Opinions

Super Bowl LIV was a reminder of our past

It had been 50 years since the Kansas City (Missouri) Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, beating the Minnesota Vikings. It’s been a week since the Chiefs repeated their conquest, this time against the San Francisco 49ers. So why has it taken more than 50 years for our NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, to...

Cost-saving measures to save money

Everyone wants to keep more of his or her hard-earned money. There are at least a dozen ideas to help folks keep more of their dollars. After maxing out credit cards buying Christmas gifts, many are trying by paying the minimum amount each month, which is useless. When most card companies charge...

This photo taken during last summer’s Steele County Free Fair in Owatonna of Cali Nelson, 7, of Ellendale and her cow earned local fair officials a first place award this past weekend.

Photo warms the hearts of fair judges

Our little sleeping beauties have earned the Steele County Free Fair a top prize in the annual convention of the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs this past weekend in the Twin Cities. You may recall that last summer we published a photograph of Cali Nelson, 7, of Ellendale snuggled right next...

‘We are going to strip’

A few inches of snow fell on the region last Monday and Tuesday. Many folks in our neighborhood were up shortly after 6 a.m. to tackle the shoveling of those nuisance snowfalls. Monday morning’s few inches were mainly light and no sweat. Tuesday’s morning snow was wet and heavy, and proved to be...

LeMar Nelson leaves a legacy of love for BP

LeMar Nelson was the heart beat of Blooming Prairie for many years. His heart stopped beating last week with his passing at age 87 but his impact on this small, southeastern community will be everlasting and has always been positive. LeMar was one of the more recognizable old-timers in Blooming...

One big family gathers to support a badly injured officer

Folks from across the region found out last week just exactly how big the law enforcement family is. Just days after Waseca officer Arik Matson, 32, was shot in the head by a suspect in a disturbance call, police officers, deputies, firefighters and others gathered for a candlelight vigil outside...

A futuristic campus in the heart of SE Minnesota

It’s been just over a month since moving into the publisher’s office at the Dodge County Independent. During that first month, I’ve met a lot of good folks. I’ve met the hockey coaching staff (the ones in charge of the county’s premier hockey team). I’ve met Kasson’s mayor early on as he was in a...

With a real beard, Al Martin has been entertaining children as well as adults in the Owatonna area as Santa Claus for more than 30 years.

The real man behind Santa’s magic

Some holiday traditions never die off. The red jolly old Saint Nick with the big beard, and yes, sometimes the big belly, is one of them. Santa Claus has a long history steeped and woven into Christmas traditions with families for centuries. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red...

Let’s agree to make 2020 a year of change

Sad days were recorded as 2019 fades into our collective memories. No, I’m not referring to the latest Vikings loss, nor am I referring to the poorest college officiating that stole a win from Ohio State over undefeated Clemson. I am referring to the hatred that seems to be targeting Jews and...

Southern BBQ in the land of lutefisk, Julekake and lefse

Having lived in the south for several years, my wife and I developed a taste for southern food. You know, barbeque. Pulled pork, baby back ribs, baked beans with chunks of pulled pork and potato salad. Last week, I visited Kasson’s Misplaced Magnolia. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when...