Columns/Opinion

Enough is enough

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/27/2018 - 9:08am

Neighbors in the Newburg area and beyond have been clear for months: we want the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to follow the law and order an environmental impact statement for Catalpa Ag, the gigantic 5,000-sow hog operation proposed in Newburg that would put our drinking water, property values and health at risk.  

On Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mabel Community Center, we have our last chance to express our concerns directly to the MPCA and demand an EIS before Commissioner John Linc Stine makes a decision. 

Looking back at newsworthy events in 1968

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 2:08pm

As goals and aims are reviewed each year by the "powers that be," there is always looking ahead to what the future may hold -- new industry to provide jobs, housing developments, pride in our new and improved educational facilities, quality of life and so on.  Just for fun, let us instead take a look back 50 years and see what changes took place in 1968 that impacted our present day.  Names may be unfamiliar to some readers; for others we may stir memories and recognition of people and places.

Shop small: Consumers have choice on future of local economy

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 11:23am

It may seem like wishful thinking that making a few purchases on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24, will make a difference as we watch the retail sector of our small towns continue to shrink, a trend that started decades ago. The economy today is tilted toward market concentration as the big companies get bigger, squeezing out others that are forced into bankruptcy or just go out of business.

County committees are vital to USDA

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 11:22am

Farmers and ranchers,

It’s that time of year again. The 2018 Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) county committee elections are officially underway and we’re asking for your help. Please take a few minutes to vote in your local county committee election. FSA county committees are a vital and direct link between our farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Business changes, railroads, classes and more

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 1:11pm

Some old-timers may remember these columns from almost 20 years ago.  This is one of them.

Broken system needs fixing

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 12:56pm

I have been a teacher at Kingsland for over 30 years and during that time I have also coached a number of sports.  It saddens me to see the direction we are heading in at Kingsland in regards to our coaches and our programs. 

Colors on maps don’t tell whole story

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 12:48pm

One of the more shocking revelations in the aftermath of last week’s election was the concession speech of Jeff Johnson, the Hennepin County commissioner running for Minnesota governor.

“I gave Tim Walz a call a few minutes ago to congratulate him for his victory and I told him, and I meant it, that I don’t just wish him luck, but I wish him success,” Johnson said. “Because I want to retire in this state, and I want to raise grandchildren in this state.”

Spam from nearby Austin, survived war

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 1:43pm

A much-maligned Spam didn't join the war casualties, according to the Rochester Post Bulletin.  Reprinted from the Wall Street Journal, this story by Thomas Knudson, staff reporter, explains why: 

When Joseph Bosch sits down to lunch, he sometimes breaks a vow he made 35 years ago.  He was a World War II army veteran from Missouri.  "I swore I'd never eat Spam again — we just had so much of it. But after a while, Spam isn't as bad as you once thought — I still eat it occasionally."

A plea to help your neighbors

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 1:35pm

We are the paraprofessional staff of Kingsland Public Schools. We work with children in our community who have special needs — some of the most fragile amongst us. We are custodial staff who maintain our school and keep it clean. We are secretarial staff who help parents and students every day while assisting teachers and administrators to keep our school running smoothly.

There are some possible options to counter nasty campaigns in Minnesota

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 1:34pm

The 2018 midterm election is over, in most cases at least, as ballots were cast between the time this newspaper was printed and the polls closed. By the time you read this, there may still be races too close to call, but generally the outcome should be known.