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Breaking out in song

Last Sunday, I met daughter Anna in Minneapolis where we attended Les Misérables at the Orpheum Theater. This is about my tenth time seeing Les Misérables. It is somewhere between a guilty pleasure and an addiction. I’ve always liked musicals, in person and on stage. Film is not at all the same experience. The energy and intensity of real live human beings throwing themselves into their part, I love that. For three hours, I can be in a world that’s quite different from mine on the farm. Every musical has scenes where heightened emotions come through in song. Les Mis is a ...

City busy moving projects and work forward as year ends

As the City of Marshall nears the approaching final weeks of the year, the city has been busy with ensuring we carry forward and finish projects and initiatives we started this past year. The proposed new Marshall Aquatic Center, which has the support of a voter approved sales tax referendum, is currently under a redesign process as a result of bids that were let in August of this past year being over the estimated budget. The city, to help curb costs and find a new way forward, enlisted a construction manager to help with cost estimating and hopefully engage a more hands-on approach ...

Thanksgiving Day a time for everyone to get together

This week we had the yearly chance to fill up on turkey, potatoes, dressing, cooked vegetables, cranberries, pumpkin pie, and at least one or two other favorites. It was Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, a day when everyone is encouraged to gather with family or friends for a huge dinner. The meaning of Thanksgiving is summed up in the first words of the Prayer of Thanksgiving. The first phrase is “we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.” It’s a time to thank the Lord for all of the gifts he has given us. They usually include a bountiful harvest, from which we get all the ...

Thanksgiving day to unite to give thanks

This week, families across our state are gathering to spend quality time together, give thanks, and, of course, eat some delicious Minnesota-raised turkey. We all know we live in divided times. But this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the fact that what unites us as Minnesotans is far greater than what divides us:  We respect the dignity of work and the simple idea that our family members, friends, and neighbors should be able to afford a house or apartment, health care, and for our seniors, a quality place to live out their lives.   We want our kids to succeed. We want them to ...

A day at the sale barn

It had been many years since I’d sat down and watched a livestock auction in person. I was pleased to learn that most things about sale barns hadn’t changed. My wife and I raise a few Jersey steers. We normally sell them as halves and quarters of hanging beef to friends and relatives. For some reason, I didn’t have the gumption this fall to get after that process. My recent cancer treatment might have had something to do with this. In any case, we had four steers that had grown quite large and were living large on our grain. I shared this issue with our neighbors, and they ...

Marshall Public Schools shine: Celebrating educators, community and student achievements

As we mark American Educator’s Week, observed annually during the last full week before Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and recognition to all our dedicated staff. After over 50 years of unwavering support for our students and community, board member and former principal Bill Swope is concluding his term with Marshall Public Schools. This year, Anne Marie Vorbach joined our board to fill a vacancy and has been a passionate advocate for all learners. Both Bill and Anne Marie will be greatly missed, and we deeply appreciate their dedication and commitment. During ...