Part five of a series Mysterious and frightening noises at night, a back-and-forth chase with a savage animal and an oversized vegetable were among strange experiences for T. R. Stewart, who as an 11-year-old boy, came with his family to Minnesota Territory in 1853. A half-century later, he wrote about those first few months as one of the first white families to settle in … [Read more...]
I Couldn’t Believe My Ears… Until Now
Every week, I hear the most amazing raw milk stories. I could write a book with the hundreds of ways I’ve been told that raw milk helps people. I wish you could stand with me in our farm store and hear what I hear. It is literally incredible. You’re all invited to visit my farm store, but in the meantime, I’d like to share just a bit of what I hear. One of my guests, … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Quitters Can Win
By Kyra Arndt You might have heard the common expression “Winners never quit and quitters never win,” which implies that in order to be successful one can absolutely never quit. I, however, believe the opposite to be true. Quitting is not always a sign of weakness; in fact, It takes strength to recognize when a situation is no longer serving you anymore and walk away. At the … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper
Question: I have been thinking about getting a dash camera for my vehicle. If I do, where can I place it? Answer: When it comes to placing things up in the windshield or dashboard area Minnesota has restrictions as a concern for obstructed vision and safety. Dash cameras are allowed if the driver feedback and safety monitoring equipment are mounted immediately behind, … [Read more...]
The Lasting Legend of a Larruping Good Lick in Ledyard
I played in a baseball game at the Field of Dreams near Dyersville, Iowa. The movie “Field of Dreams” tells the story of an Iowa farmer who plowed up his corn crop to build a baseball field, and then the ghosts of famous dead players come and play baseball on it. Why did he do that? Kevin Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella, built the ballfield after hearing a voice in his … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – Nuclear Fusion: Powering a Brighter Future
By Isaac Vick Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, has long been hailed as a promising energy source due to its potential to produce clean and abundant energy without emitting greenhouse gases or producing long-term radioactive waste. However, achieving fusion reactions that release more energy than is initially invested has proven to be an elusive goal, … [Read more...]
Hiring Farm Workers Under the Age of 16
By Katie Drewitz If you’re considering hiring a teenager to work on your farm or with your agribusiness, it’s important to know the laws and regulations of employing youth. There are several operations in agriculture that have been identified by the Federal government as being particularly hazardous for children under the age of 16. These include: • Operating tractors … [Read more...]
Giving Up Chocolate for Lent
By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist For those in the mainline churches it is the season of Lent. A time of reflection and preparation for embracing and embodying the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Some will do this by fasting from something. Usually something pleasurable and notable. Which is a great way to center one’s focus on spirituality. … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Awakening Beneath a Snow-covered Quilt
Part four of a series Hearing the call of prairie chickens was a new and alarming experience. It was 1853 when 11-year-old T. R. Stewart and his family came west from Massachusetts to be among the very first pioneer settlers in southeast Minnesota Territory, near present-day Caledonia. Their first week was spent at a hotel in Brownsville and the second week at the home of … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Animal Testing
By Addison Kessler Animal testing is an integral component of modern science, product testing, and education (Beauchamp/DeGrazia PMC). It has been used to help understand the human body for thousands of years. Animal testing is wrong because the animals have no choice in whether they will be tested or not. Why test on animals when humans and animals are not biologically the … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: We’re Going To State!
By Maggie Dempewolf As I sat there in the auditorium, shakily holding onto the hands of my fellow one act play teammates, I really thought to myself, could this be it? Are we really going to go to state? Well, let me tell you just how excited everyone was when we heard the judge’s next words. “And finally, in first place, performing “Clowns With Guns,” Fillmore Central High … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions: Are You the Adventurous Type?
By Pastor Bridget Sheely Racine/Wykoff/Sumner Center UMC Are you ready for an adventure? If you were asked today to drop everything, trust in the Lord and believe that He will guide you down a new path and take you on a journey that will change your life would you be willing to take that first step? As Jesus walked along the beach one ordinary day, he met some fishermen … [Read more...]
Flying Farmer – Filter of Grace
“There once was a boy who could listen. He could hear a sliced cantaloupe glisten. And closing his eyes He can hear the sun rise By the chirping he knows that it’s risen.” -Hornaday When I heard this limerick, I was surprised by the clever use of senses in a way that senses aren’t used. Why could the boy hear the glistening cantaloupe? Because of his previous … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper
Question: I thought I heard about 911 being able to find accurate locations even when people don’t know exactly where they are. Can you talk about that? Answer: Yes, we shared some information on this very subject on our Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s blog just recently. I will share the article. “As a former dispatcher, Jessica Stanton knows seconds count in an … [Read more...]
Caledonia Public Schools Prepare for Spring
Caledonia Area Public School board members met Tuesday, February 20 at Caledonia Elementary School in room #162. Board member Mike Peterson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., led with the Pledge of Allegiance, and conducted roll call. Board members present included Derek Adamson, Tim Gunn, Melissa Marschall, Daniel Small and Spencer Yohe. Board member Leigh King was absent. … [Read more...]