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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 stage in our high school’s gymnasium wearing those goofy hats and our goofy grins. Perhaps no one was happier with my graduation than our school administrators. This was especially true for our principal, Mr. Grebner. I spent so much time in his office that my name was stenciled on one of its ...

Fish like you’re 12

The great thing about the outdoors is we have nearly unlimited choices of what to do and how to do it, especially as summer gets underway. On our way up the angling learning curve, and through a world of changing technology, the options have become expansive. If you want to bonk a muskie on the head with a double-bladed oversized flashabou inline spinner after picking its silhouette out in the developing weed lines from a HD display, you can do that. If you want to lazily roll a cast off a dock and wait for the rise of the most aggressive bluegill in the school, that option is there. You ...

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 pie. Then came Inauguration Day. Elon Musk was suddenly the most powerful person in our country. He was given free rein to cut agencies and programs that both parties had built up over decades. He did this with the subtlety of a herd of bulls in a China shop and all the thoughtfulness. DOGE was ...

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 individuals’ thoughts, emotions, and daily lives. This month serves as a vital reminder to break the silence and stigma surrounding trauma and mental health, promote early intervention, and encourage conversations. By raising awareness, we can foster empathy, improve access to care, and support ...

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 assistance. Much of the roof collapsed and part of the second floor had extensive damage. The owner published a full damage assessment report in the Ivanhoe Times, and has pledged to rebuild. I hope he’s successful. I hope the building can once again become a valuable part of the Ivanhoe ...

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 was different from most of the other floods that took place in Marshall. Instead of being caused by melting snow or ice jams, the heavy rains caused the worst flood in Marshall up to that time. “Worst Flood Hits Area,”was the headline in Monday’s Marshall Daily Messenger. Over the next ...