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Conducting amateur archeology

have been doing a bit of amateur archeology lately, digging deep, excavating through layers of an all-but-forgotten past. This process is sometimes painful as it causes me to review the awful fashion and haircut choices I made when I was growing up. Digging through old family photos can cause a guy to become caught in a vortex of nostalgia. What happened to that young, carefree boy who seemed to have the fashion sense of a hobo? The kid who had an at-home haircut that appeared to involve a bowl placed on the head? The happy-go-lucky lad who looked as concerned about his ...

A Bad Bunny with a good message

I like Bad Bunny. There, I said it. I lost a few readers there. I don’t speak Spanish. My daughter Abby does. (Shout out to Abby’s high school Spanish teacher, Gail Bromenschenkel. You done good!) Abby has lived in Spain, Guatemala, and Colombia. Many of her friends are Spanish speaking. Some years ago, Abby put me onto Spanish music. It’s my music of choice when I’m jogging the lake trail. Juanes, Shakira, and Morat are favorites. Bad Bunny has joined my playlist. I don’t speak Spanish. But I enjoy the sound of the language. It has a beautiful cadence and rhythm, ...

Local election process shows that election officials have integrity

This November there will be a midterm election, and already there’s talk about the potential for disputed results. It’s a disturbing trend in national politics, one that has coincided with Donald Trump’s leadership of the Republican Party. I’m offended by how he continues to question the integrity of Election 2020. There’s a reason I take it personally. I reported on every election between 1992 and 2002 when I was a full-time news reporter at the Independent. I later did the same thing in Election 2012 when I was editor of the Minneota Mascot. I eagerly awaited election ...

On the porch

As mentioned a few weeks ago, this year, the United States will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary (the “Semiquincentennial” of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to share the whole history of our ...

Country school kids – Charlie Hettling – the Hettling family and farm

As mentioned a few weeks ago, this year, the United States will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary (the “Semiquincentennial” of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to share the whole history of our nation. 50 years ago, the United States held the Bicentennial celebration. The United States Bicentennial in 1976 was a series of events in celebration of the nation’s 200th birthday. The American Freedom Train, carrying artifacts, documents, and artwork for public view, began its 21 month tour of ...

Healthy love starts young

February is recognized nationally as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the realities of unhealthy and abusive relationships among young people. Led by organizations such as love is respect and supported by initiatives from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, this month encourages communities to have honest conversations about respect, boundaries, consent, and healthy communication. Teen dating violence affects millions of adolescents each year, yet it often goes unrecognized or unreported. By increasing education, promoting ...