In my humble opinion - by Deb Bently

ROBIN FILES - A photo Deb found among her files while looking through them to find appealing images for an acquaintance.

Going through file photos

I was recently asked whether I have any “file photos” of some parks and public attractions in the Waseca area. It would not have worked to go take new photos at this time because the pictures were meant to depict the area as it looks in summer. I take a lot of pictures, both for the sake of...

Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas congratulated Abel Hernandez, 6, after it was announced Abel had won the lifetime fishing license offered at the fishing contest held on St. Olaf Lake near New Richland on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Network of caring in the community

I would like to take a few minutes to acknowledge some good things and the people doing them. Let me begin by saying how fortunate I feel to be part of a small town community. I acknowledge we are not all angels, but an amazing number of the people I interact with have the good of others as...

FINE DINING - Deb Bently’s recent trip to Disney World included a meal at a Japanese style restaurant where the chef not only prepared excellent food, but entertained diners with energetic showmanship.

Fascinating people everywhere

Here I am back in Minnesota after five days in poor, chilled Florida. In last week’s column I joked my sister-in-law Joan and I were victims of a weather conspiracy–jinxed by snow that delayed our southbound flight and by overnight freezes with low temperatures the state had not seen in 15...

Arriving in cold-snapped Florida

If I were a suspicious person, I might begin to believe I am the victim of a nationwide conspiracy having to do with the weather. I am currently on a trip to Florida, my first in about 30 years. As I write this, I am at a hotel with my sister-in-law Joan anticipating a day at Disney World...

Gray designs drawn in the ditches

Given that we are currently in the “basement of winter,” none of us Minnesotans can say we are surprised by our lingering cold snap. It does, however, give us strong motive to anticipate the figurative stairway–February and March–that will get us out of here. In the meantime, though, I have...

Texas tale revelas unsettling details

It’s well known that native residents of Texas like to brag about how “everything’s bigger” in their part of the country. The boast is justified most of the time–just as an example, a drive from Minnesota’s southern border to Canada is about 400 miles. In Texas, the distance from north to south...

Pictured is a pileated woodpecker spotted through the window at my family’s cabin.

Pileated woodpeckers provide welcome interruptions

I have escaped to my family’s cabin for a few days. As I may have mentioned before, the cabin is a small, rustic one located at the end of a winding one-lane road which meanders up and down hills through a thoroughly-wooded area. There are eight or so cabins along the road, but based on...

Remembering with gratitude

Well, here we are. The holidays are over, but winter remains. The good news is, we are headed in the right direction. Internet sources say our region will gain 53 minutes of daytime from the beginning to the end of the month–although still ahead of us are the seven days which are typically...

Looking how much good is performed

With the end of 2025, I find myself doing the expected thing: looking back over the closing year. I wish to thank everyone who contacted the paper to make sure we know about interesting people and occurrences. I want to point out we have a marvelous community occupied, for the most...

More comfortable lives means letting go

Short, cold days inspire me to make things. Of the 24 hours assigned to the winter solstice on Dec. 21, fewer than nine feature daylight. The sun will rise at 7:45 and set at 4:38. Even nowadays with our daylight on demand homes, our heated vehicles and an array of alluring possible...