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This edition will mark the last paper of the year for us.  This year we have seen it all. Highs, lows, employees come and employees go.  Through it all, we have managed to make this paper one of the best in the country.  As we round the first turn into the new year, we are striving to make improvements to the Press and Search.  I vow that you will see an improved newspaper and shopper in the next year.  Our goal is to be the best local source for news, information, and events.  We think we already have a pretty special paper, but like anything in this world, there is always room for improvement.  Thank you for reading, and thank you for being part of my life.

  I would like to take this time to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.  Christmas is a magical time, where people can all somehow get along.  Christmas is the single most important day in the church.  Easter is a biggie, but this is the day when Jesus was born and thus a savior was given to all.  For all of you who are non-believers, I apologize (no scratch that), but even you have to admit that Christ is in the name Christmas.  God has blessed us (I am speaking of us as a community) in countless ways, too many to count.  This Christmas keep Jesus in your heart and the true meaning of Christmas will overcome you.  Merry Christmas to all!

  I might have mentioned this last week, but it bears repeating.  There is a fund set up for Duane and Karen Noles.  They are the people who intervened in a family dispute trying simply to protect a defenseless woman.  They were beaten very badly, in fact Duane was very close to dying.  These two are from Lindstrom and they need our help.  The fund is at Lake Area Bank in Lindstrom.  Funds raised will help the family with mounting medical bills which already are beyond imagination.

If you can, either drop by or send a check to the Duane Noles Fund at Lake Area Bank, PO Box 743, Lindstrom, MN 55045.  Thank you.

  Speaking of donations, I recently took yet another full load of clothing to the homeless shelter.  If my Chisago Lakes math is working properly, that is the 14th car load delivered.  14 car loads!  That is amazing.  That deserves one massive "Thank You" to you the community for donating.  It is so easy to clean out one's closet and find multiple items that you never wear.  We are all guilty of holding onto things with the thought "I might wear that someday".  This last delivery was filled with winter clothing. I think we hit at the right time, because the worker who assisted me was very emotional when he saw how many items and what they were.  So please, please accept my deepest thank you and keep them coming.  

  On a side note to the last donation, our wonderful friends at North Branch Therapy had a winter gear drive that they donated to our last delivery.  They and their customers were able to collect a huge box of winter hats and mittens to be donated to the homeless.  I have known the folks at North Branch Therapy for a while now, and they are some of the nicest people on the Earth.  Thank you.

  I hope you had a chance to read about our job opening here at the Press.  We are looking for someone special.  If you are a person who loves our community, who loves to meet new people, and would love nothing more than to see our local businesses succeed, I would love to speak with you.  The position I am referring to is our community representative.  Most places call them sales people, but I refuse to.  Why?  Because we here are not trying to get out and make a sale.  It is that simple.  We have one goal, and that is to nurture local businesses.  If you think you fit the bill, or if you know of someone I just described, please, I highly encourage you to contact me here at the Press.  You can email your resume to [email protected] or mail to PO Box 748, Lindstrom, MN 55045.

  This year my family badgered me repeatedly for Christmas gift ideas.  As usual, I said nothing.  Then I started to think back when I was young and we had to buy presents for my dad.  He ws the hardest person to buy for.   He always said that if he needed something he would go out and but it.  Scary sometimes how much I remind me of him.

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