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Et Cetera

SMIF Grants Fairmont Early Childhood Initiative and Fairmont Community Education and Recreation recently received a $20,000 grant to be used for summer learning support from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. This is excellent news. It’s a good effort and we know people will be able to take advantage of the valuable tools provided for the community. Aquatic Park The Fairmont Aquatic Park is open and that’s a sure sign that summer’s here. There will be several classes offered, along with at least two known events hosted by the Fairmont Women of Today and Fairmont’s ...

The right to protest is important

On a night in mid-December 1773, a group of about 60 men who had disguised themselves as Native Americans boarded three merchant ships at a Boston wharf and dumped dozens of chests of imported tea into the cold dark waters — an act of civil disobedience that damaged private property in protest against government tax policies. Conservatives these days hail that moment; in fact, a faction on the right a few years ago co-opted the name Tea Party as its own. Yet conservative state legislators across the country have been behaving less like the revolutionary rebels for whom they express ...

Osaka raises mental health awareness

May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and it ended with a huge rise in the issue of awareness, thanks to Naomi Osaka, one of the top women’s tennis players in the world who withdrew from the Frech Open Monday because of anxiety brought on by talking to the media. Osaka had been fined $15,000 by the French Open for failing to appear at a press conference, after she had announced she wouldn’t be talking with media because of the anxiety that gives her. When other major tournament organizers threatened her with punishment if she failed honor her contractual obligation to participate ...

The truth about Jan. 6 will come out

Thirty-five Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted against creating a non-partisan commission to examine the causes and activities of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. But that doesn’t mean that we, the people, will never know the truth. The FBI is investigating and charging those who were involved in assault on the Capitol and the Capitol police. Congressional committees, controlled by Democrats, are going to hold hearings, which Republicans will be free to criticize. These forums should be able to discern, especially given the ample social media evidence that exists, who ...

The big prize for vaccination is health

Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday that the state will be giving out prizes to 100,000 people who get vaccinated against COVID-19 between Memorial Day weekend and the end of June. Prizes are nice, but fairly mundane, like Minnesota State Fair tickets, amusement park passes or fishing licenses. Kind like the tote bags or coffee mugs given out by Minnesota Public Radio during their fundraising drives. That’s nothing compared to Ohio, where the state announced its first Vax-a-Million lottery winner. Abbigail Bugenske of Silverton, Ohio, won a million dollars in a random drawing, while 8th ...

They gave it their all

As we celebrate Memorial Day today, we can be grateful for those American troops who are coming home from Afghanistan, where our soldiers have been deployed since 2001 in response to the 9-11 attacks. But especially, we honor today those who did not come home, those who gave their lives in that country, and all those who have died in America’s wars. Those whom we honor today hold a special place in our nation’s hall of heroes. We know that no one enters the military planning to not come home. But anyone who does volunteer for military service knows the risks and possibilities, ...