We have been learning about Joe Louwagie’s Vietnam service. He grew up on the family farm south of Green Valley and married Jo Schmitz, in 1968 after graduating college. Facing a draft call, Joe enlisted in the Army for Officer Candidate School (OCS) training, but dropped OCS when a back ...

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 ...

(Columnist’s note: I’ve been a fan of the “Peanuts” comic strip for a very long time. Each Christmas season, my column is a tribute to Charlie Brown and his pals. Maybe that means you and me?) As he wrapped presents, Charlie Brown was in deep thought. He kept coming back to the same ...

While traveling this weekend, I burned through a hand-me-down paperback of Stephen King short stories. The sleepless wee hours of the morning in a hotel room two time zones over, afternoon lulls ahead of a nap before dinner and nightlife, and time spent at the gate awaiting connections made the ...

Question: I do a lot of over-the-road traveling for work. Can I stop and stretch my legs along the freeway? Answer: Do not stop on the interstate or along the roadway. The only time you can stop on the freeway is for emergencies. Use the freeway exits/off-ramps and pull off onto the shoulder ...

Christmas is a traditional holiday that contains more traditions than raisins in a fruitcake. One of these traditions involves sending holiday greeting cards. Nobody knows exactly when this custom began, but it’s entirely possible that its origins can be traced all the way back to caveman ...