We all think back to the Halloween Blizzard of 1991 here in Minnesota where snow and ice fell and impacted the fun for the trick-or-treaters. That event is now 31 years-ago, so most of those trickor- treaters are now near 40-years-old or older! This year, we had some great weather for the ghosts and goblins who rang our doorbells on Monday. High temps on Halloween were generally in the low to mid 60s around the state! There was no trouble getting around this year for all the neighborhood fun or some of the organized trick-ortreating events. We will see our mild weather continuing through Wednesday before a cold-front is expected to push through by Thursday. This could bring some much-needed rain to the region. Some parts of the state are seeing a deficit of over 10 inches of rain for the year so they are in an “extreme drought” situation!

Last Tuesday, Minnesota’s Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Heather Mueller visited students at Yellow Medicine East High School. The students visiting with Commissioner Mueller are a part of a class taught in partnership with Minnesota West, with Instructor Adam Savariego, titled Introduction to Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies. Through a State Statute, the State Departments such as the Department of Education are required to do consultations with Tribal Nations. When Commissioner Mueller and her staff met with the Upper Sioux Community Board of Trustees earlier this fall, and learned of the partnership between YME and Minnesota West for the Introduction to Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies class, she expressed an interest in visiting with the class.

The Clarkfield Prairie Cardinals held a festive Halloween parade on Saturday, October 29th. The parade started at 3 pm and lasted about 40 minutes. Several businesses were in the line up that made up the parade, handing out candy to all the costumed spectators. The parade started at the Lutheran church and ended at Lynner funeral home.

At this year’s Granite Falls Area Community Foundation’s Annual Awards Event, Louis Thomas Williams IV has been chosen to be the speaker. Williams’s speech will likely be remembered for awhile, not just for what he says, but because he plans to incorporate backflips into the program.

My confirmation class is beginning to gather personal beliefs for writing their faith statements. I’m not sure when we started having confirmands put into words what their faith means to them, but the practice itself has been around for thousands of years.

Lee Mar Ranch held a trick-or-treat event on Sunday, October 30th with a vendor show happening at the same time in the indoor arena. The horse stalls were decorated with different Halloween décor that kids, and the adults, were able to stop at for candy and light conversation. Shrek and princess Leona were even there (Gracie Kleven and Chris Kleven). Some of the young kiddos were scared of the duo who were decked out in full Shrek garb including their green skin.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of United Community Action Partnership has been awarded a community impact grant from the United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) for $12,000. The VITA program works to connect trained and certified volunteers with low to moderate income individuals and families to ensure they claim important tax credits and deductions that they qualify for. This work aligns with UWSWMN’s financial stability priority area.

The Granite Falls Historical Society and Granite Area Arts Council collaborated with a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser: Murder on the Yellowstone Trail this Friday and Saturday at the Rock. Area residents came in droves to take part in the interactive performance, engaging to vote on the potential return of Prohibition in Granite Falls while also determining each evening’s murderer.