Our View: This is icing on a cake baked long ago

By some important accounts, you are reading the “most outstanding weekly newspaper” in Minnesota. And we could not be more proud.

As you can read elsewhere in this issue, your Pine Knot News won 33 awards and a trophy at last week’s Minnesota Newspaper Association online awards ceremony. And while we take credit for boldly creating a new Pine Knot just a couple of years ago — in a climate not particularly friendly to newspapers — we credit you, Carlton County residents and former residents, for making our paper so good.

It’s you, the readers, who have subscribed and supported the paper. Without you, we could not provide the level of reporting you expect from a quality weekly newspaper. We acknowledge the contributors who enthusiastically supply news tips, photos, calendar items, articles, and columns often in exchange for nothing more than a byline and a thank-you. Such support shows that our community appreciates a news outlet that is hyper-local, focused and unbiased.

And those who support the paper financially through advertising, subscribing and some donations — your support is critical. We appreciate you.

It’s nice to be recognized by your peers. But it’s even nicer knowing that the community appreciates our paper. You didn’t let us down. We promise to not let you down, either.

We offer thanks for the award. It would not have happened without you.