Lessons from life: The Garage Sale Guerrillas (2008/07/03)
The security of our country would never be in doubt if the garage sale Guerrillas were in charge. They come with different strategies, but their mission is the same—seek the best bargains, negotiate the lowest prices and slip away, the next destination in their sights. A good friend and I recently had our first garage sale. On a bad day, our military could not be as efficient as the units that descended my driveway perfecting their weekend maneuvers.

Across the Fence: July 4th Homecoming (2008/07/03)
July 4th is a vacation day for most people. They get together with friends and family, fire up the grill, cook some burgers and brats, have some cool drinks of their choice, bring out the lawn chairs, and sit back and watch the fireworks at the end of the day. A few people even remember to fly the flag.

Across the Fence: Eulogy To The Old Barn (2008/06/30)
"The Old Barn" is now history. I said I would share some memories with you and, in turn, I hope it stirs up some of your own barn memories.

Across the Fence: Enjoying Country Moments (2008/06/22)
"There is much confusion between land and country. Land is where corn, gullies, and mortgages grow. Country is the personality of the land, the collective harmony of its soil, life, and weather." Those words by Aldo Leopold in "A Sand County Almanac" have become crystal-clear for me lately.

Across the Fence: A Death In the Family (2008/06/16)
"The Old Barn," exact age unknown (100+ years), of rural Westby, passed into obscurity on June 2, 2008. The end came after a long and courageous battle against all the elements Mother Nature could throw at it over the years. Obsolescence and maintenance are the enemies of old barns. They have become an endangered species. This old barn finally succumbed to the infirmities of old age and modern farming technology. It had outlived its usefulness.

What's the Point? (2008/06/10)
As editor of the Westby Times I get the opportunity to touch the lives of people on a weekly basis. I do this through reporting the general area news, but for me the most rewarding part of my job is when I am allowed to tell a story.

Across the Fence: Is It Summer Vacation Yet? (2008/06/10)
Summer begins slowly in Wisconsin. The subtle changes go almost unnoticed at first, as the sun arcs higher in the sky each day. Sunshine and longer days bring changes to the countryside as buds turn to flowers and the land turns green once more. New life, which began in the early spring, now begins to mature. This weekend, a drive through the Kickapoo Valley Reserve in Vernon County, Wisconsin, was a wonderland of shades of green, bathed in the afternoon sunshine.

Across the Fence: Friendships Forged In Fire (2008/05/30)
Time passes, but some friendships never die; especially those that were forged in fire. I've used the phrase "Band of Brothers" before. It's the title of Stephen Ambrose's book about World War II veterans. I was reminded this past weekend that there's a lot of truth to those words.

Across the Fence: Doc's Rock Wall (2008/05/22)
I left the grass-filled clearing and walked into the thick woods. The undergrowth was tangled and nearly impassable from lack of visitors for many years.

Across the Fence: Viking Power-Bjorn To Be Wild (2008/05/19)
It's time to celebrate my Norwegianess. I think that's a word. If not, it is now.

Across the Fence: Never Met A Pie I Didn't Like (2008/05/12)
I like pie. I tell people, "I've never met a pie I didn't like." OK, maybe that's stretching the truth a bit… a little white lie.