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When you need a friend

Inspiration comes from so many unexpected places. It was my duty to take some posters to various stores around town promoting our local history center’s upcoming programs. It’s a job I will do as long as I can because of the importance of history in our lives. Walking into a very cool shop, I was enveloped in a song playing over the shop’s speakers. I had not heard the song for a long time, and its lyrics are so needed by all of us. The name of the song is “Lean on Me.” It was initially recorded and released many years ago, but its theme is so relevant today. When you ...

Going long

When asked about the longest tailfeather he had ever seen, a hunting mentor relayed the story where his pal had taken a Birdzilla-sized rooster in the late season in southwestern North Dakota coming off a great shot as the pheasant’s tail flapped in the wind like a CB antenna trailing behind it on the flush. When the crew returned to their motel to clean the birds, he popped the feather out of the tail clump and dropped it down the top barrel of his over-under and the tip was still visible. “That made it 26-and-1/8 inches, the longest pheasant feather I had ever seen,” my friend ...

Answering your questions about the Marshall schools referendum

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been in classrooms, hallways, games and events — hearing from teachers, staff and families about the momentum our students are building. I’m proud of the work happening across Marshall schools. I’ve also been talking with community partners about where we’re headed. At the Chamber’s Lunch and Learn event on Wednesday, we highlighted how the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program helps produce job-ready graduates who are ready to fill the local positions our businesses need. I greatly appreciated the encouragement and ...

Fire Prevention Week helped to overcome a teenage fear

This week was Fire Prevention Week, a time to recognize the need for fire safety and the importance of local fire crews. Fire departments host open houses, visit schools and do other public awareness projects, all aimed at keeping everyone mindful of the need to practice fire safety basics. They emphasize prevention with steps like smoke detectors and furnace checks. They also teach people what to do if a fire occurs. People are encouraged to practice an evacuation plan and to know safety measures such as the stop, drop, and roll. I enjoyed Fire Prevention Week activities as a ...

2026 change to retirement catch-up contribution rule

The year is already rapidly coming to a close, making it peak season for assessing (and, in many cases, reassessing) contribution options related to retirement savings accounts. A major factor worth considering heading into the new year are changes to the SECURE 2.0 Act’s catch-up contribution rule. The changes begin on Jan. 1, 2026, and could have a significant impact on individuals 50 years of age and older who earned more than $145,000* in 2025. If you are part of this group of investors, read on to learn about what catch-up contributions are and what the new rules mean for your ...

On the Porch

Last Tuesday, Greg Gaut presented on his book, “The War at Home: Minnesota during the Great War, 1914-1920” at the Lyon County Museum. Much of his presentation was on the formation of the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety and the Nonpartisan League. Below is an excerpt from the book: “The Minnesota Commission of Public Safety ruled the state with an iron hand during the war. Led by John F. McGee, the commission pursued a “loyalty” campaign against the trade unions, the Nonpartisan League, the Socialist Party, and the Industrial Workers of the World. McGee’s most ...