Music to my ears - by Michael Roy

Season inspires peace, reflection

I hope everyone had a great Easter. The weather over the holiday weekend had to be some of the best in a long time. This week, I made an effort to attend churc: Faith Ryan over at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville asked me if I wanted to be one of twelve people to get their feet washed...

We call this ‘spring’ in Minnesota

You know it’s springtime in Minnesota when you have severe thunderstorms throughout the day followed by a blizzard overnight. I’m guessing Mother Nature didn’t get the memo about April Fool’s Day. Friday was a crazy day. In New Richland, we had some thundersleet in the morning, and I am pretty...

Sprinting into spring sports

Well, we’re officially back in that time again; spring sports season is here! We’re pushing to get the preview out for the local area schools’ teams next week. But in true track and field fashion, local area track teams are already sprinting headlong into the season with indoor track meets at...

Different sides of the THC debate

I had a first this week. For the first time in my whole career, I witnessed a council member walk out of a meeting. It was something, that’s for sure. The THC ordinance debates seem to be bringing out the worst in people. Councils that usually have easy-going people seem divided. After all...

From rain, to snow, to back inside

As I sit in my apartment in New Richland writing this column, it’s an hour before our winter storm warning hits at 3 p.m. I’m pretty sure we’ve already received a good inch of snow. The two NRHEG vs. St. Clair games I volunteered to go to aren't happening (the boys’ matchup is postponed to later...

Considering THC product sales

Eli discussed Waldorf’s drama about getting an apartment built in the city. One thing about it inspired me to write about Janesville’s (and many other towns’) recent debacle. Many rejected Mayor Rob Wilkening’s idea of growing Waldorf by using park space for apartments. There were many concerns...

People yelling my name is a bonus

This week has been probably the busiest one I’ve had so far this year. Usually, when I get tired after a busy week, it’s the “I’m tired of working all these hours” kind of fatigue. It’s the kind of tired which has a person thinking about relaxing vacations while also hoping the next week isn’t...

Can the Vikings be my pallbearers?

I think we need to address a weird phenomenon that’s been happening a lot lately. Has anyone else noticed that this winter has been foggier than most years? I dare to say it’s been the foggiest one I remember since being alive. Then again, I never really took time to pay attention to the...

Theatre is for more than just geeks

I love theater. I wouldn’t consider myself a full-on theater kid. I don’t sing songs from Wicked, Hamilton or Moana. And I don’t quote The Music Man as often as I used to. That’s more like my best friend from high school, Eric, and his wife Grace. But I think I enjoy watching musicals and...

Defense cost the Vikings, not Cousins

I’m very disappointed in the Minnesota Vikings. Sigh. I know. We had a first-year head coach and a first-year general manager. It’s the first time both of them are in their respective positions. They had no expectations even with a potentially great Vikings team that went 8-9 in 2021-22. We...