Uproar in a small town.  

The Iron River Library in Iron River, Wis., is a vibrant, popular place. A welcoming place for all, where everyone can find information of all kinds for free.

Our library has experienced attempts of late to have books that contain info on LGBTQ+ and Trans people removed from the shelves. The group is called "The Concerned Citizens of Iron River." I have attended 3 meetings about this subject. This is my experience.

On Sept. 14th I attended  a meeting at the Iron River Community Center. It was rented by the" Concerned Citizens of Iron River." The meeting notice said that only taxpayers of Iron River would be admitted, no library employees would be admitted, and you would have to show ID to the group. I arrived a 1/2-hour late, no IDs were being checked and the people conducting the meeting had not arrived. People were speaking and it was a respectful conveyance of thought and ideas. Two individuals arrived with a police officer in tow and proceeded to start kicking people out, media I believe. The books they were concerned about were laid on a table for people to inspect.

On Sept 19th the 2nd meeting took place. The meeting was at the Fire Hall training room. It was a hastily called meeting by the Iron River Town Board to remove 4 library board members because they did not live in the town's perimeter. There was a police presence inside and outside the packed hall. I think 4 Bayfield County Sheriff's deputies. (I have tried to verify with the sheriff's office but have not heard back.)  Everyone attending the meeting was warned that if they spoke they would be removed. The board summarily removed the 4 library board members.

3rd meeting was the Library board meeting on Oct 4th at 6 pm at the library. It was a packed meeting. There was no police present and everyone who wanted to speak was allowed to do so.  I find the differences in the meetings compelling. Police presence and controlled speech vs free speech and democratic engagement. Freedom vs authoritarianism.

To me our libraries are one of the last bastions of democracy and we need to protect the books that are held within it, (all the books).

Susanna Carroll – Iron River, Wisconsin    

My hero is a young loon  

Here’s the story.

For the past two decades I’ve been a “Loon Watcher” on New Lake near Goodland, Minn., reporting and filling out forms for the Minnesota DNR Nongame Wildlife Program. It’s been both rewarding and educational but now my term must end as we are planning to sell our lake home along with all buildings and land this fall.

There have been good years and unfortunate years for loons and loon chicks but generally lots of success. Last year was sad because eggs did not hatch and the pair of adult loons, long timers, did not survive the summer.

This year a new set of adults arrived about a month later than normal and successfully hatched one loon chick. The adults were good parents but as is normal, they left the lake about the first of September, leaving behind the smaller than normal loon chick.

Then immediately came the drama. I heard the chick screaming over and over and ran down to the lake. I saw an eagle attacking the young chick, not yet able to dive, struggling to avoid disaster. Soon the chick did learn to dive with each eagle attack and finally won the encounter. My hero!

There were no further loon/eagle incidents and my last sighting of the young loon was about October first when loon chicks typically leave. I hope this loon had learned to fly and makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico, to return to Northern Minnesota someday to start his/her own family.

If you live on or near a Northern Minnesota lake you can call the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program at 218-735-3962 to ask questions and/or to volunteer.

Jack Pick  – Goodland, Minnesota