Community Voices

Leafless tree branches stand in silhouette along a dark hillside beneath a vibrant winter sunset sky, with layered pink, coral and purple clouds glowing near the horizon.

Root River Winter Hues

During Southeast Minnesota’s darkest weeks, winter sunsets still glow. Explore Craig Johnson’s photo gallery of December skies and river scenes from Houston County’s Root River Valley.

Exterior of the St. Mane Theatre with a vintage marquee on a small-town main street, brick facade, bench and sidewalk in daylight.

Essay | Lanesboro’s State Theatre, From Silent Films to Center Stage

A nostalgic look at the State Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota, tracing its journey from silent films to its rebirth as the St. Mane Theatre and a vibrant community arts space.

Essay | The Root River Anthology: Five Years Later

Regional writer and performing artist Catherine Glynn reflects on the process of producing a radio play during Covid-19 in this 2025 essay.

Six Canada geese glide across a calm river lined with autumn trees, their orange and gold foliage mirrored in the still water.

Essay | Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall, Water Calls to Us

A reflective essay by John Weiss exploring our deep connection to water in all its beauty, its warnings and the vital role it plays in our landscape and lives.

A young girl wearing sunglasses, a pink hoodie, gloves, and colorful boots tosses a piece of firewood into a blue wood cart outdoors. She stands on a large pile of split logs next to evergreen trees, with bright sun shining behind her and a red barn in the background.

Essay | Putting Up Firewood: A Family Affair

Just in time for holiday gatherings…Greg Schieber’s original essay about putting up firewood for the winter, from memories of his own youthful years to the help lovingly shared by his own kids today.

Wide view of Stockholm’s waterfront with bridges, walkways, and historic buildings under a partly cloudy sky, with people walking and biking along the water’s edge.

Essay | The Pursuit of Happiness

Touring from Gothenburg to Stockholm, John Torgrimson explores firsthand why Sweden ranks among the world’s happiest nations – and has some “caring and sharing” observations for the holidays.

Autumn Colors in the Driftless

Root River Current photographers capture a range of fall colors for our November photo gallery.

A close-up of an old arched window framed in peeling white paint above a weathered wooden door. Bare tree branches partly obscure the view, and sunlight highlights the cracked glass and faded blue-gray siding.

Essay | Haunted by Time: Southeastern Minnesota’s Forgotten Schoolhouses and Farmsteads

John Weiss explores Fillmore County’s time-haunted schoolhouses and farmsteads where fading paint and sagging walls still teach lessons.

A glowing autumn sunset fills the sky with brilliant shades of orange and red above a wooded bluff. Below, a black steel railroad bridge spans a calm river that reflects the sunset colors. The trees along the water’s edge are beginning to show fall hues of gold and brown, creating a tranquil, scenic view.

Autumn Life in the Driftless

Root River Current photographers capture autumn activities in the Driftless.

A clay pot with the word "mosquito" and a circle with slash through it handdrawn on the pot. A light blue watering can spout is in the right half of the photo.

Essay | Look Up in the Sky! It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No . . . It’s a Mosquito!”

Steve Harris laments the recent hordes of unusual visitors we’re all battling in many parts of the Driftless.

Essay | Creative Skills and Kids

Essayist Renee Bergstrom’s formula for a “lifetime of joy” includes being creative – and it begins in our youth.

The garden in full bloom, ready for pollinators. (Photo by Loni Kemp)

Essay | Less-Work Gardening

Loni Kemp shares her tips and tricks to growing, maintaining, and, most importantly, enjoying your garden.

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