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Country School Kids – Verlane Willard Ross and Lois Willard Giles – Beginning school at District 84

Local Columns

We have been learning about Verlane and Lois Willard growing up with their three sisters on their farm in Sodus Township, Lyon County. Beyond their extended family and church community the other, major social experience in the Willard girls’ lives involved attending their country school. Verlane explained how she began school early. “My country school days began at the age of five. My older sister, Iva, refused to go another year by herself unless I went too. I was ready to go and was ready to run home after school. Iva made me walk with her. She was three years older, so what ...

Spring fever

Local Columns

Midwinter is known for bringing on a bout of spring fever, but the focus on the season ahead of warming, melting and thawing isn’t necessarily what I have in mind. Rather, time on the ice still remains and good fishing can still be had with a bit of finesse and a combination of tools both old and new to help turn finicky fish into those rocketing up the hole with a few turns of the reel. The spring bobber isn’t anything new. It’s likely been around for half a century as ice anglers adopted these super sensitive selections of wire that could be attached to the tip of an ice rod ...

Arts council and city of Marshall should forge stronger ties

Community Voices

Sometimes an organization has to take a step back in order to eventually grow. That’s the case with the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council. I read with interest a Deb Gau article in the Independent this month about how MAFAC plans to lease space at City Hall. MAFAC can no longer afford the rent at its Third Street location. It needed a place downtown that would cost less yet still be accessible to the public. Moving to city hall means giving some things up. There will no longer be a gift shop. They’ll have just an office instead of both an office and their own space for meetings. ...

Little steps

Local Columns

All of us have begun a journey by doing exactly the same thing. We all began whatever adventure by taking little steps before we are confident enough to take big steps. I doubt if any of us can recall taking our first steps. The one thing I’m sure of is that there was always someone there helping us by holding our hands and guiding us. With experience and confidence, those little steps became the adult sized steps we take today. Someone guided us. Remember when you began to drive? The learning experience was guided by a driving instructor or our adult family members. I took ...

Walking the mile together: A reflection from United Way of Southwest Minnesota

Community Voices

The other weekend, as I sat in church with my family, something unexpected happened. A hymn I’ve heard countless times before suddenly felt new. Maybe it was the quiet of the sanctuary, or the peaceful weight of my granddaughter on my lap — but when the congregation sang this verse, it reached straight into my heart: “We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav’lers on the road; We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.” Those words lingered with me long after the Mass ended. They expressed something I’ve always believed: we’re not meant to ...

Brutal betrayal

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As a Trump supporter I would be angry at his betrayal of America on promised better health care, cheaper groceries, an end to wars and clearing the swamp. Angry that my health care costs have skyrocketed. Angry that I can’t sustain my farm or plan any future for my business in the chaos of trade. Angry that (DOGE) recklessly chopped through programs and people without consideration and lied about the “supposed” efficiency. I would be angry that not releasing the Epstein files as ordered by Congress is protecting rich pedophiles connected to him. Angry that laws ...