opinion

By Lee H. Hamilton, former Congressman, Bloomington, IN It didn’t get much attention at the time, but the elections last November did more than give Republicans a majority in the U.S. Senate. Voters also added to the ranks of people on both sides of Capitol Hill who believe members...

To the editor: Our Republican legislators, in their enthusiasm to perpetuate the urban-rural divide, have promised that transportation funding will not cater to rail transit in the Twin Cities, but will fund badly-needed road and bridge repair and maintenance for outstate Minnesota....

By Adam Czech, Minnesota Corn Growers Association public relations manager, Shakopee, MN Yes, gas prices have fallen recently, but for flex fuel vehicle owners, higher ethanol blends such as E85 – a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent regular unleaded – continue to offer...

To the editor: Time is running out for farmers and ranchers that want to participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) this year. February 27 is the deadline for the 2015 round. Producers should visit their local NRCS office before that date to initiate the application...

10 years ago February 22, 2005 Lind-Rite Precision, Inc. in Osakis has made plans to expand its business. The $550,000 project will include 10,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 2,500 square feet of office space. Osakis Elementary School Principal Bill Kraker is encouraging...

I’ll never forget how mortified I was when I was sitting in the middle school cafeteria and my friend informed the new girl that she was going to hell. Why? Because her family didn’t regularly attend church. The thought of someone telling another human that, shocked me down to...

Editor’s note: The following is part of a legislative update provided by State Representative Mary Franson. To the editor: HF 627, a bill that I authored, received its first hearing and was passed out of the Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee this past Wednesday. This...

10 years ago February 15, 2005 Eighth grader Noelle Schoniger was named champion at the Osakis Spelling Bee after spelling “cosmetic” and “ruddy.” She will compete at the regional bee in Fergus Falls. The community of Osakis has spent the past 40 years supporting the growth...

“Was it what you expected it to be?” That question has been sitting in my mind all weekend. I participated in a police ride along Friday as part of the Citizens Police Academy through the Alexandria Police Department (APD). I was really excited for the experience, but it left...

To the editor: Last week the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced nearly $20 million in grants for broadband development in Greater Minnesota. Those funds were made available under a program created last year, the Border-to-Border Broadband...

To the editor: According to the January 16 Pioneer Press, Governor Dayton said he would like to propose a new law to make a 50-foot buffer strip protecting every stream, ditch and river in the state. Also, he stated that this would create 125,000 acres of habitat for pheasants, other...

10 years ago February 8, 2005 Osakis’ Community Memorial Home’s wellness program helps seniors improve strength, flexibility and balance. After the first 12 weeks of the new program, residents have shown a 33.3 percent increase in upper body strength. Tyler Roos took home the...

I have the best bunch of crazy friends that you can imagine. We are constantly pulling pranks on each other and giving each other a hard time any opportunity that we can. A few years ago, on Valentine’s Day, my friends almost pulled the best prank ever on me. It all started out...

To the editor: Good hygiene is more than just smelling nice and looking clean, it can also reduce the spread of germs and diseases. Good hygiene affects the health of children and the adults they are around every day, either in school or in child care. It’s important to teach...