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Decluttering tips

April and May are traditionally regarded as the ideal months for spring cleaning. However, adopting a consistent decluttering habit throughout the year proves to be far more effective in reducing clutter and alleviating stress. We encourage residents to regularly assess items you may no longer want or need, rather than postponing their removal. By planning to eliminate these items throughout the year, you can maintain a more organized living space. Regularly removing unneeded items not only simplifies your environment but also enhances the ability of recipients to process these ...

Summer reading remains important for both children and adults

Summer is the season for lots of things like swimming, boating, baseball, ice cream, picnics, parades and outdoor fun. It’s also a perfect time to read. Someone can read on a beach, in the shade or at home with the air conditioning. The Marshall-Lyon County Library kicked off its 2026 summer reading season on Wednesday. Entertainment was provided by a string band called The Skally Line. They performed songs and told stories that focus on Minnesota. In an age when many people fixate on electronics, it’s good to know that reading is alive and well. I hope kids still enjoy library ...

A Vesta Boy – Dave Hansvick – Vesta’s businesses and public school

We have been learning about David Hansvick, who grew up in the small town of Vesta during the 1950s and ‘60s. He described Vesta’s businesses during those years. “Vesta had a lively downtown. We had three (automobile) garages. Main Street had two hardware stores; Marquardt’s ...

On the Porch

The social news or gossip columns in the old newspapers are always fascinating to read. A special section in the newspaper was devoted to the social media of the day. The whereabouts of local people and events were often featured in these columns. Here are a few from The News Messenger of Lyon ...

Three reasons to consider diversifying into global stocks

When it comes to daily market news, most coverage focuses on familiar U.S. benchmarks like the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. That emphasis can make it easy to overlook opportunities beyond our borders — but doing so can mean missing a meaningful portion of the global investing ...

Something’s Bloom(ing) in downtown Marshall

Sometimes the well runs dry for a columnist. That happens every so often when I did reporting in Barstow, California. When that happened, I would take a stroll in the downtown area. Besides checking out businesses that might be closing or opening up, I’d talk to homeless people with ...