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As we approach the new year, we say goodbye.  Goodbye to one of the crappiest years I can ever remember. Goodbye to staying locked inside and not visiting with friends and family. Goodbye to people hating, yes hating, other people because of their political beliefs. Goodbye (hopefully) to those annoying words  new normal, super spreader, and my most favorite of all....unprecedented...yuk.  I get it, the pandemic is not by any means over.  And I am not saying it is, but the end is in sight.  And the end of my short list hopefully is right behind.  Someday we will look back and find something positive that came about from our quarantining all winter and summer and again the following winter, but for right now I can’t find a single positive.   Very negative I know, I am sorry.  Things can only get better - right?

But seriously - We wish you all the best this year.   Please be safe on New Year’s Eve.

We will have some exciting changes here at the Press coming in the next few months so stay tuned.

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Thanks so much to Craig Stockel and his many helpers that put on a wonderful Christmas community meal.  The meal was cooked and prepared at First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom and residents were able to pick up their meals via a drive-thru set up. They handed out over 230 meals this year! 230 - wow, absolutely amazing.  This is the 30th year of the meal which some doubted would even take place.  Thank you all who helped make a whole lot of people’s Christmas wonderful this year.

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The North Branch Area Chamber of Commerce has an opening for an exciting position. The Board of Directors is searching for an Executive Director who will have the opportunity to help define their own position. They are looking for someone who is a visionary, innovative, and a leader.  As with all nonprofits, the Executive Director will have numerous “irons in the fire”, with COVID-19 happening as well as additional staff changes. You will get to help determine the shape of things to come.

Don’t have Executive Director or Chamber of Commerce experience? That’s ok.

If you’re looking for a flexible position that is community based, please email resumes to [email protected].

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To you the readers, words can’t begin to express how very thankful we are to have you. You are the most intelligent, honest, caring readers any newspaper could hope to have. On top of that, you are smart enough to question things when they just don’t seem right and let us know if something needs to be looked into more deeply.

You always answer the bell when asked for charity, helping a neighbor, or any pressing community need. For that, I say thank you. I also would add that I am so very proud and humbled to be part of this amazing community.

We also have the best business owners in the world. We have formed a wonderful relationship with them over the years. we absolutely could not exist without your loyal business.

So to the wonderful businesses that advertise in our paper, I say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We will continue to serve you to our utmost best.

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