by Jeff Olsen What can top a great time, decked out in your favorite hero costumes, and doing nifty moves out on the dance floor? It sure beats wearing a tuxedo and stiff shoes. Beckie Erdmann, a memb...

They sat quietly. It was New Year's Eve. Once, they had ushered in the new year with great expectations and great relish. There was much to celebrate. Dress up and make an appearance at the familiar...

by Jeff Olsen It's likely that Jack Palmquist and the former Bonnie Storey over Warroad way were destined to fall in love. They were just young kids romping around together. Just the two of them...

by Jeff Olsen Dr. Chad Anderson refuses to make concessions whether he's attempting to manipulate an overweight truck driver with a bad back or he's running up a West Virginia mountain during a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...