Stoneage Ramblings By John R. Stone A couple of weeks ago a few dozen robins stopped in our yard for a visit. They picked around on the ground for a while and then attacked the mountain ash that still had hundreds of berries left from last year’s crop. It only took an hour or two and… Read More

This Earth Day, we are grateful for our region’s natural resources Holly Kovarik, Pope SWCD Every Earth Day, we at the Pope Soil and Water Conservation District reflect on the wonderful natural resources we get to enjoy in Pope County. Our District is grateful for the opportunity to work with members of the community to facilitate… Read More

Minnewaska Musings By Paul Gremmels “Got one!”  It was my wife. “Got another one!”  She was on a roll.     She was on the other side of a thick grove of pine trees. We were out for a walk looking for antlers that the deer had dropped during the winter.  “Shed hunting” it is called – looking… Read More

Notes from the Capitol By Paul Anderson, State Representative, District 12B Minnesota continues to be “ground zero” for this latest round of highly pathogenic bird flu which, so far, has impacted 26 states to varying degrees. The latest count has 43 confirmed sites in our state, with nearly two million birds affected. Seventeen counties have had positive… Read More

Be Kind On Earth Day, Laura Adrian – Nature Retreat Facilitator, Yoga and Meditation Teacher, and Writer, presented, “Lessons from Trees” for the MAIS and GHES 5th and 6th graders. The presentation began with extraordinary facts about trees. Photos flashed on the screen of the tallest tree, oldest tree, those that grow in water, one… Read More

View from a Prairie Home By Hege Herfindahl, Columnist I grew up in a family with multiple problems. My sister had learning difficulties and struggled with social issues due to a low self-esteem. My father worked for Norway’s second largest shipping firm and travelled constantly. My mother, with her Ph.D. in Applied Economics, had to stay at… Read More

Views from the Cab By David Tollefson, Columnist Again, I quote Urban Lehner, veteran columnist of DTN Ag. To me, he is one of the foremost experienced commentators of world events AND agriculture issues. He has lived in several different countries, including Japan. Here is his column of Tuesday, April 12, 2022: It isn’t too early to… Read More

Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator In recent weeks, there has been news of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Minnesota. Many gardeners also include bird feeders in their landscapes. If you are concerned about the wild bird population, here is some information from Dr. Victoria Hall, Executive Director of the University of Minnesota Raptor Center:… Read More

The Outdoors By Scott Rall, Outdoors Columnist It is pretty amazing how a little thing can turn into a big thing.  This can happen when a small issue or discovery really turns south and the result is lots of stuff hitting the fan. I think is pretty common in everyday life. Every once in a while,… Read More

From where I sit By Pat Spilseth, columnist It wasn’t supposed to be this way…Holy Week was gray and cloudy with threatening rain showers, sleet and snow! It was supposed to be a very special Easter weekend and the grandkids were arriving at Grandpa and Grandma’s house to hunt for Easter eggs filled with chocolate bunnies and… Read More