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Can’t control vanishment powers

I was about 6 years old when I discovered that I have an extraordinary talent for making things disappear. I owned a Barlow jackknife that had both a long blade and a short blade. This meant that I was prepared for anything from fending off a ferocious tiger to cleaning my fingernails. That pocketknife was my constant companion. One day I decided to try my hand at whittling, having found a funky stick that looked as though it could be carved into a likeness of the Statue of Liberty. I reached into my jeans pocket and found… nothing! Well, not exactly nothing. There were a few old ...

Getting history straight during trip to Europe

When I write one of these, it’s like sewing a rug. I take a bunch of ideas and stitch them together till I have a column that I can shake outside and put on the floor. Today, I have a lot of loose ends. These are remnants from our trip to Europe in June. Instead of rug, it might come out looking like a bunch of rags. We spent a week in the Czech Republic and a week in Poland with two daughters, a son-in-law, and a 10-year-old grandson. Part of that was seeking ancestral places. Part of it was touristing. Both those countries were behind the Iron Curtain 50 years ago when I ...

Railroads anchored the economy of rural America

In our local area Labor Day corresponds to railroads and Tracy’s annual Box Car Days. It’s a very appropriate connection because of how railroads shaped our region, its farms and our communities. Development happened quickly in the late 19th century. It was spurred by rail expansion. Our town street configurations were based on railroad designs. We had through towns with development on both sides of the tracks and T-towns, which had a street parallel to the tracks and a Main Street branching off. Residential blocks were laid out on both sides of the business district. There ...

Country School Kids – Larry Van Moer – Special days at District 64

We have been learning about Larry Van Moer, the second of five children born to Marie (Marcotte) and Herbert Van Moer. Larry and his siblings grew up on their family farm north of Amiret. Larry attended the nearby District 64 country school. He estimated their average enrollment at 15 ...

On the Porch

Dr. Harper Workman persuaded Mrs. Pat Summers to set up space in her home at South and 6th Street in around 1910 for surgery and rooms for care. This home served as Tracy’s first hospital until one opened in 1919 by Drs. Valentine and Hoidale in the former O’Brien home on the corner of 4th ...

The mid-year money reset: What to review now so you’re stronger by December

As the calendar flips to the second half of the year, it’s a natural time to take stock of your financial position. With several months behind you and the rest of the year still ahead, this is a meaningful moment to reassess your goals and progress. For individuals and families with multiple financial priorities, this moment can be especially valuable. A mid-year money reset offers an opportunity to assess progress, confirm priorities and ensure the second half of the year supports both near-term needs and long-term objectives.
 A mid-year review isn’t about making sweeping ...