Notes from the Capitol By Rep. Paul Anderson Bumping up against a hard deadline of April 30, the Legislature last week passed and the governor signed into law a bill that fully replenishes the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. In addition, the Hero Worker Pay Bill was passed at the same time, and it provides $500 million… Read More

View from a Prairie Home By Hege Herfindahl, Columnist Sometimes, a smell will take my mind back. Memories. From way back. Today, in the misty air after the recent rain, the smell of the pines was pungent. The wind, which for months it seems, has been so strong, just rustled the top of the branches as I… Read More

Views from the Cab By David Tollefson, Columnist During this past long, long winter, we’ve heard a lot about ethanol. President Biden recently flew to Iowa to an ethanol plant not far from Des Moines to announce that E-15 would be able to be sold the year round, instead of only in the colder months. In a… Read More

Growing Green By Robin Trott, Extension Educator Many gardeners are adding perennials, shrubs and trees that support pollinators to their landscapes. But, how about your lawn? We’re seeing more interest in “bee lawns,” including support from the state of Minnesota to encourage lawns that are good for pollinators and the planet. What’s a bee-friendly lawn? Bee… Read More

What’s on the Horizon for Public Health By Marcia Schroeder, RN, Horizon Public Health In case you are wondering, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) poses a low health risk to you and your family. People rarely catch avian influenza (bird flu) and it continues to be safe to eat poultry, including chicken, turkey and eggs. But with… Read More

Publisher’s Perspective By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune Glenwood has a stake in whether or not the legislature actually passes a bonding bill this session.  Thanks to work by Central Square Director Cheryl Larson, the Central Square staff and board, Minnewaska Area Schools and Rep. Paul Anderson, a proposal to fund improvements at… Read More

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