From Where I Sit By Pat Spilseth, Columnist “And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian poet, 1875-1926. As I turn the calendar to January 2024, I wonder what the new year will bring. The past year has been unsettling. Not only have politics, the wars… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune The weather news has been much of the talk around Minnesota in the past few weeks.  First it was the speculation that we were likely to have a “brown” Christmas.  Then, it was the warm weather devoid of any real precipitation. Then the Christmas rains came. … Read More

Minnewaska Musings by Paul Gremmels When I was newly enlisted in the Marine Corps and still stateside, my unit was granted a ten day leave over Christmas and New Year’s.  I excitedly told the Marine that bunked next to me that I would be going home for the holidays. He was a very funny, good natured… Read More

Stoneage Ramblings By John R. Stone Last week’s warm weather and rain led to a partial reopening of Lake Minnewaska. Up to the rain, the warm days and cool nights created enough ice for people to get portable ice houses on the lake but I didn’t notice any heavier houses on the lake. We had a… Read More

The Outdoors By Scott Rall, Outdoors Columnist So, when does an afternoon pheasant hunt turn into a nature walk? Every hunt is a nature walk but normally at least a few of those nature walks will result in a pheasant or two in the game vest. Late season is far harder than hunting the young and… Read More

Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator With our mild winter there is still time to protect your landscape trees from winter woes. Acting now can help your young yard trees brave winter conditions and wildlife, says the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nikki Henger, the DNR’s Forestry Division Outreach Specialist, underscores the benefits of… Read More

View From The Cab By David Tollefson, Columnist The column I wrote in late November about 100 years of Farmall tractors drew a lot of interesting comments. Dave Sylvester, who grew up in the Immanuel Church area southwest of Starbuck,  sent me an email: “David, you really hit a home run with your Farmall tractor article –… Read More

View From a Prairie Home by Hege Hernfindahl, Columnist The holidays are over. The packages have been opened and the stores have started their post-holiday sales. I am relieved the holidays with their insistence on cheer and family happiness are over. I can just be myself again and not have to force myself to convey a happiness… Read More

From Where I Sit By Pat Spilseth, Columnist January 2024 is only a few days away. I’m feeling the need to explore a few new ideas. By the end of the year, I get stale and have the urge to try new foods, visit new places and meet new people. We planned a trip to Minneapolis to… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune By most weather predictions, we will experience a “brown Christmas” this year.  There is some precipitation on the way to Minnesota, but because of higher temperatures it will likely fall as rain, rather than a Christmas snow. More people than I’d like have told me they… Read More