Articles written by jeff olsen
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Time for today's history lesson
Wonderful! First, I check the obits and then the letters-to-the-editor where interested parties can display their brilliance or their ignorance. The same as in this column. And last week, here was one...
This is still a great area to be from
by Jeff Olsen Let's cut to the chase! Brandon Gruchow, 41, wasn't born in Roseau County and only stayed here for three years while attending Roseau High School before moving to the Park Rapids area...
With the Pastor of Evangelical Covenant Church in Roseau
by Jeff Olsen Pastor Nate Johnson doesn't wear flowing robes or fancy clothes. He's not from here, but he is from here. These days, this is his family's stomping grounds. "I'm not a local guy. My...
The Coal Train Got Derailed
For years until the pandemic, I ran my annual coal train at Christmas time and those deserving of lumps of coal were properly honored in this column. It was a spoof on some of the town's elite and...
How Sweet it is for Army fans everywhere
by Jeff Olsen Last Saturday at Gillette Stadium, the home turf for the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the stadium was standing room only. Somewhere in a sea of Army and Navy...
This little pixie has sparkling spunk
by Jeff Olsen Bridgette Albrecht, 18, stands out in a crowd. If she looks dainty, guess again. She even played elementary coed football in the fourth and fifth grades in Hawley, Minnesota. If she...
With old friends and new ones at Fozzie's
In she came, this tall, attractive woman in her early fifties and she knew me somehow. Her name, she said, is Jill Troutner and she is Ray "Tork" Thorkildson's daughter, and they had driven over from...
John and Sara don't need a snow shovel now
by Jeff Olsen In early November, Les Bjerk recalled that Sara and her husband, John Haack, had moved from the Twin Cities area to Tarpon Springs, Florida. "She and her husband started their little...
Heather Whalen brings her smile to work
by Jeff Olsen A couple of weeks ago, Heather Whalen was spotted holding court briefly in one of the produce aisles at SuperOne. If you've got a question, she's there to help. At work, Heather is...
Let us bow at the altar of presidential politics
On Sunday, my niece Kier emailed from Vermont commenting on last week's column. Praise the Lord! God hasn't struck me dead yet. I sent her the entire PDF so she could learn how sophisticated we are up...
Roseau Public Library to Celebrate 85th Anniversary
by Jeff Olsen There will be a big bash on Thursday, December 7, at the Roseau Public Library, now housed in a classy facility at the Roseau City Center with many events planned during the day. It's...
Mr. Bergstrom is honored as Roseau Teacher of the Year
by Jeff Olsen Brian Bergstrom is the Spud Webb of educators and that's quite a compliment, according to one of his admirers. If you don't remember Mr. Spud Webb, he played in the NBA from 1985 to...
Show that you really love me!
Absolutely wonderful! I almost always look for the good in people. At least I try. It is tough in these terrible times when there are so many of us who are well-armed. Trust in Jesus, I always say,...
Thanksgiving Comes Early for the Georges
by Jeff Olsen Here came Anthony George and his smile said everything. He was spotted at Altru Clinic in Roseau a week ago Wednesday, November 15. In his big, powerful right hand, he held up the car...
Hospice Chaplain Stroot Walks the Walk
by Jeff Olsen What's it like to assist the dying? Kecia Stroot knows. On Sunday, she was reached near Lake Bronson and mentioned the reception might be spotty. At times it was. She works for LifeCare...
She loves Christmas trees and grappling
by Jeff Olsen Bristyn Wold stood near the counter at the Dairy Queen in Roseau all smiles as she ordered a treat with her mom, Alison Anderson. Even though she's a little shy, it didn't take long...
Wednesdays with Billie on the drive home
Forget "Tuesdays With Morrie" - a bestseller by sports reporter Mitch Albom. There ain't no book. But there should be! It's Saturday morning and I'm on an early deadline as it's Thanksgiving on...
Veterans Day in Roseau is a resounding success
by Jeff Olsen They are no longer young but are young of heart, these mostly aging veterans of long ago military service when they could march sharply and run double-time in the spring of their youth....
Doing the right thing is what matters most
by Jeff Olsen Just days before Veterans Day, Roseau County Veterans Service Officer Marty Howes wasn't smiling. He was very serious. He was at his desk in his compact office at the Roseau County...
Crooks aren't overly bright in any profession
Beautiful. Here came a text last week from my favorite younger sister, Katie, a fine Republican who, in her entire lifetime, possibly voted for one solitary Democrat. I'm just imagining the scenario...
Gary Przekwas will be the Roseau Public Works Director
by Jeff Olsen The Roseau City Council interviewed the top picks to succeed David Drown as the City of Roseau Public Works Director a week ago Thursday in the Council Chamber at the Roseau City...
Warroad grads Shaugabay and Slukynsky Shine
by Jeff Olsen Anytime two rival hockey communities earn Mr. Hockey honors in consecutive years, it says something about the caliber of hockey in Roseau County. Marty Mjelleli, the chairman of the Mr.... Full story
Another nice gig for the RHS Marching Band
by Jeff Olsen Roseau High School Band Director Chris Barnes takes things in stride. If the drummer drops a 50-pound barbell on his big toe, he's understanding. "Wear steel-toed boots the next time,"...
The Amazing Mark Hultgren and the Pastor
Absolutely beautiful! Every day in this life, you meet deadbeats, dorks, and dummies. And then there's first class. Local pastor Jared Gustafson first met a legend in a church. "I met Mark because...
Tour guide Robert travels with the adventurers
by Jeff Olsen Robert Honstrom, now on the north side of 60, is the dream character much like in "Driving Miss Daisy." The lanky optician at Roseau Optometric moonlights at LifeCare Roseau Manor as a c...