It’s almost June! — the beginning of summer and time spent outdoors. And a renewed appreciation for green grass, blue skies and chirping birds. It brings images to mind of our flag blowing in the breeze. The sun shining brightly through its endearing colors of red, white and blue. Then I ...
Schools in southwest Minnesota are filled with students eager to learn and excited for what comes next. Is it a field trip? Band instrument? Hot lunch? Snow pants for recess fort building? The list could go on and on of things that students in our schools NEED but what if a family does not have ...
May brings to closure an exciting month on campus as the hard work and accomplishments of our students culminate at Commencement. This spring 555 students where eligible to walk across the stage as part of the annual celebration. While graduation marks a significant milestone on campus, student ...
Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday in May, honors men and women who died while serving in the United States military. The holiday was originally known as Decoration Day, and it originated in the years following the Civil War. By the late 1860s, many communities had begun ...
Christopher F. Case has the distinction of being Lyon County’s first historian. Lyon County was established formally on Aug. 12, 1870 when the first meeting of the commissioners was held in Lynd. In 1884, C. F. Case published the first history of Lyon County, published by the Marshall ...
It’s that time of year for lighter and brighter days, a time to be outside for much of our waking hours and maybe even get up early to enjoy the sunrise along with a first cup of coffee. In the midst of all that, there’s still time to think back several months to what we did when it ...
If you’re like a lot of investors, you may have trouble quantifying the level of risk you are comfortable taking on in your portfolio. Do you like to play it safe, staying in conservative investments even if it means potentially missing out on bigger returns? Or are you willing to take on ...
Page two in the Independent’s Saturday, May 11, newspaper had the column “ON THIS DATE…” in which I noted that on May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state of the U.S. I was reminded of that again when I signed on to my computer where I receive a daily message in my email from ...
As a soybean farmer in Rep. Collin Peterson’s district, I thank the congressman for walking the walk and supporting farmers by sponsoring the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2019 (HR 2089). This bipartisan legislation would provide a two-year extension of the biodiesel and renewable ...
There is good news from Saint Paul: Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders from both parties agree that our roads, highways and bridges need a major funding increase. There is also bad news: They are far from finding agreement about how to raise those new revenues. Our state badly ...
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 Marshall ...
Every few years, Minnesota becomes embroiled in a debate over our shared history. Currently, two of our state’s most important cultural institutions, the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Historical Society, are coming under fire for “historical revisionism.” The University of ...
The annual Earth Day observance in 2019 coincided with plenty of reminders about the power of nature and the need to carefully manage our resources. It was clear for the entire first half of spring. An abundance of snow in my backyard somehow did its disappearing act within a span of two ...
Many Americans at one point or another will deal with an unexpected event that has financial implications. As a financial advisor, I’ve witnessed many families encounter – and more importantly overcome – financial setbacks. For most families I work with, setbacks occur because of ...
The Lyon County Museum is participating in Minnesota Museums Month. The annual tradition is a collaboration among museums of all types — history, art, science, zoos, gardens, and more, to raise awareness and celebrate the importance of museums around the state. This month, you are encouraged ...
City Council and key city staff began the development of Commerce Industrial Park in 2017 with the assistance of a competitive Business Development Public Infrastructure $2 million grant from the State of Minnesota (DEED) to help fund the total infrastructure costs of approximately $4 million. ...
Judging by the last two Weekender editions of the “Independent,” I think the paper’s transition from the “Independent” to the “Conservative Christian” is complete. On April 20-21, readers of the opinion page were presented with evangelical Christian conservative Erick ...
The recent scandal regarding college/university admissions got me to thinking about the time, over 60 years ago, when I was applying for entrance to a couple of schools. Needless to say, it is a heck of a lot different now. I was confronted with an early decision upon finishing the ...
Volunteers all over the state are selflessly using their time and talent to make a difference in the communities they love. Selflessness though, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel good about yourself for helping others. Having a sense of pride and accomplishment or appreciating recognition ...
On May 14, local residents will vote on a building referendum to replace West Side Elementary School and make other improvements that will improve education for local students. Over the past several months, I have received many questions and comments from the community — I am excited about ...