By Jim Palmer It started with a simple text from my youngest son, Easton, a sophomore in high school. “Can you answer some questions for me to get extra credit in math?” My first thought was... why would my son be asking me to answer questions for him for extra credit? He has always done well in math... and has always been a rule follower. After questioning his motives (in a joking way) he let me know that the assignment was for him to ask an adult to answer some math questio

By Joel Johnson of Fargo In 1995, I started a new job at the Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo. I would go to work at 6 a.m. as part of the early morning floor care shift. My duty was to provide a healthy, sanitary environment in the building for the residents’ home. Elizabeth was one of the elderly residents of the home. One morning during my first week of employment, she was sitting in her wheelchair in the doorway of her room with a kind spirit about her. Elizabeth gave me

Today’s Wisdom: Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. – Abraham Lincoln By Bill D. Ward Way back when I was about eight years old, I outgrew the little bicycle I had started out on. One would anticipate that my parents would have taken me to the hardware store and bought me a larger one. But in 1958, that wasn’t necessarily how things worked. Instead, we drove out to my grandparents’ farm and retrieved the rusted and dusty bike my mother had ridden

By Rachel Barduson For many, winter in Minnesota is just too unbearable to accept without some kind of refuge in a southern state or beach destination outside of the country. Spring break means planning – even if it’s the same destination year after year. During the winter of 2025, I was the arm-chair quarterback of winter travels as my sister and her husband went on their annual Mazatlán get-away. They went on the trip. I stayed home, but kinda went along, getting reports fr

By Carol Wenner of Alexandria This story shares my husband Bruce Wenner’s journey in woodworking, shaped by his father’s influence and the challenges of a modest upbringing. I’ve watched Bruce’s lifelong connection to nature, his achievements as a Minnesota Master Gardener, and his active participation in the Alexandria Garden Club have shaped his character and brought him joy. I’m proud to tell you how Bruce appreciates traditional woodworking techniques, treasures his uniq

By Marilyn Brinkman of Cold Spring Sometimes my brain thinks bigger than I can handle. Last week, I decided I needed shelving for my quilting fabrics so I could locate my fabrics in some type of order. When I moved to Cold Spring, I put all my fabrics into two large bins. I could barely lift them. I pulled and tugged, then had to practically stand on my head trying to locate the red fabric I needed. It was at the bottom of bin one. My new shelves. Contributed photo So, I wen

By Marc Milbradt of Slayton My first memories are of darkness all around but warmth above, which I was growing toward. A short time later, I broke through the earth and felt the sun on my leaf. I didn’t think anything could feel so good. I was wrong. There was rain, cool and pure, washing my leaves. And so the seasons went. Every season I grow taller and stronger. Life as viewed through a tree. Contributed image Then one spring I heard human footsteps and a small voice asking

The Weisel family of Glenwood recently took a trip down south, and Amanda Weisel of Glenwood brought back this eerie and beautiful photo. Spanish moss hangs from the trees in this foggy, mysterious swamp scene captured at a recent trip to New Orleans. A mother deer and her spotted fawn wander side-by-side through the tall greenery in this sweet wildlife moment. Joyce George Watts of Buffalo spotted the pair blending right into the leafy summer foliage. Mary Carlson of Mountai

This article was written and provided by Brooke Steckelberg, Au.D., CCC-A, at St. Cloud ENT. Why am I dizzy, and what should I do about it? Brooke Steckelberg, Au.D., CCC-A Contributed photo Our balance system is very complex and involves three main systems working together: the visual system, the vestibular (inner ear) system and the proprioceptive system (sensors in muscles, joints and tendons). Our brain integrates information from these systems to keep us upright and

Answers by Mitchell Gossman, MD, an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota, located in St. Cloud Can wearing glasses make my eyes seem worse? Usually not, in the sense that the health of the eyes cannot be harmed by wearing glasses. You could wear aunt’s thick prescription and it wouldn’t damage your eyes. However… For adults, your vision can not get worse because of the glasses you wear. But if you don’t get used to a new prescription within a couple of wee

Ex-Olympic biathlon athlete giving back to help kids find their (ski) paths By Carol Stender Battle Lake native Wynn Roberts is a helicopter pilot flying for both the ND National Guard and for Life Link III of Detroit Lakes, but there was another time he was flying high... with competitive energy and excitement. Roberts was an Olympian representing the U.S. in the biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Battle Lake native Wynn Roberts is an Olympian. He rep

Accidental call leads to ‘unlikely beautiful relationship’ Submitted by Addy Wolfe of Moorhead Written by Den Bolda of Casselton If you’ve never heard about people who’ve met by accident, let me tell you how I made friends with a man in his final stages of life. You see, I live near the state line, and that means that people sometimes dial the wrong area code when making phone calls. It was just such an error that introduced me to Bob. As it turns out, I have the same telepho

Arlington woman, 89, started twirling in 1952; still twirls flaming baton every winter By Jillian Kellerman Marge Kloeckl of Arlington twirls a fire baton at Arli-Dazzle 2025. Marge was a majorette in the Winthrop High School band from 1952 to 1954. She started with the basic baton, and then introduced the hoop baton, flag baton, and later the fire baton. She taught baton twirling for over 20 years and still twirls the fire baton at Arli-Dazzle every year in Arlington, making

Redwood Falls official has been making calls for 50 years By Larry Magrath Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls has found his own particular season the last three years. As a sports journalist, umpire and referee, accumulating accolades have graced the life of Cook, a fixture of the state’s baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and gridiron. Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls with a plaque inducting him in the 2024 Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame. Cook has received recognition from multiple

Osakis man has been priest for 65 years By Joe Korkowski , The Church of St. Mary, Alexandria; published in The Central Minnesota Catholic; republished with permission Retired New Ulm priest Father Fink makes his home near Osakis. Fink is still serving in the area at age 90. Contributed photo Father Fred Fink is a thoughtful, kind, caring man who has put in countless hours in an effort to help his fellow man. As of Feb. 25, he has been a Catholic priest for 65 years! When loo

Long Prairie Post Office mural commissioned in 1939 during Great Depression By Tim King For the last nine decades, visitors to the Long Prairie Post Office wishing to do the common task of mailing an envelope have had the uncommon opportunity to view a large mural called “Gathering Wild Rice.” Lucia Wiley paints the 1939 mural “Gathering Wild Rice” at the Long Prairie Post Office. Contributed photo The large mural covers the entire wall above the door labeled POSTMASTER. It p

Boys & men come together for Christian camaraderie By Rachel Barduson A couple of the dad volunteers play guitars as some of the boys listen at a recent Dads and Lads event, held at Jerry McCrery’s woods near Henning. Men have been planning and holding it for 33 years. Contributed photos For 33 years, men in the area have been coming together to plan a unique event called “Dads and Lads,” designed to promote Christian camaraderie among men and boys of all ages. “Dads and La

Waite Park man has an eclectic collection by Bill Vossler Al Barth of Waite Park once bought several books from a cat in Massachusetts. “That was an odd place, a little garage in a small town in Western Massachusetts, where you enter, look at the books, and the proprietor was a cat. If you wanted a book, you put money in a slot in a box. Totally on your honor,” he said. Several collections are shown here, with Al sitting in front of Twins baseball caps, Twins paraphernalia, a

Check out April's stories from all over Minnesota and North Dakota below. All the great local advertisers can be in these full papers, along with the puzzle, jokes, recipes, and more for you and your friends to enjoy. Lindbergh Edition All around Mille Lacs Lake and specially tailored to the areas near Brainerd, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Princeton. From Twins to Tarzan; Next chapter...novelist. Prairie Edition Focusing on Willmar, Marshall, Appleton, and nearby areas. A man of

Check out March's stories from all over Minnesota and North Dakota below. All the great local advertisers can be in these full papers, along with the puzzle, jokes, recipes, and more for you and your friends to enjoy. Lindbergh Edition All around Mille Lacs Lake and specially tailored to the areas near Brainerd, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Princeton. Community hero; One-room memories. Prairie Edition Focusing on Willmar, Marshall, Appleton, and nearby areas. ‘Ye Editor’; Honorin