FROM MY SIDE OF THE FENCE

By Jeff Meyer, Publisher
Pelican Rapids Press

My pa.
What would be the best way to describe my Pa?
First of all, he’s my step-dad, and he introduced me to the newspaper business when I was in the ninth grade.
Growing up under his roof, I always said there was no way I’d be in the newspaper business. “Why would anyone what to do this?” I asked.
Back then, we lived above the newspaper.
He worked almost 24-7, and our home phone was the same as the newspapers.
We’d get phone calls at 7 am to place a classified ad.  
It was nothing to start up the printer at 10 at night or go develop a roll of film in the darkroom.
Much worse, he’d make me do it.
He was born with ink under his fingernails. His dad was a newspaper man and so was his grandfather.
So the ink was already pretty deep.
Long story short, he was publishing a newspaper in Wisconsin when budget cuts came and his position was one that got cut.
When Pelican Rapids had their run last year at the basketball tournament, I asked him for help.
To cover all angles, of course he abliged. We had three photographers ... Kelley, me and Pa.
We were going to capture the moment at every angle. “I think we accomplished it.”
Byron, my Pa, Instantly fell in love with Pelican Rapids. He seem to suddenly know the kids by name and became a true Viking, as he saw the fans pride spill out onto the court.
And I could see envy in his eyes.
At that instant I told him, “You need a town of your own.”
Not that he couldn’t  be a part of mine. He looked at me, with his eye brows frowning and a confused look on his face.
I said, “You need to run a newspaper so you can embrace the town and the school.”
Then, for Byron all the stars began to move as they began to fall into place.  
Today he’s the publisher of the Minneota Mascot.
It’s a small little town in Southwestern, Minnesota., with a population of around 1,300.
He started his new venture in July of this year and instantly fell in love with his new community ... Minneota.
Everyone embraced his changes at the newspaper and his writing style.
All the town folks knew instantly he was a sports fanatic.
And, as luck would have it, Minneota is very gifted in the athletic department.
So talented, in fact, they sent two teams to state this year.
And it just so happens Minneota’s nickname is, get this, The Vikings.
Their volleyball and football teams both competed for  state titles.
The volleyball team took second in state a couple weeks ago and the football team just captured the state championship.
And so, my Pa, Byron, still has Viking pride. Only this time it’s Minneota Viking pride.
Right now he is like a kid in the candy store.
Sports are his first love. And to have two teams in the big show, well, pretty much put him in a daze, I’m sure.
He’s dazed with excitement and dazed with Viking pride.
He knows as well as we do, it doesn’t come along very often.
So we have to cherish those moments.
As I think back to our accomplishments in Pelican Rapids and how it brought our town together, I have to believe the same thing is going on in Minneota for my Pa.
I couldn’t be happier for him.
GO VIKINGS!