Articles written by Jeff Olsen
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1050
The Vaccine Supply Doesn't Favor Roseau County
by Jeff Olsen It's a supply and demand problem at the present time in Roseau County. With a population of just over 15,000, those wanting to be vaccinated are in a waiting game. "There is only a... Full story
It started with a hug, next a slap, and then handcuffs
by Jeff Olsen Late this past Saturday evening, a 911 call alerted the Roseau County Sheriff's Department that a domestic altercation was occurring at the Nathan Brovold residence at 30441 333rd...
Roseau Native Stands Forever Tall for Korean War Veterans
by Jeff Olsen Duane "Buck" Broten, who survived horrific odds as a 20-year-old infantryman on Pork Chop Hill in Korea in July 1953, was front and center at the Veterans Memorial Park in Blaine on...
Badger has that small town feeling
by Jeff Olsen It's funny about small towns. They all stand out, one way or another, even in the 21st Century. What's missing are the trademark Coca Cola signs that were hanging over store fronts in... Full story
These are truly remarkable times we're living in
Many years from now, after today's school kids are septuagenarians and octogenarians, their grandkids will be asking questions about what it was like living through a pandemic and during such...
Dan Fabian is sworn in as Roseau's Mayor
On Sunday afternoon, Dan Fabian was driving back to Roseau from the Park Rapids area, and he was completely legit. "I'm hands free," said the recently retired state representative. He was asked if he...
County Veterans Service Officer Wants the Word Out
Roseau County Veterans Service Officer Martin Howes was just delighted recently when the VA added three more diseases that claims can be filed for at his office at the Roseau County Courthouse. "Many...
Minnesota State Statute Requires Removing Campaign Signs
On Tuesday, Roseau City Attorney Michelle Moren related that during the Monday City Council there had been comments about the still present campaign banners and signs. "I told Chief Anderson that...
Reflections From Afar On the Present Times Over Here
On January 7, Tim Simmons, a 1981 Roseau High School graduate, was reached by cellphone near Madrid, Spain. "We watched the news last night. And when I woke up this morning, I watched Congress make...
Is this the 'MAGA' we can be proud of?
The Associated Press headline on Monday read: Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appeared America should be in mourning and feeling shame, fear, and outrage. Washington (AP) - Under...
Katie Borowicz is a Golden Gopher
by Jeff Olsen On Saturday evening, Kelsey Didrikson was weighing in on losing the best player on her team. It was evident in her voice - a little bit of shock and awe. Anyone who has coached never... Full story
This Old Postman Puts The Stamp on Originality
by Jeff Olsen His birth name is Edward Furuseth - a legitimate guy, a former Warroad Postmaster, and as quotable as Dizzy Dean, the long deceased Hall of Fame pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. The...
Don't get a DWI this New Year's Eve!
by Jeff Olsen For the first time in ages - unless New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday - all the bars, saloons and pubs are closed, compliments of the governor's executive order. "It's going to be pretty... Full story
Hail to the Chief used to have a nice ring to it
For the majority of us who love this country despite all of its faults, this has been the most chaotic time in memory with our own president attacking our democratic norms. On Sunday, the New York...
Clair and LaVonne Are Forever Christmas Newlyweds
by Jeff Olsen The Knudsons were in their kitchen in rural Warroad with the bride of 65 years laughing and remembering it all. She is a Lundemo from the Roseau area and he's from the Swift area, and...
Santa's Tallest Masked Elf Loves the Season
by Jeff Olsen Robert Honstrom, who originally made his first landing in Des Moines, Iowa, before moving to Mora, Minnesota, stands out in a crowd. He is 59 and always colorful. "Everyone in the office...
He's Shoveling His Way to Heaven
by Jeff Olsen Retired Army officer Lt. Colonel Val Bernat used to bark out orders and things got done promptly when he was on active duty. Any day it snows at the Veterans Memorial Park in Roseau,...
Mayor Jeff Pelowski is now a short-timer
by Jeff Olsen It's been an interesting run if you consider 22 years of meetings, arm-twistings, knockdown battles, and maybe going home and downing a stiff drink. Actually, Jeff Pelowski isn't the...
The New Deputy Sheriff Has Taken a Liking to the Area
by Jeff Olsen Meet Kyle Hanson, 23, a part-time Roseau County Deputy Sheriff, who shows up for work with an appreciation for the job. The word is out on this new lawman. "He's very dependable, and he...
Here Comes the Biggest Coal Train Ever
All my life I have kept track of the people who did very bad things in the past year - like forgetting my birthday or trying to run me over. Additionally, there are any number of knuckleheads, who...
Julie Pahlen is ready for the vaccine to arrive
There's no reprieve or slowing down for Julie Pahlen, the Public Health Director for Roseau County. The pandemic doesn't take a day off, and neither does the team she leads. "What we're focusing on at...
Chief Ward Anderson Wants Your Compliance
Recently, there have been some incidents in Roseau pertaining to the state-mandated mask requirement. Roseau's local top cop wants to diffuse the situation by requesting that local residents and...
Here's looking at RHS and Winter Sports
Knock on wood! A week ago Friday, December 11, Roseau School Superintendent Tom Jerome had reasons to celebrate. "We have not had one single student or adult develop or test positive for Covid due to...
Being a columnist can be enlightening at times
This one time the phone rang in the office when just Lonnie Swanson and I were working on a late afternoon. Just a week earlier in late July 1990 when the First Gulf War was about to begin, I penned a...
The Mosers' Fantastic Christmas Lights Put The Sky Aglow
by Jeff Olsen Raygene and Carilyn Moser of the Falun area are living a dream. These septuagenarians were once young rural kids, who possibly were in awe whenever they went to town and saw all the...