Cardinal Night soars

School and community go hand in hand, so we extend kudos and thanks to Fairmont Area Schools for hosting its annual “Cardinal Night” this past Wednesday at the high school.

The event serves as a welcome-back-to-school outing and pep fest, letting students, parents and community members celebrate academics and athletics. But it also has valuable education sessions for students and parents as they get back into the swing of things for 2017-18.

A lot of energy and effort goes into Cardinal Night and it is well worth the time and labor.

Officer has school role

Officer Mike Beletti of the Fairmont Police Department will assume his duties as school resource officer when Fairmont Area Schools begins the school year next week. We congratulate Beletti on the job and wish him the best of luck.

A school resource officer serves as a police presence on campus, helping ensure safety for all. But more than that, he serves as an asset to the children who attend. He is someone they can turn to and rely on as an adult, when that is not always something they have at other places in their lives.

The city of Fairmont and the school district are to be commended for working together to provide this resource.

Thanks to all workers

Monday is Labor Day and we wish to extend our thanks to everyone out there who works hard for a living. The day is meant to honor the contributions of the laborers and workers who help make our nation one of the most productive in the history of mankind.

Production lifts living standards over time. Capital, technology and labor combine to produce goods and services. It is a three-legged stool that benefits all of us fortunate enough to live here.

System hurting many

The state of Minnesota is failing its citizens through its new computer system for motor vehicle licensing chores, such as registration renewals, car titles and license plates. Delays, long lines and frustrations have emerged.

Thus is the status of things six weeks after the Department of Public Service rolled out the new system. Not good.

People have never really liked having to go get those pointless and expensive tabs for their license plates, so adding waiting time just adds insult to injury. We hope the state can get its act together to help out disappointed citizens and the privately run deputy registrar offices around the state.