In the last couple of weeks, I have received some nice compliments about the work we do here at the Faribault County Register. And some thank you’s for everything we do, and for having all the coverage we have, and for some particular stories that we have had in the newspaper.

That is always a nice thing to hear. Anytime you have someone tell you that you are doing a good job, it can make all the hard work worthwhile.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We also always get our share of criticism, and some of it is well-deserved. I have always said that if someone makes a mistake at their work, only a few people know about it. In the newspaper business, if we make a mistake, a couple of thousand people notice it, because we mailed it to them.

I am not sure about the reason for the recent praise for the newspaper and the thank you for putting photos or stories in it about local events and people, but again, I admit it is nice.

In truth, though, that is just what we do. Our job is to cover local events and do stories about local government meetings, and school events and sports.

There are some newspapers and TV news shows that are now touting about being “All Local, All the Time.” Here at the Register, we have always been all local. We only cover Faribault County, and trust me, there is enough going on in Faribault County to keep our news and ad and graphics staffs plenty busy.

We don’t cover any state or national news, unless it has a direct bearing on Faribault County.

But, if something happens in Faribault County, trust me, we want to cover it, write about it and take a photo or two (or more) of it, if it is at all possible.

Anyone who thinks there is nothing going on out in rural Minnesota is dead wrong. I would only have to show them my desk calendar (yes, I have a desk calendar) for the month of May which is almost totally filled with events to write about, take photos at and cover. Even Wednesdays and weekends are pretty much filled in.

That is good. We never lack for news and sports and features and photos to fill our pages.

Of course, it is advertising that determines how many pages we will have. More ads, more pages. Fewer ads, fewer pages. That is just how it works. More color ads, more color pages. That is the way it has always worked in the newspaper biz.

Some of the recent comments about our work here at the Register included the comment that they were glad we were here and still putting out the newspaper every week. That included a hint of being concerned about the future of the newspaper, as they had heard about many newspapers, in Minnesota and elsewhere across the country, ceasing to be published.

It is definitely an issue in this business.

It boils down to support. If people support their local newspapers, the newspapers will survive. If they don’t subscribe, or place ads, or even read the paper, then its future is bleak.

Same goes for all of our small-town businesses. The slogan is “Use them or lose them.” If you don’t shop locally, well, businesses in small towns cannot survive without strong local support.

Many people do local, but also many people do not. I am saddened when people tell me about all the shopping they do in bigger cities or online.

For me, I have always tried to get as many items locally as I possibly can. I try hard to support my local stores, restaurants, services and other businesses. Because I know, they support our community in a variety of ways, and they also support our newspaper, as well.

It is a team effort.

The next time you need to go shopping or get something done, or go out to eat, just pause a moment and think about whether you could go to a local business to get that item, or service or meal.

The dollars you spend will support that community where you spend them. Consider that next time.

Now I have to get back to work. This particular edition of the Faribault County Register is soon being sent off to the printing plant and we are already getting ready for another full week of covering the news all around Faribault County in the coming week, and all summer long.

Again, thanks for reading us. And thanks for your support of our newspaper business and all of the businesses in our towns in the county. We truly have some good ones. So, let’s support them.