Publisher’s Perspective

By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune

My wife, Kim and I headed to the State Fair on Tuesday.  It was the first we’d attended since 2019.

The pandemic had cancelled the “Great Minnesota Get Together in 2020 and last year we were like thousands of other Minnesotans and skipped it because we really were not that comfortable being among so many people right at the time another coronavirus varient was again surging.  Anyway, it was nice to be there again and a lot of people had the same idea because the fairgrounds was packed by noon.  

We accompanied our youngest son and his wife and their two daughters for the day.  At just over 6 months, one of our granddaughters is too young to know what she experienced this year, but the three-year-old had a great time.  She especially liked some of the treats her grandpa purchased for her.

Kim and I always enjoy going to the State Fair and we try to pick a week day and go as early as possible to avoid the large crowds that usually fill the fairgrounds by mid afternoon.  I can’t really name a favorite place or food at the Fair this year.  I was just glad to be watching and experiencing everything through my granddaughters’ eyes.  That, in itself, made this 2022 trip to the Fair my favorite.

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Once again it’s a short week for the staff at the Pope County Tribue & Starbuck Times.

Monday is a federal holiday–Labor Day– and of course we can’t get our newspaper printed or mailed on that day.  So, we publish it on Friday.

That’s been going on for the Pope County  Tribune for decades.  It’s relatively new for Starbuck Times readers, but thank you to all our readers for their understanding.  We’d rather get the newspaper out a day or two early than a day or two late.  If you’re reading this, you know your newspaper came a early this week.  It isn’t easy for our staff to put out two newspapers in four days, but we always manage to do it with the help of our readers and businesses who adhere to earlier deadlines.

The news, however, doesn’t always cooperate.  There may be some Friday–Sunday events that are normally covered in a regular week, but because we printed early Friday morning, that wasn’t possible this week.  But, if it was newsworth and we’re aware of it, it will be in next week’s issue.  If it is some kind of breaking news, check out our website. Again, thank you to all our loyal readers and advertisers for their understanding about how a Monday holiday affects this publication.