AITKIN — In 2020, Stephanie Mirocha became a Minnesota master naturalist. Her father, who regularly led "Tree Treks" in St. Paul's Como Park, inspired this achievement.
Mirocha's father died in 2019 and her new memoir, Tree Trek: A Daughter's Walk Through Grief, blends her personal story while highlighting the importance of nature in our lives.
"I have always loved trees. I've loved nature and this book is about a shared love for nature, that kind of bonded me with my dad," Mirocha said in a recent KAXE Morning Show interview.
Mirocha now leads Tree Treks herself at Como Park, where she tries to make each one unique. She said people show up because they want to learn more about different tree species. And just like her father, she maintains informational tags on 39 species throughout the park. Maps are available online for self-guided tours.
Tree Trek: A Daughter's Walk Through Grief is available from Holy Cow! Press.
Have you had a meaningful tree in your life? Tell us about it!
-
Chelsey Perkins/KAXESeventy more stops, expanded hours and more vehicles in the fleet makes the free AV service available to more MN communities, including those on Leech Lake Reservation. -
Contributed/Second Harvest Northland Facebook pageAs SNAP benefits dry up during the government shutdown, hunger-fighting experts offer advice to maximize the generosity of community members. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe coalition argues that the ag department is illegally choosing not to use a SNAP-specific contingency fund established by Congress. -
Contributed/Nashwauk-Keewatin School DistrictTwelve Northern Minnesota teams will race in the Twin Cities on Nov. 1, 2025, plus 37 individual qualifiers from across the Northland. -
Contributed/Grand Rapids ArtsThe $5,000 grant from the Region 2 Arts Council is intended to allow Indigenous creatives from Northern Minnesota the opportunity to further their work. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAitkin, Badger, Clearbrook-Gonvick, Cook County, Crosby-Ironton, Deer River, Hibbing, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Wadena-Deer Creek, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, Warroad & Win-E-Mac are the districts with special elections. -
Plus: 13 school districts in Northern Minnesota are going to voters for financial support on Nov. 4, 2025; and scores of Northland athletes will compete at the state cross country tournament this weekend. -
Contributed/Beltrami CountyThe Beltrami County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 in favor of demolishing the current jail after construction on the new facility on the south side of Bemidji is complete. -
Contributed/Minnesota State Patrol via FacebookToward Zero Deaths aims to reduce the number of deaths on MN roadways. The Hwy 169 Task Force formed in response to 10 fatal crashes between Grand Rapids and Keewatin since 2019. -
Contributed/Madison McVan / Minnesota ReformerThe 440,000 Minnesotans who typically rely on SNAP for food are likely to seek help from food shelves instead. Most SNAP recipients are children, seniors and people with disabilities.
