Today’s Wisdom: We are all important parts of a much larger system, pieces of the universe’s puzzle that would not be complete without us. – Russell Eric Dobda By Bill D. Ward Some time ago, I spent two years working on a book project that involved digging up old stories of people and families from the pioneer days of my town. It was an extremely interesting quest as I dug through old newspapers, books, and family histories. It was almost like finding a gold nugget each time

Couple will celebrate 80th anniversary later this year By Zada Engen of Alexandria Art and Frances Hebert, Memorial Weekend. Contributed photo Today, about half of all marriages will end in divorce, with about a quarter of those marriages lasting less than nine years. In addition, the average American life expectancy is approximately 81 years for women, and 76 years for men. Art and Frances Hebert have defied all of those odds. The Argyle, Minn. residents are both 97 years ol

By Nancy Leasman of Long Prairie Alva’s cat Cheddar likes the garden, too. Contributed photo I go on about three walk-abouts every day. The first one is to check the garden. The dew may still be on the grass. Have the tomatoes grown to the height of needing some support? How’s that wheat or oats that sprouted from the bale of straw we found on the roadside and I’m using for mulch? Do the spinach and lettuce need picking? Should I do something with the sprawling chard from las

By Rachel Barduson of Alexandria In the 1970s, when I was in my early 20s, I decided to become a jogger. Yes, I would take up the new exercise rage – jogging. I remember it well. I would soon graduate from college and I was about to begin a new chapter in my life. And I could feel myself aging. Of course, I wanted to stay current on new things, so becoming a jogger seemed to be the right thing to do. It would be the answer to preserving my youth. It was a memorable week. W

Urbank man loved fixing cars, strumming a guitar, and making people smile By Julie Parent Editor's Note: Just weeks after the interview with Willis Nordlund for this story, he passed away on May 15, 2026, at the age of 95 with loved ones by his side. Willis Nordlund of Urbank loved music. Here he is with a steel guitar a decade or two ago. Contributed photo Like his parents, Willis Nordlund of Parkers Prairie, Minn. has been blessed with longevity. The 95-year-old was born

Hope Blooms delivers repurposed flowers to those who need it most By Carol Stender Hope Blooms is a non-profit that goes beyond flowers to make connections with those in need. Founder Kelly Krenzel of Fargo, ND, and her many volunteers repurpose donated floral arrangements and cut flowers creating bouquets. Next, they take those bouquets to people in the community from individuals living in senior living communities, assisted care, hospice, and rehabilitation centers. “While

Fergus pastor overcame past struggles, now helps others find right path By Carol Stender Pete Konrad might be the busiest pastor in Fergus Falls as he anchors a ministry that has brought his life full circle — from sitting in a jail cell to leading services within them. The former addict who found Jesus through jail ministry has a modern day mission that is deeply personal. Pete Konrad’s life has come full circle. Once incarcerated at the Otter Tail County Detention facility,

By Marilyn Salzl Brinkman Gnomes, these little pointy-hatted, bearded little statues, are said to bring good luck and guard treasures. I need good luck in my little garden. My tomato plants aren’t doing well. My cucumber plants are forming tiny little “pickles.” The carrots, other vegetables, and flowers are in a riot of growth. My tomatoes, however, need some magic. One of the garden gnomes in Marilyn’s garden. Contributed photo Gnomes are believed to be guardians of the nat

By Jim Palmer The other day, someone asked me about my first job out of college. It was then that I realized a fun little work milestone was fast approaching. Thirty years ago, on Aug. 1, 1996, I walked into the office of the Pope County Tribune in Glenwood, Minn. I arrived a few minutes before 8 a.m. I wanted to be early... but not too early. I wore a new blue polo shirt and a pair of khaki pants that I had purchased the night before. I wanted to look professional, but not

By Bill Vossler Larry Schug says Ghost Ranch changed his life. “Of all the things I’ve ever done, going to Ghost Ranch was the best, for spirituality, showing that the divine surrounds us in the natural world, for beauty of every kind, for artistic events: classes in writing, photography, pottery, and more. And that is just the beginning” he said. Larry is having a joyous time at one of his favorite places in the entire world, Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. The photo gives an ide

Realife Cooperative has provided worry-free, cooperative living for 20 years By Scott Thoma Realife Cooperative’s residents left to right, Don Nelson, Denis Weis, Roger Dohrmann, Andy Doom, Steve Zinsli, and Gerald Karol prepare the garden area for planting earlier this spring. Contributed photo Realife Cooperative at Mueller Gardens of St. Cloud will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with an Open House from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. Realife Cooperative at Mueller Garde

By Sherry Nicholson of Elk River I have always enjoyed nature, especially birdwatching. I love taking hikes through the woods with camera in hand looking for an opportunity to capture an image of a beautiful or unusual bird. Through the years, various health issues have sidelined my hiking and photo-taking opportunities leaving me homebound while recovering from a major car accident, a serious bout with cancer, and a failed knee surgery, just to name a few. Missing that outle

Kimball Wooden Bat Club brings guys together for fun, friendships, and some hits! By Bill Vossler Some members of the Wooden Bat Club line up at the Kimball Baseball field. Left to right: Woody Woodward, Reed Danuser, Grover Stauff, Chuck Sterling, Jeff Jacobs, and Jim Lipsiea. The club was established by John Schiffman (not pictured). Contributed photo After the Twins moved to Minnesota in 1961, young John Schiffman of Rosemount would lay in his bed in the evenings with his

Renville native is oldest known U of M grad By Patricia Buschette On May 7, 2022, Betty Berends Sandison, formerly of Renville, Minn., made her way across the stage of Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota to receive her diploma. She was appropriately proud, but at that moment, her concern was, “Do not fall!” Betty Berends Sandison’s expression says it all. This was her reaction after her name was announced at graduation at the University of Minnesota. The Renville n

Answers by Mitchell Gossman, MD, an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota, located in St. Cloud How will I know if I develop glaucoma? Unless the pressure rises rapidly to very high levels, high enough to cause pain, it is unlikely that you will know you have glaucoma without an eye exam. In mild to moderate glaucoma, there are no symptoms. Once this advances to severe glaucoma there will be symptoms including blurred vision and decreased peripheral vision. T

A vibrant display of red and yellow tulips and daffodils brightens up the window view. Kristie Flachmeyer of Litchfield shared this glimpse of an annual flower show. The sun catches the snowy peaks of a towering mountain range just beyond the dark green pine trees. Ron and Cheryl Dunn Baker of Detroit Lakes, Minn., shared this stunning view of the Canadian Rockies. A sudden spring rain shower pours down over a sunny stretch of the Central Lakes Bike Trail. Susan Anderson of A

By Tim King I live in a place called Clotho. It’s one of those unincorporated villages that are sprinkled across rural Minnesota’s landscape. What’s called progress has drained most of the life out of these villages, but each of them has its own unique story. Clotho, for example, used to have its own creamery, two-room school house, general store, post office, community picnic grounds, and dance hall. It also had a Methodist church with a vibrant congregation. Today, all that

By David Harper of Ponsford Recently on cable TV, the Patterson-Gimlin famous film of a Bigfoot filmed in Northern California in 1967 was reviewed, analyzed, and tested for authenticity. The results concluded the film to have better than a 98-percent chance of being real, disavowing earlier evaluations that it was staged through modern technologies that were not available before. I agree with the findings and am a believer, because I too have seen a Bigfoot. In the mid ‘70s,

By Grace E. Cook of Norwood Young America “Would you like to go to the gym with me?” asked my granddaughter. At 86 years old and visiting her in a house built on a mountain slope, which looks across a valley to a green forested mountain top over which the sun pops at 8 a.m. each morning and floods the living room with sunshine and heat, I am wondering, “What does she mean by ‘go to the gym?’” We drive down the mountain to a California community of stucco buildings and into a

By Kathy Hanson of Monticello You may have already met today’s winner. I alone know who the winner is, even the winner knows not they are walking around as royalty. You see, I am sitting every morning in my sunny front room, breakfast on a tray beside me. I am recovering from a serious illness and confined to my home for at least one month. In the windows of that lovely front room is an ever so long sidewalk with lush green grass bordering it and it has joggers, baby stroller