My walks with Ace

Often Ace (our Golden Retriever) and I head out on our walk past the big barn and through the cornfield to the east fence line. Our walks are usually after the 10 p.m. news, so it’s dark and the stars reflecting off the snowy ground light our path. Ace covers about 2 miles on these walks as he sniffs out every critter that’s been by. He’ll scare up a rabbit every now and then, but never catches them. As he’s running and sniffing, I’m deep in thought about that day’s events or reflecting about the past summer’s growing season.
Seeing the cornfield at rest with a blanket of snow makes the turmoil they went through last summer seem a distant memory. The corn, beans and hay were off to a great start and everyone was looking forward to a good harvest. Then a band of hail starting in Isanti County and following Chisago County Road 10 came roaring through Harris and east past our place. Besides the physical damage to buildings, the corn and beans were reduced to stems. Amazingly, a few weeks later, the crops had come back and were looking good—then the rain stopped In the end, we were left with no hay to speak of and hardly any corn or beans.
Tonight, though, as Ace and I are walking over crunchy snowfields with a temperature around -20 below, my thoughts go towards the trees we are going to plant this spring. My wife and I will plant over 800 trees along our borders and fence lines. We are working with the Chisago Soil and Water District, who developed a tree plan for our property. I had been planting about a hundred a year until I realized at this rate I’ll never get as many trees as I wanted. So, this year, we’re doing it all in one shot.
You, too, can work with the Chisago Soil and Water District to get a tree plan or just order trees. They are located at 38814 Third Ave. in North Branch or you can call 651-674-2333. If you live in Isanti County, contact the Isanti Conservation District at 380 Garfield St. S. in Cambridge or 763-689-3224, Ext. 5. You know the saying, “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.” Well, the second best time is this spring.
My nightly walks with Ace put into perspective the ever-changing and sometime harsh conditions Mother Nature throws our way, but also the resilience of our environment. Despite the hail, the droughts and the snow, the fields and trees will begin anew this spring. This thought brings both comfort and optimism to other areas of my life.
Meanwhile, Ace just raised a rabbit and they are coming right at me.
On a different note, I’d also like to invite everyone to upcoming town hall meetings I will be hosting with Rep. Kalin. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, we will be holding a meeting in Wyoming at the Geise Memorial Library (26855 Forest Blvd.) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. On Thursday, Feb. 28, we will be meeting at the North Branch Library (6355 379th St.) from 7-9 p.m. Please do come if you can make it. These meetings are a great opportunity to share your views on the issues we’ll be discussing in the Legislature.

The goal: Better health care for Minnesota

While I was out on the campaign trail, the concern I heard repeated the most was the rising cost of health care. Skyrocketing premiums are stressing individuals, families, and businesses in our district and state, which is understandable, as the need for health care is central to many critical decisions we make in our daily lives.

I believe that a fiscally responsible solution to this health care crisis requires three approaches: reforming the health care system, passing cost savings onto premiums payers, and increasing the number of insured Minnesotans.

Increasing the number of Minnesotans with health care coverage will not only ease the burden on those without it, but provide cost savings to those who currently have coverage. When people without coverage go to the emergency room, the providers and hospitals are not compensated. As a result, insurance premiums for those who have coverage increases to make up for this uncompensated care. As I see it, the more people who have health care coverage, the more everyone's premiums will decrease.

A number of important health care reforms and initiatives were recently introduced by the Senate. I am confident that theses proposals, which are estimated to provide 20,000 new Minnesotans with health care coverage, would have positive results for families in our district and state.

Many components of this legislative package can be funded through surpluses in the Health Care Access Fund and others through the state General Fund with no tax increases necessary. I enthusiastically support these proposals and look forward to a legislative session where we can hold down health care costs for all Minnesotans, and help working families get the affordable health care coverage they deserve.

I encourage you to contact me with your questions or comments about these bills or any other issues. You may call me at (651)-296-5419, send an email to sen.rick.olseen@senate.mn, or write to G-24 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155.