Sarah Nigbor

It seems like every time I’m out at an event in the community, I run into someone who knows me because they see my column or byline in the paper each week. I feel like I have friends wherever I go and it makes me proud of the work our newspaper does. My only regret is I wish we could do more!

While I enjoy sharing my life stories in this column, what I love even more is sharing others’ stories or hearing how something in the paper impacted someone.

For example, hearing that local 4-Hers like to cut out the Pierce County Fair photos and champion pages for their scrapbooks. Or how our features on the Great River Road Theatre productions help them sell tickets to their fabulous winter dinner theatre shows.

Every time I drive by the Humble Horse farm outside of Spring Valley, I think of Dr. Em Loerzel and her mission to save Ojibwe ponies and educate the public on their history. Meeting her and writing their story will stick with me for a long time.

If it weren’t for the paper, I never would have met Josie Erlandson, who inspires me every day with her determination, grit and joy. I’ve had the privilege of telling a few of her stories: How her beloved daughter Marlee May battled cancer and worked on her bucket list; how Josie and her sister trained for and completed the New York City Marathon; how she started a cookie business that is flourishing. Meeting people like Josie makes each community seem like home.

I love hearing from the grandma who is so proud of her grandson’s performance in football mentioned in the paper or from the local business owner excited to share their new venture.

I also appreciate the comments we get from people pleased by coverage of local meetings. While we can’t be at every single one, we try to hit as many as we can. It’s important to us to provide accurate information to voters about school referenda and candidates on the ballot in local races. It’s a huge compliment when someone tells me they were able to make an informed decision when voting in a local race thanks to our coverage.

Or what about the time a man needed a kidney and our story in the paper inspired someone to donate theirs? I still get chills when I think of it.

How many stories like these do we never hear or know about? 

Advertising is equally important in our paper, and we like helping local businesses showcase their wares, services and events. Obituaries give families the chance to tell the community about their loved ones and invite them to celebrations of life. Public notices tell people what’s going on in their backyards in regard to things like zoning, road work, municipal projects or development.

I fully agree with Kansas journalist Jeff Cott’s take on local newspapers: “There is no question that a community newspaper impacts the lives of people in a community, and in ways we may never know.  The stories that come from people because of their local paper are clear evidence that newspapers are more than alive and well.  They are busy breathing new life every day in communities across our country.”

We at the Journal won’t stop creating content that can shape people’s lives. We will continue to tell the stories of our community, to readers new and old. Because in the end, it’s the stories readers tell us and allow us to share that matter the most.

Happy National Newspaper Week!