‘Pioneering’ has its challenges

Another week, another seven days of ‘newsing.’ 

As I think through the past week, nothing ‘news related’ jumps immediately to mind. I spent the majority of Thursday and Monday talking to folks, organizing future “news.” 

We have a new addition to our ‘newspaper team.’ 

Jon Lucca is now and has been for the past month designing ads for the paper. He’s incredibly talented and I count myself lucky that we found him. Prior to hiring Jon, it was kind of ad creation by committee around the paper. I have my production manager in New Richland, Reed Waller, but he’s aging and also semi-retired so that was really the last resort. Option two was my mother at the Journal. She simply doesn’t have the time. Also, I’m a fussbudget when it comes to ads and she’s more stubborn than I am. (It’s tough to tell your mom to do something over.)

So cross those off the list. 

Next was Michael Roy and myself. We’re both amateur graphic artists when it comes to ads. So, yeah. Adventures in the first year of newspapering in Waseca.

I say all of this because I told Jon something, “It’s challenging to sell newspaper ads: It’s really hard to sell bad newspaper ads.” 

Needless to say, I’m grateful Jon has come aboard. (Also, shoutout to his parents who were excited Jon now has a ‘real’ job.)

What else is new at the paper? 

We’re officially chamber members. It took awhile, but I finally just showed up and told Ann we would like to join. We had talked about it a few times and I was reminded, ‘when it doubt, show up in person.’ 

Kristie, the front office lady at the chamber was complimentary of the paper. We got to chatting and she showed me her attempt at ‘preserving’ a story in the form of laminating it. The paper had become folded in the process, so she asked whether I had an extra copy of the particular February edition. Yes, we do keep back copies on hand. 

I came back later in the day and, since the office was closed, taped the desired copy to their front door. My hope is they received it intact, but I realized the flaw in my plan the next day, when I realized it had rained the night before. 

Update on our building. There is no update. I’m still waiting on Mr. Mansfield to get the last of his possessions out of it. My plan is to move into the digs in May. 

Personally, I spent this past weekend with my family for Easter. My brother was hosting in his new home for the first time. That was something special, and hopefully a new tradition. I hope our readers had a happy Easter too. 

"I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and true love. Don't even try to tell me different." – Dolly Parton