We will sit down with friends and family to a wonderful Thanksgiving gathering Thursday. We will eat too much and be drowsy for some of the day. But there is something that goes with Thanksgiving we can’t get too much of.

 

 

I think about our opportunity to practice something most-cherished and should be talked about more often - our opportunity at the Citizen-Tribune to come to work each week and practice our art and our trade, publishing a weekly newspaper each Saturday, without infringement by our government.

 

It is our government that protects our right to send that newspaper to your doorstep each week.

 

The first amendment to the U.S. constitution guarantees this inalienable right, along with rights to practice the religion we choose, to gather where we wish and to speak about all subject-matter.

 

This is the most powerful law in the history of the world and we need to keep it fore-front in our minds as we go about our daily business.   

 

And so, on this Thanksgiving, we will pause for a moment and utter a word of gratefulness to these powerful things that help us in our lives.

 

God Bless America and all the wonderful people and institutions that help us preserve our freedoms.

 

I might pass along thanks for all the talented people who walk through the doors to the Citizen-Tribune each day, smiles on their faces and ready to contribute.

 

Let’s recognize them:

Roberta Hibbison, Clearwater, who serves as our front office manager, handles legals, classified ads, community announcements and helps remind me of the things I need to be doing.

 

Chris Meyer, Becker, our bookkeeper and resident maintenance person. He does maintenance so I don’t foul it up. He also reminds me of financial things I need to be doing.

 

Carol Hanson, Becker, our new advertising sales representative, though she worked for me for eight years way back at the West Sherburne Tribune. She’s starting to get the knack of reminding me of the things I need to be doing.

 

Bill Morgan, Big Lake, our longtime staff writer, outstanding photographer and graphic arts specialist. He thinks it’s funny when the Vikings beat the beer-bellies from Wisconsin, for which I will forgive him - just this week.

 

Melissa Lowell, Buffalo, a Becker graduate, who is excellent at advertising composition and page pagination for the paper. She’s also getting used to grabbing me as I head out the door Thursday reminding me I haven’t put together a front page layout. Alzheimers? Nah.

 

Penny Leuthard, Clearwater, cheery staff writer-photographer who always brings light-heartedness and a home-spun goofy story to share at staff time Wednesdays. She can drop that Batman doll business, though. To think she hauled her three-foot doll into township meetings a while back.

 

And to our longtimer, Mary Erickson Nehring, Paynesville, a Becker graduate and former BHS boardmember. Hers is a heart of gold, a sales disposition no less than a stalker (her words) and a monthly column that celebrates our wonderful residents and their stories. Yes, she stalks me, too.

 

You getting the picture? I’m losing my mind - and they’re following me around.

 

Happy Thanksgiving.