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Letters

Losing two tourism attractions

To the editor: I want to thank The Journal for a very informative article on what tourism means to the New Ulm area. Unfortunately, we have lost two historic sites that at one time brought many visitors to New Ulm from all over the world. Namely, the Harkin Store and Fort Ridgley, both owned by the Minnesota Historical Society. Harkin Store was an 1870 general store; original building with some of the artifacts still left when it closed. The site told the story of riverboat traffic, the riverboat town of West Newton, pioneer life and shopping the general store (the Walmart of its ...

Telling the story of an American hero

To the editor: On Saturday, May 2, New Ulm hosted a Memorial Tribute Program honoring New Ulm native and Medal of Honor winner Captain Willibald Bianchi.  Over 500 people were in attendance at the new National Guard Readiness Center.   As most of you know, the remains of Capt. Bianchi were identified in 2025 through advanced DNA testing and recently returned to New Ulm 85 years after he left for World War II.    The memorial was made especially meaningful by remarks from Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Timothy Usset, VFW Commander Tom Roesch, Mayor Kathleen Backer, US Senator ...

Minnesota needs a plan for long term care

To the editor: I am the Cottage Director of Prairie Senior Cottages of New Ulm and I can tell you that in rural Minnesota, the long-term care crisis happening in Minnesota is even more urgent. Here, when a facility closes or reduces beds, there is no backup option down the street. Families are forced to drive hours to find care. Communities lose jobs. Seniors lose connection to the places they call home. Despite this reality, state leaders continue to propose deep cuts and unfunded mandates. Providers are being asked to meet staffing requirements when the workforce simply doesn’t ...

A tale of two countries

To the editor: Imagine two mythical countries with the same problem: many non-citizen immigrants within their borders.  In Country B, one party gains power with lies about the immigrants —  “criminals!” (crime rate actually lower than the general population) and “welfare drain!” (actually mostly ineligible) — and pledges to deport them all. Many voters support deportation, a few from pure hate, most from believing the lies and not thinking through what apprehending millions of their neighbors would be like. Billions of tax dollars are spent hiring gangs of masked ...

NU Junior Baseball appreciates $15,000 grant

To the editor: The New Ulm Junior Baseball Association would like to extend their thanks to the Minnesota Twins Community Fund and the City of New Ulm for the funding of the new dugouts at the North Park baseball fields. These new dugouts are a great addition to the baseball amenities at North Park that will be enjoyed by youth baseball players for many seasons to come.  The New Ulm Junior Baseball Association is proud to have the support of the City of New Ulm and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund for our t-ball and youth baseball programming. The New Ulm Junior Baseball ...

Trump’s waste, fraud, and abuse

To the editor: Elon Musk, (Remember him?) was notoriously charged with ferreting out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our federal government. Along the way Elon and his DOGE team with the blessings from the Oval Office threw out the baby with the bath water, and our country is only beginning to feel the ill effects of the willy-nilly, chainsawed, deep cuts into our democracy. (Guess whose favorite absentee, “Where’s Waldo” District 1, U.S. rep joined the DOGE caucus in 2024...) In considering the waste in Republican’s repetitious mantra, I’m reminded of the saying ...