To the editor:

Thank you to everyone at the Journal for keeping our local newspaper alive and vibrant. Although the Journal is no longer a true daily paper, your newspaper brings us important local and regional news five times each week.

The Journal keeps us informed concerning local government issues at meetings of the city council, county board, and District 88 board. My neighbor, Amy Zents, was recently added as a freelance reporter. She does a splendid job with her local human-interest stories. I look forward to every column authored by Randy Krzmarzick. He is often humorous and self-deprecating, and always thoughtful. My Journal subscription allows me to keep up with local and regional school sports.

The letters to the Journal demonstrate a robust but respectful diversity of views, the Constitution’s “marketplace of ideas” as characterized by Mr. Justice Holmes over a century ago. And a weekly favorite of mine is the section on local news from fifty and one hundred years ago. There is always something of interest from the past!

These things and many more make the Journal a great value. As newspapers around the state and country are being discontinued or slimmed down to the point of being worthless, the Journal continues to serve our community and the surrounding area in important ways.

Thank you to everyone at the Journal for all you do.

John R. Rodenberg

New Ulm