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THUMBS DOWN Daylight savings still a thing This Sunday at 2 a.m. daylight saving time goes into effect and clocks will fall back to 1 a.m. This means everyone gets an extra hour this Sunday. While it is great to get another hour back after losing one in the spring, it is still annoying to go through this clock upkeep every six months; especially since it is widely unpopular. Both political parties have pushed legislation to stop daylight savings, and have seen overwhelming public support for the bipartisan efforts. But it never goes anywhere and after this federal government ...

Olsen’s concertina put smiles on many faces for decades

“Is everybody happy.” Larry Olsen yelled out that more than once when he played his concertina with his brother Leon, who was also working his magic on the musical instrument well known in polka circles. While Larry hails from the Lake Benton area, his brother resided in New Ulm. But the two brothers often got together to share their love for polka. Leon Olsen died on Oct. 22 after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 72. When it comes to polka music, Leon Olsen’s resume is extraordinary. He definitely leaves a musical legacy that rates among the great ones. He ...

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THUMBS UP NU schools teaming up with St. James, Madelia on gymnastics Thursday, the New Ulm School board approved an application for cooperative sponsorship that would join New Ulm’s gymnastics program with St. James and Madelia’s program. Superintendent Sean Koster explained that New Ulm Public Schools already partners with Minnesota Valley Lutheran and Cathedral High School on gymnastics; however participation levels are low. The three New Ulm schools have 13 participants. St. James and Madelia are in a similar situation with nine participants total. For this reason it makes ...

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THUMBS UP NU Emergency Food Shelf prepared to help The New Ulm Emergency Food Shelf is prepared to handle an influx of new clients. Executive Director Brad Kirk confirmed that the food shelf is well-stocked, thanks to the support of donors and the help of volunteers. Currently, the food shelter assists around 160 families each month. Kirk is confident that it could be expanded if other food assistance programs are impacted by the government shutdown. Recently, it was reported that funding for SNAP would only last through the end of October. If the government does not reopen by ...

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THUMBS UP Impact of Oktoberfest remains positive It is the second weekend of Oktoberfest in New Ulm. This weekend festivities will shift from downtown to Schell’s Brewery. The celebration is expected to bring thousands to New Ulm. In fact, it is one of the weekends that consistently fills up local lodging places. The demand for rental rooms is so high, some rooms are booked a year in advance. It is a good problem to have. The influx of tourism brings extra money into the community. In addition, New Ulm typically survives the two Oktoberfest weekends without an uptick in crime. New ...

National Newspaper Week a time to reflect on the role journalism plays in our communities

This year marks the 85th celebration of National Newspaper Week. Local journalism is the heartbeat of informed communities. It brings stories to light that national outlets often overlook — stories about school board decisions, city council debates, neighborhood events, and local heroes. In a world increasingly shaped by global headlines and social media noise, reconnecting with local news is vital for civic engagement, accountability, and community resilience. To build a better future, you can support local journalism through subscriptions, donations, sharing stories, and ...