Opinion

Snow and ice removal on roads, sidewalks, parking lots and driveways can make getting around Minnesota a lot easier during winter. Poorly maintained icy surfaces can cause debilitating falls and car accidents, and even create liability issues. But before you pull out your deicing salts to make conditions safer, consider the impact of these chemicals on plants and waterways.

World Prematurity Day is not a day that most celebrate or even acknowledge. It is observed on November 17 every year and highlights the world-wide concern about preterm births. This is a very important medical issue as preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under five around the world. If those babies survive the first months of their lives, one might think that the problem is licked. Not so.

I picked up a pair of work pants last week, they included a cell phone pocket. I liked it as I normally carry my phone in the chest pocket of my shirt which was convenient but uncomfortable. It made me think a little about the clothes people wear. Everyone wore a ball cap when I was younger, typically the cap was free and advertised an agriculture product. Most of my ball caps were gifts from someone. My brother Dave gave me a hat from an implement dealer. I wore that cap until it the material began to implode on a cellular level. My brother Darrel gave me a hat from a truck stop in Iowa that called itself “Boondocks.” I received this hat when I was in my teens and sometimes wore it when I went out with the boys. Either way, it’s at least 4 decades later and I still remember both ball caps.