Echo Press

Did you hear about the guy who had a fear of hurdles? He got over it. Speaking of getting over things, hopefully, the region will soon get over the widespread drought conditions we’ve endured this growing season. This year’s heat and drought might require modification of our Labor Day yard and garden tasks, which is a benchmark holiday for many lawn and perennial garden projects. Following is a checklist of yard and garden to-dos, traditionally recommended for around Labor Day.

A common question is, “What’s the best lure to throw to catch lots of fish of various species?” For me, the answer is easy. A bladed swim jig paired with a plastic trailer catches bass, northern pike and walleye. Plus, the combo is easy to fish. For example, last June we were on one of many “fishy” lakes in the Alexandria, Minnesota, area targeting shoreline flats with emerging weeds. By holding the boat near the deep edge of the flats, we made long casts on the flats and retrieved our baits.

MINNEAPOLIS — A world-renowned epidemiologist and infectious disease expert from Minnesota weighed in on hot-button health issues this week, including vaccine misinformation, recent food-borne illness outbreaks and preparing for the next pandemic. Dr. Michael Osterholm directs the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources next public auction for confiscated fishing, hunting and trapping equipment will be Sept. 28. The auction will be online. The bidding catalog for the auction will be available at the Hiller Auction Service website on Sept. 24. The catalog will include a written description and photos of each item. Online bidding for the auction begins Sept. 25.

White Sox 4, Twins 1 Starting pitcher performance CHICAGO — The Twins won just 10 games in a month of August that severely hindered their odds at making their postseason. Zebby Matthews was on the mound for half of those games, though, winning all five of his decisions while he posted a 2.90 ERA across 31 innings pitched.

ALEXANDRIA — Against a warm and humid backdrop to the open the season, the Alexandria football team stayed resilient throughout the full 48 minutes. The Cardinals’ defense locked down after allowing an opening score, as Alexandria defeated perennial Class 5A power Chanhassen 9-7 on Friday, Sept. 4, at Alexandria Area High School. It was the second consecutive year the matchup between the teams was decided by one score, as the Storm won last year’s meeting 24-22 on Aug. 28, 2025.

CHICAGO — The Twins expect Byron Buxton’s bothersome right hip will be surgically repaired in the coming months. But first, the center fielder is attempting to mount a final return, trying to see if he can make it back before the season ends. “I think surgery is part of it,” manager Derek Shelton said when asked about Buxton’s offseason. “To be specific on what the surgery is, we can’t until we get to that point. I’m not going to speculate on that.

Minnesota United at Portland Timbers When: 9:30 p.m. CT, Saturday Where: Providence Park, Portland, Ore. Stream: Apple TV Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500 Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy, 4 mph south wind Form: MNUFC (7-7-8, 29 points) gave up a 93rd-minute goal and had to swallow a 3-3 draw with Orlando City last Saturday. Portland (8-10-4, 28 points) also gave up a 93rd-minute goal for a 2-1 loss to Austin FC last weekend.

ALEXANDRIA — The Alexandria girls swimming and diving team opened its 2026 season with four varsity event victories in a 107-79 dual-meet loss to Central Lakes Conference foe ROCORI on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Alexandria High School. Senior Addy Erickson accounted for two of the Cardinals’ wins. She captured the 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes, 14.43 seconds, finishing more than four seconds ahead of Rocori’s Becca Hadtrath.

MOORHEAD — All his adolescent life, Jeremy LaFromboise shared a bedroom with his older brother, Joel. They knew everything about each other, loved the guitar, rap and rock ‘n' roll. Joel, at 17 years old and nearly 6 feet 3 inches tall, was Jeremy’s protector in 2009, keeping him safe when he was bullied at Moorhead High School. He showed him how to play basketball and skip stones across Mille Lacs Lake.