Opinion

The next time you’re driving along a highway by a marsh or river, look for a solitary bird perched at the very tip-top of the highest branch. Chances are you are looking at a Northern Shrike, a winter visitor to our area.

I never used to be a morning person, but now that I walk Elizabeth's dog, I get that done as early as possible. On my way back home this morning, it was just "pinking up" in the east. It was really gorgeous.

It’s very common for many people to experience poor mental wellbeing during the winter..and especially true for those providing care to others. I know for myself I have the tendency to lack energy, overeat, and sometimes feel low during the winter months

Last week and this week so far has been all about meetings for our staff in which we learned how to use the new software systems we will be using as of March 1st to create our newspapers, and worked through all of our redesign processes in anticipation of fully transitioning our newspapers to CherryRoad Media. Between the meetings and an unexpected death in my family that took me out of state over the weekend for a funeral, it was a week filled with less than my average time to collect news. A challenge, for sure, when filling three newspapers.

Mid-February, Rob met with Olivia, a 6-year-old female snowy owl, in Northern Minnesota. Rob: Thank you for chatting with me.

When I was a kid, my cousin and I would attach baskets to our bikes and sweep the neighborhood park for soda bottles. A good weekend haul would fetch us a pocket full of change when we cashed them in at the local Kroger’s. Each bottle was worth a two cents deposit back then. Earnings in hand, we’d pedal over to the A&W and treat ourselves to a well-earned frosty mug of root beer. Life was good, and bottles got recycled!

Last fall I picked up 3 kittens from a friend who had too many. They have retained their playfulness and make me so happy. They hide from one another in the garage and chase leaves and tails outside. And they are still very friendly and want to be petted. They may be the best cats I have gotten. I may have to use this source again. My cat

I asked my “go-to” professional outdoor resource experts, Chris Domeier (Fisheries Supervisor, MN DNR) and Walt Gessler (Wildlife Area Supervisor, MN DNR) for an overview of this winter’s effect on area fish and fauna.