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Local Columns

Attending a 50-year reunion

I walked into the room and was struck by the preponderance of graying hair and balding heads. Who were these old people? And what were they doing at my high school class reunion? It was difficult to comprehend that it’s been half a century since my classmates and I walked across ...

The Vietnam War – Ann Benson Rudolph – Growing up in Chicago

Ann (Benson) Rudolph lives in Olivia, but began life in Chicago, Illinois. She was born in August 1942, the eldest of three children of Dorothy (Sutherland) Benson and Clarence Benson. Ann’s younger siblings, Clark and Dean, were born in 1947 and 1951. Ann’s parents met at St. Olaf ...

Craziness fit for a king

At the end of 2024, Congress passed a “Continuing Resolution” to fund the government. This was back when Congress still had a heartbeat. The one thing both parties agreed on was that farmers would get $21 billion. I’m all for free money. So, I looked forward to my tiny piece of the ...

PTSD and domestic violence: Understanding lasting impact

By Becci tenBensel June is recognized as PTSD awareness month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding and support for those affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, impacting ...

On the Porch

Flooding has been a common occurrence in Marshall because of where the town is situated. On Father’s Day, June 16, 1957, five to eight inches, and in some places 10 inches, of rain fell in Marshall. The sudden heavy rains created a flash flood that inundated 88 percent of Marshall. This flood ...

Eagle Cafe fire kindles memories of local eating places

A symbol of my family’s history was severely damaged by a fire this spring. The building that housed Ivanhoe’s former Eagle Cafe caught fire in April in a midnight blaze. Fire departments from as far away as Marshall and Canby responded to the Ivanhoe Fire Department’s call for ...