Community

March arrived like my favorite animal after February’s last few busy, but pleasurable days. We spent a night with two beautiful little ladies. My, the energy and questions they have. Jale shared that Marty, her dad, demonstrated the difference between a raised voice and yelling. She had told him that she didn’t like it when…

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.” So what does it mean to be God’s righteousness? Without being too heavy in a theological way, it means to be in a “right relationship” with…

Last week was a busy week at the Capitol. There were many committee meetings being held along with longer floor sessions. Many issues were taken up both on the Senate and House floors and in committees. Some of these topics included the death penalty bill, the mourning dove hunting season bill, the 4/16th constitutional amendment,…

The House Health & Human Services Finance Committee this week approved an overall health care and human services bill that targets high health care costs while extending protections to vulnerable populations including the elderly and disabled. The legislation we are working on in the House is a major step toward tackling the problem of rising…

Melinda Melhus will be ordained into the holy ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1111 Eighth Street South in Virginia, Minn. The Rev. Robert Simonson will preside over the service of Holy Communion and Brenda Tibbetts, Associate in…

As I look out my office window on this beautiful, sunny day with temperatures nearing 50 degrees, I know that people will be tempted to grab that rake hanging in the garage and start raking the lawn. Likewise, the garden centers and discount stores are starting to feature fertilizers in their advertisements, and homeowners get…

Last week marked an important milestone in the struggle toward fiscal responsibility in Congress: we passed a budget for the year. Although we as taxpayers may not see its effects yet, it is important for all of us to take note as it will undoubtedly touch each of our lives. Keeping Americans safe is my…

State Representative Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) was unanimously endorsed for a second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives by District 18B Republicans at their convention, held Saturday, March 27, in Litchfield. State Senator Steve Dille (R-Dassel) presented Urdahl’s nomination to the convention delegates. Dille cited Urdahl’s hard work and commitment over the past two…

Stearns County is looking for people interested in becoming weather spotters. Skywarn Weather Spotters are volunteers trained to report significant weather events such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, snowstorms or flooding. Since it is impossible for the National Weather Service to observe conditions all over the region, the spotters become the eyes and ears to what’s…

This year several high-profile constitutional amendments ha-ve been proposed that you’ve likely heard about in the news. The definition of marriage, reinstatement of the death penalty for certain crimes and limiting future state spending increases have all emerged as issues that could potentially be decided by Minnesota voters at the ballot box. While these proposals…