opinion

People sometimes get frustrated with our criminal court system when a person charged with a horrific crime enters a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. There seems to be a common belief that this is a legal loophole that routinely allows guilty people to escape responsibility...

The feigned outrage by Michael Edman (Jan. 14 letter to the editor) regarding the censure of District 833 School Board member Katy McElwee-Stevens was rather perplexing. To my knowledge, the exact reason for the censure wasn’t disclosed. South Washington County Schools will soon...

In 2013 there were 15 official candidates running for five District 833 School Board seats, along with two levy questions and a bond referendum. Out of the 15 candidates, Laurie Johnson had the most votes: 3,873. Katy McElwee-Stevens received 2,648 votes and last week’s letter to...

Snowmobilers, please remember as you are riding to stay off of personal property and stay on the trail. I don’t care if you are in the ditch, but someone recently ran over two of our bushes and almost took out our horse fencing. In fact, one of the bottom wires did break because...

Facing west as the sun sets, I feel the warmth of the summer evening settle around me. I am looking up at the bandshell as the South Washington County Community Band is finishing up “Beale Street Blues,” and also enjoying watching those few brave souls out dancing. Behind me,...

I was outraged to read about the recent censure of South Washington County School Board member Katy McElwee-Stevens. I am calling for her to resign. This is beyond unacceptable conduct. During the 2013 School Board campaign, citizens expressed a lot of concern about how the board...

Happy New Year to you all. Minnesota’s State Capitol is once again open for business as the 2015 legislative session began on Jan. 6. All state lawmakers have now taken their oath of office, and work in the Minnesota House is under way. It remains such an honor to work on your...

The message couldn’t have been clearer: There is a problem in Washington County. Young people are falling prey in record numbers to drugs and it’s happening right under our noses. The sobering news was shared at a recent community meeting at Stillwater Area High School,...

One night recently, I had an experience that most women will be familiar with: a fashion crisis. I was scheduled to be a panelist at a roundtable discussion the next day and struggling to find an outfit that would be professional, look good and yet still allow me to wear flat boots...

Crime usually is no laughing matter, but when you review hundreds of police reports sometimes you can’t help but snicker. Not at the reports documenting assaults or other crimes in which people are harmed or property is severely damaged, of course, but at the head-scratching complaints...

A quote attributed to Albert Einstein states: “The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.” I believe his thinking can be applied to all education levels, not just college. Certainly we need to commit particular facts...

As we fast approach this special time We think of our troops and our Divine The Christmas lights across our land Are strong reminders of what’s at hand Most of us will shop and search And find some time to stop by church But others may wait for that special...

I see in the Dec. 10 Bulletin that the District 833 School Board decided not to request proposals for some construction management work. As a taxpayer, I kind of like to know how and where my taxes are being spent. I see the vote was 5-2 to not take other proposals (and give the contract...

The largest one-day event in Cottage Grove took place about a year ago, when Canadian Pacific picked the city to host an anniversary concert for its annual Holiday Train event. With big-name Sheryl Crow as headlining music act, it was bound to be a success, despite cold temperatures...

While the National Retail Federation reports sales slipped, Americans still spent approximately $13 billion during “Black Friday” weekend last month. Despite low expectations, “Cyber Monday” sales passed $2 billion in the biggest e-commerce day ever. Regardless of numerous...