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Local Columns

Chicago brings back romance

My wife and I couldn’t go to Chicago, so Chicago came to us. I’m talking about the iconic rock band, not the city. In this case “iconic” can be interpreted as “old enough to involve carbon dating.” The band Chicago Transit Authority was formed in 1967, the year I turned 10. That ...

The Vietnam War – Marland Burckhardt – Desert Storm and Army War College

We have been following Marland Burckhardt, a Russell High School graduate who married his Russell sweetheart in college and began an Army career focused on Military Intelligence operations. He served in Vietnam in 1970 and then he and Barb had assignments across the United States. Marland ...

Final Harvest shows that violent crimes should be remembered

This fall I became reacquainted with the most famous murder case in local history, the 1983 murders of two Ruthton bankers. I reread the book Final Harvest by Andrew Malcolm. I wanted to read it again after 40 years because of how I remember hearing about events as they transpired. Final ...

What’s beckoning you?

As we meander through our days, have you noticed how many things are beckoning you? Heading into our hectic holiday times, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We hurry to arrange all the needed ingredients for a Thanksgiving feast. Hurry! The day of the turkey is beckoning you, and it’s right ...

Don’t despair

The final weekend of the firearms deer season is often referred to as “Desperation Weekend” as hunters who’ve held out for that trophy buck they’ve been watching on trail camera all summer or perhaps just imagining in their minds this fall, get antsy as the paper tag in their pocket ...

O’ lutefisk!

Food can transport you into the past or push you forward. But there are some situations where food can cause familial friction. At least that’s how it’s been for forty-some years with my wife and me. The foodstuff that’s been at the center of our domestic distress is ...