Oh my gosh! Summer is over and I totally forgot to write this column

By Chuck Hunt - Editor | Sep 6, 2026 My gosh, where did the summer go? Didn't school just let out a day or two ago? And now they are already back in session? As Kevin Mertens laments in his Snap Shots column, and others are saying as well, the summer just flew by this year, or so it seemed for me anyway. I suddenly realized that I had missed doing something I always do a lot of each summer – camping. This past summer we spent the least amount of time at our camp since, well, for many years. Yes, it was the weather (too hot or too rainy) and it also was the fact that we just plain were super busy every weekend, or so it seemed. Yes, we got there, but only for one day over a weekend. And I also missed doing something else this past summer. Somehow June, July and August whipped by so fast that I never did a Cheers and Jeers column during these three past summer months. I know, I can't believe it either. But I checked and the last one was at the end of May. So, for the one or maybe two people who missed seeing a Cheers and Jeers update, I will try and make it up to you here. June Cheers to the Blue Earth Area Business Professionals of America (BPA) members who went to Nationals. Cheers to Taylor Family Farms and their large $20,000 donation to the Faribault County Food Shelf. Cheers to the Wells Lions Club for their 50 years of service to the Wells area. A big Cheer to the United South Central softball team for their second in a row State Championship. They had to battle hard to get that repeat trophy, so congrats to them on their big accomplishment. And a Cheer goes out to each and every one of the Wells emergency personnel who helped deliver a baby and were commended for it. Actually those people deserve a Cheer every day for all they do. July A Cheer goes out to the New Chances Humane Society and their staff and volunteers for rescuing a family of dogs from a home in Blue Earth and then finding homes for all of the pups. And then later in July they rescued another 25 dogs from a house in Wells, and had to get busy finding new homes for all of them. In fact for all that they do, every day, they deserve a whole lot of Cheers. Each year we try hand out a bunch of Cheers to all those folks in the county who give of their time and volunteer to help put on their town's summer celebration. It takes a ton of work to get it done, so Cheers to all of you. We get to all of the celebrations and they were all fabulous this year. That goes for the Faribault County Fair Board and all of those who help them put on the fair. This year's fair was great and I hope you got out there at least once. Cheers to all those involved in putting it on. Cheers to the Town and Country Players and all those who helped put on the Wizard of Oz this summer. It was great. If you missed it, you missed out on seeing a wonderful show. A Cheer to Brenda Millmann and her efforts to have this American Exchange Student program, where kids from around the country come to Blue Earth, and BEA kids go out to places around the country. It is a wonderful program. August Like the Cheer to the Wells emergency personnel, a big Cheer goes out to the Blue Earth emergency personnel who were all honored for saving the life of Tom Juba. We are blessed in this county to have a lot of dedicated folks who are ready to help others when they need it most. Cheers to the three BEA music students who were chosen to go to the State Choir event. It was quite an honor for the students and the music program at BEA High School. We have to do a combo Cheer and Jeer to Mother Nature and the weather over June, July and August. We have had some hot temperatures near or at 100 degrees early on, but we have also had plentiful rain. However, sometimes that rain came in a storm, and sometimes it caused some flooding. And then there was that hail that hit a few places in Faribault County… So there you have it. A bit of playing catchup, because summer went by so fast, and suddenly it was back to school and fall sports happening. I can't believe I got so busy this past summer that I forgot all about giving out some of these favorite Cheers and maybe just a Jeer or two. I hope you had at least a few things to Cheer about during the past three months.