Articles

Consider fear during gun discussions

In the weeks following the Newtown, Conn., shootings, there has been a lot of talk about firearms – more specifically, what purposes they serve in society.

• Dain Sullivan, Editor/General Manager

Photo of the Day: Snowmen on watch

A group of snowmen stand watch in front of a southwest Wadena home Wednesday, as a driver passes by in the background. Photo by Dain Sullivan

• Photo of the Day: Snowmen on watch

New Year’s resolutions are possible for all

As New Year’s gets closer, many people are asking the same question: “What should my New Year’s resolution be?”

Photo of the Day: A cold delivery

Marilyn Higgs of Wadena braves the cold Wednesday to bring a letter to the post office. Photo by Dain Sullivan

• Photo of the Day: A cold delivery

A Christmas wish for Newtown

If you ask me, the phrase “forgive and forget” is harder to utter these days. For many of us, it seems as though our world has taken a dark turn, and it’s not easy to keep our chins up.

• Dain Sullivan, Editor/General Manager

Photo of the Day: Gone fishin'

Chris Weber, left, Shannon Roering and Derrick Lass, who are all enrolled in M State's Electrical Lineworker Technology program in Wadena, finish packing up a vehicle near downtown Wednesday before taking a study break to go ice fishing on Big Pine Lake. Photo by Dain Sullivan

• Photo of the Day: Gone fishin'

Photo of the Day: Snowball fight!

On their way home after school Wednesday, 9-year-olds Sy Whitaker, right, and Aidan Vry were part of an epic snowball battle near Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary. Photo by Dain Sullivan

• Photo of the Day: Snowball fight!

Photo of the Day: Let it snow

Robert Jindra, currently attending school at M State in Wadena, shovels snow off a southwest Wadena driveway Monday morning. Local residents were bundled up early this week, after weekend snow and below-zero temperatures hit the area. Photo by Dain Sullivan

• Photo of the Day: Let it snow

Photo of the Day: The buddy system

From left, Dena Flath and 3-year-olds Stephanie Kovar and Emma Snyder hold hands as they walk down a sidewalk near Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary School on Monday. Photo by Dain Sullivan

• Photo of the Day: The buddy system

Strong support shown at Empty Stocking talent program

I’ve been in Wadena for seven months now, but I delight in the fact that I’m still learning about the traditions of our tight-knit community. Wednesday night’s 86th Empty Stocking Talent Show is a prime example. The Empty Stocking program was among the first subjects presented to me when I arrived at the Pioneer Journal. I even remember being shown the special room in our office that is used for storing supplies for the yearly program.

• Dain Sullivan, Editor and General Manager

Columns

Comments from the crime beat

While the crime beat is one of the most intriguing at the newspaper, it’s also one of the most difficult and controversial to cover, so I thought I’d try to clear up a few misconceptions (well, at least as many misconceptions as I can address in the space allowed here.)

Cannon got the money, the respect

Some of my favorite columns to write are those that pay tribute to my personal heroes. I realize they’re not often our readers’ personal heroes, so I appreciate our readers humoring me for a moment to recognize some of the greats who paved the way for guys like me.

It’s tax time? It’s news to me

April 15 is fast approaching, and once again this year, it will be uneventful in the Schulz household.

A multi-column bonus column — enjoy!

Sometimes, ideas for this column are numerous, but inadequate. Some ideas — gems as they may be — don’t deserve 500-700 words. Some ideas can be summed up in 10-20 words, and that much open, white space that would be left in the newspaper would look funny.

Don’t sleep on this column

My “issues” with sleep started when I was around eighth grade.

A tale of two vacations

My wife and I seem to have very different ideas of what a vacation is, and I’m growing convinced that she’s been right all along.

Quest for futility quite a spectacle

The Detroit Lions NFL football team has quietly compiled a season that may live forever in the record books, and I think it’s time America wake up and give them their due.

Writer Studs Terkel’s great legacy: Finding the heroic common man

A hero of mine died Friday, and I’d like to tell you a little about him.

Great time to listen to our elders

I recall many times through my childhood and adulthood when a grandma, grandpa or an elder of no relation starting talking about surviving tough times, relating tips they learned during the Great Depression.

Looking for an organization to destroy

All these years, I’ve been trying to help community organizations by joining boards, volunteering time or giving donations. I had no idea I was going about it completely backward.