EXTRA

Litchfield, Minn., delegations set to visit Alabama; one group leaves today, another on Thursday

40 years of celebrating peanut butter and milk

By David Little , November 05, 2011

Sea shells provide lifelong fascination for former Willmar, Minn., pathologist

Dr. William Reid was 24 and a medical student in Philadelphia when he received a box of sea shells from his great aunt’s estate. Included was the shell of a Tiger Cowrie, a common herbivore found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and known for its egg-shaped shell with irregular black, brown, gray and white patterns.

By David Little , October 08, 2011

Disc golf: State event to be held in Willmar, Minn., today

Westside Open Today, Robbins Island (along north Business Hwy. 71 in Willmar) 7:30 a.m. – Registration begins 9:30 a.m. – Players meeting 10:00 a.m. – Shotgun start

By TJ Jerke , August 06, 2011

13th annual garden tour Tuesday in Kandiyohi County, Minn.

KCHS tour to visit nine Atwater,Minn., area gardens Maps available at gardens, Schmitty’s in Atwater, Minn.

By Donna Middleton , July 23, 2011

Local vendors open Willmar Farmers Market today

As the sun came up today, so did the tents and vendors at the Willmar Farmers Market. For 15 weeks, from 6:30 a.m. to “whenever the vendors leave,” the Westside Liquor parking lot will once again host the Saturday farmers market full of natural and home-cooked delicacies and goods grown or created by vendors from around the area. A 5:30 a.m. alarm clock had Market Manager Miriam Vandesteeg preparing for the first market of the summer today.

By TJ Jerke , July 09, 2011

Private school in Prinsburg, Minn., touts 100 years of faithfulness

Central Minnesota Christian School celebrates centennial

By TJ Jerke , July 02, 2011

Atwater, Minn., family seeks professional help to simplify their home, lives

Walking past a spick-and-span kitchen to a beautifully decorated living room, it’s hard to imagine that Rhonda and Kevin Christoffers have a problem that needs fixing. “It’s in closets. It’s behind closed doors,” said Rhonda, frankly. The problem is too much stuff that’s taking up too much space in the family’s lovely Atwater home.

By Carolyn Lange , June 25, 2011

Tidy Tightwad: Quick tips

June 25, 2011

Tribune reporter helps clean up former neighborhood ravaged by tornado

I grew up during the 1950s and ’60s in the Camden area of North Minneapolis and moved away in 1968 after high school. Although I’ve lived in four cities during the last 43 years, including the last 29 in Willmar, I’ve always considered the North Side my hometown.

By David Little , June 11, 2011

Prinsburg woman operates Consider the Birds rehabilitation service

Parrot rescue

By TJ Jerke , June 04, 2011

Memorial Day programs listed for west central Minnesota

Willmar, area cities plan Memorial Day programs, festivities

By Tribune News , May 28, 2011

Award-winning Willmar man has passion for clowning

That’s according to Randy Christensen of Willmar. And, Christensen knows something about clowns: he’s been teaching and writing about clowning for years, and has performed in 25 states and four foreign countries — all over the past 30-plus years. Clowns show themselves in different ways and provide stress relief, he said. “I really think that is my mission. When you step out and people have been having a tough day and they see you and they start to laugh, it gives them that spark that they can continue on, even though things may be a little tough. “When we start to laugh at something, you can conquer it. It doesn’t conquer you anymore when you laugh at it, and clowns give you the opportunity to laugh about those types of things.’’

By David Little , May 07, 2011

Poetry out loud: Spoken word brings poetry to life

One by one, the list of words on the chalkboard grew as Ibrahima Kaba went around the room, asking the dozen people at a poetry workshop Tuesday night to each contribute a word. Abundant. Lunar. Goat. Yearn. Toupee. Trickery.

By Anne Polta , April 30, 2011

Shibori: Eighth-century Japanese art taught at ACGC

After stirring it in a vat of indigo dye for several minutes Tuesday morning, Carol Gustavson lifts a piece of fabric from the nearly black liquid. She holds the cloth and blows on the rows of bulges where the material has been gathered and tied. The deep blue on the cloth begins to turn green. It’s magic, art, tradition and science. A teachable moment. It’s also shibori, a Japanese art that dates to the 8th century. Gustavson has been teaching students at Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Junior and Senior High School in Grove City the basics of the textile art for the past two weeks.

By Gary Miller , April 23, 2011

Shock illusionist brings his work home to west central Minnesota

In searching out entertainment for a Watercade fundraiser, organizers decided to go with one of their own. Shock illusionist Dan Sperry — a 2003 graduate of Litchfield High School — will take the stage tonight at Bernie Aaker Auditorium, 114 N. Holcombe Ave., in Litchfield. Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and will be available at the door, based on availability. All proceeds go toward the general fund for financing the city’s summer Watercade festival July 7-10, 2011.

By Sharon Bomstad , March 12, 2011