The Free Press, Mankato, MN Columns

Thoma column: The strange exclusion of Anthony Slama

2012-05-27T22:54:00-05:00

Krohn column: Beauty of history seen on byway

2012-05-27T00:49:06-05:00

Last week, during a tour of the Lower Sioux Agency and battle sites including Birch Coulee and Fort Ridgely, it was easy to understand why the Dakota loved the valley.

Cross: For Mankato man, hauling in shovelnose sturgeon comes with a catch

2012-05-27T00:27:13-05:00

A Mankato man hauled in an unofficial state record shovelnose on April 14; the fish is unofficial because it is illegal to keep sturgeon, except on the Mississippi River near Redwing.

Ojanpa: Olson is a Stark reminder

2012-05-25T21:55:25-05:00

But Olson isn’t the first MSU shining star to “defect” to Winona State. In 1983 Tom Stark did likewise, heading into much more duress than Olson faces and, ultimately, having his mission ended in a heartbeat.

Courrier: Sum greater than parts for MSU baseball team

2012-05-24T21:55:19-05:00

Past Minnesota State baseball teams have had a lot of high-end talent, and you could see future professional players pitch and hit. But those teams didn’t win 48 games in a season. And most of those team didn’t advance to the Division II World Series.

Rueda: ‘Lefty’ wins adapted bowling title

2012-05-23T23:10:33-05:00

Colby Tolzmann of Mankato East won the state adapted bowling title, and Mikala Sexson placed ninth in the tournament.

MSU hockey fans hope Williams will deliver — with or without a glove

2012-05-21T22:30:05-05:00

Future Minnesota State goaltender Stephon Williams has become a YouTube sensation by making a bare-handed save in the USHL playoffs earlier this month.

Decoy carver adapts and wins

2012-05-19T23:21:42-05:00

Dave Jackson received a first- and two second-place finishes for his decoys at the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Competition last month.

Another week of Vikings camp? Really.

2012-05-17T22:20:18-05:00

The Minnesota Vikings announced this week that they will return to Mankato for summer training camp, making it 47 years that the community has endured and catered to the state’s most popular sports team.

Fishing opener is Minnesota's May holiday

2012-05-12T23:43:11-05:00

When anglers pushed away from the dock Saturday morning to celebrate Minnesota’s own unique May holiday, they were blessed with bright sunshine and gentle breezes.