The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda The term “mad as a hatter” predates Lewis Carroll’s character in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. (Where it was used.) It refers to the 18th and 19th-century hat-making industry in England, where hatters used a mercury nitrate to treat fur, exposing the workers to toxic fumes that caused mercury poisoning. This condition… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: It seems like we have been seeing a fair amount of rain along with flash flood warnings. Can you talk about what motorists should do if they encounter such a thing?   Answer: Flooding can happen when streams and rivers overflow, dams or levees break, snow melts rapidly, or during heavy… Read More

Garver’s Movie Review Bob Garver I have fond memories of “The Bad Guys” from 2022. The opening scene was an extended “Pulp Fiction” reference, which I was not expecting to see in an animated kids’ movie. It put me in a good mood for the rest of the movie, which was standard “villains eventually learn to… Read More

By Ruth Koehler Special to the Advocate There she sat:  My sister at 8 years old on our rocking chair, pumping her legs up and down as she cried and screamed.  We didn’t know what set her off as our family watched her carry on. It must have been dramatic since I can still see it in my… Read More

Master Gardener Bev Johnson Gardens are going crazy this summer. Vines are so long they look like they are heading for the nearest interstate. Tomato plants are topping their cages and weeds are flourishing. Time for gardeners to take control before they can’t get in the garden for all the foliage. Start with the vines…. Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda This is the third–and last– of “Three things I’ve learned.” (One hopes that one has learned more than that in this entire lifetime. But the rest isn’t at all clear, as those of you who are growing older probably agree. Don’t like; maybe just agree.)   I learned this on a service… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I have a new driver in the house and they asked a question that got me thinking. If someone has a crash and hits a power pole, what should they do in that situation? Answer: If your car comes into contact with a utility pole, wire or power box, you should: •… Read More

It came as a total surprise to us when we were informed that we had been selected to be Grand Marshals for the Festival parade. We would like to thank the members of HACA for the awesome opportunity. It was a great honor to be chosen and we had a marvelous time. Our love for… Read More

Landmark Center Dan Broten Storytime at Landmark Center continues this Wednesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. in our outdoor patio area. Join author Jessica Wiek as she reads from her book “Ruby, the Squirrel Master” followed by some activities. You may even meet the dog that inspired this book? This event is free and open… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Here is the next one, the second of three things I’ve learned, that may or may not be worth passing on. Number 2: Beware of what I call “false deadlines.”  “Deadline.” A strange term, when you look at it. It originated during the American Civil War, and literally originated in the Confederate Andersonville… Read More