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Community Voices

The 1986 Masters: a motivating factor for high school golf

I watch at least part of the Masters golf tournament every April, but this year it has a special meaning. It’s been 40 years since Jack Nicklaus won the 1986 Masters at age 46 to earn his sixth Green Jacket. I watched his entire final round and cheered for him every step of the way. The Golden Bear and Arnold Palmer are the two professionals that led me to try golf in the late 1970s. Palmer’s last major was in 1964 and his last tournament win was in 1973. I hoped he’d win one more time and maybe more than one, but it didn’t happen. Nicklaus was still winning. I thought it ...

The gambling snare

There is a saying attributed to PT Barnum that goes like this: There is a sucker born every minute. One area of activity that this saying can apply to is gambling. How might it apply? The thought is that there is an inexhaustible supply of people who are willing to be exploited using games on which they can play and have fun, while they lose their money and make a profit for the casino or owner of the gambling house. The owners are correct in their assumption that there are lots of people who are quite comfortable and willing to lose their money. The owners may be confident ...

A community update from Marshall Public Schools

With the end of the school year in sight, I want to take a moment to share an update with our community to share updates on our schools and address topics that are important to our families as we think about finishing the school year strong. First, I want to acknowledge that there has been some confusion and concern surrounding the recent cut to the gymnastics program. We understand how meaningful this program has been to students and families, and we recognize that its reduction was disappointing to those directly impacted. I want to be very clear: Marshall Public Schools remains ...

Digging for treasure

My brother Les, his son Dustin, and I recently embarked on a treasure hunt. We didn’t have a map like the Count of Monte Cristo, so there was a certain amount of random digging involved. Not by hand, of course. Les and I have reached the age where “work smarter, not harder” isn’t just a good idea; our weary bones and creaky joints have made it a necessity. We weren’t searching for silver or gold: the metal we were seeking was cast iron. And we’re talking about a level of digging that required the deployment of Les and Dustin’s excavator. In lieu of a map, Les and I ...

Preventive health and immunizations

Every parent wants to do what’s best for their child, but sometimes those decisions are difficult. It’s important to look to trusted sources of information. One key topic is immunizations, which we consider to be a key component in preventive health. Your local primary care provider is a great source to answer questions about safety, side effects and benefits of vaccines at any age. Avera bases its recommendations for vaccines on research and recommendations from many reliable experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. At the end of the day, whether or not to get ...

On the Porch

The Lyon County Historical Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Program is Thursday, April 9 at the Lyon County Museum. Doors open at 5:30 pm. The annual meeting is at 6:00 pm, and the speaker, Dr. Anita Talsma Gaul, is at 6:30 pm. This event is open to the public and light refreshments will ...