Brainerd's Josh Archibald has verbally committed to play hockey for the University of Nebraska-Omaha next season. Archibald is simply one of the best ever to play for Brainerd. He has a howitzer for a shot, can outskate virtually any opponent and is a physical player. Entering Tuesday's game against St. Cloud Apollo he ranks fourth in Warrior career scoring with 129 points. His 55 points this season are only 11 behind the single-season program record of 66 points by Jerr Johnson.

If Josh isn't playing in the NHL someday I'm going to be shocked.

Sen. Paul Gazelka of rural Brainerd started off February with some favorable ink from the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. 

The insurance agency owner, who successfully challenged the incumbent Republican District 12 senator and then defeated an aggressive Democratic newcomer, was included in a list of "Five freshman to watch" in Feb. 1 story written by Eric Roper.

Last week I went on my very first cruise.  About six weeks earlier one of my friends had spotted an unbelievably good deal on a five night Royal Caribbean Cruise with stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  At only $275 a ticket – it was too good to pass up.  So, after a mad scramble to get my passport and time off at work, I left on my trip.

You know you're in northern Minnesota when a fish house on a trailer is parked in your employee lot for two days ... and no one thinks it's unusual.

Another sure sign is when you read that the third place prize for Back to Hack raffle in Hackensack is 10 yards of classified gravel from Schrupp Excavating.