THUMBS UP

Sleepy Eye Pond Hockey is back

Saturday, 12-teams teams from across the state and the Dakotas will compete in Sleepy Eye’s fourth annual pond hockey tournament. The tournament itself is an exciting event for hockey enthusiasts, but it also a fun event for the community. This year one ice rink will be dedicated to curling. There will also be scrimmages for the younger players who want to take part in the fun. Later in the evening the Sleepy Eye Event Center will host a concert featuring Mankato rock cover band Steele Prairie. It is great to see an area community embracing the season and having some winter fun.

THUMBS DOWN

Vikings getting our hopes up again

The Vikings did it to Minnesota sports fans. They got our hopes up that they could win the whole thing and then fell apart in the playoffs. The season started on a downward beat with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy getting injured immediately, forcing Sam Darnold to step in. Then against all odds, the Viking proceeded to do great up until the end. I think that is what makes it hurt so much. The season started on a pessimistic note. Fans had little to hope for, but then it came back only to be dashed again. Viking fans have become accustomed to this happening, but this year it just hurts a little more.

THUMBS DOWN

Iowa state senator wants to buy bottom section of Minnesota

It has recently made news that Republican Iowa State senator, Michael Bousselot, is planning to propose a bill to buy the bottom nine counties of Minnesota. The idea is for Rock, Nobles, Jackson, Martin, Faribault, Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore and Houston counties. Journal News Editor Clay Schuldt despises this idea. He was born in Houston County and doesn’t like the idea of his hometown moving to Iowa. The paperwork alone would be annoying. His birth certificate says he was born in Minnesota, but if the border changes, those records will confusing. It could complicate future drivers license or passport renewals. The deal would overall hurt Minnesota. The loss of population would likely mean one less congressional seat for Minnesota and a new one for Iowa. He would be more angry about attempts to buy the lower part of Minnesota if wasn’t a shameless mimic of recent calls from Trump to take control of Greenland, the Panama Canal or Canada. Schuldt says it’s mostly big talk to gain attention and be provocative. He doesn’t see this as a constructive exercise.