Accident Claims Young Mother’s Life

A 32 year-old West Concord woman was killed in an automobile accident involving three vehicles on Monday December 30th . Scarlett Tanner of West Concord was involved in a head-on collision about …

2025 Messenger Valentine’s Day Drawing

Start the year out with our Valentine’s Day drawing. We are giving away a gift certificate to a local restaurant and a box of chocolates to six lucky winners in our Valentine’s Day giveaway. …

Local Raffle Supports St. Jude Children's Hospital

For the third year a raffle is taking place to raise funds locally for the St. Jude Children's Hospital. St. Jude Children's Hospital was founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas and has grown through the …

Southeast MN Adult Mental Health Initiative to Offer Grant Funding to Increase Mental Health Services Region Wide

The Southeast Adult Mental Health Initiative (SE AMHI) will be accepting applications for grant funding from mental health and related service providers starting January 10, 2025, from the following …

Troop 76 Meets a Legend

How many people do you know who have actually met a former President of the United States? Well, since former President Jimmy Carter recently passed away at age 100, I was asked to share a story …

Christmas in West Concord

Applications Now Open for Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Recognition in Minnesota

Applications are now open for the Minnesota Farm Bureau Sesquicentennial Farm program, honoring Minnesota families that have owned their farms for at least 150 years. The deadline to apply is March …

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Side Effects

What are the results of the choices you and I make? In this season of reflection and resetting, we can see how a choice made last year or a few years ago resulted in a specific outcome. Some outcomes …

A Minnesotan

2025. How can it already be 2025? It feels like not too long ago we were ringing in the new decade. I could take the time to talk about the first five years of the 2020s, but instead I’m going to …

The Importance of Time Spent Outdoors for Children

The concept of designated “outdoor time” is a mostly recent phenomenon. Some folks born in a year that starts with the number 19 can remember a time where your mother gave you a designated inside …

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Obituaries

Jeffrey Scott Schlachter

Jeffrey Scott Schlachter was born on July 6, 1955, and died peacefully at his home in Claremont, after a battle with cancer on December 20, 2024. Jeff was born to George and Marie (Romano) …

Scarlett Suzanne Tanner

Scarlett Suzanne Tanner May 3, 1992 - December 30, 2024 Scarlett Suzanne Tanner, 32, passed away on December 30, 2024, following a tragic car accident. Scarlett was a beloved mother, daughter, …

Judy Biers

Judy Biers, age 67, passed away December 12, 2024, surrounded by family after a battle with cancer. Friends greeted the family from 3-6:00 PM Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the Brick Meger …

Maurine Alma Olson

Maurine Alma Olson, 88, of Kenyon, who died Sunday, December 29, 2024, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025, …

Blair Edmund Schuck

Blair Edmund Schuck, 79, of Hager City, passed away in his home surrounded by family on November 18, 2024. Blair was born in Rochester, MN on February 2, 1945. He was the youngest of the four …

The Messenger January 2025 Issue 1

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Planks for Spinal Health

When it comes to spine health, planks are one of the best exercises you can integrate into your routine. I’ve worked with countless individuals who struggle with posture issues and lower back pain, …

United Way of Olmsted County to Host Centennial Gala

Rochester, MN – United Way of Olmsted County will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025 with a Centennial Gala on March 15, 2025 at J. Powers at the Hilton in Downtown Rochester. This special …

Dispose of Holiday Greens and Christmas Trees Correctly to Protect Minnesota’s Trees and Forests

Holiday greenery and Christmas trees bring joy throughout the season, but they can also hide dangerous pests. Diseases and invasive species can make their way into our landscapes on trees and boughs …

Community

Save the Date: Audition for Neil Simon's RUMORS

Under the direction of Bill Schnell, cast needs are: 8 major roles, 4 female and 4 male, and 2 minor roles. Ages 25 to 60. About the Play: At a large, tastefully-appointed Sneden's Landing …

SEMCAC Announces January Grant Opportunity for Individual Artists

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. The …

Christmas in West Concord

Abraham Lincoln's first inauguration on March 4, 1861.

A brief history of presidential inaugural speeches, from George Washington to today

Inaugural addresses that newly minted presidents have given over the past 250 years have aimed to do several key things, including unify the country and establish the speaker’s qualifications for the job.

The H5N1 virus has been found in poultry and cattle farms across southwest and central Michigan.

Bird flu flares up again in Michigan poultry – an infectious disease expert explains the risk to humans, chickens, cows and other animals

Officials have confirmed eight new outbreaks in Michigan poultry flocks since mid-December.

The mystery of human choices, even when circumstances are known, occupied writers like Henry James.

The Gilded Age novel that helps explain our fascination with Luigi Mangione

Henry James’ ‘The Princess Casamassima’ tells a story of political radicalism in a time of economic inequality. But even James ran up against the limits of putting himself in the mind of a killer.

Don’t Skip Your OB/GYN Visit: Regular Screenings Can Prevent Cervical Cancer

(BPT) - Cervical Health Awareness Month in January serves as an important reminder that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can actually be prevented with regular screening. Thanks to the …

Looking for Boulder 2.0? These cities fit the bill for many remote workers.

MakeMyMove details cities that combine affordability, quality of life, and incentives to attract remote workers eager to relocate.