To the end of Parade magazine in the Tribune.

Today is the last day Albert Lea Tribune readers will find Parade magazine inside. The Albert Lea Tribune has provided Parade magazine to the Tribune audience for many years, and we are sad to see it go. We know readers will miss it too. We’ve heard mention of Parade magazine in conversation, we’ve seen it on coffee tables, and just last month we saw an Albert Lea reader featured in the “Ask Marilyn” column.

Parade magazine was sold to Athlon Media Group, a company that has decided to stop providing distribution to non-metropolitan areas. The Tribune looked into buying a subscription from its competitor, USA Weekend, which as of today will cease publication entirely. At this time we can not find a replacement.

The Albert Lea Tribune will continue its focus on bringing readers local news that they care about and improving on a proven track record in 2015. We look to the community for help in sharing the important things in life. We want to know what you are doing within the community. We want to know what teachers are doing in their classrooms, we want see family photos of multiple generations, and we want to know how you are making a difference. Send us a photo of what is happening in your corner of the community along with a few sentences describing what is happening and identifying who is in the photo. Submissions may be mailed to the Editor at 808 West Front Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007 or emailed to lifestyles@albertleatribune.com.

 

To people who have donated to the United Way and Salvation Army.

It’s awesome to see how much money people have given to support these local nonprofits.

As of Tuesday, the United Way of Freeborn County had raised $506,000 for its annual campaign, and the Salvation Army had raised $199,000.

The United Way’s goal is $566,000, and the Salvation Army’s goal is $298,500.

With only just a few short days left in the year, we encourage the community to continue to support these organizations, which in turn support our community members.

 

To law enforcement officers who participated in Shop with a Cop.

We applaud members of the Albert Lea Police Department and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office who volunteered their time last week to accompany area underprivileged youth on a Walmart shopping spree.

Walmart Foundation donated $100 gift cards for each child, and the youth picked out gifts with the officers for family members, friends and themselves. Once they spent their money, they took their gifts to a section of the store to be wrapped by other volunteers, many of which were family or friends of the officers or from the school district.

Walmart provided treats and beverages for the families, and Santa Claus was on hand, too.

It was a positive experience for the children involved and a way to get to know the officers better.