To the NRHEG boys’ basketball team.

We are pleased to see an area team have as much success as the NRHEG boys’ basketball team has had so far this year. The team is 18-1 with its only loss earlier this week.

What’s even better is hearing the team’s head coach, Pat Churchill, talk about the leadership on the team.

Keep up the good work, boys!

To The Big Freeze.

Kudos to all of the people who were involved in
planning this year’s The Big Freeze. It is nice to have such a great event planned for the middle of winter, and it was fun to see the many different activities planned to take place.

Thank you to all who participated in the events and raised money and food for the local food shelves.

It’s hard to believe this is already the eighth year for the event, and we look forward to it returning next year.

To the person who found this year’s Big Freeze medallion.

Congratulations to 7-year-old Casey Ulve, who found this year’s Big Freeze medallion on Tuesday at Edgewater Park. Ulve and his twin brother were looking for the medallion in a bush by the east gate of the park.

We always enjoy seeing the community get excited about this hunt, and we are impressed how quickly it was found.

Ulve received $300 in Chamber Bucks.

To diseased trees at Myre-Big Island State Park.

It was sad to learn this week that more than 100 oak trees at Myre-Big Island State Park will have to be cut down because of various disease, including bur oak blight, two-lined chestnut bore or oak wilt.

These trees are large and have been around for many years. While it is disappointing that these trees will have to come down, we are pleased to see the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources undergo efforts to prevent the spread of disease. The DNR seeks to restore the landscape back to what existed when the area was first settled.