Candidate for Congress says opponent’s claims about his energy policy are misleading

I first met Glen Menze during the winter of 2009-10, while competing with him (and two other candidates) for the Republican Party endorsement for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 7th Congressional District.

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Be a ‘Backer backer’ at the polls in November

Jeff Backer and Keith Langseth are squaring off in the race for State Senate in northwest Minnesota in what promises to be a very competitive race.

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A dummy at your wedding

Don’t tell me I’m the only guy who ever had to go to a wedding he wanted very much to avoid. You know, some beautiful Saturday afternoon in the summer when the fresh air and warm sunshine were calling you for golf, fishing or some other relaxation. But there is some bride or groom your kids know but you don’t and you, as the parents of your kids, get invited to this near-stranger’s wedding.

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Editorial: Teach Chinese in DL schools

With China a rapidly rising economic power, it could be of great benefit for local high school students to be able to learn Chinese. It’s easy to see how a good working knowledge of the language could further local students’ careers in business, education or government.

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Editorial: Food safety is broken in U.S.

The recent recall of over 550 million eggs is just the latest in a string of food recalls that make it abundantly clear much more needs to be done to protect food safety.

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Menze: Thanks for voter turnout in primary elections

I would like to thank the voters from Becker County and Detroit Lakes for turning out in the primary. Their votes decided the choices for Congress in the fall general election.

An ode to the great air conditioner

Willis Haviland Carrier invented modern air conditioning in 1902. Although Mr. Carrier probably doesn’t deserve a national holiday, an occasional moment of silence in his honor wouldn’t hurt, especially after last week.

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Horner: No cuts to law enforcement funding

The death of Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Dewey reminds us of the service our law enforcement officers provide the citizens of Minnesota, around the clock, every day of the year.

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Be aware of Lyme Disease

In the fall of 2009, I noticed a lot of fatigue. I had mostly stopped golfing, fishing, going to the cabin, and I suspended most projects. My wife had a bad cold, and I thought that was my problem, too. I also had some issues with depression and anxiety, which I never had before.

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The duke’s mixture in America

Tonight I put another can full of vegetable scraps into my compost pit. What I have in that pit is grass clippings, seaweed, flower petals, celery chunks (I try to double my celery every year), rhubarb ends, corn silk, corn husks, rotten tomatoes, strawberry shavings, rotten blueberries, potato peelings, egg shells, leftover potting soil, dirt from under my fingernails, coffee grounds, flower stems, chopped up banana peels, orange peels, apple peels, pieces of watermelon rind, cantaloupe mush, onion snips and skins, fallen leaves, rainwater, teardrops, sunshine and wind.

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RR tracks: Cross with care

With two rail corridors in Becker County, including the busy east-west Burling Northern Santa Fe line, motorists and pedestrians need to be especially wary when crossing the tracks.

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Editorial: LP-A case: What’s the hold up?

Jeers to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for taking so long to make a decision on charges involving two former Lake Park-Audubon girls’ basketball coaches.

‘Let’s Go Fishing’ helps make DL a better place

Once again the people of Detroit Lakes and surrounding areas have made this community a better place to live.

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Things not right with Frazee superintendent contract

The Minnesota State law states that if one member of the Superintendent negotiating team (which in Frazee was Laine and Cook) meets with the Superintendent, it must be an open meeting. At the July 12 Frazee-Vergas School Board meeting, Board Chairperson Laine stated she was in to see Stender on Tuesday, July 6. She admitted that she got his contract proposal and had a “conversation” with him, but that there was no “meeting.”

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I miss my old pickup truck

Last week, almost one year to the day after I purchased my latest vehicle, the odometer turned over to 30,000 miles. Well, it is a green display light that changed to 30,000 miles. Saying it “turned over” is no longer accurate. The car, a 2009 Ford Taurus, has done everything asked of it. It rides like a dream.

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