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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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Political donations should be limited to a thousand per person

When I think about the idea of free and fair elections, my thoughts sometimes turn to my first few days as a Marshall High School freshman. As part of organizing a student council, every homeroom elected a representative. This took place as students from Marshall Middle School, Holy Redeemer, Samuel Lutheran and Lynd were integrating into a freshman class. Even though we came from different schools, many of us knew each other because of church, Scouts, 4-H, community education programs and our neighborhoods. We knew enough about each other to form opinions about who would be a good ...

More than a phone policy: Preparing students for success

One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a school district is preparing students not only for graduation, but for life beyond our classrooms. That means helping students develop academic knowledge, strong character, healthy relationships, and the self-regulation skills they will need to succeed in college, careers, and their communities. This year, Marshall High School took an important step toward that goal by implementing a bell-to-bell personal electronic device policy, which includes cell phones, air pods/ear pods, smart watches, and personal computers. To support the ...