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This year marks the 150th anniversary of the conception of Yellow Medicine County, Yellow Medicine City, Minnesota Falls, Granite Falls, and the 25 townships. In 1803, Minnesota became part of what was then the Louisiana Purchase. By spring of 1849, what would be called the Minnesota Territory (including the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana) was formed from what was then Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. That summer, the northern tier of townships in Yellow Medicine County was a part of what was then “Dahkota” County and the southern tier of townships in Yellow Medicine County were a part of what was them “Waubashaw” County. These were two of nine counties forming what was then Minnesota Territory. The western boundary of the State of Minnesota was set at the Red River of the North, Lake Travers, Big Stone Lake, and the Corteau des Prairie boundary between Minnesota and South Dakota. Everything to the east of this boundary was in the state of Minnesota and everything to the west was in the newly formed “Dakota Territory.”

Miles Taylor never anticipated that he would be moving back to his hometown of Wood Lake before reaching retirement age, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed his plans. Miles and his wife Jessie were building careers centered around the arts in the Twin Cities when the pandemic began. Having learned how to DJ in Los Angeles more than 15 years ago, Miles moved to the Twin Cities after college and worked over the next eight years DJ’ing burlesque shows, bars, and events while also working on visual art. “I worked with a lot of different galleries presenting my art, but also curating shows. Eventually, I built up to four residencies a month, which paid all of the bills. I was making a name for myself and working with high profile producers in the cities,” Miles says. “I had finally started my own picture painting shop and gallery in the Northeast side in January of 2020. Everything was going pretty good and I was making the most money I think I’ve made in my life.” But then, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the state, and Miles and Jessie, being independent contractors and small business owners were left with all business halted for months. At the same time, the couple found out their landlord had decided to sell the home they were renting. Miles's family had been using his grandmother’s former home on their family farm as an Airbnb, but because COVID had halted that as well, the couple made the decision to move temporarily into the home.

Girls B Squad Basketball players show off their North Star Mutual Classic t-shirts over the holiday break. KAREN BERG The Boys Varsity team showed off their NorthStar Mutual Classic t-shirts.

Mrs. Enger's 2nd grade class at the Lakeview School showed off their Gingerbread Houses they created last week before their holiday break began.

A successful partnership between the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) led to a second round of federal grant funding for wetland mitigation on agricultural land, which is expected to satisfy demand for years to come. Work on the first grant is wrapping up. BWSR is receiving applications from landowners for the second federal grant it received.