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The Vietnam War – Ann Benson Rudolph – Becoming an Army nurse

We have been learning about Ann (Benson) Rudolph, who grew up in the Chicago area, graduated from Denbard High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, in 1960, and graduated from the nursing program at St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1964, owing the Army two years of service as a nurse for their financial support during her senior year of college. First, Ann had to pass her nursing licensure boards. “It was two days in a big room at the University of Minnesota. I remember between exams us sitting on a knoll outside of one of the buildings. Gosh, I get palpitations remembering it. I was ...

The leg kicked out from under us

The North American model of hunting and conservation has relied on a three-legged support system which balances the interests of managing game populations by and through providing hunting opportunities to citizens on the top of that proverbial table. Beneath the platform, the three legs of having game to hunt, habitat in which that game lives, and ways of accessing that habitat by hunters have provided general stability for the last century, since the U.S. turned the tide of declining bird and game populations resulting from commercialization and overharvest. The positive to come out ...

Why do we…?

Why in the world do we do it? As we plod or race through our days, why do we make the choices we make? I have visited a local coffee shop many times to accomplish my weekly writing. I try to sit in the same seat because ... I enjoy the view. While wondering how to put thoughts together, I look out the window and get lost in the view of the nearby trees quivering in the wind, and beyond them, the beauty of a natural piece of land offering tiny yellow and white flowers that graciously grant me their beauty. Why do I choose this particular table? Because it offers me inspiration. Why ...

Thinking about boxes

I’ve been thinking about boxes quite a bit lately. First and foremost is the cedar treasure box that I’ve been building for our 5-year-old grandson. It’s finally done — at least I’ve decided to call it done — after intermittently working on the thing for several months. This project involved some big challenges. Chief among them was that I have no training or experience in the art of woodworking. My carpentry abilities are roughly on par with those of Wile E. Coyote. When I look at the box, all I can see is its imperfections. Then there was the issue of design. Not ...

Old magazine from garage sale eases the dying process

Sometimes there’s something that seems like an act of God rather than a simple coincidence. I had such an experience on June 6 when I stopped at a garage sale. I was on my way to see my mom at the Lockwood hospice house. I decided to stop because it would only take a minute or two. I found a magazine sitting on a table. It was a 1978 Newsweek that had four articles on Hubert Humphrey’s death from cancer. Something compelled me to stop at that sale. The magazine was there waiting for me. I think it was more than just a coincidence. My mom is nearing the end of her life. ...

Wrapping up another successful school year

At our board meeting this week, the board approved a resolution to run an operating referendum this fall. We’ve been addressing the financial challenges that not only Marshall, but all schools are currently facing. In 2022, when we approached the community with a similar request, we had a $1.8 million need. At that time, we were still navigating the pandemic and received COVID funds that bridged the gap for a few years. Those funds have now expired, and with rising costs and no additional funding from state or federal sources, we are once again facing that budget deficit. As we ...