Like all games, this game of being a sports writer for me is coming to an end next week.

For the past three years Iíve been a part of the Forest Lake community in a way that I would have never expected.

Iíve developed friendships not only with the coaches I talk to on a weekly basis, but with Forest Lake High School activities director Joel Olson, his assistant Ann Skoglund, the wonderful student athletes, the athletic trainer Valerie Haapala, grounds keeper Tom Marcio and Maroon and Gold Arena manager Darrell Nelson just to name a few.

I canít forget to mention the fine folks in Columbus Township that I shared the second and fourth Wednesday of every month with. While I may not necessarily miss the meetings, Iíll miss the people.

When I was offered a new job elsewhere I was reluctant to leave the Forest Lake Times because of the fact that Iíve built these relationships and truly enjoy writing about all the outstanding accomplishments of the fine young men and women of Forest Lake.

Ultimately I chose to accept the position though because it was the right thing to do for my family. I am moving on to work as a communications specialist with Allina Medical.

While my new job wonít have me covering all the sporting events in Forest Lake, you will probably see me at some of them as I keep an eye on the athletes Iíve been writing about for three years.

I suppose it will be strange to actually sit in the stands at The Ballpark at Schumacher Field or stay in one place at a football game instead of running up and down the sidelines trying to got that one ìkeeperî of a photo to put in the next issue.

Enough about me leaving. Iím excited to tell you about something weíre starting here at the Forest Lake Times that will allow readers to purchase many of the sports photos we publish, as well as those that never make it into the paper.

Thanks to the web site dotphoto.com, weíre able to offer our photos at a reasonable charge to our readers.

To purchase a photo itís really quite simple.

There will be a link to dotphoto on our web site www.forestlaketimes.com. Simply click on that link and it will take you right to the Forest Lake Times photo albums.

Readers can peruse the albums and pick out the photos they like. Once a photo is selected, it can be cropped any way desired. Once all the photos are selected and cropped credit card information is required along with a shipping address and dotphoto ships the photos right to the readers house.

Itís as simple as that. No more calling our office to see if we have any extra copies or us clogging up e-mail boxes with the images.

The printed photo dotphoto mails out is of high quality and is supposed to last for years to come.

This service will also be utilized for other events other than sports. Events like the Fourth of July Parade and other festivals may show up in the photo albums.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605