THUMBS UP

Snow finally arrived

On Thursday morning New Ulm and a large section of southern Minnesota was hit with several inches of snow. In New Ulm we received around four inches, but in the metro area it was closer to seven inches. This was a relatively mild snowfall compared to snowstorms of the past, but it was still heavier than we have received in months.

Last winter infamous for its lack of snow and ice. The warm winter all but ruined the ice fishing season. Worse yet, we did not have a white Christmas. The holiday season was nearly snow free and frankly kind of ugly.

The Dec. 19 snowfall guarantees we will have a blanket of snow for the season, which is how it should be.

THUMBS UP

Dakota riders return

The Dakota 38+2 Reconciliation Ride is back after a year off, now under the name Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride. Once again, riders will pass through New Ulm on horseback.

This alone is great news because typically, the riders bypassed New Ulm. However, this year New Ulm also serving as a stopping point. The riders will actually be staying at Turner Hall on Monday and Tuesday. The horses will be staying at the fairgrounds. After the riders arrive Monday, the public will have a chance to meet with the riders. At 7 p.m. a special documentary on the 38+2 ride will be shown at Turner Hall. This is a great opportunity for New Ulm to engage with the legacy U.S. Dakota War. The point of the rides is reconciliation and healing.

THUMBS DOWN

State continues to ignore rural nursing home struggles

Advocates for Oak Hills recently launched a petition campaign to prevent an unfunded mandate from going into effect. The law specifically, requires nursing homes to pay workers time and a half for 11 holidays, but the law does not provide additional financial support for nursing homes, effectively creating an unfunded mandate.

Rural nursing homes have been struggling for years to make ends meet in the face of delayed reimbursements and staffing shortages.

Oak Hills has made a lot of noise at the state capitol about these problems, but there does not seem to be any interest in making long-term changes. What is frustrating is the struggles nursing homes are facing did not come out of nowhere.

For decades, we have known that the aging Baby Boomer generation was going to need skilled nursing care. This meant our nation would need greater infrastructure around senior care to address this demographic change. Yet nothing happened.

Arguably, there is still nothing happened. The state of Minnesota and even the federal government doesn’t seem interesting in addressing any of the problems, which are not going away.