From the editor: Changes at the paper

To summarize Anthony J. D'Angelo, change is the only thing that will remain constant. That's certainly true in newspapers. We saw changes last week at the Duluth News Tribune, and next week there will be changes to the Budgeteer's opinion section.

Beginning next week, columnists Ralph Doty and Virgil Swing will write every other week, taking the top spot on the facing page. Our monthly columnists will remain the same, so the only voice you will miss is that of former editor and publisher Dick Palmer.

Palmer won't be writing his weekly column after this week. (Please read both his and Tom West's columns for more about Palmer and his long service to Duluth and the Budgeteer.)

There are several reasons for the changes, but money is, of course, a driving factor. See, our page count is not determined by the number of great stories we have, but rather by the number of advertisements. Lately, as you may have noticed, we've had fewer pages in the Budgeteer.

I needed more room, frankly, and cutting the number of regular columns in the opinion section will give me more flexibility in designing the paper. It will also free up more room to run letters and guest columns.

I know many of you have looked forward to reading Dick Palmer's column every week. I would love to hear from you, whether it's to scold or, better yet, to tell a great story about this remarkable Duluthian.

Perhaps Dick will write a guest column now and then, that's up to him.

We wish him all the best.