Opinion - The Timberjay

Holding face to face conversations across the Northland

Over the last few weeks, I wrapped up my Northland Strong Town Hall tour, holding open conversations in every corner of Northeast Minnesota — from Hermantown, International Falls, and Grand … more

Sen. Grant Hauschild | 5/15/25

Finding that special spot where steam melts into light

We start the fire before the sun rises, when the sky is white. There are flurries on the wind. It’s cold enough for mittens. The fire crackles, and the clear maple sap begins to steam. If I … more

Jean Gendreau | 5/15/25

Fishing, drunk driving, and divorce in Minnesota: Is it related?

The first English book on fishing is Prioress Julianna Berners’ volume “A Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle.” Published posthumously in 1496, the book is a manual on fishing with … more

Catie Clark | 5/8/25

Sulfate regulations

There is justified public skepticism over the specifics and the timing of a proposal by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to create what is known as a multi-discharger variance, or MDV, in order … more

5/8/25

We need someone who represents us

Last week I attended a town hall in Grand Marais. The town hall was not in support of any particular candidate or political party, but instead was an opportunity for people to come together to speak … more

5/1/25

Keep the shovels moving – pass a bonding bill in 2025

Capital Investment, or bonding bills, have always been some of the most important bipartisan agreements in the Minnesota Legislature. It’s how the state partners with local governments to fund … more

5/1/25

What we do to the BWCAW, we do to ourselves

Contextual learning cycles engage whole brain thinking with concepts, beyond memorizing facts, to see the “Big Picture.” A Harvard study concluded that the mining ban in the protected … more

5/1/25

Time for a little soul-searching

Catie Clark’s article in the April 25 Timberjay mentioned Braver Angels and civility in American political discourse. It’s difficult to engage in civil discourse about a President … more

5/1/25

Who is next on Trump’s hit list?

It is imperative that university educational systems should be able to act with academic freedom, free from government restrictions. “No government, regardless of which party is in … more

5/1/25

The plastic within us

Humanity may soon face an existential crisis, and we are deluded if we believe a free market will save us. Here’s the problem: Our brains are increasingly being filled with plastic. According … more

5/1/25

This isn’t a budget cut. It’s a betrayal

I spent a big chunk of my life in the Head Start family, as a consultant, trainer, education coordinator, and program director across eight states. I even helped write the national standards for kids … more

5/1/25

How much do you know about International Workers Day, May 1?

May Day is known by multiple names with multi-faceted origins. The maypoles and young maidens dancing with baskets of flowers version stemmed from the pagan celebration called Beltane, celebrating … more

Betty Firth | 5/1/25

Let’s do something about noxious tansy

It’s spring and time to talk about tansy, that dreadful invasive species that has exploded across our beautiful land. The seeds from those little yellow button flowers become imbedded in the … more

4/24/25

We must stand together against Trump’s lawlessness

The Trump/Musk administration has been running roughshod through the government for more than three months now. They claim the goal is to cut waste and fraud. So far, these claims have proved … more

4/24/25

Trump is destroying our economy and reputation

Foreign countries are angry about Trump’s tariff taxes and are considering selling their U.S. Treasury bonds and/or not renewing them. China apparently is planning to sell their $761 … more

4/24/25

Lincoln’s speeches provided a glimpse into the future

When Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office for his second term as president, the United States was divided as never before or since. The Civil War had killed over 600,000 Americans, North and … more

Lee Hamilton | 4/24/25

Camper bound during ice off

Now that the wait for ice off is truly upon us, Nibs, Echo, Luna and I are camper bound. It’s not a bad thing at all. We are just living, ummm, small. While the lake is trying to decide if it … more

April Wamhoff | 4/24/25

Windigo ways

For many of us, as children, we frequently learn the lessons of our society and culture through stories, often frightening tales that hold profound life lessons. That was as true in traditional … more

4/24/25

Reaping what we’ve sown

There are consequences to punishing and bad-mouthing your neighbor, and Minnesota is going to be feeling the effects. The bad-mouthing, of course, isn’t coming from those of us who live in … more

4/17/25

My first Social Security check family vacation...

Years ago, when living in Alaska, if someone left to visit relatives in Minnesota or elsewhere, they would say “I’m going outside for a couple of weeks” or “gotta head to the … more

Scarlet Stone | 4/17/25

When the light comes...reflections for Easter

Forty-one years ago on Easter weekend, I was holding a baby. I was trying again. I had a new life after crawling out of the shame of my divorce and the griefs of my first baby’s death and my … more

Jean Gendreau | 4/10/25

Where is Waldo, and more importantly where is Pete Stauber?

As the token conservative at the Timberjay — yes, this is an equal-opportunity newsroom — I tend to take a more charitable view of Pete Stauber’s absenteeism that those of my … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/25

A purpose to the chaos

For most humans, chaos is unsettling, even disturbing, but for those with unpopular agendas, it provides opportunity — and that is why President Trump and his South African sidekick are so … more

4/10/25

We are increasingly separated from truth

Separation of our true selves as special and above nature is a Western belief. Dominion over nature to exploit for our own ends, without giving back, is delusional. From the air we breathe, water we … more

4/3/25

Stauber should listen to We the People

Congressman Pete Stauber has his wealthy donors and has become so arrogant that he apparently believes he represents his own interests and no one else’s. He can’t even use his own words … more

4/3/25