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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 ...

Nothing like harvest time

Columns

We are in the middle of harvest. Taking time to write this and drink coffee is a great luxury. There is a grease gun calling my name right now. “Sheesh, I’ll be right out. Can’t a guy have a break?” The answer to that is no, unless it’s raining or you’re broke down. I did take a day to attend a funeral and a wedding. None of the participants were farmers. So, their lack of timing can be forgiven. There are about a half million farmers in the United States who grow corn. Many of them are in the fields now, bringing the crop in. Add spouses in support roles, elevator ...

Why don’t dictators ever lose elections?

Letters

To the editor: Have you noticed that dictators hold elections that they never lose? President Trump reported discussing elections with such a dictator, Vladimir Putin, at their Alaska meeting. Following Putin’s advice, he’s trying to eliminate voting by mail, even though it has been working flawlessly throughout Minnesota for years. What other election advice did the president get from the dictator who never loses? We will find out as the 2026 midterms approach. The purpose of eliminating voting by mail is obvious. Then everyone will have to wait in a long line on election day. ...

We have freedom of speech in America

Letters

To the editor: “No kings” is the foundation our nation was built upon “No kings” is more than just a slogan — it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. In America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. In America, we have freedom of speech. There will be chants and posters-some more pointed than others. A core principle behind all No kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. It is expected that weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events. The beauty of the ...

In Ulm, um Ulm, und um Ulm herum

Columns

As I sit in the airport in Frankfurt, waiting to board my flight home from Germany, I reflect on the past three months in Ulm with an appreciation for how special the Hans Joohs Exchange is. Thinking about the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had in Ulm reinforces for me how important it is that New Ulm and Ulm share this friendship. Thank you, Sister Cities Commission, for facilitating this program, which sends young people from New Ulm across the Atlantic to live and work in Ulm, Germany for 12 weeks. The title of this article In Ulm, um Ulm, und um Ulm herum means ...

An embarrassment of riches

Columns

It was somewhat embarrassing. Not as mortifying as being elbowed by your wife because you were snoring in church, but still. This fall, our garden yielded an embarrassment of riches. Last winter, when I was pining for summer, I begged the garden gods to grant me just a few pumpkins and gourds. A mischievous garden god must have grinned and said, “Hold my beer.” I lost the crop about five times, which is typical for most growing seasons. First it was too warm and dry, then it became too cold and wet. This just proves the timeworn farmer’s adage that there are only five kinds ...