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A little extra

Local Columns

Looking at the weather graph and confirming things with the radar, I had about two hours after lunch to sneak out for a grouse hunt before the weekend’s rains returned. Judging by the orange and red on the doppler, I’d have to hustle up and back to a well-known spot north of town just to get a quick hike in and to see how things were since I was up there scouting around in early August. Upon arrival, I was dismayed to see the rolling hills of grass matted and mowed down, and the stands of sweet clover clipped and broken as some late season grazing had taken place since my late ...

Making a board

Community Voices

I recently decided to expand my woodworking skill set by making a board. It turns out that this is much more difficult than it sounds. Yes, I could have simply gone to a lumberyard and purchased some wood. Or I could have wandered into a home improvement megastore where I likely would have gotten lost and forced live off the land by swilling sports drinks and chewing on leather tool belts. But buying a board would have been the easy, wimpy way of doing things. This might be due to my Norwegian heritage, but I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing the hard way. That’s why ...

The Vietnam War – Marland Burckhardt – Army enlistment and Italy

Local Columns

We have been learning about Marland Burckhardt, who grew up in rural Russell. He lived with his paternal grandparents while he completed school, graduating with the Russell High School class of 1959. Marland enrolled at the University of Minnesota, but his first college experience did not take. “I was burning the candle at three ends, working too much to pay for college and attending too many parties, which didn’t go well with studying or work. After fall quarter of ’60, I traveled to Los Angeles, where my Dad and brother were. I thought about going to school there, but ...

4 money moves to make before you turn 30

Local Columns

For most young adults, your 20s are all about learning — who you are, who you want to be and where you want life to take you. Maybe you just landed your first “real” job, are moving out of your childhood home or working on a degree to consider a new vocation. It’s an exciting era filled with growth and exploration. As you navigate these big life changes, it’s important to use this time to also consider your financial future. You’re never too young to get your finances in order, and the decisions you make now can help you develop positive habits to build wealth down the ...

On the Porch

Local Columns

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 Sept. 14, 1900: Miss Maud Fredenburg is in Mathews & Patterson’s law offices as stenographer during the illness of Tom Davis. Miss Freida Bangs, from St. Paul is the new milliner in charge of J.R. Wolff & Co’s millinery department in Langland’s store. Miss Bangs arrived ...

Taking care of some creaky parts

Community Voices

“You gotta take care of stull.” Long ago, my father Sylvester told me that. That admonition still sits in the back of my mind. Dad was referring to taking care of the myriad machines involved with working the farm. Routine maintenance of everything from the gutter cleaner to the tillage tractor is required. It also means being ever vigilant, on guard for loose chains and squeaky bearings. Recently I’ve been taking care of stuff. Every few years, my 70-year-old Farmall 400 and 60-year-old IH 560 get a once over from the tractor doctors at Miller Sellner Implement. Both ...