Columns/Opinion

Transportation still ranks as a number one concern of residents

Don Heinzman editorial -- Despite all of the new mass transit and highway improvement projects in the seven-county area, transportation is still the number one concern of residents (29 percent) surveyed by the Metropolitan Council.

Council Chair Peter Bell addressed transportation concerns and improvements in his State of the Region talk Monday, Feb. 1.

Baseball countdown continues with spring training around the corner

Clicking on the Web by Howard Lestrud -- It seems as though the Minnesota Twins baseball season never ended when the eventual World Champion New York Yankees knocked the Twins out of the playoffs in October of 2009. With the season over very abruptly, Twins fans can only look toward the 2010 season and inhabiting the new Target Field.

Just the thought of an inaugural season in a new outdoor park is enough to make a true Twins fan count down the days before the first 2010 game on Monday, April 12 against the Boston Red Sox. We’re sitting just under 60 days.

Random acts of kindness come in many forms and help create better community, world

Don Heinzman editorial -- During these difficult and tense times, many people are out of work and need help. The City of Elk River has come up with a “kindness campaign” other communities might want to try.

Elk River Mayor Stephanie Klinzing is spurring good deeds through her campaign of 1,000 random acts of kindness during February.

Rhetoric and reality with school family involvement

Joe Nathan Column -- A meeting last week reminded me: Rhetoric and reality sometimes depart when it comes to parent involvement in education. Some educators want parents to volunteer, help with their children and contribute money. But they downplay asking parents for advice. This does not apply to all educators. But it remains a problem.

Here are two sides of family involvement and then a suggestion.

Stadium building game is in fourth quarter

Don Heinzman editorial -- Now that the Super Bowl question has been answered, a larger one looms on the horizon – a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings professional football team?

Vikings officials are putting together a package they want the Minnesota Legislature to discuss this session. The package may include positioning the stadium in a suburb; one mentioned location is Dayton in western Hennepin County. It also includes using job-producing federal stimulus money and a 2 percent metropolitan hospitality tax.

Valentine's Day is coming ever so close

Clicking on the Web by Howard Lestrud -- Valentine’s Day has long been a special day for me because of the fact that my mother was born on this day. This Valentine’s Day will be the 101st anniversary of my mother’s birth. My mother clearly signified the true meaning of the day, L-0-V-E.

The flower shops especially like Valentine’s Day because it is one of their best business days of the year. If you are a guy and like me, you oftentime are forced to buck long lines because you have waiting until the last minute to pick up that bouquet of flowers and box of candy.

Minnesota is trying to make federal stimulus programs work by creating more jobs

Don Heinzman editorial -- Job growth will be the number one issue in elections at all levels this year. One of the targets, for better or for worse, will be how the federal stimulus funds are producing jobs in Minnesota.

As of the first federal report in October of last year, the state had spent $1.6 billion of the $4.7 billion expected in American Recover and Reinvestment Act dollars for programs administered by the state.

Soooo many reports on education. Do they help?

Joe Nathan column -- This week’s column turns the table on researchers. Studies on schools often describe ways to improve education. Today Minnesota educators report on the reports that people write about them.

Second printed draft of Constitution at Minnesota History Center

Clicking on the Web, by Howard Lestrud -- How many of us can say they have seen the actual copy of the United States Constitution? I would guess not many. Now a rare chance exists to see a rare draft of the U.S. Constitution at the Minnesota History Center, at 345 Kellogg Blvd. W, St. Paul, MN

The second printed draft of the Constitution, annotated in the hand of John Dickinson a delegate from Delaware, is on display at the Minnesota History Center in the exhibit “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World.” The exhibit opened last Thanksgiving and will continue until July 4 of 2010.

High school letters wisely recognize various accomplishments

Joe Nathan column -- High school letters mean more than they once did. That’s good. A quick survey of about twenty-five Minnesota high schools found that they are recognizing a broad range of students’ accomplishments.

There was a time when many high schools gave letters only for participation in sports. About 15 years ago, I wrote a column about an intense controversy in a southern suburban community when a student recommended that her school award letters to students who excelled in academics. Several athletic coaches strongly disagreed.

Winter Olympics and Paralympics coming Feb. 12 from Vancouver

Clicking on the Web by Howard Lestrud -- For those out there who like watching Winter Olympics Games, your time is nearing. The Vancouver, Canada hosted Games open on Friday, Feb. 12 and will continue through the last day of February, on the 28th.

Whether it’s watching the United States Team USA men’s and women’s teams go for Gold Medals, or it’s cringing in empathy for skiers on the alpine course, lots of exciting sports competition will be there for you at the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Many will be following the women’s Team USA hockey team which trained at the Schwan Super Rink, Blaine. First, bookmark the highly interactive Olympics Web site at http://www.vancouver2010.com/

Nobel winner Borlaug to be subject of History Center event

Clicking on the Web, by Howard Lestrud -- Norman Ernest Borlaug is one of only six people to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. The late Mr. Borlaug is the father of the Green Revolution and has some close ties with the University of Minnesota.

Agronomist Borlaug is a very interesting individual I wish I would have had a chance to meet. One of the best alternatives in meeting someone famous is to meet them on the Web. Borlaug will be the subject of the February History Lounge at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul.

Students’ service project helps families of Minnesota military

Joe Nathan column -- Families of several soldiers in Iraq are being helped by a youngster from Elk River.

The spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King is alive and well in youngsters like Josh Rueckert, Megan Kallevig, Jose Sanchez and Rachel Holzknecht. They are using their creativity, talent and energy to continue the work he encouraged.

Students of Elk River High School Arts Magnet Direct, Art Teacher Rana Nestrud created some outstanding artwork about civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King. This one was sketched by Rachel Holzknecht and shows Dr. King speaking to a large gathering, possibly the famous speech of 1963 in Washington, D.C. (Artwork, courtesy of Rachel Holzknecht)

Citizens of Minnesota expect spending cuts to be made, may even accept slight tax increase

Don Heinzman editorial -- Local units of government stand to lose more state aid, no matter what happens to Governor Tim Pawlenty’s decision to unallot $2.7 billion in state spending for this year and next.

Ramsey County District Judge Kathleen Gearin recently ruled that Pawenty’s decision to single-handedly cut $2.7 billion from the budget suggests the governor’s action may have been unconstitutional.

Columns/Opinion

Transportation still ranks as a number one concern of residents

Baseball countdown continues with spring training around the corner

Random acts of kindness come in many forms and help create better community, world

Rhetoric and reality with school family involvement

Stadium building game is in fourth quarter

Valentine's Day is coming ever so close

Minnesota is trying to make federal stimulus programs work by creating more jobs

Soooo many reports on education. Do they help?

Second printed draft of Constitution at Minnesota History Center

High school letters wisely recognize various accomplishments

Winter Olympics and Paralympics coming Feb. 12 from Vancouver

Nobel winner Borlaug to be subject of History Center event

Students’ service project helps families of Minnesota military

Citizens of Minnesota expect spending cuts to be made, may even accept slight tax increase

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