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A sudden fall

Fall fell upon us with startling swiftness. One day we were sweating to the oldies even though we weren’t working out, and the next day we were frantically rummaging through our closets, searching for our jackets. Whose idea was it to hide all our cold weather clothing? Weather whiplash is nothing new in this part of the world. It’s common for us to be wearing parkas and mukluks in the morning and flipflops and a Hawaiian shirt in the afternoon. And we’ll probably be looking for that parka again by sundown. My uncle Dale told me about a spate of quick-change weather that he ...

Pool proposal not fiscally responsible

After attending the swimming pool open house, I understand some of the issues with the current facility. I question whether fixing the leaking problem in the current pool and upgrading the facility has ever been seriously considered. However, I do not support the proposed location of a new pool, and the projected size and cost. The proposed location is currently private property the City would have to purchase, taking it off the tax role. This property should remain on the tax role and available in the future for potential growth of a private business. I also understand the city would ...

Preventing breast cancer with mammograms

Breast cancer affects one in eight women. Add life-saving early detection to your list of autumn traditions like pumpkins, harvest and football. Your local health care team can help you prevent, detect and treat breast cancer. Among the best tools is a yearly mammogram for all women aged 40 and older. Let’s remember the facts: • Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer women face; around 240,000 cases will be found this year. • One in three of all new cancers found are breast cancer. • This year, more than 43,000 women will die from the disease; it’s second ...

Homecoming: Important college town tradition evident in Marshall

One of the things I like best about fall is college homecoming week; when we have a parade, a football game, receptions, awards programs and other campus events at Southwest Minnesota State University. It demonstrates the value of SMSU to all of southwest Minnesota. I know that value almost as well as anyone, as someone who defied the logic of the late 20th century that everyone should have the experience of going off to college. When I became seriously interested in attending SSU (the previous name) I heard from some well-meaning teachers and friends of parents who thought I should ...

Before the Marshall Area YMCA

Editor’s note: The Marshall Area YMCA is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Members of the community are sharing some of their memories of bringing the YMCA to Marshall. In the late 1990’s the completion of the Marshall Flood Control Project opened up much of the city for commercial and industrial expansion as well as housing areas. The issue quickly moved to not enough people to fill available jobs in the community. The challenge for the community and employers in the community was how to attract and retain families in the community to provide local employers the needed ...

A blue Halloween

A hard frost has heralded the end of the growing season even though there are some plants – they are probably guys — who are insisting, “Really, I’m fine! It’s just a leaf wound!” Our garden turned in a stellar performance despite this summer’s incessant heat and insufficient rainfall. Perhaps this was due to the large amounts of cow residue I plowed under last fall. Or maybe I’m full of bull residue and just got lucky. The pumpkins and the gourds went crazy then went AWOL. They started out as spindly, sickly little sprouts that looked totally harmless. Then, ...