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Opinion

Biodiversity has value for our region’s natural landscapes

Community Voices

This summer I’ve noticed for the first time some widespread effects of Emerald Ash Borer in the Marshall area. There are clusters of partially defoliated ash trees in locations such as Southwest Minnesota State University and the Eatros Place housing addition on the opposite side of town. There are at least several other locations where more than a couple of trees are affected. The ash were widely planted in the 1970s and 1980s after Dutch Elm Disease killed off many of the nation’s elm trees. In many communities, elms provided a stately canopy over residential streets. They ...

‘Beautiful game’ around the planet

Community Voices

I have followed the World Series since 1965; the year the Dodgers beat our Twins. I was 9. As I got older, I realized the “World” Series isn’t really the world. The World Cup is the world, the entire world. Right now, here in the middle of the continent, the World Cup surrounds us. There are matches north, south, east, and west of us. Soccer is “football” to the rest of the planet. Here in America, we give that name to that other, more violent game we watch on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons, and all day Sunday. Soccer is by a lot the most popular sport on Earth. For ...

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 ...

Securing Agriculture Workforce Act a step in the right direction

Editorials

A couple weeks ago, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig met with southwest Minnesota farmers in Marshall for a roundtable discussion on the challenges they presently face to survive in the agriculture business. Craig’s roundtable discussion took place many miles from her congressional district. But she is running against Peggy Flanagan in the DFL primary race for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Tina Smith. So it made sense for Craig to spend some time in southern Minnesota. She deserves some credit for not making the trip all about an election campaign. And her discussion with farmers dived ...

A safari at the mall

Local Columns

Back in February, my brother and I went to Sustainable Safari, which is located in the Maplewood Mall. We needed a “pick-me-up” of sorts after the loss of our mother, so we checked out the indoor zoo at the mall. There’s also a location in Burnsville. I’ve seen mentions of this place ...