Opinion

Conducting amateur archeology

Community Voices February 24, 2026

have been doing a bit of amateur archeology lately, digging deep, excavating through layers of an all-but-forgotten past. This process is sometimes painful as it causes me to review the awful fashion and haircut choices I made when I was growing up. Digging through old family photos can cause a guy to become caught in a vortex of nostalgia. What happened to that young, carefree boy who seemed to have the fashion sense of a hobo? The kid who had an at-home haircut that appeared to involve a bowl placed on the head? The happy-go-lucky lad who looked as concerned about his ...

On the porch

Community Voices February 21, 2026

Country school kids – Charlie Hettling – the Hettling family and farm

Community Voices February 21, 2026

As mentioned a few weeks ago, this year, the United States will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary (the “Semiquincentennial” of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to share the whole history of our nation. 50 years ago, the United States held the Bicentennial celebration. The United States Bicentennial in 1976 was a series of events in celebration of the nation’s 200th birthday. The American Freedom Train, carrying artifacts, documents, and artwork for public view, began its 21 month tour of ...

A Bad Bunny with a good message

Community Voices February 21, 2026

I like Bad Bunny. There, I said it. I lost a few readers there. I don’t speak Spanish. My daughter Abby does. (Shout out to Abby’s high school Spanish teacher, Gail Bromenschenkel. You done good!) Abby has lived in Spain, Guatemala, and Colombia. Many of her friends are Spanish speaking. Some years ago, Abby put me onto Spanish music. It’s my music of choice when I’m jogging the lake trail. Juanes, Shakira, and Morat are favorites. Bad Bunny has joined my playlist. I don’t speak Spanish. But I enjoy the sound of the language. It has a beautiful cadence and rhythm, ...

Local election process shows that election officials have integrity

Community Voices February 21, 2026

This November there will be a midterm election, and already there’s talk about the potential for disputed results. It’s a disturbing trend in national politics, one that has coincided with Donald Trump’s leadership of the Republican Party. I’m offended by how he continues to question the integrity of Election 2020. There’s a reason I take it personally. I reported on every election between 1992 and 2002 when I was a full-time news reporter at the Independent. I later did the same thing in Election 2012 when I was editor of the Minneota Mascot. I eagerly awaited election ...

Remembering our heritage

Letters to the Editor February 20, 2026

Dear editor: It’s easy to forget the actual birth dates this month of Lincoln (12th) and George Washington (22nd), since President’s Day became law in February of 1971. As the decades have passed, the wisdom and truth of the Founding Fathers has mostly been forgotten or claimed to be obsolete two centuries later. Washington, also known as the Father of our country, shared many simple reminders of the Republic that was set up and how to maintain limited government. In a letter to Major-General Robert Howe, dated August 17, 1779, Washington penned, “Few men have virtue to ...