Community Voices

A book cover with a closeup image of wood planks showing the grain. One end grain looks like a five-petaled flower. The words on the cover are in a grainy type of red and white and say "A Good Sauna Always Burns Down".

Poetry | Finish-American Heritage Reflected in New Collection

From back roads and wasp nests to shamans and lutefisk, regional poet Jim Johnson shares excerpts from his latest collection.

man looking at gathered people in community setting

Root River Diary | An Extraordinary Kindness

Just how special can a delivery person be? Steve Harris and Diane Knight share observations from a community sendoff to UPS driver Josh Merchlewitz.

A dark brown snapping turtle lays on the lower bottom half of a skateboard. His tail is on the asphalt and the front end of the skateboard is pointing up.

Root River Diary | How Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

Joyce Roffler finds a unique way to help a snapping turtle across the road.

Bluffland Sunsets, Moonrise

Root River Current photographers capture twilight scenes in this series of “sunset, moonrise” photos.

Settling in for Another Season

Root River Current photographers capture critters welcoming another season.

A robin stands in a pile of brush on the edge of a stream.

Essay | Celebrating Blossoming Ephemerals, the Return of Birdsong and Earth Day

An excerpt on Spring from Nancy Overcott’s book ‘At Home in the Big Woods.’

April Springs to Life

Root River Current photographers capture the arrival of Spring in Southeast Minnesota.

Essay | Frank Walsh’s Kitchen

An excerpted essay from the book “Frank Walsh’s Kitchen” of a charming story of two teen boys working at summer haying and the unique lunch that followed.

Poetry | “Love…” In Springtime

Original poems — and a doodle — by southeastern Minnesota artist and poet, Diane Knight.

A young child wearing a blue sweatshirt stand next to the trunk of a large maple tree. On the side of the tree is a silver metal bar holding a blue clear plastic bag that is half filled with clear maple sap. The sunshine peeks behind the tree and across the brown woods in early spring.

Essay | Maple Syrup–A Homesteading Tradition

An impulse-buy at a local farm store leads to a sweet new family tradition.

Essay | Plowabunga! My Salute to Snowplow Drivers

John Gaddo salutes snowplow drivers – Plowabunga!

Pair of eagles sit on a snowy river bank on a sunny day.

Original Photography…Winter Scenes

Original photography from southeastern Minnesota featuring nature scenes and community activities.

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