Editor’s Note: Dean Brinkman is filling in for Randy Krzmarzick, who is out planting. This might have an oxymoron-like twist to it, but I have been fortunate to be asked to give many eulogies at friends’ and family’s funerals. It’s truly an honor. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wish ...
Congratulations to all of our area graduates. Graduation signifies the end of one journey and the start of another. We know that all students in the New Ulm area have great chances at success because of the opportunities they received while students in our communities. Graduation ceremony for ...
What is it like to graduate? (Asked at Martin Luther College’s commencement service)
Pam and David were expecting their first children, twin boys, when Pam’s water broke just four months into the pregnancy. She was rushed to her small, rural hospital where their family physician quickly decided the emergency was beyond his abilities and transferred them to a university ...
Question — What are the rules pertaining to the decoration of a loved one’s Cemetery lot at the New Ulm City Cemetery? Ground flowers can be planted in the area provided for this purpose, which is generally in an area no larger than 12 inches wide by 30 inches long in front of a ...
New Ulm Public Utilities is a community owned utility, referred to as a public power or municipal utility. This is vastly different from a “for profit” investor-owned utility that is owned by shareholders who are many times not even part of the city the utility serves. There are many ...
This fall, New Ulm Public Schools will be distributing Chromebooks to all 5-12 students as part of a new 1:1 program (one student with one device). Students in our K-4 grades will have access to updated iPads for classrooms use, in large groups, or small learning centers (as they do now). ...
People come up to me and ask, “Randy, should we have a baby or get an animal?” I’ve raised three human beings and a variety of other species, so am something of an expert. Kids or pets? Either can bring you joy and satisfaction. A lot of inanimate objects can do that for a lot less work. ...
Next week marks “National Hospital Week,” and our medical center is in a much different place than this time last year. With the transitions that took place in late 2018, we have moved to make our local health care delivery system sustainable. Keeping rural health care sustainable is a ...
What’s your best memory of your time in The Menagerie?
Back in the 19th century, when the newspaper industry was comparatively in its toddler years, objectivity didn’t exist. With each town served by multiple newspapers, even as many as a half dozen in a community the size of New Ulm, publications didn’t have a political leaning; they were ...
Each year the Water Department performs maintenance on various parts of the water distribution system. Every year we flush and exercise the fire hydrants in town. Several fire hydrants need repair each year due to damage from cars and/or trucks running off the street and hitting the hydrant. ...
Shortly after I moved to New Ulm in 1985, I began to see a truck driving around town. “Arnie’s Septic Service,” it said on the side. It also carried the motto, “Nobody Sticks His Nose In My Business.” I got a kick out of that then, and continued to get a kick out of Arnie ...
What is your favorite type of book? (Asked Saturday at the Brown Co. Historical Society book sale)
I’ll be the first to admit, 11 years ago, I never thought it was possible. From what was considered at the time a crowded field of eight candidates, a relatively unknown congressman from Illinois emerged as the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. I wrote then it ...
Most homes’ highest electricity consumption is in the summer when air conditioners are necessary to keep comfortable. Before your electricity use increases, Safe Electricity (https://www.safeelectricity.org/) along with New Ulm Public Utilities recommends you make sure your home is free of ...
It was Monday of Holy Week past. I was hoping to end Lent on a high note, wanting to get my soul in a better place for Easter. It hadn’t been my greatest Lent. I gave up some beer and spent some time with scripture. Should have been less of one and more of the other. A bit of guilt, I was ...
What’s your favorite Easter candy?
If you take a drive out to Flandrau State Park in the next couple weeks, you might get to see something unusual. No, it’s not green grass or ground absent of snowbanks, although that is something we have sorely missed for what seems like too long. More unique than that though is what you ...
What is Emergency Management? It is a team of trained professionals who, promote and organize safer, less vulnerable communities with the ultimate goal of reducing the harmful effects of hazards and disasters. To do this they deal with all aspects of emergencies including preparedness, ...