Barnesville Area Helpers

08/28/2026

WHOA! Dinner AND a show? Thursday night's near total lunar eclipse could be one of two cool things to stay up late for. NOAA has issued a Moderate (G2) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the night of August 27th in anticipation of the arrival of at least one CME (Coronal Mass Ejection). This could allow the northern lights to become visible across northern and perhaps even mid-latitude states alongside the lunar eclipse Thursday night.

To be clear, the lunar eclipse is a definite. It's happening at specific times no matter what. The northern lights component is more of a "we'll see", hinging on specific magnitude & timing details that are almost impossible to predict. Put another way, come for the eclipse & be pleasantly surprised if there's an added treat in there.

08/20/2026

See anyone you know? Look quick.

08/20/2026

Kids heading back to school? Looking for something different?

08/11/2026

Thank you to all who came out yesterday to hear Markus Krueger from Clay County Historical Society share about Batman and Potato Days.

08/03/2026

Join us Monday August 10th 1pm at the Barnesville Senior Center as Markus Krueger from Clay County Historical Society joins us to share some local history entitled “When Batman Came to Potato Days”

07/31/2026

07/24/2026

The FM Area Foundation has awarded $711,905 to 101 nonprofit organizations serving Cass County, N.D., and Clay County, Minn. through its 2026 community grant round.

07/24/2026

This summer we’ve enjoyed having Reece Nelson in our office as temporary administrative support. While working for us and part time at Dairy Queen, Reece has completed and passed her required coursework to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Join us in congratulating her on this achievement🎉

07/17/2026

If you're planning to leave your home to your children, there's one step most families skip — and it can cost them months of delays and thousands in legal fees.

Probate is the court process that transfers property after someone passes. In many states, it can take 9–18 months and cost 3–7% of the estate value. But there are three simple tools that skip probate entirely: Transfer on Death (TOD) deeds, living trusts, and joint ownership with rights of survivorship.

Here's what to do: If you own a home and want it to go directly to your family, talk to an estate attorney about which probate-avoidance tool fits your state and situation. Some states allow TOD deeds; others require a trust. The right choice depends on your family structure and assets.

Have you set up a plan to transfer your home outside of probate?