Outside Looking In
There have been several rumors floating around town in recent weeks that the Mascot will soon be shutting its doors for good.
After investigating further, the rumor started from someone who shall remain nameless because they tried on three separate occasions to renew their subscription. I assured them we are not closing and that the Mascot is only open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and that if no one is in the office on those days, they are running an errand and there is a secured mail slot outside the door that can be used to pay bills and renew subscriptions.
There is also a sign on the front door telling the hours we are open and my phone number and email address if they have any questions.
After the rumor started circulating, I received several calls about the current situation of the paper and can assure you that the Mascot is alive and well. As with all small business, times have been tough, especially during the COVID period. But even before that, print media was struggling to compete with the digital age.
While most newspapers have seen a steady decline in subscriptions, we have actually increased our number of subscriptions the past year.
Advertising is still the key to a thriving newspaper business. January is generally the toughest month for businesses because it follows the holiday purchasing. Business owners tend to not advertise as often in January, which affects the print and broadcast media business.
The Mascot is surviving with a small staff and will continue to survive as long as advertising revenue continues. Local businesses have been overwhelmingly supportive of the Mascot with advertising, especially when we have special sections like state tournaments, Boxelder Bug Days, sports previews and Christmas.
We appreciate all the support we receive from everyone.
I tend to try and shop locally when I am in town to help support businesses whether they advertise with the Mascot or not.
To reiterate, the Mascot will not be closing any time soon. We will continue to try and put out a quality product each and every week.
The Mascot is open Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Again, if you want to pay your bill, drop off a press release, or even ask a question on days when no one is in the office, we have a black secured metal box outside our front door.
The Mascot prints the paper on Wednesday mornings each week with House of Print in Madelia. The paper then comes out on newsstands on Thursday morning. With this in mind, our advertising deadline is noon on Tuesday each week in order for us to have time to put your ad together and place it in that week's paper.
I hope that answers most of your questions, but if you have anything you would like to discuss, feel free to contact me.
A little historical note: The first issue of the Mascot came off the press on Sept. 4, 1891 and has been rolling along ever since. The Mascot's founder was J.P. Byrne, who had traveled to Minneota from Madison to become a school teacher. The first editor was J.F. Paige, a former publisher of the Montevideo Leader.
Story ideas
I am always looking for quality news feature stories. If anyone has an idea, please don't hesitate to let me know.
I thoroughly enjoy researching and writing historical-type stories, as well as other interesting stories.
Not living in town keeps me from being involved in the local "gossip mill" and I sometimes miss out on something that should be in the paper.
Feel free to email me with your idea at scott@thomabooks.com, or call me at 320-894-6007.
Pet of the Week
We are still looking for Pet of the Week ideas. This is a way to honor your pet free of charge. The Pet of the Week has been sponsored by Tri-County Veterinary Clinic in Taunton for the past year.
If you have a pet of any type that you would like to include in our paper, email me or drop off the information at the office.
Include the name of the pet, the owner's name, and breed, age and favorite activities of your pet. We have had dogs, cats, turtles, horses, fish, rabbits and more.
Jelly Bean contest
The Mascot is planning to host a jelly bean contest for Easter. We will have a large jar of jelly beans in our front window and the person who comes the closest to guessing the number of jelly beans in the jar will win a prize. Keep watching the Mascot for further details.