Local Culture

Gymnasts Landyn (above), Amari (top right) and Jas (bottom right) compete in Crete, NE at Sokol Western District Competition. Photo Credit Elisha May Jacobsen.
Community Reporter 2 min read ,

More Than Cartwheels and Handstands: Sokol Gymnastics

Over the weekend of April 4-6, seven gymnasts from Sokol Minnesota Gymnastics traveled to Crete, Nebraska to participate in a meet with other Western District Sokol Gymnastics programs. The Western District Competition is held once annually and is the only gymnastics meet the Sokol Minnesota team competes in, making it a highlight of the year for the gymnasts. Team members Amari, Norah, Maeve, Shae, Laura, Jas, and Landyn took home individual medal placements, and some even performed a “special number,” a team dance with tumbling throughout the choreography.

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Tom Johnson
Tim Johnson 3 min read ,

Paying Attention

The moral of the story was pay attention. At least, that was what my dad suggested as the take away lesson. It was hard to argue with that conclusion. I was at a home town basketball game. I had a front row seat, a great spot to watch the game. The ball slamming me in the face caught me totally off guard. My broken glasses lay on the ground. All eyes turned toward me to see if I was OK. I was caught between shock, embarrassment and the sharp stinging on my face. As my dad later that night rightly observed, when you are sitting in the front row, it might be a good idea to pay attention to the game rather than chatting it up with your friends. You never know when an errant pass might be coming your way. 

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Tom Johnson
Tim Johnson 3 min read ,

The Necessity of Empathy

My grandson’s shoe was missing. He is just 13 months in age and has been enjoying the value of upright mobility for the past month or so, making footwear important. On a warm sunny afternoon, the playground we visited was full of other children with either their parents or grandparents. The adults, like the children, engaged in the type of friendly conversation of people meeting for the first time.

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