Dean Ridings America’s Newspapers Strong communities don’t just happen. They rely on connection—residents knowing what’s going on, businesses reaching the customers who keep them open, and citizens having the facts to make good decisions. Local newspapers provide that connection in ways no other source can. In today’s fractured media environment, trust is the rarest commodity. Confidence… Read More

Many adults can likely recall mornings during their childhood when newspapers were tossed into the driveways of many homes throughout their neighborhoods. Some adults might even have delivered papers from their bicycles each morning.  Such scenes may now be a relic of the past, thanks in large part to wide reliance on the Internet as a… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda So we have five seasons, eh? Or more? Let’s see: Summer,  Autumn, Winter, Spring, Mud, Leaves, Road construction. Any more?  Yes. I have yet another season to add to that list: The season of Asian beetles, which are coming to life in the south windows of the house as the bugs warm… Read More

Garver’s Movie Review Bob Garver Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson is known as a top-tier talent without top-tier recognition. None of his movies have made more than $50 million at the domestic box office, and despite 11 nominations, he’s never won himself an Academy Award (a combined three Oscar wins have come from his films, including Daniel… Read More

To the Editor, Recently I was watching a news channel that was reporting on a protest rally. Their reporter interviewed one of the protesters and asked what he was protesting and he didn’t know. That got me checking on the internet and discovered a company that rented protesters for any occasion. Just a reminder: the next… Read More

Landmark Center Dan Broten The annual pie and pumpkin Oktoberfest is scheduled at the Landmark Center on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring free pie and ice cream, pumpkin painting and music to help celebrate the fall season with friends, family and neighbors. Please share your creativity, take home a painted… Read More

By Jessica Carlson  OtterTail County Master Gardener Intern Garlic is a dependable crop for Minnesota gardeners, even in Zone 4. Fall just happens to be the best time to plant it! The University of Minnesota Extension recommends planting garlic in October after the soil has cooled but before it has frozen, usually one or two weeks after… Read More

By Alice Martin Friends of a Feather When you see a flock of large black birds with “v” shaped wings soaring on the thermals, they are most likely turkey vultures and there must be something dead on the ground. They are nature’s sanitation crew, cleaning up the forests and roadsides bite by bite with their strong, hooked… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I seem to encounter a fair amount of emergency vehicles running in emergency mode (lights and sirens.) I also can’t help but notice how many people don’t pull over and yield to them. Can you bring some attention to this?   Answer: Great topic for conversation. When an emergency vehicle (such… Read More

Summer Targeted Services HAD A BLAST this year.  Thank you to B & D’s grocery store for the tour and treats!  Thank you Grant Smith for the tour of the Airport and the fun activities!  Look for more information for Targeted Services during the school year!    Summer Targeted Services staff