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School update: Budget challenges and exciting events

As we finalize this year’s budget revisions, we are already planning for next year. Despite our best efforts to manage costs efficiently, the district will need to use more than $1 million in reserves this school year due to inflation and state mandates. For the 2025-26 school year, we project a deficit of more than $1 million, so the school board has directed us to cut $350,000 from operations and cover the rest with reserves. Looking ahead, we anticipate deeper deficits as education costs continue to rise. With no significant funding increases expected from the state or federal ...

A time to weep, a time to laugh

We live most of our lives at a steady pace. Do this, do the next thing, rest, do another thing. Then along comes an emotion. Emotions fill us at heightened moments. Emotions range from abject despair to soaring joy. I don’t know why, but as I get older, I enjoy emotions more, even flecks of sadness. There’s a way emotions make us feel extra alive, an intensity that ramps up. I cry easier now. Other old guys have told me that’s true for them. I even choke up at happy things, which seems crazy. Maybe it’s the realization how short and precious these moments are. I don’t ...

Walz’s nursing home cuts leave most vulnerable behind

Minnesotans take pride in caring for our most vulnerable — our seniors, veterans, and children. But now, Gov. Tim Walz is slashing funding for long-term care facilities across the state, putting thousands of seniors at risk. Over the next four years, these cuts will devastate rural communities, forcing nursing homes to reduce staff, eliminate beds, and even shut down entirely — leaving families with fewer options for care. In Senate District 22 alone, these cuts total over $15 million from 2026 to 2029. Statewide, more than $218 million over the next four years is being pulled ...

Commercials of the past; a sample of the best and most clever

I remember the days when many people had favorite radio and television commercials, ones that went the extra mile for being clever and entertaining. Maybe it’s a reflection of my age, but current commercials don’t seem to measure up to the best of the past. When they try to be funny, they aren’t especially amusing. The emu commercials are a good example. The misadventures are silly but not exactly captivating. Viewers have to make a serious leap to focus on the product. There are examples from the past that I still remember after many years. It’s not possible to name all of ...

City looking to reinvest funds for Liberty Park and the Bandshell

Development of bandshells in park and open spaces became an important element of American life during the earliest twentieth century. In those years, nearly every small town had a bandshell in which its community band played. Today, it is estimated that just over 30 communities in Minnesota still have a community or city band. Though the terms “bandshell” and “bandstand” were used interchangeably, a true band shell has a back for better acoustics while a bandstand is open on all sides. Liberty Park, established in 1917, is the oldest park in Marshall. The park is known for its ...

Sextortion on the rise

By Becci Ten Bensek Technology plays a huge part in our society today. We rely on it for work, online schooling, entertainment, communication with people near and far, and local and worldwide information and news. Our culture has integrated the internet and its platforms to connect us with people we know and ways to engage with new individuals. Some of the most widely used platforms by youth and teens are Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and gaming platforms such as Xbox and PlayStation. Although these platforms are beneficial, there are also dangers involved with the open ...