Publisher’s Perspective By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune The July 4th holiday weekend is one of historically busy boat traffic on Minnesota’s waters. Practice safety in all that you do and watch out for others who may not be watching for you. That’s good advice from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). … Read More

Stoneage Ramblings By John R. Stone Maybe it’s my advanced age, but it seems our springs are getting weirder and weirder. A few years ago, it seemed we were starting to get spring in March and most of us thought that was pretty nice. Then that changed and we were getting multiple snowstorms in April. It… Read More

Guest Editorial The following is an editorial from the Mankato Free Press. We hope Minnesota legislators of good faith consider a self-evaluation and inward prayer-like contemplation to ask themselves if they’re doing everything they can for the people of Minnesota as soon as they can. A legislative special session is one thing they can still… Read More

View from a Prairie Home By Hege Herfindahl, Columnist The fourth! How I have come to love this holiday! Not only because I now am an American. Not only because I treasure all that our country stands for:  freedom of religion and speech, of movement and of how to celebrate; democracy; tolerance for others. I love it… Read More

Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator This summer has been a whirlwind of hot and cold temperatures, severe weather, too much or too little rain and definitely too much wind! For gardeners, this year has been particularly challenging. The Extension Horticulture Team has created the following checklist to assist gardeners in caring for their plants…. Read More

Views From the Cab By David Tollefson, Columnist My sister Grace and husband Harry Meloeny lived for many years on Puget Sound in the town of Steilacoom, Wash. The population in 2020 is 6,727 people. It is just south of Tacoma. My late wife Aileen and I visited them there a couple times through the years, enjoying… Read More

The Outdoors By Scott Rall, Outdoors Columnist This the fourth installment of the do-it-yourself obedience training for your own dog. Prior columns have covered the basics of getting the sponge in the obedience bucket level of obedience outcome when training in your own dog. The prior printings covered should have taken about 4-5 weeks to get… Read More

From Where I Sit By Pat Spilseth, Columnist I’m so lucky to be a grandparent to three little girls, Elizabeth, Charlie and Max Margaret. We’re anticipating the arrival of a  fourth grandchild at any moment. Sometimes I’m called grandma. Ellie calls me Nana. Most of the time I get a huge grin and a big hug…that’s the… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune Both Minnesota Republicans and Democrats support returning surplus tax payments to Minnesotans, and yet they can’t agree on returning surplus tax payments to Minnesotans. Last week Gov. Tim Walz resurrected the idea of providing each Minnesotan with a check–$1,000 to individuals and $2,000 to families…. Read More

Stoneage Ramblings By John R. Stone Watching video recently of the damage to roads in the Yellowstone National Park area was a sad surprise. Readers of this space know we are frequent visitors to the park. Bring up “road trip” to the kids, grandkids or Mary and Yellowstone is nearly always in the top spot or… Read More