Ask a Trooper: Ambulance exempt question…
Question: What allows private for-profit ambulance companies to run tax-exempt license plates on their vehicles?
January 2025
Read MoreAsk a Trooper: Ambulance exempt question…
Beyond Reason: Relentless…
Some people come at you with this gem. “I don’t mean to brag but…” What they’re really saying is, “Personally, I’d rather avoid celebrating me–philanthropist/all-around great guy/unsung hero–but circumstances make it untenable for me not to disclose the following information.”
Memory Care Corner: Fish and Dementia…
According to the MN Department of Natural resources, there are 162 species of fish found in Minnesota waters. Perhaps you have been to their exhibit at the MN State Fair? I have visited that exhibit on numerous occasions and I am completely amazed when people of all ages were able to identify the fish swimming in that little pond in front of them. How could they recognize the different fish? Personally, having grown up next to Hawk Creek, I was familiar with the bullhead, but that was about it!
CHILDCARE AWARE PART 3 OF A 3 PART SERIES: How Prairie Five can help with challenges in childcare in the local area
Collene Jacobson is the Child Care Startup and Retention Specialist for Prairie Five’s Child Care Aware Program. Her job is part of a statewide program that provides a position in each of the regions as a Way Finder/Navigator. “Anybody that’s interested in opening a childcare program I act as a liaison between licensers and other entities that help them through the licensing process,” Jacobson explains. “It’s like when you apply to college and you get an admissions advisor that helps you through every aspect of applying. I’m like that, but for licensing.”
Midwinter Community Celebration 2025 draws a crowd
On Saturday night, the Ole and Lena Kick-Off event - the Mid-Winter Community Celebration was held at The Rock: Dining and Events. The annual celebration, hosted by the Granite Falls Chamber of Commerce featured entertainment by Custom Made Band, a social hour, appetizer, silent auction, wine pull and more. Sponsors of the event included Almich’s Market, Citizens Alliance Bank. FM BANK Granite Falls, Southwest Initiative Foundation, Yellow Medicine East Schools, MVTV Wireless - Broadband Internet, Project Turnabout, Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort, Granite Falls Energy LLC, Avera Granite Falls Health Center, and The Rock: Dining and Events.
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Malachi 3:3a
There was a story I read many years ago, either in a magazine or a commentary of some kind where some people were having a Bible study on the book of Malachi and came across the verses about refining silver. I found it again at ChristianStandard.com so here is a little summary. The Bible study group called a local silversmith to learn how the refining process worked. When they were at the silversmith, he first held a piece of silver over the fire to heat it. He explained that to refine silver it must be placed in the middle of the fire where it is hottest and allow the heat to burn away all the impurities. This made the Bible study members think about how God holds his followers in “hot” spots, exactly like the Malachi verse about how God sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. They asked the silversmith if he had to sit with this piece of silver the whole time it was in the flames. The silversmith exclaimed he absolutely has to watch it the whole time because if the silver is left in the flame even a second too long, it would be damaged, and if it was not in the flame long enough, impurities would remain in it. After watching and listening, they asked how he would know the exact moment when the silver was completely refined. He said that had an easy answer: The silver is fully refined when the refiner can see their own image in it.
Weekend activities planned for Ole & Lena Days
With the annual Ole & Lena Days community celebration underway, a number of activities are planned throughout the weekend.
Above normal temps through the weekend
It has been a mild start to the week. Temperatures have generally been in the low to mid 30s. For those who have spring fever already, they are loving the warmer weather. For those who want snow, not a lot is in the forecast at this point.
BRE students learn with MnDOT
Last week, Bert Raney Elementary students in grades 4th, 5th, and 6th had a day filled with design and construction activities, thanks to the Minnesota Department of Transportation and its Bridge UP curriculum. This program connects students to the real-world work of engineers and construction professionals, sparking interest in transportation planning, design, and construction.