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Go for the gold

Local Columns

Wherever you find yourself in the outdoors this fall, go for the gold. As the season shifts, the leaves change and fall, and the grasses dry up and transition to their autumn hues — from the those brassy shades of tall field grasses in a wildlife management area to the bright yellows of the aspen trees in a state or national forest - the varied shades of gold are a hallmark of great hunting, because they not only help color the experience in the wild world, they also suggest strong habitat to support the game species we pursue. While wandering down a windward draw, my dog and I ...

Looking back at spooky times

Community Voices

It’s a scary time of year. That peculiar holiday called Halloween is upon us, the only occasion wherein we encourage our children to take candy from strangers — after the kiddos issue a vague threat to the homeowner. Trick-or-treating is a grand tradition that dates back centuries. I know this because I participated in trick-or-treating when I was a youngster. There were no commercially produced Halloween costumes back then. At least there weren’t for my seven siblings and me. Kitting out that many kids would have meant that my parents would have lost money in the ...

What’s the cost of your ‘truth’?

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: There’s been a lot of talk lately about people who “stand up for what they believe in.” But somewhere along the way, that phrase seems to have lost its meaning. Standing up for your beliefs used to mean standing for something: for compassion, for justice, for truth. Now it too often means standing against someone, against their existence, their identity, their rights, or their humanity. The truth is, some people don’t stand up for what they believe in; they punch down with what they believe in. They use faith or politics as a shield to justify cruelty, ...

Nothing like harvest time

Community Voices

We are in the middle of harvest. Taking time to write this and drink coffee is a great luxury. There is a grease gun calling my name right now. “Sheesh, I’ll be right out. Can’t a guy have a break?” The answer to that is no, unless it’s raining or you’re broke down. I did take a day to attend a funeral and a wedding. None of the participants were farmers. So, their lack of timing can be forgiven. There are about a half million farmers in the United States who grow corn. Many of them are in the fields now, bringing the crop in. Add spouses in support roles, elevator ...

Homecoming visit reflects changes in SMSU campus life

Community Voices

Last week I decided to do something extra to celebrate the Southwest Minnesota State University homecoming. I went out to campus on Friday to just walk around and see a typical class day. I went to the Natural History Museum, the greenhouse, the alumni heritage gallery and the campus store. I enjoyed a large sized cup of coffee. I attended SMSU as an undergraduate from 1986 to 1990, earning English and history majors with a Spanish minor. I later completed graduate school, a master’s of business administration, from 2004 to 2007. I wore my alumni sweatshirt when I visited campus ...

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 County on Oct. 19, 1917: Of those who took the civil service examination at the Marshall Post-office, for stenographer and typewriter service, the following have received papers showing that they have passed: Maude Regnier, Genevieve Blanchette, M.E. Clendenning, Anna Lynch, Gleva Fortin and ...