We are now 19 days into the month long Minnesota law enforcement crackdown on distracted driving. Have you noticed drivers being more conscientious about not driving and texting? Driving and using a hand-held phone? We haven't. Perhaps one of the most universally ignored laws in Minnesota are its "hands-free" and distracted driving laws. Every day, whether driving … [Read more...] about Cracking Down On Dangerous Drivers
Opinion
LETTER: ‘Setting Aside’ Not Sufficient
Pray do tell. How long should we “set aside” a vile, racist “opinion,” assume it is held by only “one person,” and focus instead “on the sportsmanship of the larger population?” At the very least, the courageous guest commentary by Morris High School student Lakia Manska in last week’s Stevens County Times suggests a simple “set aside” may not be sufficient. While walking … [Read more...] about LETTER: ‘Setting Aside’ Not Sufficient
Time to Change
By Lakia Manska Dressing up for boys basketball games has been an added joy to their wonderful season. I've lost my voice countless times cheering them on in games. I yell “go Tigers!” with great pride. On March 26, during the third place game of the state tournament, things were different. Wearing “Morris Tigers” across my chest felt like a … [Read more...] about Time to Change
LETTER: You Made Us Smile
Whoever had a good time making all the snowmen and snowwomen to make us smile as we drove by the Courage Cottage - They made me smile! We who are grateful for all that the Courage Cottage provided some years ago remember how cheery any change to watch outside the windows was even more appreciated. This is no April fool…it is a smile and or a hug and “Isn’t it interesting … [Read more...] about LETTER: You Made Us Smile
Column: Whose Snow is it and Where Does It Go?
I think one of the most interesting statements for me over the years is “the city should pay for it or the city should do it.” I think it is interesting because all of us together are in the city. Recently a comment was made about the city’s snow. The citizen was complaining because the city was plowing the snow from the street onto the sidewalk. The … [Read more...] about Column: Whose Snow is it and Where Does It Go?
Kates Column: The Flowers of Winter
I received an Amaryllis bulb for a Christmas gift and couldn’t wait to get it started. About one week after Christmas I put the bulb in the pot, poured in the soil and added water. There was already a small stalk popping out of the bulb. It didn’t take long before that stalk was poking through the soil and searching for sunlight. I watered it weekly, set it in a place I … [Read more...] about Kates Column: The Flowers of Winter
Finding Compassion Even As We Disagree
Where many will see the worst elements of our national political climate in the AP story, “In one small prairie town, two warring visions of America,” that was published across the country last week, we see the potential for the best of small towns to emerge. It might surprise our readers that we had a heartfelt conversation with Pastor Jason Wolter last Friday. Though … [Read more...] about Finding Compassion Even As We Disagree
Where did all the workers go?
When I hear about the employee shortage, I have to wonder where everyone went. You didn’t hear much about it before COVID-19 hit but suddenly now there are more jobs than people to work in them. I have never seen an employee shortage but witnessed a lot of job shortages. When I was looking for work, there seemed to be many, many applicants and a person was really fortunate … [Read more...] about Where did all the workers go?
Let’s Help Our Businesses Find Employees
Job fairs, extensive advertising place-ments, and significant signing bonuses are all being used to find workers to fill the jobs our local manufacturers and businesses need. One argument some offered for people not wanting to live in our small towns was a wage scale lower than in metro-politan areas. Not anymore. Many of our manufacturers are offering good-paying jobs … [Read more...] about Let’s Help Our Businesses Find Employees
Rediscovering Neighborhood Banter
By Preston Pouteaux The in-between life of our neighborhoods is often made up of ordinary stuff. Errands, texts, coffee, meal prep, trips to the mailbox, school-work, and appointments seem to fill much of our time. When I drop off my daughters at school, most parents are simply moving between places with the flurry of, well, a busy parent. Most of the time these spaces are … [Read more...] about Rediscovering Neighborhood Banter
