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Ask a Trooper

Local Columns

Question: I have a question on stop signs procedures. Can you go over this? I think it would be good for everyone to be aware as I think some people forget or get confused. Thank you for all you do. Answer: Yes, I can. That is a great topic and something that can and should be covered. Stop Signs: • Come to a complete stop at stop signs. • If there is a marked stop line, stop before the line. • If there is a pedestrian crosswalk, stop before entering the crosswalk. • Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic before proceeding. Obstructed ...

Sliding scale

Local Columns

All waters are different, and expectedly, the fish available in each one are different as well. Not so much in their general characteristics — big fish still eat little fish, or at least littler things, and are affected by environmental changes — but the crappies in one lake might be ...

Even in the...

Local Columns

As I sat waiting for a local parade to begin, it became apparent that even in the crowded heat of the day, people helped each other to be comfortable. It was very comfortable sitting in my favorite coffee shop's outdoor patio and watching the interaction of the folks around me. People moved closer together so others could be in the shade. They formed places for people to have a space to sit. They watched and protected the little toddlers running along the sidewalk. Even in the heat, we helped each other. One of the events during the cities summer festival was that local organizations ...

Fischbach supporting corrupt government

Letters to the Editor

You are going to have a chance to cast a ballot in November to start the process to get the United States out of this corrupt despicable administration. First, Michelle Fischbach needs to be voted out of office. She is responsible for doing nothing when not a single soybean was sold to China for ten months. She was all for the tariffs that helped facilitate that. How about Fishbach’s war on Iran that was going to be over in two weeks? That was five months ago, eighteen dead American soldiers, 200 dead Iranian school children, and thousands of innocent people killed, 100’s of ...

Just a few divisive actions by Trump

Letters to the Editor

I recently read a social media post by a Trump supporter bemoaning the fact that liberals characterized him as “divisive” while having no substantial information about anything to support their claim. There is not enough time and space to detail all of the obvious things the (Trump) has done that are divisive, starting with his first campaign in which he bragged about sexual exploitation antics like a junior high miscreant. A conviction in this area has had little or no impact on this man’s treatment of women. He continues to exhibit all the qualities of a woman hater in his ...

Do we really need proposed transmission lines?

Letters to the Editor

Re: July 31, 2026 Independent) This letter is directed to those who might be attending the open house meetings Aug. 4-13 to discuss Xcel’s proposed 765,000-volt transmission line going across southern Minnesota. This project needs two permits from the state to start. 1. A ‘Certificate of Need’ from the P.U.C. stating why the project is needed. 2. A ‘Route Permit’; which is why they are holding these public meetings. They need public feed back concerning adjustments before they submit it in February 2027. So why is the line needed? They say because the coal fired ...