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Hot August night

It was a hot August night, and I found myself standing in a church pulpit for the first time. Danny Johnson of Webster, South Dakota, contacted me a year ago about speaking at a fundraiser for a nonprofit called the St. Pauli Foundation. I regretfully declined as I was undergoing chemoradiation therapy for tonsil cancer at the time. There were days when I could barely muster the energy to walk from my recliner to the bathroom. I now feel strong enough to wrestle a bear — a teddy bear, that is — so when Danny contacted me again about speaking, I quickly agreed. Like many country ...

Marshall comes together after flooding

As we prepare to welcome students back for a new school year, I’ve been reflecting on the remarkable way our community has come together since last month’s flooding. I have been inspired by the compassion, teamwork and generosity shown by so many — from neighbors helping neighbors to volunteers, city crews, and local organizations working side by side on emergency response and repairs. This collective spirit has been a powerful reminder of what makes Marshall such a special place for our students, families and staff. Further, I could not be prouder of how our district team ...

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 County on Aug. 12, 1921: Miss Jennie Frost of Minneota visited Marshall friends a few days this week. Miss Frost was one our primary teachers for four years. Work has been commenced by workmen for the Bladholm Brothers preparatory to constructing the new bridge spanning the river on Second ...

The Vietnam War – Ann Benson Rudolph – The costs of Vietnam service and finding healing

We have been learning about Ann (Benson) Rudolph, who graduated from St. Olaf College’s nursing program in 1964. She began her Army service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and married in July 1965 before receiving Vietnam deployment orders with the 93rd Evacuation Hospital (93rd Evac). The unit arrived in Vietnam that October where Ann worked with patients on surgical and medical wards. Ann completed her Vietnam tour in July 1966 and rejoined her husband, Rudy, who was in a seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She returned in time for their first ...

The role that the words yes and no play in sexual relationships is rarely given much thought, unless it is part of a police case or court proceeding. The main word here is consent. Situations involving non-consensual sex or sexual harassment should be a concern for everyone. Consent is actually a major part of any and all sexual interactions, no matter what the nature, status, or type of relationship that exists between two people. Over time, sexual activity has become a recreational activity. In the past, it was more of a path to reproduction, but modern methods of birth control ...

What’s the future of natural gas? 

We all expect the lights to turn on when we flip the switch. But today, many of us also expect to video call into a work meeting or check in with friends and family, cook dinner on electric stoves, and charge our cars, tools and devices. Electricity powers nearly every part of our lives, shaping how we live, learn, work, and travel. And demand for it is growing faster than ever. Across the Upper Midwest, forecasts show that electricity use could nearly double by 2050, as homes, businesses, and entire industries adopt more electric technologies in our everyday lives. Meeting that ...