Opinion - Cottage Grove Journal

Letter to the Editor-Reader support Rebecca A. Waxse

Dear Editor: This fall, voters in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District have the opportunity to elect a new judge to an open seat. I support Rebecca A. Waxse because she has the experience, judgment, … more

9/27/26

The scuffs, stains and creases in this Wilson George Brett A2124 are not imperfections that need to be erased. They are reminders of summers spent playing baseball, of a glove shaped with my dad when I was a kid, and of a life that has happened in the decades since. At 52, neither the glove nor its owner needs to look new again, we just need to take care of what needs taking care of, accept the wear we've earned, and see what we've still got

I ain’t dead yet

"I ain't dead yet." That was Dad's way of saying yes before he passed September 10. 2024. It wasn't morbid. Quite the opposite. It meant, let's go. Let's have some fun. Let's do something. We're here today and there is no guarantee about tomorrow, so why would we sit around waiting for life to happen? more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/10/26

County Assessors: a closer look

Sometimes, being part of the greater area communities, presents a story idea that seems to make sense, especially during the summer months when school and fall sports have not yet started. This … more

Editorial By Bruce Karnick | 8/16/26

Legislative Update

On Friday May 15, the Senate passed an e-bike and motorized bicycle safety bill to update state law in response to the rising use of these vehicles and to help protect Minnesotans from injuries. … more

By Senator Judy Seeberger | 5/20/26

Winter After Everything

Wayne Schlicht has shared another update in his cancer treatment journey. Readers can follow Schlicht’s journey and assist with treatment costs at his Go Fund Me entitled “Stage 4 Cancer Took … more

12/25/25

Update from Wayne Schlicht

I made it. Thank God — I made it. This year, I will be sitting at the table with a heart that’s fuller than any plate in front of me. 2025 has been a year of highs and lows, hope and … more

12/5/25

My View: Loser Day

I proclaimed Saturday as Loser Day. It needs a little explaining. My first job out of college, I wrote sports in a town of about 10,000 residents. It was a grind of a job. I would start Monday at … more

By John McLoone | 11/12/25

My View: Will the rain hurt the rhubarb?

There’s a guy in the grocery store who is really mad at a guy he works with. It seems the other guy is getting the “cake” jobs, and it really bugs him. This I know because we … more

By John McLoone | 11/6/25

My View: The cure for what ails me

From time to time, as I get older – an older I am getting – I need a break of a few weeks from my weekly message to you fine readers. The inspiration isn’t what it used to be. In … more

By John McLoone | 10/29/25

Letter to the Editor: Free trade essential

I am certain that you folks can no doubt find more recent opinions by current well-known economists. However, here is a 1945 quotation from the President who oversaw the end of World War II … more

10/11/25

My View: Low fuel

Before last Wednesday, it had been decades since I’d had something like that happen to me. There’s no doubt at all, it was my fault, and I had to live with the consequences. I headed into … more

By John McLoone | 8/28/25

Outdoor Tales & Trails

Dave musky After jumping in behind my friend’s tangled lure, the musky he’d been chasing hit my lure. Photo courtesy of Dave Beck Last week I told you about the start of my summer … more

By Dave Beck | 8/27/25

My View: Finding peace in a noisy night

There’s nothing like a peaceful night. Often, they aren’t as peaceful as they used to be. And many nights are more tranquil. Back in the day, which was a lot of days ago, my darling bride … more

By John McLoone | 8/20/25

My View: The green stuff

I’m going to let you guys in on a secret. I want to try eating avocado. I feel like all the cool people eat avocado, and it’s cutting me out of some things, at least in my … more

By John McLoone | 8/13/25

My View: We need our summers back

Forgive me if this is difficult to read this week. I seem to be writing it within a haze. Our entire summer seems to be playing out this year in a stinky fog, courtesy of our neighbors to the north. … more

By John McLoone | 8/10/25

Trail Cam Finds

The antlers on the white-tailed deer have now grown to the point where I can tell a buck from a doe. It makes it way more interesting checking on those cell cam photos every morning to see how much … more

By Dave Beck | 7/30/25

My View: Don’t ban my bacon

My wife and I toured the state on a recent Saturday, as we often do. I learned something on this journey that greatly upset me. In fact, I was downright mad. We left our humble home at 4:45 a.m. and … more

By John McLoone | 7/30/25

My View: Age is just a number

I’ve always felt I was a bit more mature than my driver’s license says I am. I’m talking appearance, not actions. I always looked older than my peer group growing up. It came in … more

By John McLoone | 7/24/25

The "Turtle" Flambeau Flowage

Hello friends, This week I spent three days camped on an island on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage with my golden retriever Red. This trip was a bit unique as I hit some pretty harsh weather but still … more

By Mark Walters | 6/20/25

My View: The path to excellence

One morning each week, my alarm goes off much earlier than usual, and I leave the house early for work. The best thing about getting going at that time is the great AM radio that you can dial in from … more

By John McLoone | 6/18/25