Columns
By Brenda Winter, columnistJune 11, 2025It’s been a long time since anyone dared me to do a trick on my bike. I was the lucky winner of a new Townie Electra at the Take 16 bike drawing last Thursday. (Thank you, Lineage Logistics!) My 10-year-old nephew rode over on his bike to invite my husband and me to join him on a test drive of my flashy new prize. He wanted to “see what she could do.” I thought he meant the bike. Once we hit…
By RIck Peterson, general managerJune 11, 2025This is the last of four columns about my take on the abundance of choices we have when it comes to selecting and purchasing a simple item. I wrote about the number of choices on the shelf for the perfect barbecue sauces at our local Sunshine Foods store, the plethora of paint colors and sheen to choose from at the Luverne ACE Hardware store, and the aisle after aisle of choices of dog food at…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolJune 11, 2025Question: I read your last article about road construction and work zones. Can you talk about the zipper merge? It seems like a lot of people don’t know what it is or can’t figure it out. Thank you. Answer: The “Late Merge - Zipper Merge” is a driving strategy that requires drivers to change their mindset about merging. Traditionally, drivers have been taught to merge early when a lane is ending…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistJune 11, 2025My four-dog team of pheasant chasers recently reduced to three as my oldest dog Tracer, now almost 14, retires to the carpet at my son’s house in Harrisburg, South Dakota. There are two granddaughters there, ages five and six, who lavish that spoiled dog with constant hugs and kisses. He is living large, and both he and I are pretty happy about it. This leaves me with an 11-year-old, a 10-year-…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJune 04, 2025I recently tagged along with Matt to the Washington, D.C., area where he had meetings for a conference. In addition to touring the iconic memorials and monuments, people-watching was one of my favorite perks of the trip. The locals are a melting pot of diversity, but when you throw in the visitors, it’s a place like no other that offers a perfect cross-section of humanity on display. Among…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolJune 04, 2025By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I have been receiving text messages about an “E-Z Pass Final Reminder.” It’s something about having an outstanding toll and submitting payment. I was told it was a scam. Can you get me more information on this? Answer: Here is information from the Minnesota Department of Transportation E-ZPass page. https://www.dot.state.mn.us/ezpassmn…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 28, 2025Imagine running 437 miles across the state of South Dakota. In September my nephew-in-law is doing just that — running a relay race from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in five days. Izzo is one of 12 runners selected for the 437 Project, an awareness and fundraising event for the Helpline Center based in Sioux Falls. Izzo, a former Marine, is bringing attention to his fellow veterans and current…
By RIck Peterson, general managerMay 28, 2025This is the third installment in my series of columns about what I consider growing trends of having too many choices in making simple decisions. I so far covered barbecue sauces and paint, and now we’ll cover dog food. Pet food choices are off the charts, and for this column I am zeroing in on dog food. Our local Bomgaars is where I buy my dog food, so I did my research there on the plethora…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistMay 28, 2025There seems to be a new sheriff in town when it comes to operating a boat or personal watercraft in Minnesota waters. There are new regulations starting July 1, 2025. These new rules require both youth and younger adults to be certified in watercraft safety if you were born after 2004. The new rules are being phased in. If you were born after 2004, the requirements begin on July 1 of this year…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorMay 28, 2025Another school year has come and gone, and another group of Luverne Cardinals and Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots senior athletes made an impact on their sports events. No matter how big or small their presence throughout the years, you all played with pride and will be missed. Some will move on to continue their sports careers at college while others hang up their gear for academic or real-world…
By Brenda Winter, columnistMay 21, 2025When Marcella Prokop, co-owner of The Cidery at Blackshire Farms near Beaver Creek, called and asked if I, Brenda Winter, could judge a rhubarb contest at the Cidery on Saturday, June 7, I said I could not, but I knew who could – Marlene and Darlene. Marlene and Darlene are two imaginary elderly sisters created for the stage by DJ Luethje and me. The sisters hail from Leota, Minnesota. They…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistMay 21, 2025There seems to be a new sheriff in town when it comes to operating a boat or personal watercraft in Minnesota waters. There are new regulations starting July 1, 2025. These new rules require both youth and younger adults to be certified in watercraft safety if you were born after 2004. The new rules are being phased in. If you were born after 2004, the requirements begin on July 1 of this year…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMay 14, 2025There once was a little candle whose flame was beginning to dim. Her light is dimmed by clouds of hardship: a D-minus in math, social media bullying and the recent loss of her grandmother. She tries to push the clouds away, but as other hardships accumulate, she begins to lose hope. The darker and heavier the clouds, the more tired she gets, and it appears her flame might go out entirely.…
By RIck Peterson, general managerMay 14, 2025This is the second installment in my four-part series of columns on how I feel we have too many choices. My last column dealt with the onslaught of choices regarding barbecue sauces. This week I was overwhelmed by the choices in the world of paint. Our local Ace Hardware is ground zero when it comes to paint choices: brands, color, sheen, and now even texture. First, brands. At Ace you can pick…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistMay 14, 2025So how many of you have even heard of the Land and Legacy Amendment? Of those of you who recognize the term, how many of you are familiar with what it is and how it operates? I am so surprised how the average Minnesotan is so disconnected from this title. Let us give you a little background. It was during one of the biggest recessions of the past 40 years that the citizens of Minnesota made a…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 07, 2025Yukon Cornelius is the name of the Arctic prospector in the animated holiday special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It’s also the name we’ve given to our new-to-us GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle. Like the animated character, our Yukon has become a trusted friend, especially after a recent drive to California to visit our youngest son. My husband and I spent nine days, 3,676 miles and an…
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