Breaking News

Opinion

Now is the time

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Following the recent referendum failure, our district is making difficult decisions about budget reductions. Regardless of how any of us voted, we share a common goal: strong schools that support student success and responsible leadership. With the proposed budget set to go before the school board in early February, it is critical that we speak up now—before decisions become final. I write not only as a community member, but also as a parent with children in the district and a substitute teacher who works directly in our classrooms. I see every day how much students ...

Dr. Afflter was valued optometrist and active community member

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Because I had worked part time for Dr. LeRoy Affolter, optometrist, (reporter) Deb Gau called to ask if I had remembrances to share as she was writing an article for the next day’s Independent. I didn’t find her message in time to reply, so I thought I would share my memories of Dr. Affolter here. I applied to work at his office when my late husband, Robert, retired from the Marshall Police Department in November of 1988, due to episodes of fatigue, which some 8 years later resulted in triple by-pass surgery at age 49. In between filing records, adjusting glasses ...

Give thanks for the food on community tables

Editorials

Thanksgiving dinner will cost less this year compared to the last two years, according to the Minnesota Farm Bureau. The bureau’s shared its Thanksgiving meal survey in a Monday release. “The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person,” the Bureau stated. “This is a 5% decrease from 2024. Three years of declines don’t fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in ...

Swamp things

Local Columns

As we set foot into the stretch of private land the welcoming owner offered up to us on the abnormally warm November afternoon — nearly 60 degrees as we started our trek with two hours before sunset — it wasn’t long until I could hear the squish-squash of each of my lab Ole’s steps in the grass outside the cattails at the center of the initial slough. Making our way around the main cover, we came to a small, separate stand of reeds and birds began breaking out the far side. First a pair of hen pheasants downwind, then a rooster off to the side, then another and another all into ...

Giving and getting

Local Columns

Would you rather give or receive? During this time of the year, we are really focused on the aspect of giving thanks. Well, it is Thanksgiving time, so to think about being thankful is only proper. I expect each of us has a heartwarming story about being thankful for a person, a place, an occurrence or a gesture. However, as important as it is to give thanks, shouldn’t we also give thanks for getting? As I ponder this reflective season, I try to remember those people who supported me along my rocky road of life. I try to remember the places of my life where I found peace, and ...

What you put in your cart matters

Local Columns

I have this Post-It note on my desk with a single sentence on it. It says, “What you put in your cart matters!” While, this note in my world primarily reflects on mainly recycling, it to some degree reflects as a reminder about a few waste (trash) disposal choices too. As the season changes, many yards are cluttered with tree branches, leaves, pumpkins and corn stalks. For those who live in rural areas, managing yard waste is straightforward. However, for those who live within city limits, the struggle to find a location to take these items to for appropriate disposal may be ...