The Absent Uncle: Just let me brag a bit ...

I’ve a pattern; every day has a routine attached to it. Aqua Fit class on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Grocery run usually on Tuesday, work in the yard on Thursday, and let’s not forget the garbage days to put out the trash and recyclables. Tidy up the garage, check the oil and lights on the car, plus a thing or two I don’t think worth mentioning. It’s kind of the retirement thing.

But one of my favorite days – Wednesday mornings – I log on and check the Brandon Valley Journal. Oh sure, I check to see if my article appeared and what editing may have been done to it. Mostly I agree with any changes I see from my original submission, and then I pretty much look into what is going on with your community through the view of the Journal.

And I can keep up.

I did visit Brandon last year, just to see what it was like, and I liked what I saw. A vibrancy, growth, people who wanted to say hello, and a school system that certainly has earned the title of the best in South Dakota.

But I want to tell you – one of the true assets of your community – is this newspaper and the driving force behind it – my niece – Jill Meier. Every week this publication provides up-to-date local information, important happenings, recognition for individuals, and just generally what newspapers were and are supposed to do for the communities they serve.

In this fast-paced world and in the ever-present push to control expenses we may have lost sight of the importance of solid, true, and to the point communication at a local level. The newspaper business is a business, we can’t lose sight of that, but it is a true service to the community and an essential one that needs to be supported both through subscriptions and local advertising. The more subscriptions, the more effective the reach through the ads and the subsequent sales for the business. And the money stays in the community.

I have lived in many localities and believe your city/area is blessed by the vision of those who brought the Brandon Valley Journal into existence and what Jill has done and continues to do to publish this weekly newspaper. Please, keep it going – keep it growing.