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First snow of the year creates anticipation for all ages

Community Voices

Early November is a time to look ahead; to the holidays, the upcoming new year and the first snowfall of the season. People were talking about the first snowfall a week ago. It looked like the Marshall area might get at least one or two inches. It wasn’t supposed to be a snowstorm, just a bit of snow as a start to winter. On Saturday morning the prediction appeared to be coming true. I woke up to snow flurries. The first thing I did after getting dressed was to have some coffee. I enjoyed just having coffee and watching the flurries. The snow accumulated on cars but not on the ...

Seeing veterans light up with appreciation worth every stitch

Editorials

“You’ll see the sparkle in their eyes.” Area Quilts of Valor representative Nancy McClain was quoted after a ceremony held for veterans being awarded quilts at the Lyon County Fair in August. Fast forward to Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and that sparkle in the eyes of veterans returned. “You all, every single one of you, matter to all of us,” McClain told another group of veterans awarded quilts of valor ceremony at Boulder Estates in Marshall. “A lot of people think this is just another day, but it’s not,” McClain also said. Thanks to numerous volunteers and local ...

Living with the paranoia of DEI

Community Voices

When I was young, diversity meant that I knew some Lutheran kids. Around here, we were mostly German descended with a scattered few Irish and British. Norwegians lived by Hanska. Native Americans lived on the reservation. The Sleepy Eye of my youth is gone. Hispanic families started coming for work forty years ago. Thank God, they did. Otherwise, the economy around here would be significantly less than it is. Hispanics are indispensable in every occupation now. We all grew up learning that America is a “melting pot.” It was a point of pride. As kids, we understood that America ...

On the Porch

Local Columns

On Nov. 29, 1891, a disastrous fire struck the town of Tracy. The fire was discovered at 10:45 a.m. and the alarm was given. It is written that the flames had gained considerable headway. The fire started in the basement of a store building, and when discovered, the flames had made their way to the wooden sidewalk in front and spread to the window sills of adjacent building. In the 1912 “History of Lyon County,” Arthur P. Rose wrote that had there been a water supply and apparatus to get it to the fire, the flames might have been quenched, but Tracy at that time did not have the ...

Ask a Trooper

Local Columns

Question: Can I get some clarification on stop signs. I always wonder where to stop. Is it at the stop sign or at the stop line I sometimes see on the road. Thank you. Answer: This is a good question that I do get fairly often. Here is what you need to know and do when it comes to stopping. 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 ...

A season for empathy: Standing with those without shelter

Community Voices

November is recognized as National Homelessness Awareness Month—As the weather turns colder and the season of giving begins, this month serves as an important reminder of the power of compassion, community, and advocacy. It’s an opportunity for all of us to learn more, challenge misconceptions, and support efforts that provide shelter, resources, and hope for those facing homelessness. Unfortunately, misconceptions about homelessness remain widespread, often clouding understanding and hindering progress. One of the most persistent myths is that homelessness is a personal choice or ...