I love reading books set in the Midwest, especially Wisconsin and/or Minnesota. I’ve lived in Wisconsin my entire life, but up until moving to Amery two and a half years ago, I had always been …

I sat on the tan, dusty ground of the quarry in north central Iowa, fingers grasping at the shell that lay halfway buried in the chalky clay and limestone. Wiggling it back and forth, I gently pulled …

I spent last week with my parents, which is always fun.  My father has been having trouble with his legs, and tasks that involve getting up from the ground are hard for him, particularly if …

I am “up north,” as people say, spending time with my parents at their cabin. My parents are spending more time in town, especially in the winter. But now it is spring, and to hear them tell it, being a nonagenarian is no reason to stay away from the place they love best.

In just the last week or two, new life has exploded in the Northwoods. To my brain, it feels like a burst of fireworks. Instead of embers sparkling in the darkness, there’s been a surge of colorful …

It’s still early in the election season, so we have just begun to hear from the candidates running for the various offices this summer and fall. Two new candidates are running for Polk County …

In Parenting the Love and Logic Way, we often hear a phrase that says, “Praise the strain not the gain.” The following is an article that I often use when working with teachers and parents. I remember a time, when I first began teaching, I used a lot of “atta boys/girls.” When I made a conscious decision to become more specific and genuine with my praise, I became more effective with young people.

Parks that border rivers and lakes see a lot of use during the summer months, but there are other parks within the county that also offer a nice respite for locals and tourists. Melvin W. Daniels …

Late-night talk shows have always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps it was the fact that I remember staying up late with my dad when I was just 12 years old to watch Johnny Carson’s last …

I woke yesterday morning, and my cat, Felix, was nowhere to be found. “Felix! Where are you?” In the morning, I put milk in my coffee and a little milk in a tiny bowl for Felix, and I …

We were supposed to be focused on birds as the group walked along the gravel road north of Grandview, but in the damp air I smelled something. Thick, sweet, and spicy, the scent hung in this one spot …

Whether you remember when these tunes were on the charts and gracing the radio, or you’re hearing them for the first time, take a trip back to see what was spinning through the decades. Try …

Burnett County Sheriff's office, and many K9s in our area are trained by Performance Kennels. Patrol Dogs: Their dogs have been tested in the areas of apprehension work, scent work, ball …

I wanted to extend a sincere thanks to proofreader Nancy Hunter and paginator Nate Vanderwerff for putting together another excellent graduation supplement to the Inter-County Leader two weeks ago. …

In the 1920s, with the war in Europe over, the American Red Cross focused on four major priorities: aiding the victims of the war, helping wounded American servicemen and their families, responding …

This week’s questions are both connected to facing the desire to step in and do something, one in anticipation of a choice and the other in retrospect.

I cringe every time I hear the words come out of my mouth. But I like it when kids make lots of mistakes. Allowing our young ones to make a rash of tiny mistakes helps them understand the role of …

The birds were quiet, but a tangle of dead trees squeaked and chirped in damp gusts as we hiked back from High Falls in Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota. The falls had been gushing, and climbing the …

I was never a part of any team. I was terrible at sports. I was so bad at tennis in high school that my gym teacher sent me to the school nurse to have my vision checked. I didn’t bother to …

It’s been a while since I provided everyone with an update on my quest to visit all National Park Service units in the United States––so here we go. In case you don’t know the background …