The United States government this week announced the border patrol had 1.7 million official encounters of people who crossed our southern border during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The totals were 200,000 and 190,000, respectively, for August and September. That does not count the people who crossed the border without being encountered, a number which carries a wide range of estimates.

The Good Hand 
Michael Patrick F. Smith 
Viking 
ISBN 978-1-9848-8151-9 
$39 
 

Ask the question in any group and you are bound to get a wide array of answers – if people will discuss it honestly. The question? What is your position on vaccinations for COVID-19?
 
See the full editorial in the Oct. 28 Advance. 

I was 12 years old, and I could never have imagined what was to come when my parents dropped me off at Niagara Park about a mile and half from home for my little league game. 
They drove me because I was late after an eye doctor appointment, which should foreshadow for you my struggles as a ballplayer. Just couldn’t (can’t) see. 
Anyway, I started that terrible game day in a panic, I was late for pitching tryouts.

...As the virus continues to linger and evolve, it’s completely normal and reasonable to feel “COVID-19 fatigue.” Do we have it in us to do another lap with this virus? Or another 20 laps? How do we prepare to recover from this intact? Our health and the safety of others may depend on it.

There can be no argument that oversized conglomerates control much of agriculture. Their ability to vertically integrate and then lobby for legislation that favors their outcome is nearly umatched. Their position is largely unquestioned because few people want to be accused of attempting to mess up the supply of food. So the small steps taken recently by the state of Iowa is a breath of fresh air in terms of helping small businesses thrive in this era of big agriculture. 
 

The next morning while it was still dark out, I let Seamus out on the back porch where he then goes outside through a newly-installed doggy door. On the morning in question, he charged full steam ahead onto the porch and sailed out the doggy door with his paws hardly touching the floor. There ensued sounds of a tussle, then a great thumping coming from under the porch. I immediately deduced this was no mouse he was chasing. I’m quick that way.
 

...So imagine my surprise when I arrived at work Wednesday morning to find a message from Facebook that said it blocked “inappropriate” content from our post. 
What happened? Read On the Side in the Oct. 21 edition and find out.

Wouldn’t it be sad to have gone through all of the effort to can the tomatoes and then decide that you are not going to open up the jars and use them or to share them with someone? Could we as Christians find ourselves in such a situation? 
 
Read all of Pastor Walt's column in the Oct. 14 Advance. 

In 2018 a friend suggested he start running races in the towns that he visited, even if it’s just a mile. “Running is a good way to explore a town,” Tyler Sullivan said. 
 
Check out Amy's Angle in the Oct. 14 Advance.

Democracy is messy, we are told.
 
Read what Brad thinks about outbursts at school board meetings in the Oct. 14 Advance. 

All-terrain and utility vehicles have skyrocketed in popularity the last couple of years. You see them on streets in our towns and you see them in fields across the countryside. You may encounter some on gravel roads if you travel those. Their popularity as work and play vehicles continues to rise. As with anything, however, government’s response is slower than what the citizenry as a whole embraces. 
 
Get the full editorial in the Oct. 14 Advance.

Psalm 78 is one of thirteen maskils. These are wise, contemplative hymns of various topics sung publicly for the benefit of all. This maskil is a parable of “dark sayings of old” which have been heard and known and have been passed down from previous generations. 
Asaph, the human author, effectively underscores the need for everyone to “Listen. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” 
 
See the Oct. 7 Advance for the entire pastor's column.

Since I have a love-hate relationship with all things cyberspace, I am ultra-careful in my dealings with those mean cyber elves. I try very hard not to offend them. However, they are just plain cruel, because they are always tricking me and messing up my emails. And my Google searches. And anything else I try to do on my computer.
 
See the Oct. 7 Advance for more. 

On Aug. 1, 2013, the Kossuth County Ag and Motorsports Museum opened its doors. The museum houses artifacts of Agriculture Motorsports and the Ben Scooter train station. 
In the motor sports section, we have a number of cars that were raced here in the past years. A number of trophies of other people in racing are displayed upstairs at the Museum. 
 
Catch all of this week's Our Kossuth County column in the Oct. 7 edition.