Since 1897, the Albert Lea Tribune has told the story of Freeborn County, from Alden and Glenville to Clarks Grove and Wells. We have been there to cover all the top stories. Among them sports champions, rocker Eddie Cochran, actress Marion Ross, the Black Sunday Tornado, the construction of two interstates, the vision of the first U.S. industrial park, the Farmland plant blaze, the impact of ethanol, the dedication of the Freeborn County Veterans Memorial.

We are proud of the relationship we have with our readers. In the Albert Lea Tribune, readers can find an engagement photo or a meeting announcement on one page and on another they can find honest, direct, award-winning news and photography generated by the news staff. Together, they document the history of Freeborn County. This blend of work by readers and journalists is called community journalism. There are no awards for how close a community is to its newspaper &8212; but if there were, Freeborn County and its Tribune would rank high.

It is a relationship that can&8217;t be duplicated because it has lasted for 110 years.

We wouldn&8217;t have it any other way.

Thank you for reading the Albert Lea Tribune, which this year celebrates 110 years.

– Send it in

As part of our 110th anniversary, we want to publish a commemorative edition.

It will have 110 people, places and things that changed the Albert Lea area, but that list will largely be decided by you. You can send us photos or stories or both. If you have a historic photo, you can stop by the Tribune and we will scan and and return it to you on the spot.

Please, keep the written submissions to 500 words or less. We like it when photographs have captions. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Aug. 17.

The commemorative edition comes out Sept. 14. Our address is:

Albert Lea Tribune

110th Anniversary

808 W. Front St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

Or e-mail us at: news@albertleatribune.com

In the subject line write, &8220;110th Anniversary.&8221;