Boosters for all won’t help unvaccinated

November 26, 2021

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention agreed with the U.S. government in approving COVID vaccine boosters for all adults last week, and urged all adults over 50 to get them. This approval recognizes the data that has been developing, showing that the vaccines’ effectiveness begins to wane after time. It also recognizes that the vaccine remains the best protection against the COVID-19 virus. Boosters are a great idea for those who have been vaccinated. What is an even better idea is if people who have not been vaccinated would roll up their sleeves and get their initial ...

We need this day to give thanks

November 24, 2021

What a year in which to have an opportunity to purposefully gather our thoughts and be thankful. We need this day, which like so much else this year is different. We need this reminder to look toward what is good, and that for which we can, still, be grateful. Some have been blissfully untouched by the wrath of a deadly virus, economic setbacks, political turmoil and so much else that has made this a year to remember (or, for some, to forget). Those fortunate few can, indeed, be thankful. But for the vast majority of Americans, this Thanksgiving day will bring reminders — perhaps ...

Low approval ratings follow VP Harris

November 22, 2021

Vice President Kamala Harris’ approval rating has plummeted to 28%, according to a new Suffolk University/USA Today poll. That is lower than her four predecessors in their first years. It’s also lower than the approval rating for President Joe Biden, who sits at 38%, and former President Donald Trump as he was leaving office in January, when he was polling around 41%. Despite the best efforts of the Democratic political machine calling attention as much as possible to the demographically historic nature of her vice presidency, her year as Veep has been nothing short of a dud. After ...

Et. Cetera

November 20, 2021

Teacher of the Year named Heather Stromberg was named the Fairmont School District’s Teacher of the Year by Education Minnesota Fairmont. Congratulations, Heather! This is a great program that recognizes the excellent educators we have. Courthouse roof project This week the Martin County Commissioners approved moving forward on additional costs required for the courthouse roof project. Extra costs are never fun to find out about but it’s an old building and historic at 116 years old. Now that the project is started we need to move forward with all necessary repairs. Minnesota ...

Calling in medical reinforcements

November 19, 2021

Governor Tim Walz is calling in reinforcements from the Department of Defense. Because the surge in COVID cases is overwhelming the staff at some hospitals, the department of Defense is sending in emergency medical workers for the Hennepin County Medical Center and Centra Care, which runs the St. Cloud Hospital. We are sure there are doctors and nurses in hospitals throughout the state who are feeling overwhelmed as well, who could use some reinforcement. Perhaps the DOD can’t provide enough emergency medical workers to give all of them a break. But we can all do something for ...

Rittenhouse case complicated by gun

November 18, 2021

If you have been following the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-year-old charged with killing two people and wounding a third in the Kenosha, Wis., demonstrations last year, you have to feel for the jury given the task of deciding his guilt or innocence. There’s no doubt that Rittenhouse, 17 at the time, came to Kenosha from his home in Antioch, Ill., with an AR-style semiautomatic rifle, with the intent to stand up to protesters who might be trying to destroy property. It is also evident that he became the focus of some protesters’ aggression. He got caught in a scuffle that ...