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Do the right thing when it comes to the Farm Bill

Last December, I noticed a deposit of $3,089.80 in our checking account. What a nice Christmas gift. It was a payment from the Farm Service Agency. I dug in my memory to recall that months ago I filled out an application for a PARP payment based on some combination of farm income, yields, price, and maybe the price of tea in China. “PARP” stands for something. You can look that up. PARP is a leftover program from the COVID era, stupid Trump policies, and excessive weather events. Weather is something farmers are always fighting with. COVID and Trump were unique maladies. The ...

The Walz vice president candidacy: something that’s good for all Minnesotans

For the first time in 40 years, Minnesota has a central role in a presidential campaign as Gov. Tim Walz runs for vice-president with the Kamala Harris campaign. It’s bringing our state national attention, just like the Hubert Humphrey years of the 1960s and the Walter Mondale years of the 1970s. They were both successful vice presidents. They each ran for President, Humphrey in 1968 and Mondale in 1984. I was surprised when I found out that Walz was one of three finalists. Then I was surprised again when he was chosen. I expected it would go to either Mark Kelly or Josh Shapiro, ...

Dinner is served

A guy can learn a lot when he’s undergoing tonsil cancer treatments. For instance, I recently had an appointment with a woman named Tina, a speech therapist. I learned that it’s important to keep your mouth parts fit and healthy via exercises that help preserve the ability to swallow. Among the exercises Tina assigned me was sticking out my tongue as far as possible. This is great news. It gives me an excuse to stick out my tongue whenever the spirit moves me. If a bystander takes offence, I can shrug and say, “Doctor’s orders.” Lymphedema is a new word in my vocabulary. ...

Marshall Public Schools gears up for exciting New Year

As summer draws to a close, Marshall Public Schools (MPS) is eagerly preparing for the upcoming academic year. This month I’d like to share some key highlights and initiatives that families and the community can look forward to. Elementary schools focus on reading This year, MPS will continue implementing the READ Act, a legislative initiative updated this spring. Elementary teachers will participate in training on the Science of Reading, enhancing their understanding of how students learn to read and tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Math achievements MPS is proud ...

Here’s to a successful — and safe – harvest season this late summer

Summer is winding down and the season ahead includes so much activity, it can be easy to forget the ABCs of safety, whether you’re harvesting or heading to school and fall activities. Here are some good reminders for this sometimes-demanding season of transition. At back-to-school time, safety on or near the road is a great place to start, and the reminder SAFE can help kids who are riding the bus: Stay five big steps away from the curb or edge of roadway – that’s about 10 feet. •Always hold still until the bus completes its stop. Don’t move until the driver signals ...

Empty nests: A fact of life in modern America

In the past week I’ve given some extra thought to the idea of “empty nests”. I’m not referring to bird nests, like the bluebird nests at Camden State Park that are empty now after a successful nesting season. Instead I’m thinking of the homes of many middle aged parents, whose children have grown up and branched out on their own. The whole idea of “going off to college” has become a tradition since the 1950s. Until then it was typical for young people to stay close to home, to help with the farm or to get jobs in the nearest town. Only a few young people went away ...