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Community Voices

Dealing with Global Darkening

We can’t deny it anymore. It’s getting darker. It’s darker earlier and longer. This weekend, with the time change, the darkening goes into hyper drive. It is Global Darkening. (I know. It’s half the globe. Work with me here.) There are Global Darkening deniers. They say it is scheme of left-wing woke socialists who want us to turn our lights on. I say the evidence is irrefutable. Look out the window, you darkening deniers. I guess this has happened before. That is little consolation. This plague of dimness seems oppressive even if it did happen a year ago and the year ...

Voting by mail serves as a good option for modern elections

My voting process was simpler in Election 2026 than in the past, thanks to services provided for absentee ballots. I filled out the application on Monday, and voted on Thursday at Boulder Estates when election officials came to assist us. It saves me a trip to the polls on Election Day. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I’d have had to vote in person. I’m able bodied and still drive my car. It was just more convenient to vote early. It’s much more than a convenience for many of my neighbors. Some of them have physical health issues that would make it very ...

A stronger city through community generosity

Per Minnesota Statutes, cities can accept gifts of property, including money or land, and use them if they follow the donor’s terms. A city can accept donations “for the benefit of its citizens,” suggesting that accepting donations, like making donations, must be done for a public purpose. A resolution accepting the gift and the donor’s terms must receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the council and fully state the donor’s terms. Each year the city of Marshall is fortunate enough to partner with many organizations-both public and private who help ...

Purrington finds a home for displaying art

Last January the Independent reported on the Marshall City Council voting to approve a lease agreement with Marshall Area Fine Arts Council for the use of vacant office space on the second floor of City Hall. The agreement also allowed for MAFAC to use the common area outside the office for ...

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 ...

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 ...