Citizen journalists step up to fill a void, capture sporting events

I’m growing weary of the conflicting political polls offered up nationally, yard signs that scream for attention in the neighborhoods, political ads on television, social media and newscasters who are more opinion-caster than they are objective purveyors of news.

I’d rather focus on local folks.

A week or so ago, I had a phone call from a Kasson-Mantorville parent wanting to know if she could submit photos of K-M football and wrestling. I couldn’t get the words out fast enough, telling her, Tammy Kennedy, that we would appreciate her contribution to our sports pages since Alex Neuhring was furloughed due to COVID-19.

She was not the only volunteer. 

Mary Nelson, from Hayfield had called our editor, Karen Jorgensen earlier in the month to volunteer to submit photos of the Hayfield Vikings’ gridiron action. (At least one Vikings team in Minnesota is worth talking about.) Of course Karen was only too happy to receive her submissions.

Byron’s Coach Bahr has been submitting articles about his boys’ soccer matches in an effort to highlight the team’s accomplishments during this weird pandemic fall sports season. Stephanie Koza was Bahr’s assistant, supplying Bears’ soccer photos each week.

Wayne Hendrickson, a volunteer that has become like one of our staff members, has even photographed cross country for the DCI in addition to all of his features on folks from our neck of the woods. (We call him the Energizer Bunny.)

Karen commented the other day that John Huzuka had volunteered to photograph volleyball. (Our K-M intern, Chloe Farnsworth, is submitting volleyball stories and learning to capture photos.)

This type of community participation in gathering news, taking event photos and calling attention to our area student athletes is phenomenal!

To each individual stepping up to capture local athletes in action is impressive and speaks volumes about the caliber of citizen journalists we have in our area.