While the bracket of World Cup games were underway, a good friend of mine said, “I think the World Cup brings people together more than any politician ever could.” This is so true, and I appreciated hearing this from him. My friend, who grew up in Rushford and now lives in Fountain, didn’t grow up playing soccer, but he enjoys any sporting events or competition. I know there … [Read more...]

In recent months, we’ve noticed significant mail delays and lost mail. As one example, we’ve had customers mail our newspaper a payment dated May 29 and not arrive until June 30.  It literally took more than 30 days to go from Lanesboro to Preston.  We’ve mailed payments to our vendors and noticed it takes up to 30 days.  This has been an ongoing issue since about March … [Read more...]

Just when you think the scammers can’t get any worse, they raise the bar. And, artificial intelligence will only make their methods more deceptive for all of us.  About a year ago, I was locked out of my personal Facebook account.  The funny thing is that I prompted the lockout because I received a suspicious e-mail from Meta.  I questioned whether it was legit with Facebook, … [Read more...]

As I look at the content of this week’s newspaper, I recognize that we all play a significant role in what makes America unique compared to many other countries. Our ancestors came to this country because they were leaving a situation in which they felt oppressed. It would have been easier to stay in their comfort zone; stay where their family had established roots, even if … [Read more...]

Starting in late 2025, we started seeing more conversation at city council meetings regarding plans for communities to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. When planning for these types of events, there is no playbook.  This hasn’t been done before. The last time I recall a significant anniversary for our country was in 1976 – our 200-year … [Read more...]

First, congratulations to the high school graduates of 2026! While this event closes out a significant chapter of your life, it also signals the beginning of the rest of your life. The Winding Journey There is no set path for where life will take you. After high school, I had planned to become a veterinarian.  I worked at a veterinary clinic in Rochester while in high … [Read more...]