In search of a zebra mussels Pulitzer

Written by David Vogel Tuesday, 06 July 2010 18:23

Sometimes I take a long, hard, scrutinizing look at myself in the mirror, analyzing my morals and beliefs and convictions and priorities. Then the thought suddenly occurs to me: “Whoa! When did THAT pimple get there?”

So then I take several minutes to pick, squeeze and apply about three different brands of topical acne medication to the offending bump.

Other times, while reflecting (pun intended) on my personal values, I realize that I take up valuable newspaper space writing about inane topics such as restroom politics and Minne­sotan accents when I could be making a difference in my community by bringing about relevant information that is at the very heart of our economy, faith and country.

This is just such a time.

Now that...

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County fairs surface good memories

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 06 July 2010 18:22

When it comes to favorite childhood memories, the county fair is near the top of my list. The smell of corn dogs, funnel cakes and other goodies are hard to forget, and I equate those things with happy times.

It’s also fun to enter items in 4-H or open-class divisions.

I did.

At age 10, I decided to enter a cake in open class. It was 1962, and my contribution would be a “funny cake.”

For some reason, this cake was in a class of its own, and participants needed to follow the recipe exactly. The reason it was called a “funny cake” was because this cake had no eggs in the batter.

It was also the first time I had entered something in the fair, and I was so excited. It didn’t matter whether I won a blue ribbon or nothing at...

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Ordinary people can do great things

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 01 June 2010 20:07

What we perceive as the normal in our lives can be shattered by momentary call to a higher plane of understanding.

Remember this in the days following Memorial Day, considering the sacrifices of persons we might have once have considered “ordinary” in the usual daily hum-drum of our lives.

I will paraphrase Charles Dickens today in writing a small version of “A Tale of Two Cities”—or call it a tale of two trips with multiple cross-trips within them.

The first trip to the first city, Leavenworth, was short compared to the second one—a three-week trip to Philadelphia, with stops along the way for the murals in Chillicothe, Mo., the Lincoln Museum and Tomb in Springfield, Ill., the Serpent Mound in Ohio, the Civil War...

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Memories still link mother, daughter

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 04 May 2010 19:34

When I was a little girl, I can remember asking my mother, “Why is there a special day set aside for moms and dads, but not for children?”

I thought I really stumped her as I watched her standing at the sink, cutting potatoes and pondering an answer.

As she continued preparing dinner, she glanced my way and said, “Every day is children’s day.”

What?

I wasn’t getting breakfast in bed, flowers or a greeting card every day of the week.

Now that I am older and have my own children, I know what she meant.

Sunday is Mother’s Day, and for the past 25 years, I haven’t been able to call or send flowers to my mom. Instead, I say a special Mother’s Day prayer and reminisce about all the good times we shared as mother and...

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