granitefallsnews.com http://www.granitefallsnews.com/section/columns granitefallsnews.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more. Thu, 20 Jun 2013 1:45:17 +0000 Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130523/OPINION/130529725/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 23 May 2013 13:48:58 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130523/OPINION/130529725/1008/OPINION Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.
As I was thinking about Memorial Day, I wondered about the traditions of Memorial Day, [...]]]> River Ramblings....the city of Minnesota Falls http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130515/OPINION/130519730/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Tue, 21 May 2013 13:17:17 Dave Smiglewski Publisher http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130515/OPINION/130519730/1008/OPINION Early on we reported on the proposal to remove the old dam that was built across the Minnesota River in 1905 and then we recorded the removal of the dam over this past year.
Before it was removed, we all wonder what the river would it look like when the dam was gone. Would there be a pronounced falls that had given the site its name? Would there be any evidence of any other [...]]]> Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130515/OPINION/130519731/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Wed, 15 May 2013 16:20:41 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130515/OPINION/130519731/1008/OPINION I’ve always enjoyed the way that phrase sounds as it slips though the teeth creating a soothing ‘sss’ sound. More than the sound, I enjoy the images of cold, dirty snow being transformed into a plethora of color.
Spring, as marked by the Vernal Equinox, began on March 20. Of course, this year Mother Nature ignored the path of the planet to the sun and just kept dumping snow on us. Even though the planet was in alignment to bring increasing [...]]]> Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130509/OPINION/130509499/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 9 May 2013 10:18:18 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130509/OPINION/130509499/1008/OPINION My brother Dick and I were talking the other day about planting corn. He recalled when he was little and went to stay on Grandpa’s farm during planting time, Grandpa would put a board across the two row planter; Dick would sit on the board; Grandpa would drive the team of horses. Well, actually the team of horses did not need much assistance from Grandpa. Dick shared, “My job was to wake Grandpa up when the horses got [...]]]> Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130501/OPINION/130509904/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Wed, 1 May 2013 16:38:06 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130501/OPINION/130509904/1008/OPINION “It’s May! It’s May! The lusty month of May! That lovely month when everyone goes Blissfully astray… It’s May! It’s May! The lusty month of May! Whence this fragrance wafting through the air? What sweet feelings does its scent transmute? Whence this perfume floating ev’rywhere?... It’s May! It’s May! When all the world is brimming with fun, Wholesome or “un” … It’s mad! [...]]]> A response to Lincoln letter http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130429/OPINION/130429625/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:09:24 Scott Tedrick http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130429/OPINION/130429625/1008/OPINION In regard to the statement that I suggested the Indigenous dislike of Lincoln was due to only one act––that was not my point.
What I was saying is that in all of us there is the potential for much good [...]]]> Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130429/OPINION/130429626/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:07:06 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130429/OPINION/130429626/1008/OPINION I am referring to the use of smart phones over face to face social conversations in social settings.
Last week David and I met my 10th grade grandson for lunch. Across the aisle from us was another teenager having lunch with her mom. I had my smart phone out on the table and had used it to show a [...]]]> River Ramblings..... http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130418/OPINION/130419455/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:39:19 Dave Smiglewski Publisher http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130418/OPINION/130419455/1008/OPINION When I bought those tickets it seemed like a long way into the future. As usual, my biggest question was what day of the week the event was on. When you work at a weekly newspaper, the day of the week matters almost more than anything else.
With that in mind, April 11, a Thursday, seemed like a [...]]]> Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130418/OPINION/130419458/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:05:14 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130418/OPINION/130419458/1008/OPINION “The life in us is like the water in the river. It may rise this year higher than man has ever known it, and flood the parched uplands; even this may be the eventful year, which will drown out all our muskrats. It was not always dry land where we dwell.” – Henry David Thoreau
“For [...]]]> Lincoln the jerk http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130415/NEWS/130419696/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:42:34 http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130415/NEWS/130419696/1008/OPINION ... well, depending on your perception at least.]]> Investments in early education will place kids on path to success http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130404/OPINION/130409740/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 4 Apr 2013 17:42:33 Brenda Cassellius http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130404/OPINION/130409740/1008/OPINION Opinion: A convergence of visions in Granite Falls http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130329/NEWS/130329401/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:45:55 http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130329/NEWS/130329401/1008/OPINION I approached Avis Freitag at an event at the K.K. Berge building shortly after she released her response to my initial column about the removal of the Granite Falls Dam and asked if she wanted to go upstairs and wrestle.
True to form, she took a deep breath, puffed up her chest and confidently exclaimed, "I'd win!" ... And all I could do was acknowledge that "yeah, she would." After all, nobody identifies, beautifies and electrifies Granite Falls quite like the spirit of Ms. [...]]]> The Yellow Medicine County Historical Society Director's Corner http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130318/NEWS/130319621/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:52:27 http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130318/NEWS/130319621/1008/OPINION The season starts in the middle of April with our Annual Meeting. Please, mark Saturday April 13 on your calendars. The meeting will take place at Prairies Edge Casino.]]> A permanent budget solution is needed Minnesota http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130307/OPINION/130309668/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 7 Mar 2013 16:31:21 Lyle Koenen DFL-Clara City http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130307/OPINION/130309668/1008/OPINION The new forecast is a positive sign that Minnesota’s economy is experiencing a fragile recovery. The state seems to be heading in the right direction. However, the improved forecast number does not change the fact there remains a significant budget deficit of [...]]]> River Ramblings..... http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130307/OPINION/130309670/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 7 Mar 2013 16:29:18 Dave Smiglewski Publisher http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130307/OPINION/130309670/1008/OPINION The play takes place mostly in a small town in Ohio during 1961. I was pretty young in 1961 but by dint of having a sister 12 years older than me, a graduate of high school in 1959, I probably had more exposure to teen-age [...]]]> Kathy's Conundrums http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130307/OPINION/130309672/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 7 Mar 2013 16:18:26 Kathy Velde http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130307/OPINION/130309672/1008/OPINION I am going to share some of my thoughts on a controversial topic: gun control. I am not writing this column to try to convince readers to change their opinions, or to add clarity to this difficult issue. I am writing this column because the Constitution of the United States, in [...]]]> A timely opportunity for the people of Granite Falls http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130228/NEWS/130229514/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:37:58 By Scott Tedrick News Editor http://www.granitefallsnews.com/article/20130228/NEWS/130229514/1008/OPINION I am going to broach some topics I have found to carry a heavy emotional weight. I know some of this will be tough for many readers.
That said, it is harder for me to stay silent than it is to speak up––as I would never forgive myself if I failed to make the people of Granite Falls aware of an opportunity that is specific to this moment in time.]]>