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A bumpy road ahead

It all began with a cat scratch. Some months ago, I was playing with our cat, Sparkles. It turned out that my cat-like reflexes were no match for an actual cat, and I was issued some minor scratches. No big deal. I’ve been scratched by cats many times. Then one morning I awoke with a stiff neck. That sort of thing happens. No big deal. Rubbing my jaw, I noticed a lump which I was able to identify as an enlarged lymph node. Google informed me that it could be cat scratch fever. This is an actual malady and not just a song by Ted Nugent. I went to my primary care physician and ...

Public transit offers important service to small city residents

Public transit makes an important difference in communities the size of Marshall, and that’s something I know from personal experience. I will be a transit customer for about a month in August and September . It’s due to hip surgery, which will mean 30 days of driving restriction. I was surprised about it because this time we’ll be dealing with my left side. Medical staff told me, however, that they still restrict driving because of how pain and medication can slow reaction time. I’d consider it a hardship if it weren’t for the fact that Marshall’s United Community ...

Anti-police sentiment has got to end

The second clause of The American Legion preamble to its constitution reads; “To maintain Law and Order,” a clause that is recited before all official meetings. Minnesota cannot expect to conduct a civil society, build an economy and practice a vibrant democracy amid crime and indifference to crime. The anti-police sentiment flourishing through some parts of Minnesota has to stop. We are not a lawless society, and we need to have respect for all Minnesotans and obey the law. It was a disgrace to see Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty use a State Patrol traffic stop for her ...

You can have good health at any age

From newborn babies to older adults, we all want to be as healthy as possible and live full and productive lives. That’s why preventive health is so important. Certainly, some health conditions are beyond our control. Yet there are those things that we can control, and that’s where the importance of prevention comes in. It’s a matter of a few simple steps that everyone can take to help ensure better health: • Understand the timing of important exams, screenings and vaccinations • Work closely with a health expert to anticipate your future health needs • Respond ...

Dairy Fest!

For a recovering dairy farmer such as myself, going to a dairy farm festival is like a cat attending a hairball convention. Ho-hum. Not much new to see here. Or so I thought. Our neighbors Frido and Sonja Verpaalen opened their dairy farm to a throng of visitors for Dairy Fest, an event that was held on the first day of June Dairy Month. Among the first things that I noticed was a pair of bouncy houses, one of which looked like a humongous green tractor. I was sorely tempted to try the tractor but had bigger fish to fry. Specifically, I was looking forward to sampling the ...

Democrats silence half of Minnesota

As the 2024 legislative session drew to a close on May 20, the lack of transparency and bipartisanship troubled me. In my 12 years as your state senator, I have never seen such a disappointing conclusion to a session. Quite frankly, it has got to be one of the most disgraceful endings to a session that I have witnessed. With complete control of the Minnesota Legislature, the majority party had two years to pass their “priority bills.” However, due to their poor time management, Democrats combined all their agenda items into a single omnibus bill in the final hours of session. ...