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Inviting readers, community to be a part of SMSU strategic planning

Southwest Minnesota State University and the City of Marshall have shared a special relationship since the university’s founding. Marshall is the birthplace and home of SMSU, and the university’s history, growth, and future are closely connected to the community that has supported us along the way. As we begin developing our next strategic plan, we recognize that our future is not something SMSU will shape alone. It is something we must build together. We are beginning an important conversation about the future of SMSU, including our mission, vision, values, and strategic ...

Ask a Trooper

Question: I have been seeing more golf carts driving around this summer and wondering about their regulations regarding their use on the streets. Answer: Motorized golf carts are not titled or registered with the Department of Public Safety, and ordinarily they cannot be operated on public roads. However, Minnesota law does allow local units of government, such as counties and cities, to authorize via a special permit golf cart operation on streets and highways under that local government’s jurisdiction. The Minnesota Department of Transportation cannot issue the permit for use on ...

Watch out!

It's that time of the year when you better be on your toes. Why? Because now is when ghosts, goblins, witches, skeletons and the Grim Reaper meander amongst us. Watch out! Halloween is fun. As you may know, the roots of the holiday are very deep and go back to the days of the Celtics. If you haven't researched the holiday's history, it's worth doing the reading. Then you will not blunder into a spooky character. When you take a walk, be on the look out for the ghosts that may surround you. These unearthly creatures will try to lead you to their scary places by offering you a glass ...

Go where the grass grows

The first in a string of waterfowl production areas northwest of town was a small square, just 40 acres or so connected to the main road by a small walkable easement style strip with a two wheel track to access the federal parcel. I had walked it last fall while visiting the area, and to my ...

A scary season

We’re afflicted with oodles of scariness and creepiness at this time of year. And I’m not just talking about Halloween; Election Day is also looming in the gloom. It’s bizarre that these bizarre things occur at roughly the same time. But I’m OK with that. Let’s get all the frightening stuff out of the way and be done with it. Kids dressed up as superheroes such as Batman or Spider-Man or Taylor Swift are honest when they ring your doorbell and chant “Trick or treat!” Adults who are running for elected office are basically saying the same thing except that they often ...

Trump tries to appease farmers

As if it were a surprise, (President Trump) has unveiled an attempt to appease struggling farmers, many of whom he has already put out of business, by supplementing their meager incomes with a socialist program which will repay them in part for the exorbitant cost of producing their crop. All the while, not owning up to the fact that his policies have put them all into this perennial situation. Our illustrious representative in Congress will be quick to jump on this train, I’m sure. Thank God, that we have such compassionate, intelligent leaders. God bless America. Dennis ...