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...]
Community Foundations
By Benya Kraus President and CEO, SMIF June 25, 2026 - In a world that often asks us to be in a hurry, Wendell Berry – a Kentuckian farmer poet – asks us to slow down and to pay attention. “We have the world to live in on the condition that we will take good care of it,” he writes in one of his essays. “But to take good care of it, we have to know it. And to know it and to … [Read more...]
We The People
To me, this country is ours because of the service men and women who fought for it, whom all gave some, and some gave all for what they believed in and willing to protect that right even if it meant dying for it, and they still did it! When we were young, like the history our our country, we learned right from wrong, we put our trust in the Lord, we were respectful of others, … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Wanting a Better Life
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...]
Land Legacy
By Benya Kraus President and CEO, SMIF During the summer of my junior year of college, I had what I now call my “quarter-life existential crisis.” I was 21 years old and spending the summer in Waseca on the family farm, a stark departure from the life I was living in Boston during the school year. Instead of cocktail bar hopping in the city with my new 21-year-old status, I … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Celebrating 250 Years
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...]
Letter about Finstad’s folly…
To the Editor, Mr. Finstad recently posted an editorial in the Fillmore County Journal calling for additional airline service for access to the Mayo Clinic. It will make it easier for all of the international clientele and wealthy Americans who want the services of the Mayo Clinic. It does nothing to improve the medical care for the folks who live in southeastern Minnesota. … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… The Next Chapter for 2026 Graduates
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...]
Journal Writing Project – Are the Web Filters at Your School Too Restrictive?
By Alleen Erchoff-Costet Imagine this, you are doing a research paper for school about politics, history, or social issues on your school computer, and the website you’re looking at is blocked or you get kicked off without warning. Whether you’re a student now, or have been one in the past who used computers for school work, there probably were filters monitoring what … [Read more...]
Letter about school library management…
To the Editor, We are writing in response to what was shared about the April 20th Rushford-Peterson School Board meeting. The School Board authorized a $500 contract with the superintendent of the St. Charles school district, who is also a licensed library media specialist, in order to provide library management oversight. While we understand and appreciate the need for … [Read more...]