The beginning of August is a reminder for parents of school-aged children and educators that the beginning of school will be here soon. Back-to-school shopping, getting the classrooms ready for our …

Minnesota’s primary election for the 2026 midterms rolls into polling places next Tuesday, bringing with it a ballot that’s filled with questions in more ways than one. During the Benton …

Weather : Temperature wise, July was a lot warmer than last year — and, we received a lot less rain. Average high and low temperatures were 86.8 and 63 degrees. I recorded 10 days with temperatures …

As we enter the month of August, many outdoor enthusiasts start thinking about fall hunting opportunities — myself included. One of the more popular hunting activities is chasing rooster …

Before Jesus was handed over to be crucified, he prayed to the Father, “Not my will, but yours be done.” We can pray the same prayer, even after the crucifixion of our aspirations, relationships …

As the new school year approaches, Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools is reminding families that all students riding the bus in 2026-27 must have a Transportation Form on file by Monday, Aug. 3. Opting …

Officially, the Dust Bowl period (1930 to 1940) was activated by over-plowing farmland in the Great Plains, where the ongoing drought was felt most by inhabitants of the Oklahoma-Texas panhandle as …

“Pineapples,” my hubby grumbled as we drove past one of our fields on the way to town. His comment was in reference to the field of corn that didn’t have the benefit of irrigation. When …

Sometimes, you pick up a book at not quite the right time. If I know it will never be revisited, it goes onto the donation pile. Other times, I put it back on the crowded shelf for another try and a …

Can you have a transformational life experience, one that leaves you with immeasurable gratitude for life, and still act like a fool? Absolutely. You can be brilliantly intellectual while still …

A small, amateurishly put together shed easily seen from a kitchen window has become a site of great interest among a few friends. A small pair of antlers hangs above the ill-fitting door, and a …

This time of year, child nutrition directors are fully immersed in menu planning, back-to-school workshops, food ordering and wrapping up summer meal programs. Through it all, our primary goal …