In the June 4, 2020 edition of the Prior Lake American, editor Dan Holtmeyer asked each Minnesota congressional candidate their thoughts and position regarding “police policy changes." Again, our Republican representative and candidate for House District 55B Tony Albright didn't comment. In …
Minnesota’s economy is opening up again — and it couldn’t come soon enough.
In light of the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers it demonstrates that we have a policing problem.
Recently, a U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Scott County courtroom. I assume that as part of his plea agreement, the defendant admitted certain facts and that those facts constituted a sufficient basis for finding the defendant guilty of second-degree murder without intent.
National Day of Prayer is celebrated annually throughout the United States on the first Thursday of May. Since 1952, each president has signed a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray. As an act of Congress, National Day of Prayer is intended for all people of faith to pray to the Go…
I am writing to thank everyone who has worked to respond to COVID-19 and prevent its spread in the community. Avoiding exposure to this virus is especially important for people whose immune systems have been compromised.
April is national Volunteer Appreciation Month and I want to thank all the volunteers out there that make our communities stronger, safer and healthier for everyone. Especially during the COVID-19 epidemic, volunteers are needed more than ever at nonprofits and we applaud all of you that are…
We wanted to thank the Chaska SnoHawks and our friends and family for making our daughter Madelyn's benefit on March 7 a huge success. We also want to thank all of the individuals and businesses in the surrounding communities that donated. It was an incredible evening and we were blown away …
Coronavirus is expanding quickly and we now have a national emergency. This is serious because of its evolving and dynamic nature. With the enormous scope of the problem, a lot of questions and not much answer, it is easy to get confused, demoralized, frozen with fear and transfixed into inaction.
"These are unprecedented times." "We must flatten the curve." "Protect the community by staying in." These soundbites are just a snippet of the echochamber we hear over and over again. And none of them sound appealing. Frankly, in some ways, there is little appealing about what we face over …
As a physician, public health expert with a master's in public health and the daughter of a polio survivor, I was dismayed to read in the Feb. 29 Prior Lake American that my state senator, Eric Pratt, told GOP caucus-goers he "stands with moms" when it comes to "vaccination decisions."
Everyone gathers the news in some form online, by TV and radio. Therefore the impeachment proceedings of President Trump needs no formal introduction.
The recent guest column by Isaac Orr seemed a little odd to me. So I did a little digging into his background and his employer, Center of The American Experiment. They present themselves as a think tank but it sure looks more like they are just paid lobbyists for conservative causes. Essenti…
In the Dec. 19 Prior Lake American, State Rep. Tony Albright was quoted as saying that government price controls on pharmaceutical drugs could lead to controlling doctors’ fees by a “bureaucratic force.” He suggests that innovation and market forces are the better way to let drug prices be d…
On behalf of the Jordan Lions and Jordan Fire Department, I am proud to announce the success of this year’s Christmas Food Basket program. This year the program served 173 families with a wonderful Christmas basket with a turkey and ham and your traditional family meal fixings.
I read Thom Boncher’s guest column in the Dec. 5 Jordan Independent. Great article!
With just under a year to go before the 2020 elections, three local politicians have announced their candidacy for District 55A’s Minnesota House Seat.
I just returned from a vacation and was a little surprised and dismayed by some of the comments in the paper from the school district regarding the recent failed school referendum. The comment “it’s still difficult for the district to request additional funding due to 'high taxes' in Scott C…
The Alzheimer’s Association 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report illustrates that the burden of Alzheimer’s in our country and in Scott County is continuing to grow. As the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s continues to increase, we need to make sure people who are i…
The Jordaness Lions want to thank all who attended and contributed to the Veterans Day program on the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 11. It was our privilege to sponsor this program and along with the Jordan schools and Jordan community, to honor the brave men and women who unselfishly served ou…
This letter marks the 60th anniversary of my joining 4-H. I am still a registered member of 4-H. I work with Future Farmers of America members when I can. I believe in young people and organizations that involve young people. But today I feel like a casualty in the culture wars. These organi…
The Jordan High School softball players, families, and coaches would like to thank everyone who supported their recent softener salt fundraiser.
I will be voting “yes” on all three questions on Nov. 5. I encourage everyone in the district to do the same. I am so proud of Jordan Schools; our great kids, our wonderful teachers, and all of the staff that makes Jordan Schools great.
A total of 685 people were killed by an intimate partner over the past 30 years in Minnesota. Those are only the ones we know about, and it doesn’t include those physically or emotionally injured. The numbers can make domestic violence seem like an overwhelming problem.
Reading the recent Jordan Independent articles regarding the need for passing another school referendum (i.e. large property tax hike) the JI doesn’t seem to realize there are two sides to this issue. Sure, all these improvements and buildings would be nice and so would a new swimming pool a…
After reading about the upcoming referendum I felt that I had to write a letter asking about why the level of administration staffing in the district has increased so much from 2013. Yes, I served on the school board until that date. From that date to today the Jordan School Board has added …
Thank you to the Jordan community for a successful blood drive Sept. 26.
I enjoyed the front page article on the new location of the Jordan Food Shelf. Readers like myself like local articles about Jordan and our community.
In my opinion it is unfortunate that the Honorable Mayor Tanya Velishek (human resources professional) did not address her alleged issue when it first started.
In the recent aftermath of the mass shootings of El Paso and Dayton, the issue of gun reform or gun safety laws have come into the forefront of political conversations from presidential candidates, halls of Congress and talk shows.
As a five-year Jordan resident I cannot understand why Mr. Thom Boncher, former city council person, is continually on his soap box spreading misinformation to our fine citizens. Every week I see his columns and cannot help but wonder if he just does not have any better activities to do than…
I found it concerning when I read that the Jordan City Council members were drafting a letter of opposition to the proposal being studied regarding using the third floor of the regional training center to shelter some of the homeless in Scott County. For the council to oppose this potential …
On Thursday evening, Aug. 8, after a week in California (the land of liberal failures), I returned and picked up the Jordan Independent. It is fun to get some local news, updates on the community and the county. I was drawn to the editorial section and read the column offered by Peggy Jo Dunnette.
"Terrible things are happening outside... poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart; men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared." —Anne Frank, Jan. 13, 1943.
As we near election time, we are going to see more and more pros and cons for people running. Unfortunately, mud slinging is the norm for many candidates, or people and groups that support one or the other.
It was interesting to read the discussion about the proposed homeless shelter. The shelter will address the needs of the people who are already homeless in Carver and Scott counties. While there are certainly pros and cons to the proposal, I was surprised to read that Jordan City Council mem…
As a sexual assault advocate for the Sexual Violence Center, I get the honor to work with victim/survivors of sexual assault on a daily basis and be witness to their strength/bravery. When I read the front page of your newspaper it gave me chills in the worst way.
Beating cancer takes more than breakthrough research. You’re invited to make a difference right here in Scott County in this fight. Please attend and support the Relay For Life movement in our community, so together we can help the American Cancer Society attack cancer from every angle.
I’m writing today because of the frightening growth rate of the opioid crisis. In fact, last year a record number of 422 Minnesotans died from opioid overdoses.
I was told, “This is America, love it or leave it."
This is to "thank and recognize" the Good Samaritan from Carver who came to my rescue on Friday, July 12 at 4:45 in the afternoon traffic on the Carver road. I was returning home to Jordan after a chiropractic treatment and heard an unusual car noise. I stopped at the bottom of the hill and …
Since being sworn in, I have traveled all across this Congressional District on a Healthcare Listening Tour, and no matter where I am, folks are saying the same thing: we need to address the cost of health care, and we need to do it now.
I know some people think it may not be true that our climate is being harmed by human activity.
If you're "passionate about uncovering the truth" then you need to reconsider publishing agenda-fueled opinion pieces that lack factual citations such as the "Electric vehicle subsidies don't help the environment" article. There is so much obfuscation and disinformation going on in that "opi…
We are again so grateful. The Jordan Post Office letter carriers would like to thank the residents for an outstanding food drive. Many things made it a success. Jordan residents were very generous with their donations. The volunteers worked hard collecting and organizing the donations under …
Thank you to the Jordan community for a successful blood drive May 9.
We want to let everyone know that there are two opportunities to express our Christian faith together at this year's observances of the National Day of Prayer in Jordan on Thursday, May 2.
A large crowd was blessed last week when the Upper Room Theater of Jordan presented “Somethings Happening," an Easter play written by Tom Boel for Gospel Light Publishing.
If I was considering boarding my horse at a stable, I'd want to find out everything I could about how it was being run. If there was a report that had been written about it, I'd want to know what it said. I wouldn't be content with a four-page summary written by a person hired by the stable …
Last year, buried in an omnibus spending bill, a state law passed prohibiting communities from enacting bans of plastic bags in their jurisdictions. Introduced this year, bills HF511 and SF1903 would remove that ban.
