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Iconic Salted Nut Roll should have a future in Minnesota

Candy bars often have sweet, chewy and crunchy sensations; which can make it hard to choose one particular favorite. My personal choice made headlines during the past two weeks in the Twin Cities. The Pearson’s Candy Company announced that it was closing its doors, which will mean the loss of more than 100 jobs. They make the famous Salted Nut Roll, a mixture of cream, caramel and peanuts. The candy bar goes back almost a century, to 1933 and the depths of the Great Depression. It has remained popular throughout the Midwest. It was my favorite candy bar as a kid because it stood ...

Vietnam War – Norman Teigen – Teaching and the draft

We have begun learning about Norman Teigen, the third of four children born to Elna (Tjarnagel) Teigen and Bjorne Wollen “B.W.” Teigen. The Teigens’ four children lived on the campus of Bethany College in Mankato, where their father served as college president. They also attended ...

On the Porch

The social news or gossip columns in the old newspapers are always fascinating to read. A special section in the newspaper was devoted to the social media of the day. The whereabouts of local people and events were often featured in these columns. Here are a few from The News Messenger of Lyon ...

Providing a place to gather is the secret recipe

Habits are hard to break. One of my everyday habits is stopping at Mainstay Cafe on my way walking to work. There is an advantage on being a regular at any establishment. The staff usually knows what you like. At Mainstay I don’t even have to open my mouth as I walk up to the counter. ...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Alongside falling leaves of orange, red and yellow, pink is a familiar color during October, because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (aside from non-melanoma skin cancers), affecting one in eight women during their lifetime. Rarely, it can also affect men. We all know someone who has had breast cancer. And many women reading this today are breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer can be serious, yet it’s very treatable at its earliest stages. Thanks to advancements in therapies and technology, treatments are improving every day; ...

Learning about two ‘old-school’ football coaches

I met two “old-school” football coaches this past weekend. On Friday night, I covered my first Marshall Tigers football game. It happened to be the homecoming game and the Tigers defeated Delano 21-7. I never met Coach Terry Bahlmann before Friday’s matchup. Of course, through ...