright and make seeing the road very difficult. Some of them appear to be out of alignment and are blinding. I hope ...

There was nothing subtle about the take that came along the stand of watershield leaves which partially covered the surface of the clear shallows. A solid bump elicited the hyperspastic reel-down on my baitcaster and the sweeping hookset which followed. Where most of the one- to two-pound fish ...

Be sure you realize the financial responsibility you’re taking on before co-signing a loan. Your friend or family member wants to take out a loan but they don’t qualify. They could, however, if someone co-signs, so they ask you. Before you jump in to help, understand how the decision ...

If we live long enough, many of us will become bionic. My wife is the latest example. She was recently given some new hardware, and not just mundane trinkets like the bowling trophies she won as a teenager. We’re talking about space age materials and the fusion process. It wasn’t so ...

Part I Following are brief histories of the above named towns in southwest Minnesota. The title comes from a long-ago “ditty” that appeared in one of the Twin Cities Sunday newspapers. COTTONWOOD Cottonwood is one of the younger villages of Lyon County, situated in the midst of an ...

Social Security is at the forefront of keeping your online data secure, but you play a vital role in safeguarding your personal information too. Scammers commonly target people who are looking for Social Security program and benefit information. You might receive an advertisement in the mail, ...

Have you seen that really bright star popping out and dazzling the southeast Marshall sky after sunset? It’s hard to miss! It’s actually Jupiter, the biggest by far planet in our solar system. It’s basically a big ball of hydrogen and helium gas with a diameter of around 88,000 miles, ...

I never knew when it would happen … or how often. It was rarely in the morning, but sometimes in the afternoon and frequently in the evening when all of a sudden … BOOM! Now, this was July 4th in the 1970s in Missouri. The sound of fireworks exploding overhead throughout the day, and ...