“Pass It Forward”: Help Us Shape the Future of Journalism Dear Reader, Today, I invite you to be a part of something extraordinary – the MMC Internship Program. The “Pass It Forward” …

“Hallo” Halloween! Dear Reader, Halloween, rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, has evolved over centuries into a beloved modern holiday. Originally known as Samhain, it marked the end of the …

On the Great Pumpkin and Autumn Fairies Dear Reader, Everyone always talks about the great pumpkin that somehow appears on Halloween. And yet no one seems to have seen it other than perhaps Linus and …

Renewal Patrick Wood Dear Reader, Last summer while on a family trip to Quebec City, my 16 year old grandson Dylan asked me if I would zip line over the waterfalls. Before they strapped on the …

Celebrating on the Road Patrick Wood Dear Reader, I have been on the road for the last week in Spain hiking the Camino (the Way), which is a religious pilgrimage that travelers have followed for …

An open letter to the Senators and Representatives of the United States Patrick Wood Dear Senators and Representatives, I write to you today as a concerned citizen and a newspaper and digital …

Why Do We Fall In Love? Patrick Wood Dear Reader, Humans fall in love due to a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Love is a complex emotion that helps form strong emotional …

Driving The Body Hard Patrick Wood Dear Reader, We all take life at a certain pace. Some are chill and let it happen. Others are more deliberate and plan it all out. And then there are those that are …

Amity Patrick Wood Dear Reader, There is a certain amount of joy in reuniting with a group of old friends to reminisce about cherished memories while also creating new ones together. We emphasize the …

Cast a Long Shadow Patrick Wood Dear Reader, We all walk through life with a shadow. Our shadow follows us wherever we go. It is visible in semi-darkness and invisible in the stark light of day. In …

A Journey To Peru Patrick Wood Dear Reader, This is a story of a missionary, a mission, a family, and a community of learners. Sister Marie Esterre was a devoted nun of the Sisters of St. Joseph of …

Political Integrity Meets Lower Local Newspaper Postal Rates Patrick Wood Dear Reader, We must reflect on ourselves. We have witnessed instances where politicians misled or defrauded us, thinking …

Waupaca County should deny permit Everyone in Waupaca County should be paying attention to what is happening in the town of Scandinavia. In case you weren’t following, the town board unanimously …

Cloak of Deterioration Dear Reader, Patrick Wood As we age, we often conceal certain truths. We put on a facade of strength and control, pretending that nothing has changed and everything remains the …

Waupaca County residents, beware I was told that for a Conditional Use Permit for a non-metallic mine to be blocked in Waupaca County, we would have to argue substantial evidence as codified in …

Abbot Pennings Forever Dear Reader, Patrick Wood In the quiet suburb of De Pere, Wisconsin, Abbot Pennings High School stood as a beacon of education and community spirit for over 90 years. The …

That Old Gang of Mine Dear Reader, Patrick Wood The day has turned the corner at midnight. The moon pierces through the treetops to a haven by a lake with a name that doesn’t matter. The frogs are …

Happy Fourth of July Patrick Wood Dear Reader, On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the declaration of independence, declaring the 13 American colonies as a new nation separate from …

Fifteen Minutes of Fame Dear Reader, I recently viewed a colored sketch that Andy Warhol made of Marilyn Monroe. His 15 minutes of fame statement came to mind. Whether it is 15 minutes, 15 months or …

A real man – on Father’s Day Patrick Wood Dear Reader, It’s tough these days to be a man. In fact, I’m sure there are a lot of boys out there searching to be a “real man” in a world that …