By Jana Peterson
When we started the Pine Knot News six years ago, people in the newspaper industry noticed. Admittedly, it was mostly shock — Who was crazy enough to start a brand-new paper? — mixed in with a flicker of hope.
It all started after my previous employer, the Pine Journal, closed its office here and moved operations to Duluth. A group of us felt strongly that Cloquet and Carlton County needed a solidly local newspaper that actually cared enough to have an office here and a paper producing original content about this beautiful place we call home.
Five of us chipped in money to make it happen: Rose Chu, Tim Franklin, Ann Markusen, Pete Radosevich and myself. I can confidently say we weren’t delusional. Since then, we have won more than 125 newspaper awards, and were awarded three times the traveling trophy for being the “most outstanding weekly newspaper” in the state from our peers at the Minnesota Newspaper Association. We also have the most local subscribers in the county by a long shot.
Since those early days, our experienced and dedicated employees have kept us going. That list of full- and (mostly) part-time staff has grown, and now includes Ivan Hohnstadt, Mike Creger, Brady Slater, Peggy Day, Darrell Davey, Linda Erickson, James Wiita, Janis Fairbanks and Joe French, plus Rose and myself.
While there’s no doubt the passion and dedication of our employees and owners is a huge part of our success, we have a secret sauce that makes the Pine Knot News really special: our local contributors and freelancers.
They are people who largely don’t have newspaper backgrounds and don’t work out of the office, but they have something to say, stories they want to tell or great photos, and a desire to make their community a better place. Some write or take photos more than others, but all of them share their talents to support the paper.
Like Jennie K. Hanson and Leola Rodd, who keep us updated on the doings in Wright, Cromwell and Carlton. Sports writers Kerry Rodd and Dwight Cadwell. Steve Korby, with his knack for finding stories about people who live or grew up around here and their various adventures. Tom Urbanski brings both photography and writing skills to the paper, writing about everything from beer to Nordic skiing and bike racing to interesting people. Francy Chammings cannot be pigeonholed, but always writes thoroughly and thoughtfully. And when he finds the time, Parnell Thill boldly takes readers to moments others might never share in his interesting columns.
The list goes on.
Ted Lammi thought he might want to be a journalist as a student at Denfeld, but instead became a pilot. Now he’s come full circle in retirement and is writing again. Recent University of Minnesota Duluth graduate Noah Beardslee balances being a new stay-at-home dad with covering the Cloquet Area Fire District and other issues.
Talented photographers Dan Saletel, Dave Harwig, Amber Nichols and Matthew Moses bring sports and community events to life, while AJ Miller brings a special perspective with his sky-high drone. We often enjoy nature and wildlife photos from Will Stenberg, but also willing to share are Mark Cline, Dan Malkovich, Mike Farmer and John Dahlburg, among others.
Our advertisers and subscribers are also a vital part of the Pine Knot.
Readers call or stop in at the office, share information, photos, stories they’ve written or just to renew their subscription and chat.
Our advertisers are an enormously important part of our newspaper and community and we definitely wouldn’t be here without them.
Like our country’s motto, “e pluribus unum,” says: Out of many, one.
One great paper.
One great community.
If you’re not already a subscriber, we hope you enjoy this week’s free paper and do your homework in advance of the election. And please consider subscribing. We’d love to have your support, and we think you will enjoy knowing more about where you live each and every week.
Notes: Pine Knot News editor Jana Peterson has been covering Carlton County for more than a dozen years. Contact her at 218-213-1231 or jana.peterson@pineknotnews.com. Story and photo republished from this week's issue of the Pine Knot News, with permission.