The expected tenor for Memorial Day

There is always a peacefulness and tranquility to Memorial Day weekend. At least this has been my lifelong experience. So many memories covering different epochs of U.S history, differing cultural norms from one time period to the next. For better or worse I tuck away a lot of the memories and do not hesitate to focus on some of the discouraging details. We are supposed to learn from history. 

The culture was so wayward at the time I graduated from high school, my elders thought it important to lower the drinking age. For the benefit of me and my age peers? A favor being done for us. And we heard the rationale: If such young American men are being asked to fight and die in Vietnam, well then the young adults here deserved the privilege of consuming alcohol and all that comes with such behavior. Of course a lot of terrible things came with it. You couldn't deny it at the time. 

But society was even more ignorant about something else: the grounds for prosecuting the war in Vietnam. So deluded we were. Our Good Lord must have been looking down with bewilderment. Were we so influenced by John Wayne's "the Green Berets?" Well, maybe. 

The WWII generation, at the peak of its influence when I was 18, saw Vietnam as some sort of triumphant redux. Maybe the failure was in forgetting that WWII was an Allied effort in which the Soviet Union had a primary role. The Germans feared the advancing Russian army more than us Americans. The purpose of D-Day was to open up a western front to spread out the Germans and give an assist to the Soviets who were having a rough go of it. 

Closing the vise was difficult and tragic: so much suffering and death. 

The Memorial Day and Veterans Day speeches of today can bother me a little because I think they can promote jingoism. War is bad, period. We have not expressed enough concern or regret about our military sending a Tomahawk missile into the girls school in Iran. A mere passing news item. A girls school? A real manly gesture on your part, President Trump. 

My lifetime of experience has taught me that on a primary holiday like Memorial Day, our president sheds his partisan inclinations and seeks peace and brotherhood. Of course the president we have now discards all civilized norms. And we hardly seem to care. 

I have friends who will withdraw from my writing if I simply mention Trump. They in effect say "there you go again." I am a mere "Trump hater" in their eyes. I have "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Haven't Americans always felt free to comment on the president? 

Major holidays up until Trump always promoted a spiritual tone. On Easter the president is supposed to attend the church of his choice, set an example. Trump acts like he's trying to destroy all our standards. 

So what kind of message did DJT issue on this Memorial Day morning of 2026? A soothing one? A patriotic one that we could all rally behind without issuing a call to war or aggression? Well of course not. DJT posted on "Truth Social" just after 6 a.m. Do you ever worry about our young people being influenced by him? DJT wrote "I laugh at all of the 'Dumocrats,' RINOs and Fools. . ." 

He directly attacked Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy and Thomas Massie of his own party. "Mediate" characterized this as "a blistering holiday message." Now Trump wants Ken Paxton to defeat John Cornyn in a Texas primary race. 

Trump called Massie "a major sleazebag." Couldn't Trump have found a more gentle, altruistic and bonding message for Americans on this traditionally hallowed and peaceful holiday? The tenor of his comments contradicts everything I have come to associate with Memorial Day weekend. 

And we have chosen this? Trump has been elected twice. We may be allowing him to set up a massive "slush fund" right now. And how about that "ballroom?" Joe Scarborough calls it "the Marie Antoinette ballroom." You know how Marie Antoinette turned out. But today, it seems more likely that Trump's critics will end up with a fate like being sent to a concentration camp. 

Will people rise up? If the public shrugs about our missile ramming into the Iranian girls school, I wouldn't hold out hope for an awakening. 

Germany had to be crushed in 1945.

My father Ralph E. Williams is at right in this photo taken during WWII. He was a lieutenant in the Navy in the Pacific Theater, tasked with guarding a merchant vessel, an oil tanker. Again I'll ask: Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the names and hometowns of all the guys in photo? Truly "the greatest generation."

Del Sarlette takes a moment to remember my family at our monument at Summit Cemetery. The black bench monument is available to all to sit and relax! Note the American flag in the background.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com 

MACA baseball prevails with late rally

15-6: Those are the upbeat won-lost numbers for MACA baseball now, as of this big day of the 2026 MAHS graduation. We can watch it on YouTube. This would have sounded so far-fetched when I was young. Speaking of past times, we lost our former Supt. Fred Switzer. Was once quite the iconic Morris resident but I'm sure his name has faded. Such is life with the passing years. 

Do people still remember me covering the Morris graduation when I was with the Morris paper? You're quite forgiven if you do not. I also covered MAHS softball in its very earliest years. I deserve some credit - you're not  allowed to disagree with that! 

I have a post on my companion blog "Morris of Course" on the softball team and how it's gearing up for its very important annual test or tests against the teams from southern Minnesota. It all unfolds tomorrow (Saturday). So we're looking at Pipestone! Action will be in Marshall which unfortunately is a long drive from here. My blog post includes a photo of coach Mary Holmberg at the bottom where Mary is holding her cat! Here is the link and thanks for reading. God bless.

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2026/05/maca-striving-to-conquer-southern.html 

  

The Tigers of the baseball world wrapped up the regular season with a close win over Minnewaska Area, 6-5. And now they're ready to play Minnewaska again for the start of post-season. The action unfolds Tuesday here in Morris (much preferable to driving to Marshall). The Tigers and Lakers will vie beginning at 5 p.m. The Tigers are of course in 3AA.

 

Tigers 6, Lakers 5

Let's take a look at how the MACA baseball team defeated the Lakers on Wednesday. Chizek Field was the site. Fans can enjoy grandstand seating there, unlike at our softball complex. I have commented on this but I probably just get people upset. 

I experienced turbulence with my professional standing when Switzer was superintendent. There were some things he should have addressed, at least sooner than he did. Then again, as his son explained to me while we were on our way to a 10K run once, "People don't realize that he works for the board, it isn't the other way around." 

Fred Switzer

Fred Switzer RIP. 

The Tigers beat the Lakers in exciting come-from-behind fashion! This we did with a big five-run seventh! We finished with six runs on five hits and two errors. The 'Waska line score was 5-6-0. We survived our two errors. 

The seventh inning story had Riley Asmus rapping an RBI single that resulted in the bases full. Alex Asmus brought his bat to the plate. A double with the sacks full! This cleared the bases. Score tied! 

'Waska kept unraveling by issuing two straight walks. Hunter Westerman lofted a sacrifice fly to score Alex Asmus. Victory with this "walk-off" run - a term that I do not remember from when I as young. Oh to be young again. 

Riley Asmus finished the afternoon with a one-for-two line, plus he walked twice. He stole a base, scored two runs and drove in one. Alex Asmus had his double and he collected four RBIs while scoring a run. Ozzy Jerome was a perfect two-for-two with one of his hits a double. He walked twice and stole a base. Hunter Westerman drove in a run with a SAC fly, plus he walked. Kye Suess walked and scored a run. Hunter Smith had a hit, a walk and a run scored. Riley Saito walked twice and scored a run. 

Since we won at the end, it was our relief pitcher Brayden Carlson getting the 'W'. He was preceded on the hill by Ozzy Jerome and Jack Kehoe. Jerome struck out three batters and walked none. the losing pitcher was Conner Eerickson. 

Bring on Section 3AA play!

 

You know who this is

Keeping an eye on Caitlin

Is Caitlin Clark going to play for the Indiana Fever tonight (Friday) against the Valkyries? Good question. She is listed as "probable." She sat out Wednesday for the game against the "Fire." 

The issue is back soreness. That is always to be taken seriously. Tonight's game is at home for the "Fever." Below is an email about CC that I sent to my friend and fellow sports enthusiast Dan Sayles on Thursday. You know Dan, the dog training guy. I see him on many mornings at DeToy's Restaurant, along with Neal Hofland.  Sports keeps us young, knock on wood.

 

Well Dan, sad to say but I think Caitlin's career is being derailed by injury. Of course she will always be famous no matter what. She'll be able to make money from that. She could do some limited "barnstorming" I think, like to give clinics at high schools. But I think her body is breaking down under the demands of pro basketball. She was scrubbed from action at the last minute last night. The Fever won easily over Portland, a team that had defeated the New York Liberty.

I was able to watch livestream again.

I've told you before that Caitlin had almost no break between her last college Final 4 and her rookie pro season. I began wondering from early-on if she was pushing her body too hard. And then for her second season, word got out that she "bulked up" to better withstand the pro game. And she was hurt all season. 

And then this new season started with CC doing a reversal and trying to be light and fast. During her "bulking up" period, I wonder if she used PEDs. That is very risky because there can be long-term consequences. The soft tissue injuries would seem very likely to get aggravated. If and when she plays again, fans will be holding their breath about her coming up lame. Such a shame. I hope she socked away some money.

The word last night was that Caitlin has a "stiff back." That makes me laugh because I remember in Jim Bouton's famous baseball book, he told about pitchers who were always saying "My arm isn't sore, it's just a little stiff." Trying to be in denial. I will bet that CC has a sore back and that can really become a chronic problem.

So now the Tiger softball team will play one of those southern MN teams Saturday at Marshall. Another long drive to Marshall for the Morris fans. I bet this cuts down on fan numbers. As much as I have been around, I have never been to Southwest State for a high school game.

Warrenn Anderson told me "the parents are divided up into so many activities these days," we're less likely to see the kind of mass fan turnout like what we saw at Concordia with Kevin Loge.

Does MAHS even have a fall sports banquet or winter sports banquet anymore, or do the teams all have their own banquets? Of course the old banquets could be kind of a sensitive situation. A chance for the coaches to criticize me, even. Someone told me those banquets were a good idea because it gave parents with the different teams a chance to interact with each other, get more familiar with each other. Sports parents all have things in common!

One minute Spencer Yone is public enemy No. 1 in Morris, and a few years later he gets a standing ovation at the Morris banquet! I don't think schools today would put up with some of Spencer's "idiosyncrasies." He was too intense.

Remember Whitey Ford and Dick Hall the 1960s baseball pitchers? Both were noteworthy for pitching to an advanced age like in their late 30s. What did they have in common? Both started pitching late. They spared their arms. If Whitey had started pitching at age nine in Little League, he would have come and gone quickly.

- BW

The week to really feel school joy

The sun is out on this Wednesday morning which buoys our mood even more, a mood that is elevated because of the high school graduations. 

It is nice that we make such a big deal of graduation. I'm not sure the event itself really transforms the kids in any way. But it is put forward as a milepost. And if it makes families and relatives of the grads proud, it's wonderful. 

My spirits brightened this morning as I saw a group of young people at DeToy's Restaurant. Safe assumption that it was a group of choir kids because they were accompanied by the guy called "Mr. K." John Kleinwolterink has been a pillar, both among the school faculty and at Faith Lutheran church. I should say "Faith Lutheran Church of west Morris." West Morris is largely a residential place. But it has a few landmarks like Wells Park, the museum and of course Faith Lutheran. 

"Mr. K"

"Mr. K" I'm sure is satisfied that his church is weathering the storm of the ELCA's broad decline. And ahem, the same cannot be said for the ELCA church on the east side of town. On the east side we have First Lutheran Church, or I guess I should say the former First Lutheran Church. Oh, some people will get mad at me for making such a reference. If the shoe fits. . . 

First Lutheran has not closed its building. . .yet. But it cannot take the trouble to have an organized activity there every Sunday. How pathetic that there are Sundays when the place sits idle. And to think I used to give $ to the place annually. Sad. 

And it is sad that there are two places in town associated with the ELCA, because human nature being what it is, they are going to compete to be seen as the more viable of the two. I felt uncomfortable about that even when First Lutheran was still going. The "capitulation" is over now. First Lutheran made the curious choice to partner with another Protestant church in Morris, Federated, which according to rumor was "circling the drain" with its fortunes. 

So, First Lutheran did this just to "help" Federated so that it might still have a pulse? I would disagree with such rationale. 

Seeing our MAHS choir at the restaurant this morning was invigorating, helped me climb out of the funk caused by so many unpleasant weather days with wind, cold and overcast skies. Such unseasonable cold over a long time, making us wonder how much summer we are really going to get. I'll have no hesitation about getting a deep tan this summer once the temps finally get there. Even a little sunburn? Yes. 

It took time for the MAHS choir group to get processed through at the cash register as they left DeToy's. I then told the server, who was a little harried by it all, that "the whole group could have been put on one ticket" and that "I'd be happy to pay." 

I have made financial contributions to the school's band program like for the New Orleans trip. I might have gotten on board with choir too. I was never in choir at MAHS. Ironic, since my dad devoted his career to choir music and teaching. He taught for a year at Brainerd High School before he answered the call to serve in World War II. He was a lieutenant in the Navy in the Pacific. You'll see a little flag in the ground next to our monument at Summit Cemetery for Memorial Day weekend. I'm proud of that but I am skeptical of war. Oh my, I grew up during Vietnam. 

Right now we have the questionable U.S. incursion (not "excursion") into Iran, despite our president's one-time pledge to keep the U.S. out of "Middle East wars." And now we simply have to brace ourselves for a blast of inflation. It is simply like the law of gravity. It has to happen. The president expects us to pay this price. He thinks he can defeat the Pope in the public conversation. Can he succeed? 

Many of us wait for DJT's reach to start fading. Apparently the polls are really turning on him but look at the influence he still wields. Like in Republican primary races. Like in keeping AM talk radio in line. 

Tune in to AM talk radio in the middle of the night and it's almost unbearable: "piling on" versus anyone who is seen as critical of Trump in any way, shape or form. The talk is like schoolyard bullies. It is directed mercilessly against Republicans who lose in primary races because they refused to talk and act like clones of the orange man (who incidentally defecates in his pants). There seems no reversal. 

Our congressperson Michelle Fischbach goes right along with Trump, although it seems she doesn't mention him anymore in her email dispatches. Have you noticed that? Steve Boyd is waiting in the wings to take over for her, lest she speaks up in just a tiny way vs. Trump. Steve "Life Begins at Conception" Boyd. 

Can any ELCA church survive now? The ELCA does not kowtow to Trump and his ignorant and paranoid crowd. I suspect that the Good Shepherd Church people continue to be reverential toward Trump. I can do nothing about this, pilgrims."Mongo just pawn in game of life." 

But it's really not funny. Y'all will have to make some adjustment for inflation. The Iran situation was completely handled by the "Iran nuclear deal" in 2015. But the problem with that, was that it was negotiated by Democrats so Trump had to discard it. Can't give credit to John Kerry or Barack Obama. So here we are with our current reality.

 

Addendum: Here's a comment to Yahoo! News from someone named Marty. Maybe run this comment past our congresswoman out here.

 

The damage that Trump is causing to America and the world will take decades to repair. Trump needs to be removed from office as soon as possible. In October, check to make sure that you are still on your state's and precinct's voting rolls. In November, if you want to save our country, VOTE BLUE up and down the ticket. 

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

Boys build their stock with 17-5 rout

First if you'll permit me, which you probably don't want to do, I'll shed some light on our nation's macro picture with this quote from "Justin" on "Yahoo! News":

How are gas prices?

How are grocery prices?

How are housing prices?

How is the current cost of living?

What is the current national debt?

How are our depleted munition stores after starting a war for Israel?

Trump single-handedly turned the United States into a complete dumpster fire.

 

Celebrate school!

We're entering the most exhilarating week of the school calendar for most area schools. Graduations are a real "rush" for everyone. And then there's the hectic nature of spring sports reaching their climax. 

My long walk on Saturday took me past the softball complex in Morris where a tournament created excitement. Fans got in the best position they could for watching - not easy out there. 

Baseball! The boys sport has been going very well for the orange and black. A 4-0 win over Grand Rapids on May 16 put the Tigers' record at 14-5. The schedule says we'll be wrapping up the regular season on May 20 against Minnewaska at home. A 5 p.m. start time. Fans have the benefit of grandstand seating for baseball.

Click on link below to read about the baseball team's 10-0 win over Minnewaska on May 11 at 'Waska. This post is on my companion blog site "Morris of Course." Thanks as always. - BW

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2026/05/three-tigers-combine-to-pitch-shutout.html 

 

I'm very pleased to have been invited to two graduation receptions, with possibly a third invite coming. It costs me a little but it's a pleasure. Some years I get no invites. I was well-known among all the kids and their parents when I was with the newspaper. 

We are past the UMM and Hancock graduations. I have a long memory of covering all area graduations when I was with the paper. That includes UMM. Every year in Alberta for the 2 p.m. start time on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, like clockwork. But these days it's in Chokio. 

I learned that Alberta could no longer have a high school if it was just six miles from Morris. One of the receptions I'm invited to is for a C-A grad. 

I forfeited Memorial Day weekend as a time for "time off" for years and years and years. And in the end, was I shown any appreciation or consideration for that, at least from masters of the newspaper? Well no. Paper was owned by the Forum. The Forum has since disappeared from here, callous souls. 

I remember Lyle Hettver at the C-A event proclaiming with such gravity, "Thank God for small schools." I knew exactly what he meant. I sat along the front row of folding chairs. 

I was a student at the Morris school (eons ago) when it was inclined toward the "liberal" approach to things. I saw kids in the hallway carrying around the book "Autobiography of Malcolm X." I later read that book in college and thought to myself, "My God, was this actually assigned for high school kids?" 

 

Tigers 17, BOLD 5

The MACA baseball Tigers sure took charge in their Friday away game versus the BOLD Warriors. It was a rout, score of 17-5. We hesitated not a bit in showing our superior caliber of play. Seven runs came in, in the first inning. And holy cow, five more runs in the second. 

A bleak afternoon for the BOLD fans who watched at the Bird Island campus. These are stressful times for the BOLD school district: a "criminal investigation" in connection to school finances. The baseball team provided no salve for that. 

The Tigers ended up scoring in every inning. Our line score was 17-9-4. The BOLD numbers were 5-6-1. Congrats to the Tigers who had a number of individual contributors. Hunter Smith had a hit in his only at-bat. He stole a base and delivered a SAC fly. He walked twice, drove in two runs and scored two. 

Travis Buss also had a SAC fly. He got on via HBP, drove in a run and scored a run. Brayden Carlson showed patience at the plate with three walks received. These put him on base to score two runs. "A walk is as good as a hit." I guess we were reminded of that in "Moneyball." 

Hunter Westerman scored three runs, walked twice, got on via HBP and stole two bases. Jack Kehoe had an active bat with his two-for-three showing, and his RBI output was a robust four. One of his hits was a double. He scored three runs, walked and stole a base. 

The BOLD pitching was a little wild as we see that Ozzy Jerome also reached on HBP. He also reached by walk. He drove in a run and scored two runs. Alex Asmus went two-or-four with two runs scored. He walked and stole a base. 

Davis Mundal had a hit in his only at-bat and drove in a run. Riley Asmus had a hit, two runs scored, walked twice and drove in a run. Kye Suess had a hit in his only at-bat. Plus he drove in a run. Riley Saito went one-for-three, drew a walk and drove in a run. 

Carlson was our pitcher and he set down eight batters on strikes in his five innings. He walked only one. Just one of the runs he allowed was earned. 

Lots of highlights for the orange and black fans to celebrate. I wonder how many were present at Lions Memorial Park in Bird Island. Remember the old novelty bumper sticker "Where the hell is Bird Island?" From the 1970s. It inspired a copycat in Cyrus: "Where the heck is Cyrus?" (Cleaned up the language!)

 

Winning softball

Do the MACA softball fans find a lot of the games boring? Such one-sidedness so much of the time. Does Mary Holmberg exude some sort of magic touch or what? She reaches one new career milestone after another. I covered Tiger softball for the Morris paper way back when it all began. 1979, right? Games at Wells Park! State tournament in St. Cloud! Exciting times. 

And here we are all these years later. And how far will the 2026 Tigers go? The real question is: can we get past the southern Minnesota teams in section? Speaking of magic touch, the southern teams so often seem to have that. We'll see. 

"Maxpreps" tells us that Tiger softball blew out two opponents on Saturday here. Man, 15-0 over Alexandria! Over the "big town." And 15-0 over Grand Rapids too. Another big or at least well-known town. We can handle the northern teams. Soon we'll find out about the southern ones like JCC. 

"Minnesota Scores" has our record at 20-3. We won on three successive days with the success coming vs. West Central Area 14-4, DGF 8-4 and Border West 4-3. The Border West game was a rare challenge. They are a top Class A team. Includes Herman, CGB and Wheaton. 

Our pitcher Haley Kill has reached the 500-strikeout plateau. This came in a game versus St. Cloud Cathedral. She passed Mackenzie Weatherly in MACA annals. Kill is over 50 in career wins. On her way up she passed Tammy Kukla who I remember well and wrote about for the Morris paper back in the day. The radio station website has Kukla's name spelled wrong but I of course remember.

(Image from KMRS-KKOK site)

- Brian Willilams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

Owls overcome wind and Blackjacks

Seems almost surreal this morning (Friday) with the total stillness outside, after we have been ravaged and about driven nuts by wind! It is a paradise outside as I write this at 8 a.m. Forecast yesterday seemed to call for intense wind out of the west today. We're getting it from all directions, n'est-ce pas? 

Climate change? Remember that climate change means more "extreme weather." Now that I have written that, you have me pegged as a political "liberal." We're in western Minnesota where such a position is rare and maybe even a little risky to hold. I probably voted for Kamala Harris, right? Well, maybe I did. And if y'all are basking in the perverse pleasure of supporting our president, I feel sorry for you. 

One thing is for sure: there is no point in arguing with you. Enjoy church on Sunday where you can rub shoulders with all your kindred souls. Jesus would be MAGA, right? I do differ on that. "Blessed are the poor." 

The wind up through yesterday has me thinking that outside high school sports would have been miserable. It had to be. But the games plunged forward. I see where our MACA softball team survived its challenge from a strong Border West team. Score was 4-3 at home. There won't be a rematch in post-season because the two teams are in different classes. 

Did the Thursday game draw a good fan turnout? The Morris facility is a miserable place to try to find a good vantage point. Have I written about that enough? 

Sad how our high school athletes are subjected to the vagaries of springtime weather. The winter season is indoors and with no such impediment. 

 

Emphasis Hancock!

This is a special post for me to write because the focus is going to be on Hancock softball. I hardly ever write about Hancock these days. For years and years I did all the sportswriting for the Hancock Record newspaper when it existed. And now this morning I am told that the Hancock graduation is tonight. 

This year's grads were not born yet when I covered my last Hancock graduation for the area print media. My last one there was in 2006. It was emotionally rough. The Hancock graduation sort of tugs at your heartstrings. Small school charm. The romance of tradition. I wonder if it all pretty much follows the same script. I remember the song recording that was played for the slide show that showed the grads through the years. I remember how band director Ken Grunig had his percussion section start off "Pomp and Circumstance" in such a sudden way, I would literally jump in my chair! The grads deserved something grandiose like that. 

I was charmed with all the proceedings. I often sat next to Katie Erdman. I hope a few people remember me. I absolutely was not ready to give any of this up in 2006. When life gives you lemons, I guess you have to just accept the bitterness. Forum Communications eventually left Stevens County. 

I remember that in 2006, the Grunig twins graduated! The old counselor Gary Olson was back to extend best wishes.

 

Owls 7, Dawson-Boyd 4

The Owls and Blackjacks got together on the softball diamond at Hancock. Both teams scored in the early innings. Hancock scored two runs each in the first and second, and D-B did likewise. But the D-B girls would score no more. Hancock enjoyed a three-run fifth. 

The Owls survived four errors. They were outhit 5-3. I see familiar names in the stat report like "Nuest." Abby Nuest reached on HBP, stole a base and scored a run. She drove in two runs. Mariah Hoberg had a hit and stole two bases. She scored a run and drove in a run.

Abigail Boon went two-for-three with a run scored and RBI. Sophia Nagler walked and scored a run. It was ditto for Diana Rodriguez: a walk and a run scored. Taylor Nesvig walked, stole two bases and scored a run. 

Nagler got the pitching win with five innings of work, three strikeouts, one walk, four hits allowed. Nesvig put her arm to work for two innings, four strikeouts, two walks, one hit allowed.

Tragedy up north

Peril of the strong winds? We get word of a tragedy up north that took the life of a UMM student. Cameron Walker lost his life in a drowning accident on Little Emily Lake, Crow Wing County. Walker was 19 years of age. 

We just had the joyous UMM graduation, now the joy is tempered. 

Cameron Walker

Walker was in a party of three on a paddleboat. The intense wind must have been a factor as the boat capsized. Well, that's the irresistible conclusion for me. (Don't ever underestimate water..) 

"Voice of Alexandia" tells us "Walker told dispatchers he and two women were in the water before the call unexpectedly disconnected." 

The two women were also UMM students. They survived. The three students were visiting the area. 

IMHO when in doubt about getting out on the water, stay away. There are news reports quite often about people making questionable decisions. They fail to assess all the possibilities. A canoe can get "swamped." 

I remember when I was a kid, my father would take me duck hunting and we'd go out on a lake in an old small wooden boat. And of course we were wearing heavy outerwear. Falling into the water could easily be life-threatening. Would I have been alert enough to realize I had to peel off my outerwear as fast as possible? I may not have been. 

We survived. I wish we had never done that. It wasn't even fun. I remember flocks of bluebills going overhead late in the season and sounding like a jet plane! The exotic ducks came from up north late in the season. The bufflehead!

  

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

Paper programs return for UMM graduation

(instagram image)

"Ski-U-Mah" here in Morris! Still not sure of the origin or meaning of that. But it's cute, certainly traditional. 

It would be nice to hear the old "UMM Hymn" as part of the institution's graduation IMHO. Well everything here is "IMHO" because it's my online platform! I do thank any and all for visiting. Keeps a sense of value in my life. I was born with a journalistic inclination. And then along came Watergate that really reinforced that! Imagine the "Beltway" around our nation's capitol just teeming with high-priced lawyers, and in the end it was not lawyers who took down Richard Nixon. It was newspaper writers! A high-five all around please. 

We don't have near the power we once did. Everyone can find an online platform to get their ideas out there. It's nice with some limitations. 

How shall I share about the 2026 UMN-Morris graduation? First of all, always a plus to have the ceremony outdoors. I walked to campus from my residence on yet another cool day with the annoying wind. That cotton-pickin' wind. It's roaring outside right now on this Tuesday morning. 

The graduation was three days ago and it gave a fine overall impression. We might wonder if the number of UMM grads will stay in an acceptable range. We had the unusual mid-school year change in chancellors that really was a worrisome sign. My unimpeachable source within UMM told me that the outgoing chancellor  stepped down - actually was fired - because she balked at making cuts that were recommended by her superior. We sure got a reminder of the U of M hierarchy. 

And even the president answers to higher-ups. And I don't mean the regents, I mean the legislators. Ultimately it is the people closest to the purse strings that matter most. Are the regents overrated? I have come to suspect as much. They'll go after all the $ they can get from the state. But the state hones in to ascertain what is really going on. 

Whither UMM's future? We really have to wonder. And what was the true catalyst for UMM's mid-year shakeup with leadership? Hey it was the press or the "Fourth Estate." It surely retains power, even in our diversified media age. Erin Adler of the Star Tribune wrote an expose type of article that included the word "nosedive" in big headline type. Yikes! Well we had to concede that Erin was onto something. 

We want to root for UMM but we have to see that any shortcomings are addressed. "The press" can really lead us in the right direction. I have felt right along that some drastic news of cuts might come along not long after graduation, after the campus has gone quiet. Well, graduation is done. 

The ceremony was outdoors but I chose to watch most of it on the big screen at Edson Auditorium. We should always insert "Morrison Performing Arts Center" when we talk of the auditorium. The Morrison name has a long background with "the press" in Morris! The Morris Sun Tribune newspaper. "Sun Tribune" fades into history. It was a twice-a-week product, a bit much for the small staff to put out. That included me! How many of you still remember? 

I wrote about stuff at UMM before there was a UMM website, if you can imagine such a world. Took lots of photos and probably gave a little preferential treatment to the jazz music program! The Jim Carlson era at the school. "Talk about an enthusiastic attitude," my friend and fellow UMM advocate Warrenn Anderson has said. 

 

Refreshing surprise 

Hey, the 2026 graduation brought a return of the paper program! It was smaller than before, did not include a complete list of the graduates. I will compliment UMM on having the paper program again. People did not have to be told to use their "Smartphones!" I would like to see a return of the old programs for souvenirs. 

We still have in our household a copy of the program for UMM's first-ever graduation in 1964! I personally was present on the campus mall for the historic occasion. The U of M president was here! So here I am now in 2026 at age 71, still fortunate to take in the ceremony like all through the years. My health is reasonably stable. 

How big will future UMM graduations be? It can't be a good sign that we no longer have fully viable music groups composed of almost 100 percent current students. The band and choir once graced the event in a way that frankly we took for granted. So a friend and I would exchange notes about how good they were. 

Was there no attempt to present a vocal group this year? I don't recall any. What would Ken Hodgson say? My, what a showcase the "concert choir" once was, performing at any opportunity. 

And the band? Alas, the present incarnation of UMM band needs "community" to stay afloat. It's right in the name. A community band is a fine concept but frankly I would expect UMM's band to present itself exclusively as "UMM" with nearly all student members. We sure still have a music department out there. So I scratch my head a little. 

 

Double-take 

I was a little shocked Saturday to hear the "COMMuniversity band" play "Dixie" as part of a medley. That tune is an echo of the antebellum slaveholding South. At UMM of all places? Well, I doubt anyone cared much if at all (except me). But it was a wonderful day if you can overlook the wind. 

I had one personal friend among the grads and I got to see her get her diploma on the big screen at Edson. This was Addison Gentry. Congratulations Addison! She's from North Central Minnesota. She plans on continuing her education at Hamline. Her long-term career goal is "family law." 

So again, "Ski-U-Mah" whatever that means. Hold on to your hats for any cuts upcoming. And let's never completely put aside the "UMM Hymn." An inspiring melody. I'm showing a little family bias here. 

Good luck to Chancellor Rodriguez.

 

Addendum: For a little perspective, let's note that South Dakota State University has 1600 graduates in its 2026 class. Congratulations Brookings SD. 

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com