Opinions

History’s most reprinted editorial answers important Christmas question

The most famous editorial in American journalism was published 119 years ago in the New York Sun, as a reply to a letter from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanion. The editorial was titled “Is there a Santa Claus?” and its most memorable passage was this reassuring declaration: “Yes, Virginia, there is a...

Not your average rescue in Dodge County

We recently had one of the most unique and challenging first responder rescues I can ever remember here in Dodge County, reminding us once again how amazing the men and women are who serve here. A 69-year-old male citizen had fallen down a 30–40-foot Zumbro River cliff on his property landing on...

Keeping Minnesotans safe from ‘the silent killer’

This holiday season, as temperatures drop and we gather with loved ones, it’s important to keep safety front of mind. Yes, that means driving more carefully on icy roads, but it also means keeping your family safe from a less obvious winter hazard — carbon monoxide. According to the Minnesota...

Maneuver by Triton School District calls into question state data practice violations

A sequence of events over the past several months is raising some important questions about how one area school district is communicating with the public when it comes to critical information about the operations of the district. The district in question is Triton Public Schools serving the...

It was a great Saturday in Dodge County

Things were hopping in Dodge County last Saturday as community Christmas celebrations were held in Kasson, Mantorville, Hayfield, Dodge Center, and West Concord. Although each celebration was different, there were a few similarities. Santa Claus was everywhere. In every community he was there to...

Let the holiday season begin

I’m one of those people who does not like to rush the Christmas holiday season. October means Halloween, November means Thanksgiving. When those two events are over, it’s time for Advent and Christmas to begin. In fact, I kind of feel sorry for Thanksgiving. It seems to get lost in the commercial...

Bipartisan bill would award Hmong veterans Congressional Gold Medal

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Hmong Congressional Gold Medal Act to recognize the distinguished service of the Hmong veterans who served alongside American troops in the...

The Season of Giving is here

Even though the holiday displays have been in the stores for several weeks now, likewise Black Friday sales, the holiday season is now officially under way. Among all the holiday activities that will take place in the next month, shopping will be at the top. There are gifts to buy for family and...

Keeping local wealth local

For 15 years, Minnesotans have been showing up on Give to the Max Day, raising nearly $300 million over the past decade and a half. The thing I love most about Minnesota’s “Giving Holiday” is that all dollars raised stay local, as each donor can select which Minnesota-based non-profit they would...

I Was Thinking... Going to Branson

On a five-day trip to Branson, Missouri recently, we were able to revisit fall. While in Minnesota, we’ve already had snow and freezing temperatures, southern Missouri was still in the midst of fall. Before we left, most of our trees had dropped their leaves and I’d taken four truckloads of leaves...