For just this week, Spencer students have been asked to “Let the Games Begin,” both in our sporting events and our school pride. This year especially, I can certainly see the appeal.

The week’s themes ― Twister, Monopoly, Jumanji and Olympics ― are all games that students like myself have been eager to dress up as or decorate their grade’s hallway.

True stories are often the best.

At least that’s my what my wife says, and I tend to agree.

In a day of Marvel, DC and Star Wars heroes, it’s great to some real-life heroes wear flannel and jeans instead of capes.

Promoting better mental health is something we all do. We encourage adequate sleep, healthy eating, exercise, financial well-being and supporting positive relationships within our family, at work or in the community to help us get the most out of life. If any of these areas are out of balance, we are subject to illness physically, mentally and emotionally.

There are families who have begun to contemplate what the result of the November election will have on the tax consequences on assets and estates. We had a call with our tax advisor and accountant last week to review where we were in our estate plan and whether there were additional actions that should be taken to protect wealth and mitigate risk. The current capital gains tax rate is 23.5%. That is as good as it is going to be with the risk all on the side of that tax rate rising.

Did you catch a glimpse of the sea of red vests at the Clay County Fair this year? Those bright red vests belonged to participants in our Ag-Citing and Sci-Citing programs. Since 1995, Clay County Extension and Outreach has proudly hosted Ag-Citing, and Sci-Citing has been part of our lineup since 2014.

Put fall leaves to work in your landscape. This valuable resource makes a great mulch in planting beds, adds organic matter and nutrients to the soil, provides habitat for many beneficial insects, and is insulation for ground-dwelling queen bumblebees, toads and more.

We have just over a month and counting until the Nov. 5 general election, but who’s counting.

Tuesday night, we have presumably the final debate between vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Mike Walz, but I would guess little will be decided here. For the most part, blues will vote from blue, and reds will vote for red.

The big question is: Where will the undecided voters go? That will likely decide the election.

Marcie R. Rendon reprises her fascinating character Cash Blackbear in “Sinister Graves,” third in a trilogy about a young Native woman whose special powers make her an invaluable sleuth for the local county sheriff. The trilogy follows Blackbear’s exploits in North Dakota and Minnesota along the Red River region.

Rendon, an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation, lives in Minneapolis.

This year, I am taking two Advanced Placement classes as a part of my high school curriculum. I have few complaints about the classes thus far.

However, I wouldn’t say I have the strongest grasp on how AP classes impact high schoolers like myself. Alex Halverson, a math teacher for Spencer High School, does.

Thump.

I heard a walnut hit the sandy, leaf-strewn forest floor 10 or 15 yards to my north.

It was a good sign. I cocked my head in that direction, hoping to hear the telltale scratching of claws on tree bark that would help fuel my optimism. Minutes passed, and I heard nothing but the breeze rustling leaves in the forest canopy.

As many of you know, The South Dakota Supreme Court recently unanimously ruled that Summit Carbon Solutions is not a common carrier, therefore they cannot use eminent domain. This ruling was very good news for all of us opposed to the pipeline, although it doesn’t mean that we are out of the woods just yet. This November residents of South Dakota will go to the polls and vote either yes or no on Referred Law 21 (RF21). What is that you may ask?

When a tariff is placed on China … China doesn't pay the tariff. The buyer of the Chinese made product sold in the U.S. or EU does. If a tariff of 60% was put on all Chinese goods being imported, the buyers of those goods have a tough decision to make. How much do they raise their prices to compensate? … the full 60%, which would be a shock to their customers, or do they eat some of the margin taking a loss themselves?

I’ve been reading “The Maxwell Leadership Bible,” penned by former Pastor John Maxwell, who has shared the Bible and inserted his feelings on leadership — good and bad — throughout the Bible.

Reading, I’ve seen some nuggets of gold that I did not share, but I felt “Jesus’ and the Law of Addition” was worth sharing in this week’s column. I’m not going to share it all, but I think there are some things to consider in “Christlike Servant Leaders,” utilizing John 3:1-17 as a model.

There are so many critical issues to consider in electing the next president. Sadly, most people only care about the economy. Given that, with Iowa’s agricultural economy, consider former President Donald Trump’s plans. He bragged about being a “tariff president.” He doubled down on his plan to install a blanket tariff of up to 20% on all imports, with additional tariffs of 60% to 100% on goods brought in from China. “We’re going to be a tariff nation,” he said.

In our community, the delicate balance between industrial progress and residential well-being is being put to the test. Symrise, known locally as Iso Nova, a global leader in the fragrance, flavor and pet nutrition industry, has been a benefit to our local economy. However, concerns about odors emanating from their facility have brought to light the challenges of maintaining this equilibrium.