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Letters to the Editor

Readers’ Views

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day To to the Editor: Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day is January 19, 2026. It is a federal holiday. Why does this country honor Dr. King’s life and work? Because his work to fight for justice for all Americans represents the best ideals of our country. Dr. King was not afraid to speak truth to power. Who was Dr. King? He was the son, grandson and great grandson of ministers. He is best known for his work which used the power of non-violent protest as a tool to change unjust laws in the United States. His actions led to historic ...

Readers’ Views

Did you celebrate Christmas or Xmas or Holiday? To the editor: It seems like the perfect time of year to reflect on our lives for the past year and try to determine how well it was or how well we did. There are many ways to look back to judge how it was such as: Are we financially better, maybe are family and friends circle got larger or maybe our health is better, etc. But none of these truly tell us what is most important to reflect on to determine the success of the past year. For the “Christian” the best determiner of how well we did would be how well we represented that our ...

Readers’ Views

Do the right thing, SAVE THE OPERA HOUSE To the editor: I am so angry about the whole debacle that was the downfall of our Community Center. From the change in the language on the ballot, the frivolous lawsuit, a City Council that can't work together to accomplish much of anything! I am only one person, I do not escape MN winters by going south, am a Senior Citizen who has lived in this community my entire life and paid taxes for 50 of those years and was thoroughly looking forward to being able to enjoy exercising while socializing with friends and making new ones for nine months ...

Readers’ Views

Consider supporting Kids Against Hunger To the Editor: I’m writing to encourage participation and support of the 17th annual Martin County Kids Against Hunger fund raiser and food pack from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2026 at the Fairmont National Guard Armory. For the past two years I have participated in the food pack along with my wife Vicky Sagehorn Forst who encouraged me to help out with this very worthwhile cause. In 2026 it’s our goal to pack 100,000 single serving meals and raise $30,000 in monetary donations. In 2025 we packaged over 108,000 meals thanks to the ...

Readers’ Views

Affordable health care in rural communities To the editor: Southwest Minnesota families are struggling with skyrocketing healthcare costs — and yet, large hospital chains continue to shut down local clinics and eliminate essential services. This leaves rural communities like ours with fewer options and higher prices. Representative Marj Fogelman has consistently voted against initiatives that could help families access affordable care. She opposed HF 1 (2025), which expanded state subsidized healthcare for legally residing immigrants and families in need and has resisted policies ...

Readers’ Views

Thank you Rep. Olson To the editor: Reliable energy infrastructure is essential to families, farms, and businesses across Minnesota. That is why I want to thank Representative Bjorn Olson for his leadership in strengthening the state’s energy systems to ensure they remain safe, dependable, and affordable, including his work as lead on HF 2871. Energy reliability affects every corner of our state, keeping homes heated in winter, farms operating efficiently, and businesses running smoothly. Rep. Olson has been a steady voice for thoughtful improvements that protect jobs, support ...