Head to Houston (Minnesota, that is) was the reply when Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Lyla Simonson reached out to the A&W restaurant corporation for a franchise opportunity somewhere in Minnesota. Living in Washington state, the couple wanted to move back to Minnesota for health and family reasons. Having previously resided in western Minnesota, they moved to Houston in … [Read more...]
This Big Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let it Shine
It would have been dark if not for the full moon. If that moon had been a musical instrument, it’d have been blaring. It caused me to think of the poet Tom Hennen’s book titled “Darkness Sticks to Everything.” It failed to stick on a bright night. I went for a walk in the moonlight. I needed to walk because I had stopped at a bakery and a meat market earlier in the day. I … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – Rainbow and Shadow
Excerpt from Tales From Heritage Farm written by Wenda and Randall Grabau. Squeak, creak went the old door. A flash of light split through the deep darkness of the storage closet. Many items had been set aside in the closet to hibernate while snow boots and mittens, stocking caps and parkas had their hey-day. The frigid winter waned, and signs of spring began to pop out … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Dedicated Couple Preserved History for Decades
At the Houston County Fair, he educated visitors inside the 1880 pioneer log cabin. His wife demonstrated how pioneer women spun wool on an antique spinning wheel in that same log home in the Houston County Historical Society complex, adjacent to the fairgrounds at the Main Street entrance. Harold and Ragnhild (Peterson) St. Mary donated countless volunteer hours at the museum. … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) Did you know that during his lifetime, Rev. Charles Wesley wrote over 6,500 Christian hymns? He along with his brother Rev. John Wesley were major figures in the Methodist movement. Wesley’s hymns expressed some of the core beliefs … [Read more...]
The Best Time to Buy a Used Car is When it’s New
“You can keep the extra steering wheel.” I remember the car salesman saying that because it’s not something I hear every day. I was a whippersnapper buying a car that wasn’t secondhand. A few more hands than that were involved, but it hid its rust well, wasn’t haunted, and had an AM radio that could find WDGY and its pulsating rock and roll most days. The car didn’t run … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Time Flies When You’re Having Fun! Actually, Time Just Flies!
By Pastor Marke Geselle Valley Christian Center “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 I guess so!!! I went to my high school class reunion on Saturday and there were a bunch of old people there! A get together to celebrate (if that’s the right term) 45 years. 45 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – The Day the U. S. President Got Lost in Fillmore County
It probably wouldn’t happen in the 21st century, with GPS and cell phones. But it was common for motorists to stop and ask for directions during the 20th century – but usually not by someone driving two secret service agents – and the president of the United States! On September 12, 1938, about three weeks before his 75th birthday, Fred. C. Sandte, clad in his farm-work … [Read more...]
Thyme & Again – A Daily Dose of La Dolce Vita
By Angela Denstad Time and again we treasure summer as a season of ease and adventure: a relaxing of the routine, the runaround, the wardrobe — a time for embracing an easy, breezy bonhomie. I’ve been enjoying my summer vacation for weeks now … except for the fact that I haven’t had one. Not in the usual sense, anyway. I haven’t taken any time off from work, engaged in … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper
Question: I see a lot of motorists pulling campers and trailers that don’t have experience or simply don’t know what they are doing. I see some crashes that I suspect are due to this. Can you talk about pulling campers and trailers? Answer: If you pull a camper or trailer with your vehicle, you must maintain at least 500 feet of following distance from other vehicles. When … [Read more...]