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Community Voices

Wildfire smoke signals growing climate crisis

Recently, a number of Republican members of Congress, including Minnesota Representatives Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber, sent a letter to the Canadian government, alleging that its poor forest management practices are responsible for out-of-control wildfires and for this summer’s air quality problems in the Midwest and Northeast. Notably, the letter fails to mention climate change. However, although fire-management practices can play a role in these megafires, climate change also has a profound impact. In the words of Natural Resources Canada: ...

If you try to decide on the most popular movie of all time, a good choice would be The Wizard of Oz. Almost everyone has been “off to see the wizard” more than once. I think I’ve seen it about 10 times, starting when the Marshall movie theater had special showings in the 1970s. That was more than 30 years after it first premiered. This month Boulder Estates has about a half dozen events structured around a Wizard of Oz theme. It’s a good subject to highlight. Even someone who’s not much of a movie fan knows the characters and the story. At first I feared the Wicked Witch. ...

That color-changing tree reminds us to ‘be’, not just ‘do’

As I slowly cruised the lakeshore, a tradition I do before heading to my favorite fishing spot on the lake, this past week, I was startled to see the lone hardwood tree, already dappled in orange and yellow leaves. Just the one tree. There wasn’t another tree around the entire lake that was changing into its autumnal formalwear. But it was enough to set off a bit of a panic in me. Trees changing color! Wait, what? … But summer has only begun! No, I guess not. We are already into late August, and some kids are back in school. … And, oh my, was that just a couple of geese ...

Prioritize your well-being

August is National Wellness Month, a time to focus on self-care, stress management, and building healthy habits that support overall well-being. In our busy lives, it’s easy to put ourselves last, but caring for our physical, mental, and emotional health is essential—not a luxury. Even small, intentional steps toward wellness can boost energy, improve resilience, and help us show up as our best selves for the people and commitments that matter most. This month invites us to pause, reflect, and invest in ourselves. Neglecting self-care impacts both mind and body. Chronic stress, ...

An airhead at an air show

The blue Helldiver — a WW II single-engine dive bomber — was taxiing placidly down the runway when its wing abruptly dipped. The airplane came to a halt at an unsettling angle. Its right wheel had strayed off the paved runway and onto its border, which had been turned into mush by a lengthy spate of monsoon-like rains. “This is wonderful!” I thought. “That’s exactly the kind of thing that might have happened in real life. This is so authentic!” Thus began the Victory at Sea airshow, held recently at the Fagen Fighters WW II Museum located near Granite Falls. The ...

Marshall comes together after flooding

As we prepare to welcome students back for a new school year, I’ve been reflecting on the remarkable way our community has come together since last month’s flooding. I have been inspired by the compassion, teamwork and generosity shown by so many — from neighbors helping neighbors to volunteers, city crews, and local organizations working side by side on emergency response and repairs. This collective spirit has been a powerful reminder of what makes Marshall such a special place for our students, families and staff. Further, I could not be prouder of how our district team ...