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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 ...

Ask a Trooper

Local Columns

Question: I feel like I see so many vehicles tailgating and following too close. I remember people talk about a so-many second following tip. Can you remind me and others what that is? Answer: Applying the “Three-Second Rule” helps you keep a safe distance between your car and the vehicle ahead of you. This rule is for standard-length vehicles driving in ideal conditions. 1. Choose a fixed reference point at the side of the road ahead, such as a telephone pole, signpost, tree or bridge. 2. When the vehicle ahead of you passes the reference point, begin counting: ...

Hurry up!

Local Columns

When’s the last time you had someone tell you to hurry up? Over the years, I’ve heard that admonition many times. Naturally, it wasn’t that I was late for anything, but that the other person didn’t know what they saying and to whom they were saying it. I was always on the ball — don’t ask my family about that because you’ll hear a whole different story. However, I must share this factual story. Back in the day when we lived on the farm, the school bus would arrive at our lane about 7:45 every morning. I can’t tell you how many times I had to yell at my two younger ...

A houseful of memories

Community Voices

I have found that it’s difficult to clean out an ancestral farmhouse when history keeps getting in the way. Especially when it’s my family’s history. After delaying the chore for far too long, I have thrown myself into clearing out the home where my seven siblings and I grew up. A house that was built by our homesteading ancestors and is freighted with more than a century’s worth of memories. Deciding what to toss and what to keep is taking longer than the actual act of cleaning. Here’s a black-and-white photo of my Norwegian immigrant great-great uncles, Jens and Ole ...