Fischer will be missed

THUMBS UP: Lisa Fischer resigned from the New Ulm City Council this week, when she and the city discovered she was inadvertently in violation with a clause in the city charter, which prohibits a council member or an immediate family member from holding a paid position with the city until a year after the councilor leaves the council. Her son had been hired to work in the city street department and apparently no one realized that was a conflict of interest.

Fischer has been a member of the council since 2012, and has served the city very well. It is a sad misunderstanding, and we will miss her on the council.

Friday night lights

POINTER: Friday night football is back in Minnesota high schools this week. We are happy for the players and their fans, after the season had originally been shut down due to COVID-19 concerns.

COVID still remains a concern, to be sure. Cases have been rising in Minnesota and around the country. Brown County reported six new cases on Friday, bringing the total for the county to 245. Local high schools are doing what they can to make sure these games don’t add to the case total. Attendance at the games is limited to 250, social distancing is expected, and wearing masks is encouraged. We hope fans will do their utmost to stay healthy while cheering on their teams.

Fly in the ointment

THUMBS UP: The vice presidential debate this week was a serious, hard-fought contest right up to the time a big old fly landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s white hair and stayed there for two full minutes. Pence was unaware.

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, you have to find that amusing, and it certainly has given the wags and the pundits something different to talk about in the aftermath of the debate.