Benning Printing & Publishing

To the Editor: No Reason To Die Who am I? My name is Norman Hagelstrom. I was born at the Thiel hospital in Bertha on January 27, 1940. I graduated from Bertha-Hewitt School in 1958. I have spent the last sixty plus years studying the human mind. The following is what I’ve learned. Our cells are constantly dying every few days to ten years. New young cells replace these retiring cells. If we completely renew our cells every ten years why do they wear out? They wear ou

Editor’s Note: Letters to the editor are opinions expressed by the author. They do not necessarily represent the views of this publication and have not been independently fact-checked. To the Editor: I can’t believe it is June already! This year (2026) is half over, time really flies as we all get older each day. In June, we celebrate Father’s Day. My father passed away in 2001 of cancer and has been in Heaven enjoying our Lord and Savior for many years. I thought we cou

To the Editor: Our greatest privilege is our private line to the desk of Jesus. He operates a tremendous switchboard, and there is never a line out of order, unless it’s down here. Prayer is the thing that is neglected the most down here, and I believe this neglect can explain the difference between “the haves and the have nots.” You’ve never met, and neither have I, a great Christian who wasn’t great on his knees. Your knees, and maybe the bend in your shoes if you pray

To the Editor: Empty Chairs On Monday, May 25, Memorial Day, we, along with several of our grandchildren, attended the Memorial Day program at the Bertha-Hewitt High School. There were a fair number of people in the bleacher section of the gymnasium, but there were row upon row of empty chairs on the floor of the gym. There were, perhaps, a dozen people sitting in the chairs. As I looked out over all those rows of empty chairs, I was reminded of other events I have attende

To the Editor: Watch your language The is Pascal Blase Bulcher speaking on the subject of swearing. All of you that are reading this know full well what swearing is and how huge of a number of people swear on a day-to-day basis. But here are a couple of things you probably don’t know... Did you know that the United States has the largest percentage of population that swears on a day-to-day basis? Did you furthermore know that people in the United States actually swear

To the Editor: President Donald Trump recently told Americans there’s not enough money to take care of Americans because he has to pay for his war. But last year he sent Israel about $12 billion in military funding to mass murder the Palestinian people. What’s more important—taking care of Americans or killing Palestinian people? Tim King Long Prairie

To the Editor: I’m going to speak on the subject of AI (Artificial Intelligence). There are a few vital points that one should remember about AI or any other computer program. 1. AI is artificial; it’s not always intelligent and remember intelligence is defined as “the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge”. Thus, by definition, serial killers—and even Satan—are technically quite intelligent. Conclusion: Intelligence is not necessarily a good thing...having the wealth

To the Editor: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” marks a milestone in the movement to end sexual violence. For 25 years, survivors, advocates, and communities have worked tirelessly to break the silence, challenge harmful norms, and create safer spaces for all. While we have come far, our work is far from over. Looking back, we honor the courage of survivors who have shared their stories, the

To the Editor: The week of April 19–25 marks the 45th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). It is an important time to recognize crime victims and survivors, to honor their experiences, and to make sure their voices are heard. When survivors speak, we all have an opportunity to listen, learn, and do better. This year’s theme, CommUNITY, highlights the strength that comes from people coming together to support victims. Survivors are supported every day

To the Editor: April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month This month and throughout the year, Todd County Health and Human Services encourage all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Todd County a healthy place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help prevent child abuse and neglect by making meaningful connections with children, youth and families in