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OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVES

Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:36:37 +0000

OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVES

My first interview with a presidential press secretary

Publisher Wed, 09/23/2026 - 16:36

Alex Malm, Staff Writer

The first interview I ever did was with a man named Marlin Fitzwater.

For those who don’t know who he is, Fitzwater is the longest serving presidential press secretary in the history of the country, and the only person to ever be appointed to the role by two different presidents: George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

In 2002, Fitzwater helped to build the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication at my college.

I was a bit nervous. I had never done an interview before and was essentially in a boot camp to see whether a political science major like me had the chops to be able to cover the 2016 Presidential Election with my college in partnership with the Boston Herald.

Fitzwater answered our questions honestly. His portrait stood behind him, and we were in a building named after him, but he didn’t expect any softball questions.

He expected us to ask tough questions – like journalists ought to do – because his reasoning for allowing his name on the building was for young people like me to be the next generation of journalists.

Fitzwater shared stories about standing behind a podium, in front of the world, informing the public about some of the biggest events that ever happened in the country.

The relationship between press secretaries and journalists are complicated at any level of government, whether a local school district or someone who speaks on the behalf of the President of the United States of America.

Our job as journalists is to uncover the truth, and a lot of the time, it can be things that sources would rather not have reported.

But at no point during the interview with Fitzwater, or the numerous times he spoke on campus, did he ever speak about how the presidents he worked for went to great lengths to silence the press by revoking their press passes.

That is exactly what happened last Friday – when President Donald Trump revoked the press credentials from CNN, Politico, and MS Now (formerly MSNBC).

Now keep in mind, holding a press credential for the White House is an absolute honor that most journalists can only ever dream of.

It should be taken seriously – and if someone does something to be considered a security risk, then absolutely suspend their passes.

But that's not what is happening here. The president of the United States, the president of a country which was founded on freedom of religion and speech, decided it was not convenient to have reporters tell stories he doesn’t like all that much, and that they shouldn’t be allowed to have press credentials.

This is absolutely shameful and should be a cause for concern for every single one of us.

But don’t take my word for it.

On Friday night Ari Fleischer took to X, the site formerly known as Twitter, to express his thoughts.

“I agree with POTUS that several media outlets covering the WH are biased and unfair,” he wrote.” Banning them from the WH is not the solution. Open the pool and the briefing room to conservatives. Challenge liberal reporters. Argue and defeat them. Don’t ban them. Or one day they’ll ban us.”

Fleischer served as press secretary during the early days of George W. Bush's first term.

While I don’t agree fully with what he said, his point is spot on.

Journalists should not be fearful of being allowed to cover the White House based on what party they belong to or whether reporting will hurt the President’s feelings or not.

And if we get to a point where it becomes “normal” for Presidents to ban reporters because of stories they don’t like, he is absolutely right, who is next?

Someone else who was part of my college days was a man named Andy Card.

He became my university’s president during my sophomore year of college, when the university was struggling financially.

Card served with Fleischer in George W. Bush’s administration.

For those who don’t know, he was the man who whispered in the President’s ear in the iconic moment in a classroom in Florida, when the country learned we were under attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

He was instrumental in the country’s response that day, and for years after, as Chief of Staff. He only ever served at the pleasure of Republican presidents.

But he didn’t stop free speech from happening on campus.

He would allow Democratic presidential candidates to speak on campus, even allowing Bernie Sanders to speak.

He also was instrumental in helping young people like me who were considering a career in journalism.

Card was one of the first people I ever interviewed. It was 2015, around the same time Trump came down the escalator in the famous moment to announce he would be running for president.

He answered our questions about what he thought about Trump’s presidential bid and didn’t shy away. Didn’t tell our camera crews to turn off the camera or scold us or our college advisors.

This is what free speech is. This is what a free press is.

I owe a lot to people like Card and Fitzwater, who used their influence for good – not to try to silence the press. If anything, they used their influence to help grow young journalists like me.

When young people can interview two people who were for a long time the most powerful people in the world, it provides them with confidence to ask tough questions of anyone.

When you can cover rally after rally for then-candidate Donald Trump, where he would bash reporters, you get the guts to challenge anyone.

On a local level, I am fearful that what is happening in Washington, D.C., is becoming something our local elected officials and leaders are prescribing to.

Increasingly often, journalists are facing people who expect only positive stories, and when we don’t deliver, tell the truth or hold the powerful accountable, they will use different tactics to try to force our hand.

In the past couple of years alone, I have been personally attacked for doing a data request. We have had elected officials talk about taking away our legal ads because we wrote stories they find unflattering; have had our reporters taken off press lists, and so on.

We even recently had a sitting state appeals court judge approach a reporter at a local fair because of a factual story written seven months prior.

At one time, if powerful people had a problem with a story, they would have cordial conversations about why they felt we got the story wrong, or what they had an issue with.

Though there are still people who are cordial, for the most part, that attitude has been substituted with personal attacks or retribution.

I am proud to say we will not be intimated here at this newspaper, because we have a publisher who doesn’t do this to become rich.

He does it because he believes in the First Amendment and believes in holding the powerful accountable, no matter the personal cost.

I am concerned that a lot of younger journalists did not have the opportunities early on – as I did – to see the best of what this country has to offer in terms of powerful people like Card and Fitzwater, who believe in a free press and will help encourage it.

I believe this, and a few other factors, are leading to more younger people leaving the profession altogether.

Admittedly, there are times when personal attacks can wear me down.

But then I think back to my college days, realize that this is a glimpse into society, and that we can eventually get back on track.

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HOT PURSUIT

Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:33:14 +0000

HOT PURSUIT

Minnesota’s best earns more best national awards

Publisher Wed, 09/23/2026 - 16:33

Rick Bussler, Publisher

Randy Keck, president of the National Newspaper Association Foundation, congratulates Rick Bussler, Times publisher, on the 10 awards the newspaper picked up in Detroit for journalistic excellence.

Best front-page design. Best local news coverage. Community service. Best sports section. Best editorial page.

That gives you just a small flavor of the journalistic awards of excellence the Steele County Times picked up last week at the National Newspaper Association’s annual convention in Detroit. In all, the Times captured 10 awards, including four firsts, five seconds and a third.

The first-place awards came in Best Front-Page Design, Best Editorial Page (which you are currently reading), Best Business Story and Best Investigative/In-Depth Story.

In awarding the Times the top award for best design, judges commented: “Clean, uncluttered design with consistent styling. Especially liked the white space around the 'gut punch' story. Font choice is spot on. If every front page is as easy on the eye as this one, your readers are happy.”

I always take special pride in winning the editorial page. This was one of the staples that the publisher at my hometown newspaper focused on every week with strong written local columns and editorials that didn’t always thrill readers. Judges said: “These are what editorial pages are meant to be -- a variety of opinions, ranging from a staff editorial to staff columns, local artwork and guest op-eds. Very nice package of content!”

The Times’ coverage of the controversy at the Steele County History Center last year generated two awards, including first for best investigative story and second for communication in crisis. Of the extensive coverage we provided, judges said: “Very well written account of a local historical society's treatment of two longtime volunteers. The public seems to support them. Fantastic job getting to the bottom of what was going on here. Nice job of presenting opinions from both sides of the issues at hand. Job well done!”

One of the stories I wrote last fall about Linda Escobedo’s 50th anniversary at The Kitchen restaurant in Owatonna earned a first place. Here’s what the judges said: “The story. The photos. It brought me to the edge of tears as I could feel the warm of this restaurant through the description of a sign on the wall to the photos of the owner dishing it up. You can feel how deeply this business is rooted in community. There is something about a good story that leaves you feeling like you were there and this one hits all the marks.”

Our efforts in covering the controversial parking ban along a road near Blooming Prairie High School picked up second place in community service. Judges remarked, “Excellent overview of the situation. Thorough reporting about why the problem exists and potential problems arising from vehicles parking along the road. I'm surprised more residents did not share the concern. However, this group of articles brings to light the safety concerns a neighborhood SHOULD be concerned about. Good job.”

Another award I am especially proud of is a second place for Best Local News, which as our readers know we take very seriously at the Times. The judges certainly picked up on what we are trying to accomplish by offering this comment: “Extremely strong, balanced and varied coverage of the local community in a hyper-local paper. Value placed on news, sports, arts, features, business and farm coverage shows a slice of life in the community with strong visuals and storytelling.”

Other second place honors included best sports section, and best health story.

This latest string brings us to 78 national awards on top of 172 state awards over the past 15 years.

Oh, and did I mention, all these national honors went to Minnesota’s best weekly newspaper? (Two years in a row.)

Thanks to all our readers and advertisers for allowing us to go in hot pursuit of providing quality community journalism.

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Path forward for local government: humility

Publisher — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:52:15 +0000

Path forward for local government: humility Publisher Sun, 09/20/2026 - 20:52

What in the world is happening with local government?

From claims of toxic workplaces to apparent confusion about open meeting laws to a perceived over-stepping of bounds, things are a bit of a mess.

The latest in this series of unfortunate events occurred before the Sept. 8 Steele County Board meeting, in an exchange between County Administrator Renae Fry and commissioner candidate Gary Spatenka.

As the saying goes, “no matter how flat you make a pancake, it still has two sides.”

While the Times did have a reporter present, the incident occurred between the commissioners’ work session and the actual board meeting, when reporters tend to regroup, perhaps take a break outside the board room, then prepare for the upcoming meeting.

The timing also precluded the incident from appearing on the recording of the regular meeting; the video picks up as the meeting is called to order.

Here is what we know for sure:

Before the meeting began, Fry and Spatenka engaged in conversation. Our reporter said all she picked up on “was a discussion about Spatenka wanting to say something during public comment.”

Our reporter said “it sounded like Renae said, ‘well, you can’t direct a comment directly to the board; they’re not going to respond.’”

None of that is troubling. In fact, it’s part of the rules of decorum for public comment, and it’s announced at every meeting.

There was no shouting, though our reporter said Spatenka was “agitated.”

The two then left the board room, and we are left with only the online video to guide us.

The meeting started, proceeded through approving the agenda, public comment, the consent agenda, then a lengthy audit report.

About two minutes into the meeting, Commissioner Jim Abbe left the room, returning within 30 seconds.

It corresponds with what Spatenka told us: That Abbe had indeed come into the hall where the two were having a “disagreement,” and told them everyone in the meeting room was paying attention to them instead of the board meeting.

The next time we see Fry on the video, 27 minutes have elapsed, but the screen has remained on the audit presentation the entire time. It’s unclear when Fry returned to the board room.

After the audit report was approved, Fry stopped Board Chairman John Glynn’s attempt to move forward with the agenda.

“I asked Mr. Spatenka to step out in the hall, which means he missed public comment,” Fry said, then turned to Spatenka, who was also in the board room, but out of camera view.

“No, I’ll talk to a lawyer,” Spatenka responded, and the meeting continued.

The next day, Spatenka told the Times that Fry approached him and “told him he shouldn’t be at the meeting,” and allegedly accused him of being there “for political gain.”

Not true, Fry said, when contacted two days later.

Fry said she thought Spatenka was going to speak about something that had already gone through the public hearing process at the Planning Commission, “only to find out he was there to complain about another committee.”

She said Spatenka did not agree with a decision made by the Board of Adjustments, and that he told her he had already contacted individual board members.

Fry said she told him that he should talk to the county attorney about what rights and remedies are available before he talked to the full board “because they're going to refer the matter back to the county attorney anyway.”

Fry and Spatenka do not agree if he ever said he was there in his role as chairman of the Planning Commission.

There are two people who know exactly what was said, and we are neither of them.

We are looking into the issue from all sides, however. Our story will appear in the Sept. 23 edition of the Steele County Times, with further details and quotes from all involved.

The bottom line, however, is this: Elected officials must realize that transparency is not optional, and trust erodes, one questionable choice at a time.

In an odd way, these local governmental issues are uniting both sides of the aisle like nothing we’ve seen; we’ve heard from people across the political spectrum, and they are unequivocal.

The path forward requires humility from our leaders; by welcoming honest feedback and opening up the decision-making process, officials can begin to mend the gap.

Unless and until they do, the erosion of public faith will remain the biggest hurdle our communities face.

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HOT PURSUIT

Publisher — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:27:55 +0000

HOT PURSUIT

Field of Honor helps in keeping communities united

Publisher Wed, 09/16/2026 - 19:27

Rick Bussler, Publisher

Araya Mason and her sister Ferrari walk through the Field of Honor lined with 1,000 American flags Saturday afternoon in Owatonna. Their father, Shawn Mason, is a third-generation veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Staff photo by Rick Bussler

This past week we marked one of the most somber occurrences in modern day history. It was the 25^th anniversary of 9/11.

I had the chance to watch some TV specials about 9/11, and the aftermath of how some people directly involved are coping a quarter of a century later. It was heart wrenching to hear their stories and how they lost their co-workers, mostly police officers and firefighters, during the rescue efforts. And, of course, we can’t forget about the men and women on the airplanes that terrorists overtook in the American skies.

While I had seen the attacks many times in the past, it still gives me chills and leaves me with tears every time I see it again.

As I shared with some people, this will likely be the most horrible tragedy most of us will experience in our lifetimes.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend America 250, a powerful tribute to not only America’s 250^th anniversary, but also the 9/11 anniversary. The Field of Flags at the airport in Owatonna proved to be a powerful tribute to all heroes in our lives over the past two and half centuries.

Walking among the rows of waving flags is something that’s hard for words to describe. It was a place for reflection, gratitude and unity. It was a powerful visual testament symbolizing the freedom we all, at times, take for granted.

What made it even more special was the tribute hosted by the area Exchange Clubs. They organized a wonderful ceremony with special music, the Steele County Honor Guard, special messages and the keynote from Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence who served as the third U.S. president. Jefferson was impersonated by Robert McComas-Wood.

Shawn Mason, of Owatonna, who comes from a long line of veterans, brought his children to the tribute. Mason served four years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force in Germany, Bosnia and Hungry. It was impressive to see Mason’s family sharing time together to reflect on the sacrifices he and his father and grandfather have made dating back to World War II.

A special thank you to Annette Duncan and Lynn Limberg for organizing such a meaningful tribute. Others who served on the organizing committee were Bryan Duncan, Randy Sobrack, Mary Stanley, Katie Smith, Kaylin Hanson, Kerry Much, Sharon Klein and Dom Korbel.

This effort is important to help a nation that still struggles in the aftermath of 9/11. And they’re helping citizens go in hot pursuit of celebrating Americanism and keeping our communities strong.

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HOT PURSUIT

Publisher — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:25:53 +0000

HOT PURSUIT

Best fair, best press: A match made in Steele County

Publisher Wed, 09/09/2026 - 16:25

Rick Bussler, Publisher

What else would you expect when it comes to Minnesota’s best county fair?

That’s the question I have posed to Dan Deml, who is the long-time president of the Steele County Free Fair.

To put it simply, Minnesota’s best weekly newspaper (for two years in a row) loves to cover Minnesota’s best county fair.

A little context may be in order.

Deml has often told me how lucky the fair is to have the coverage it gets from the Steele County Times in comparison to other fairs around the state with their local newspapers. When Deml gathers with other fair directors, heads turn in complete surprise when he tells them what goes on with their local newspaper covering the fair.

Directors from other fairs are stunned at the coverage Steele receives not only during the fair but throughout the off-season as well. Over the past 16 years, the Steele fair has become one of our primary beats, which means we are always hyper-focused on covering what’s happening before, during and after the fair.

When I took over this newspaper in 2009, it didn’t take me long to figure out that there is something magical about the Steele fair. Then-manager Elmer Reseland was my first encounter and hooked me with the local fair. Through Elmer, I quickly found out how this fair has been wrapped into the social fabric of the county for decades. He had that special twinkle in his eye for fairs that became contagious.

I know how many other counties think they have great fairs. But let’s face it most of them don’t come anywhere close to what Steele puts on. Current manager Scott Kozelka is now carrying the torch and has done a stunning job in taking this fair to even greater heights.

For the record, let’s review what we offered readers this year alone. We provided seven weeks of pre-fair coverage with stories, columns and photos. One week before the fair we put out a 52-page special section filled with no less than 18 staff-written stories. We then highlighted the fair with special coverage over two weeks after the fair. The first week was 14-page B section followed by another six pages last week.

During the off-season, we regularly cover the fair board meetings to gain helpful insight into the operations of the fair. We also do other stories as they arise.

Deml finds himself facing a little inter-fair jealousy from other fairs. But as we agree it’s completely justified because there is nothing better in Minnesota than the Steele County Free Fair. Call it civic pride, a timeless tradition or whatever you want. Steele is a sensational act that warrants the coverage it gets.

Many fairs have shared with Deml how lucky they are to even get a newspaper reporter to step foot onto their fair to do a single story or two let alone cover them during the off-season.

We are proud of what we do to cover Minnesota’s best county fair. It’s important to showcase the fair which serves as a vital hub for economic growth, youth development, agricultural education and cultural preservation.

The best fair with the best press is a match made in Steele County—and it deserves the riveting coverage we are always in hot pursuit of providing to our readers.

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OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVES

Publisher — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:07:43 +0000

OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVES

The wide, wide world of local food

Publisher Wed, 09/02/2026 - 16:07

Alex Malm, Staff Writer

As someone who has lived in different parts of the country, and not a native Minnesotan, I’m intrigued by the different foods people eat based on where they’re from.

And sometimes we don’t have to go very far either to see these differences.

My wife’s cousin got married in Tittle Town a couple of weekends ago – also known as Green Bay, Wisc.

Now keep in mind both sides of my wife’s family are from Minnesota. Her stepdad is from Iowa, but we try not to hold that against him.

But Mitch, the groom in question, and his sister Morgan, were born and raised in Wisconsin after their mom – my wife’s aunt – moved there.

I mostly quit drinking alcohol over the past year, just as a personal preference, but I could not help myself when I saw at the open bar the signature drink was a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned.

Admittedly, I never really knew this was a thing, and I certainly never had one.

In fact, Morgan and I have drunk a good amount over the years since I met her eight years ago, almost always old fashioneds – our drink of choice – and exclusively the correct way: with bourbon.

Since I was curious, I ended up having a couple of brandy old fashioneds, which were quite tasty, I must admit.

Emily, the bride, had her signature drink as an espresso martini, which I assume has no geographical meaning. Those were also quite good.

And of course, I would not be a good Minnesota transplant if I didn’t stop at the premium fast-food business of the Midwest.

Late at night, I found myself hungry at the hotel. I was done socializing for the night so did not want to join the late-night party at the bar across the street, so I walked a few blocks to Kwik Trip – a place that was once a foreign concept to this Rhode Islander.

Back home in Rhode Island, we have all sorts of corky things we drink and eat.

We drink coffee milk, which is essentially chocolate milk but with coffee syrup instead. My wife still gets red in the face when I bring up her first experience with it.

We were at our annual family summer vacation at a beach house (not a lake house because this is Rhode Island) and she asked my grandma if she was making it correctly.

Instead of milk, she had a cup of coffee and then the syrup with her.

My grandma, a strong willed first-generation American, teased her about it, probably until the day she died.

An acquaintance of mine, from the news industry back home, recently took a television job in Iowa and made a video of his newsroom trying different Rhode Island foods and drinks. Based on the video, it would appear his Iowa colleagues are still trying to figure out what to think of coffee milk.

Like Minnesota, we have our own types of beers back home too.

The most well-known Rhode Island beer is called Narraganset, which is also the same name as a beach community back home.

My wife and I were watching a movie last weekend, and it was based but not filmed in Rhode Island. Of course, they were drinking Narraganset in the film.

There is also an assortment of foods we eat back home, that would be taboo here. One of the most iconic, I think, is the fact that we use malt vinegar on a lot of foods, especially French fries. I have never seen someone eat French fries that are drenched in vinegar – something which is normal in Rhode Island.

When we got home from Wisconsin, I was also reminded of the fact that even within different cultures, food can be different.

My mother-in-law came and stayed with our cat and dog while we were away. When we got back on Saturday night, we helped her get her car loaded, when she noticed a fundraiser going on a couple of houses down.

We decided to swing by and help support our neighbor who is battling cancer.

While a woman was serving up the food – a Mexican plate – she noted to us there are no tortillas with it.

This was the sister-in-law of our neighbor – who explained they are from South Texas. There, the custom is to serve Mexican dishes with two pieces of white bread. Who would’ve thought?

To piggyback on a column I wrote a few weeks ago about the world being small – she told us she is from Corpus Christi – which is where one of my best friends going back to college is a coach for the AA affiliate of the Houston Astros.

She told us she was a big fan of the Hooks – the team he coaches.

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HOT PURSUIT

Publisher — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:56:54 +0000

HOT PURSUIT

Determination drives this year’s Princess Kay

Publisher Wed, 09/02/2026 - 14:56

Rick Bussler, Publisher

Jena Hanson of Owatonna is Minnesota’s Princess Kay of the Milky Way, the top ambassador of the dairy industry. Staff photo by Rick Bussler

If there’s one thing I’ve grown to support over the years, it’s rallying behind the underdog, so to speak.

Such is the case with this year’s Princess Kay of the Milky Way for Minnesota. On the eve of the Minnesota State Fair, Jena Hanson of Owatonna became the first Princess Kay from Steele County in 18 years and only the fourth in the program’s 73-year history.

It may not seem surprising for someone like Hanson who is friendly, poised and bubbly to earn her way to become the state’s top dairy ambassador. But she has certainly turned more than a few heads with her untraditional background. She likely didn’t go into the Princess Kay competition as the favorite as most come from lifelong dairy roots.

Hanson grew up in Owatonna with no dairy farm in the family or farm background at all. During high school, she became interested in dairy by doing mentorships on area farms. She also was involved in 4-H and FFA where she served as vice president.

She’ll be the first to tell you that she didn’t think there would be any way that she could ascend to become Princess Kay.

She certainly didn’t grow up with the advantage many Princess Kay finalists have with lifelong knowledge from their parents or others, but under it all there is something incredibly remarkable about Hanson.

In April, I had the opportunity to judge the Steele County Dairy Princess competition where Hanson was one of eight princesses. At the time I was extremely impressed with her leadership and communication skills. She was articulate in describing her hands on experiences with area dairy farms and how she wants to help the dairy industry. Dedicated and caring are two key attributes I noted in judging her.

What truly stuck out with me was how she did not grow up on a farm but planned to go into the dairy industry as a professional career. She is convinced her future path will lead her into something dairy-related. Currently, she shares a strong passion for dairy nutrition.

“With the connections I have made so far from FFA to my mentorships, job shadows and internships, I was able to kickstart my success in pursuing my first couple of years in agriculture, and I can’t wait to expand within the industry,” she said. “I want to be a voice for the small dairy operations because they hold a special spot in my heart.”

Obviously, Hanson knows where she came from in working with at least three small dairy operations in Steele County in recent years. Her experiences with those dairy farmers have propelled her into becoming Princess Kay.

She may not have been in the cow barn as a toddler or young child, but Hanson has grown to obtain deep knowledge of the industry. She has a thorough understanding of the dairy community, dairy nutrition and farm operations. She also has unmatched enthusiasm and passion that’s often difficult to find in young people who are trying to figure out their lives.

Perhaps most importantly Hanson is genuine. With an infectious smile, she interacts with people by displaying high energy, friendly and an approachable personality.

It will be exciting to watch the new Princess Kay as she travels around the state over the next year. What’s even more exciting is that the knowledge she will share comes mostly from the hardworking dairy farmers in Steele County.

Hanson may not view herself as an underdog, but she went in hot pursuit of the title, proving that determination can overcome most obstacles.

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HOT PURSUIT

Publisher — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:35:07 +0000

HOT PURSUIT

She took a lifetime of pain and anguish to make a difference

Publisher Wed, 08/26/2026 - 15:35

Rick Bussler, Publisher

Mary Kay Malakowsky

One of my first assignments about 35 years ago as a young reporter at KAAL-TV in Austin led me to a woman who has forever impacted my life.

Back in the early 1990s, I covered a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Impact Panel where I met Mary Kay Malakowsky. Just a few years earlier, she had lost her teenage daughter. It’s one of the stories that has impacted me the most throughout my professional careers as a journalist and police officer.

I am saddened to learn that Mary Kay died on Aug. 8 at her home near Hartland. She was 79.

She was a passionate advocate with MADD for more than 30 years. She even earned the recognition of “State Speaker of the Year.”

Over the years, we kept in contact from time to time through our involvement with MADD. She channeled her anger and passion to stop other senseless tragedies into MADD. She shared her gut-wrenching story with DWI offenders, most often in the Albert Lea and Mankato areas.

“It rips out your heart,” she once said. “It rips it out so bad you never know how to put it back together.”

Mary Kay’s daughter, Michelle Malakowsky, 19, was fatally injured in a head-on crash in a construction zone along Interstate 35 in Rice County in August 1988. The violent impact of the crash sheared off Malakowsky’s head. It’s one of the most gruesome crash stories I’ve ever heard.

The driver, a pro-golfer who had just come off the course in Faribault, was vomiting all over as he drove and smashed into Malakowsky. Prior to the crash, Mary Kay later learned, the driver was so drunk he couldn’t even stand up and people at the club were laughing at how drunk he was. His friends carried him down the steps and put in the driver’s seat. They did one last thing—turned the key so he could drive away.

Just minutes later Mary Kay and the rest of her family were given a life sentence. She once told me, “The day the deputy told me she was dead, I had a headache and I had it for 10 years, day and night, 24 hours a day.”

To hear Mary Kay share the horrific details was chilling, even after I heard it several times over. And she didn’t mince words when describing her feelings about the drunk driver that ripped a hole in her family. “He has never told us he is sorry. There is no remorse there. He can go to hell.”

For years Mary Kay struggled and couldn’t laugh or enjoy life because of the terror that haunted her. Who can blame her?

Mary Kay was left to raise her 2-year-old granddaughter. Ashley Casey used the tragedy and eventually grew up to become an alcohol and drug counselor.

Mary Kay is one of the reasons I ended up in law enforcement for nearly 20 years. As a police officer, I made a commitment to DWI enforcement and went on to earn several awards from MADD for my efforts. She is the reason I have no tolerance for people who get behind the wheel drunk.

What troubles me is how drunk drivers and alcoholics (I was married to one) often take little to no accountability for their actions. As I have found out over the years, they often blame everyone else for their problem.

But that didn’t stop Mary Kay from attempting to make an impact. She relived her daughter’s gruesome story over and over in hopes of changing societal attitudes, one drunk driver at a time.

She drove home the message: U booze, U drive, U lose. Mary Kay leaves the world a better place, after taking a lifetime of pain and anguish to go in hot pursuit of making a difference. May you rest in peace Mary Kay.

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HOT PURSUIT

Publisher — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 23:28:00 +0000

HOT PURSUIT

Fair week triggers childhood memories

Publisher Thu, 08/20/2026 - 01:28

Rick Bussler, Publisher

I know I’ve said it before in this space, but it bears repeating. I love the fair. Always have, always will.

Even though I didn’t grow up in Steele County, the fair was always an integral part of my life as a child in central Minnesota. My home fair is McLeod County. It always offered me the best time of my summer.

As we head into another Steele County Fair this week, I can’t help but think of all the wonderful memories fairs have generated in my lifetime. Some maybe weren’t the greatest, at least at the time, but most were beyond supreme. No matter what they ended up being, they still hold a special spot in my heart.

One of my most dreadful moments at the fair came when I was a youngster of 7 or 8 years old showing my pig in the judging arena. This particular pig had a mind of his own and wanted nothing to do with showing, even though I had worked with him all summer in preparation for the show. He burrowed his snout into the wooden bleachers, pushed under the bleachers, sent the spectators scrambling for cover and reduced me to tears. I was heartbroken.

As I look back on that experience, it provided me with an important life lesson that life doesn’t always go your way even with the best intentions. It also showed me how to be resilient and forge ahead to handle life’s challenges.

Another distressing and crushing moment came one year when I was getting my cookies or cupcakes ready to show in the 4-H Building. I remember sitting on the edge of the car seat with yummy treats balanced on my lap. Well, you can probably imagine what happened next. I lost my balance; they tipped and went flying in places I didn’t want them to.

Another life lesson of learning how to bounce back quickly after a hard time. And, yes, I was in tears again.

There were also the times of separation anxiety. I remember becoming extremely sad by the end of the fair knowing my prized pig would be heading off to the market. I still recall cuddling and laying on top of one particular animal wishing I could keep him forever.

But those terrorizing and daunting moments were limited, thank God. Most of my experiences were memorable in a good way, especially those when I won purple grand champion ribbons. There were many of those over the years. And with it, many trips to the Minnesota State Fair.

One thing that strikes me the most about all my experiences is how the 4-H program prepares you for a lifetime of challenges in many ways. I have developed so many life skills because of 4-H and my involvement with the fair. From communication skills to photography and dealing with people, 4-H has enriched my life beyond my wildest dreams. The fairs were always the icing on the cake.

I gained my love attraction to the fair from my late father, who volunteered for more than 65 years at the fair, mostly in the livestock area, before his death. One of the greatest memories was in his last year of the fair when he got to ride on top of the wagon of the Budweiser Hitch. A photo of him waving hangs dearly in my mother’s family room and provides her with an emotional bond as if dad was still around. The news clipping marking the occasion from the local newspaper still hangs on my refrigerator. (Isn’t local journalism wonderful?)

I’m off to the fair and in hot pursuit of some great fair memories once again. Enjoy the fair!

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Starts with K

Publisher — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:59:06 +0000

Starts with K

Lessons, memories come with gifts from the heart

Publisher Wed, 08/12/2026 - 19:59

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

When our granddaughter, Vivian, turned 3 last week, my husband and I presented her with a little tool belt, complete with a screwdriver, screws, hammer, nails and some sandpaper.

For the first time in her young life, Viv did not receive a hand-crafted wooden gift, lovingly created by her Papa Russ out of tiger maple or koa or purple heart or some other wonderfully exotic tree.

At her first Christmas, she received a little wooden spoon, carved with a shallow bowl and branded with her initials – and his.

We balanced it off her 5-month-old nose that night, but about two months later, pictures started coming our way of Vivian using it.

“Just vegetables,” my son said. “We don’t want to ruin it.”

“It will teach her fine motor skills,” Papa Russ said. “Let her eat yogurt and soup with it.”

At her first birthday, she received hand-hollowed wooden percussion blocks with a small set of drumsticks.

“They will teach her rhythm,” Papa Russ said. “She will not poke her eyes out with them. She’ll be fine.”

When she turned 2, she received a mallet as her special gift from Papa Russ.

It is heavy, solid, the square head made from padauk, the handle from maple. Her parents looked at my husband and me, eyes wide, as Viv lifted it with both hands – and promptly dropped it on the floor with a significant thud.

“We have a new baby coming in four months,” my son said.

“This will teach her control,” Papa Russ said. “She’ll be fine.”

That Christmas, Viv received a small all-wooden knife, complete with a handmade leather sheath. Her parents looked at my husband and me, eyes wide, as Viv slid the knife in and out of its case.

“We have a newborn,” my son said.

“This will teach her safety and knife skills,” Papa Russ said. “She’ll be fine.”

The lessons now will have to come a different route, because my husband is no longer able to be in his wood shop, making things he loves for the people he loves.

A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver and lymph nodes punched us right in the gut this month. The increasing fatigue, light-headedness, stomach pain and weakness now make sense.

He just finished a round of radiation, designed to stop the bleeding from a significant tumor.

By the time you read this, he will have started a two-month cycle of chemotherapy, designed to buy him some time.

He is unceasingly positive and brave: “You can get busy living or you can get busy dying,” he said. “I’m busy living.”

He is the maker of memories, the planner of adventures and the disobeyer of rules.

Papa Russ is the hands-down favorite of all of our grandchildren, who would boot me into traffic to find their way to his lap.

As soon as Vivian opened her birthday gift last week, she said, “Papa, open it please,” so he did.

He pulled out each tool and explained how to use it and care for it and why it is important. She listened solemnly, nodding and repeating key phrases.

“Always put them away!” “Watch your thumbs!” “So scratchy!”

Russ gets sad when he sees that I am sad, so I work hard at matching his optimism, because it feels like a betrayal to do otherwise.

If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s to never, ever count him out.

The five-year survival rate for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has metastasized to the liver is 3%, but, as Russ says, “somebody’s got to be the 3%. Why not me?”

He has a point, you know, so when you see me, also know this: Whatever happens, we’ll be fine.

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