Everyone loves a well-told story. Storytelling is the connection that bonds humanity and communities such as our own. It is how we learn what’s going on in our schools, at City Hall, on Main Street  and on our athletic fields.

At the Pope County Tribune & Starbuck Times, we take our duty to tell stories seriously. Our reporters are committed to fairness and accuracy. But can never have enough staff to  allow us to be everywhere and to tell all the stories we’d like.

 We’re asking interested  readers to help us cover more.  And we’ll give you the formal training to do it, and then pay you for those stories. One more bonus: You’ll have a front-row seat to our community’s most interesting people, events and trends.

If you like to write, have a keen interest in how this community works and the people who make it unique, let us know. We’d like you to talk to you about becoming part of our extended newsroom team.

The stories we want covered are endless. We need stories about the people in the community, who have unusual hobbies or go on wonderful adventures. Stories about how folks who have overcome hardship and are helping others to do the same.

The Tribune & Times is joining with two highly regarded institutions, the nonprofit Minnesota News Media Institute – the education arm of the Minnesota Newspaper Association – and Bethel University to help train local citizens to become part-time or occasional reporters.

This new effort, Citizen Reporter U, offers grassroots training at a highly individualized level. Some of the state’s best journalists are leading the instruction. Retired and working reporters and editors are being recruited to serve as mentors. Together they have developed a curriculum that promises to make news reporting – or community storytelling – exciting, rewarding and fun.

Interested?  You don’t need a journalism background to be involved. All you need is some proof of a proficiency in writing (a well-written letter of introduction will do), and an interest in what’s going on around town.

Potential participants include community enthusiasts (but not political activists), retirees, parents and sports fans, journalism professionals who want to reinvest themselves, high school students ready to freelance, and adults looking for weekend or night-time hustles such as covering community events.

The training begins in mid-September, most likely from 4 to 6 p.m. one day a week. 

Best of all, it’s free. Costs are being covered by this newspaper and the Minnesota News Media Institute.

Interested? Need more information? Don’t hesitate to email me at tdouglass@pctribune.com.  

Remember, a strong newspaper is important to sustaining a vibrant, strong community. This newspaper and staff are  proud of our role in our community and are looking for a few local residents to enhance our local coverage.

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Glenwood is a step closer to allowing certain ATVs and golf carts on city streets as commissioners review and tweak proposed ordinances.  There will be an informational meeting on Aug. 31 soliciting public comments on the matter and then, city commissioners will consider those comments and likely approve the proposed ordinances in September.

It’s been a long time coming, but in a tourist town like Glenwood, allowing (and regulating) ATVs and golf carts is a positive step.