These will surely be exacting times

For years, I loved writing this column.

It was fun and I had such wonderful characters to cover. Guys like Steve "Dog" Furuseth, Tallahassee Slim, Big Ernie and even goofy politicians.

Furuseth was the best.

No, he's not dead, but he could cause delightful mischief for everyone!

Big Ernie is dead.

He was a deer hunter and member of the "Over the Hill Gang" out in the Beltrami Island State Forest, a good sized bloke in his seventies who hailed from the Dilworth area and made very strong drinks.

And then he was no longer with the gang but in a nursing home about 35 years ago.

He's long dead now....