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Minnesota politicians face belt-tightening decisions

The State of Minnesota’s November Budget and Economic Forecast was released last week. According to the Minnesota Management and Budget, the budget for fiscal year 2026-27 includes a $2.465 billion surplus. However, in 2028-29, the state is projected to have a $2.96 billion deficit. Depending on who you talk to, there’s plenty of optimism. There is also warnings of doom and gloom. And of course, finger pointing. “Despite the president’s tariff and destabilization of health care costs, Minnesota’s annual budget forecast has improved in both the short and long term thanks ...

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THUMBS UP SE Holiday Lights in Motion are back After taking 2024 off, Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion are back. Sportsman’s Park in Sleepy Eye is filled with over a half million Christmas lights and a full schedule of themed event nights through the rest of the month. The lights display is a decade-long tradition. Its absence in 2024 was felt throughout the community. Many people took for granted the lights display would always be in Sleepy Eye, but getting the park ready requires a lot of volunteer support. The return of Holiday Lights in Motion is a sign the community is ...

Support local retailers

Christmas is just weeks away and millions of Americans will be perusing for bargains at their favorite retailers. For those of us who have chosen to live in small communities the drive to a large mall or box store might be hours away and not very convenient when the roads are bad and daylight hours are few. Some will take solace in front of their computer screen while sipping their hot cup of coffee to shop from the convenience of their home and not venture out into the cold. Amazon is now the go to place for many when it comes to shopping. It is so successful that its creator ...

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THUMBS UP New volunteers help with Community Friends Thanksgiving The 37th New Ulm Community Friends Thanksgiving was held at St. Mary’s Church Thursday and it was once again a success. It is estimated 1,400 meals were served during the dinner. All of this was made possible thanks to the volunteers who gave of their own time during the holiday. This year roughly 175 volunteers helped, either with the meal preparation or the meal services. In addition, this year saw a higher number of first-time volunteers lending a hand. As the annual community dinner grows, the number of people ...

Give thanks for the food on community tables

Thanksgiving dinner will cost less this year compared to the last two years, according to the Minnesota Farm Bureau. The bureau’s shared its Thanksgiving meal survey in a Monday release. “The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person,” the Bureau stated. “This is a 5% decrease from 2024. Three years of declines don’t fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in ...

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THUMBS DOWN The loss of Denny Warta The death of Denny Warta Wednesday is a monumental loss for the New Ulm community. Few other people were as heavily involved in the community as Warta or could claim a greater influence. Warta‘s greatest strength was collecting people. He knew how to forge and maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals. Warta could turn complete strangers into a friend after a short conversation. He was great at connecting with people because Warta was genuinely curious about them. He always wanted to know more. He was also more than willing to share ...