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2024 & 2025-Braaten & Anderson
"It's a Good Day to Be an Adult and an Eagle." (Note: Note: In this installment, it’s “me” who left the nest last June. The classes of...

Jason Lee Willis
May 2, 20244 min read


2022-Ethan Fischer
"It's a Good Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." Note: In the spring of 2020, many students celebrated getting to stay home for spring...

Jason Lee Willis
Apr 25, 20243 min read


Things I Never Learned in School
Maple River Students Participate in Budget City project There’s a popular meme floating around social media that lists all the important...

Jason Lee Willis
Apr 4, 20244 min read


Lessons in Stewardship
Two centuries ago, Joseph Nicollet traveled through southern Minnesota and labeled it as the Undine Region, a reference to the water...

Jason Lee Willis
Mar 15, 20244 min read


Maloree Had a Little Lamb
"Three generations of Gartners continue a lambing tradition." (Marvin Gartner, David Gartner, and Maloree Gartner share responsibilities...

Jason Lee Willis
Mar 14, 20244 min read


1995-Brian Gjerde
"It's a Good Day to Be an Adult and an Eagle" (originally published by the Maple River Messenger) Note: In the spring of 1995, I got my...

Jason Lee Willis
Mar 7, 20244 min read


Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
"Student Managers Provide Vital Help" (Wrestling managers Karley Koehler and Kalyn Sandmeyer track points and match footage at a recent...

Jason Lee Willis
Feb 16, 20245 min read


And the Band Played On
"Maple River Pep Band Performs Through All Conditions" There’s a common saying that the captain must go down with the ship. But the band,...

Jason Lee Willis
Feb 16, 20245 min read


How to Submit a Book Proposal
"Local Author Releases Debut Novel" By Jason Willis Step One: Listen to your big sister about dating her coworker. Step Two: When your...

Jason Lee Willis
Feb 9, 20244 min read


A Legacy of Leadership
"The Founding Fathers of Maple River" While engineers and architects oversee the final stages of Maple River’s new K-12 school complex,...

Jason Lee Willis
Feb 1, 20249 min read


A Take-Out Tradition
"Olson Family helps Heather Curling Club Reopen Kitchen" (Sheryl Olson, the skip of the Heather Curling Club kitchen.) As the Curling...

Jason Lee Willis
Jan 19, 20243 min read


2019-Mallory Murphy
"It's a Good Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." (Mal Murphy performed at the Arts Center of St. Peter as part of her recent album release...

Jason Lee Willis
Jan 11, 20243 min read


The Gift of Giving
"MIssionary Dan Jones Travels to Peru" (Dan Jones and Andy Pull demonstrate their carpentry gifts) Gift-giving during the Christmas...

Jason Lee Willis
Dec 21, 20234 min read


Santa's Little Shipping Helpers
Local Delivery Workers Help Bring the Holidays Home (L-R: Lynn Lentz, Zach Otto, Terri Maass, Jennifer Lassahn, and Tammy Comnick) Sure,...

Jason Lee Willis
Dec 14, 20234 min read


Behind the Curtains
"An Inside Look at the Drama Crew" (Above: Angel Flores manages the lighting system.) When Dorthy pulled back the curtains to discover...

Jason Lee Willis
Oct 27, 20235 min read


When Life Gives You Lemons
"Heather Elke wins the Tray Blazers Award at Maple River" ( Heather Ehlke received her award and personalized Wheaties box from General...

Jason Lee Willis
Oct 5, 20232 min read


2003-Joyce Dewit
"Going the Distance" Joyce (DeWitz) Barnard Earns Hall of Fame Gustavus Adolphus College will be inducting Joyce (DeWitz) Barnard and...

Jason Lee Willis
Oct 5, 20232 min read
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