American Family will pay the cost of the camera for one year. Costs are estimated at $70 per month. The company realizes the money is well spent if it helps prevent accidents and save lives.

Thumbs up

To Henry M. Somsen, the 97-year-old New Ulm native honored for a lifetime of work for state parks, recreation areas and the outdoors.

Somsen, now of Rochester, was given the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota’s highest award this week.

Somsen, who was a lawyer in New Ulm, stayed out of the limelight and never sought attention for what he did. But his deeds were staggering in their breadth and forward thinking.

He joined the Minnesota Council of State Parks in 1955 — its second year of existence — and was a founding member of the Minnesota Parks Foundation in 1967.

He was instrumental in getting the Parks Council to buy land in 1968 that would eventually become Afton State Park.

The area and state owe Somsen and those like him who had the vision to protect land for wildlife and for future public enjoyment.