During the last legislative session, the State placed a great deal of emphasis on student success in reading and literacy. In an economy where so much of what we do requires the ability to read and think critically, the legislature passed and the Governor signed into law the Minnesota READ Act. The READ Act has created a mandate upon school […]
Local Columnists
Time is precious
With such an uncharacteristically warm weather pattern as of late, it is easy to think spring is fully here and summer is just around the corner. As one who isn’t a cold weather enthusiast, I welcome this speedy move through winter and am hopeful that my snowblower stays put until next winter. It’s hard to find fault with the seemingly […]
Together we are better
This past weekend I had to head to the cities for drill, but the schedule was a little different than usual. As many of you know, my job in the National Guard is public affairs, which entails a variety of communications responsibilities. On Saturday, the Minnesota National Guard held the 10th annual Women’s Leadership Forum at the headquarters of Medtronics […]
Great things happening at your library
Did you know that pigs are highly intelligent animals? They learn quickly and are very social—much like your favorite pooch. In fact, pigs have been known to out-perform dogs on many tests and can even be house-broken. This Friday, Meinders Community Library will celebrate the reopening of our children’s space with the help of a pig. Join us for a […]
What the Weather?
As I sit down to write this week, a big ‘ole blank page stares back at me. In true Minnesota small talk fashion, the weather is the only thing that flashes like a neon sign in my brain. It is Tuesday afternoon and I usually try to write my column on Sunday when it is my week to share. My […]
Keep it simple
Recently, someone made a comment to me that brought Occam’s razor to my mind. Occam’s razor is the principle that of two competing theories, the simpler explanation is to be preferred. It is attributed to 14th century philosopher William of Ockham. The statement that brought the principle to my mind was a conspiracy theory about the NFL being rigged. I […]
Greetings from Norway
On the 31st I took off for this beautiful country for a two week winter survival training with the Norwegian Home Guard. Tonight is the second night that we have been in the field (the mountains of Norway) and let me tell you it has been quite an experience but there is more to come. Our first day we went […]
Plum Creek Library System a blessing
From teeny-tiny nooks with books spilling off every possible surface to cathedral-esque spaces, libraries are awe-inspiring places. As a child visiting the library with my mom and sister, I longed to get left behind at the end of the day. I was fanciful that way, imagining that pushing a screw on our Monte Carlo’s door would transport me to a […]
Losing my marbles
As a child growing up in rural South Dakota, my house was always filled with extra kids. My mom ran an in-home daycare for over 18 years and I can remember always having extras around throughout our days to play endless hours with. We had so much fun, which included a few funny jokes every now and then. One of […]
STORM CENTER COLUMN: Hall of Famer Mauer defined ‘excellence’
Johnny Bench. Ivan Rodriguez. And now Joe Mauer. Those are the only three catchers all time to earn enshrinement into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. Talk about select company, and that’s the type of history Mauer has written throughout his life. Even Yogi Berra and Roy Campanella never earned such distinction. Minnesotans rejoiced Tuesday […]