Over the past several months, as newspaper people we have done our best to cover what we were allowed to cover from a news perspective. Honestly, sometimes it felt like we couldn’t win either way. One day, we’d receive a phone call from a reader saying, “I only see obituaries, city council and school board meetings in your newspaper.  There’s nothing else.” My response.  … [Read more...]

By Eleanore Jones Spring Valley, MN Saul Alinsky died almost 50 years ago, but his writings influenced many of those in political control of our nation today.  Obama taught students the Alinsky Principles when he was a professor at the University of Chicago Law School and even wrote about Alinsky in his books.  Hillary Clinton wrote her college thesis on Alinsky’s writings.  … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I see in the Spring Valley minutes of the August 31 edition of the Journal, an individual was complaining about the Highway 16 & 63 intersection in Spring Valley.  This intersection is wide open in all four directions.  It’s not the intersection that is the problem, it is the drivers.  Like Forrest Gump would say, “You can’t fix stupid!!” Norm … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I miss the old normal but I’ll get used to it. I miss rubbing elbows with people at work. It was nice to be able to stop by someone’s cube to see if they wanted to go to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. I miss the news. I used to read the Spring Valley Tribune for the casual entertainment of it. I could read about real people in my community. It was kind of … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I see our Sen. Miller made the front page of the Minneapolis Sunday Star Tribune on August 2, 2020. That doesn’t happen very often. The reason is this: applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) began April 3. On that very same day his family’s Wm. Miller Scrap Iron and Metal Co. applied for and received a $200,000 forgivable loan. Sen. Miller said, … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I’m seeing Trump signs “Keep America Great.”  That’s assuming he has made America great these past 3 1/2 years.  I feel he’s made the office of the presidency and our country more like a disgrace.  Even though we have many issues and differences, I’ve always thought our country is great. Unfortunately, Trump has sabotaged the Republican party.  It seems that … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Trump works to denigrate and create distrust of government (“deep state”), journalists, and science. Many thousands died because Trump apparently cared more for the stock market than scientists’ advice about coronavirus. The recent wind event in Iowa is a little taste of our future. There is no way to imagine the devastation in store for us and so many … [Read more...]

By George Spangler Chatfield, MN Let me start with my conclusion: With the indoor heating season almost upon us, don’t send our most precious resource, our children, back into a conventional schoolhouse this fall. Don’t allow them to be ushered into the enclosed space of a school bus twice a day. Insist that the public school curriculum should only be offered through a … [Read more...]

By John Torgrimson Lanesboro, MN John LeCarre, the novelist and former British spy, was interviewed by CBS about a year ago.  Most of the talk was focused on Brexit — Britain leaving the EU — but then the topic turned to America. “I’m talking about Brexit, but Americans know the difference between patriotism and nationalism. A patriot can criticize his country, stay with … [Read more...]

Many of our small businesses — restaurants, hair salons and fitness centers in particular — have suffered greatly throughout this pandemic. When the mandate to close their doors went into effect back in March, they were restricted from generating income.  At the same time, these business owners were told they had to pay state licensing fees that come along with owning their … [Read more...]