Not so silent E - Losing doesn't build character, it reveals it.

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner

Losing sucks…I know that’s not exactly a Woodward and Bernstein type news exclusive I’m starting this column with here. I may as well throw in some other obvious statements such as water is wet and puppies are adorable, but stick with me on this. While there are exceptions to every rule, for the most part, losing is not something we as a species often enjoy. It’s even harder to deal with when you know the person, or in this case, team deserved better.

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My perspective - Not much in the middle

Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

Over the years, we have seen the size of the Canadian farm increase.  Through necessity or opportunity, the unmistakable trend has been towards fewer, larger farms.  But will it stay that way forever?

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Right in the Centre - Lots of preparation and anticipation

By Ken Waddell

The Neepawa Banner

The provincial NDP are working on a leadership campaign and preparing for the next Manitoba election. The federal political parties are preparing for an election, even sooner, slated for October 2015. Farmers are preparing budgets and gathering all kinds of inputs for the 2015 crop. Municipal councils are preparing budgets.

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Homebodies - The hats I wear...

Rita Friesen

At a two day meeting I attended, we were challenged to consider all the hats we wear. Not the kind of hat you don to keep your ears warm, but the roles we fill in our living. There are some hats that I have outgrown. I am no longer a daughter, for my parents are deceased. I am a sister. I don’t get to wear the wife hat any more either, but I am a mother and grandmother. I am carefully choosing any other hats I pick.

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Right in the centre - Keeping it local

By Ken Waddell

In my travels around western Manitoba over the years, I have been often struck by the ability of some merchants to survive and thrive in what has to be a very tough market. I was in a store this past weekend and it was quite amazing. It was a hardware store in a small town. It wasn’t in my usual travel area so I hadn’t been in it for quite a while. Only one staff person in the whole place and two huge floors of product.

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