Ogden column: Your Page taking a break

The “Your Page” as it looks today is going on a vacation, but your content is not.

Please.

With the high school and college sports seasons gearing up and with our expanded coverage of the University of Iowa football team this fall, we are making changes in how our community content is displayed.

But make no mistake, your stories about your interest still are very important to us.

We started this endeavor in December and today is our 37th community-driven page. The response has been so good, we've actually had to hold stories for a week or two to give them the play they deserve.

Many thanks to folks like Rick Hollis and his nature features and photos, Chad Cooper and his small-college reports in the paper and on The Sports Desk, Adam Rees and his fitness/nutrition tips, and running tips from Erin Moeller and golf tips from Steve Charters.

And thanks to all of you who have contributed once or twice the past eight months. Keep it coming.

We will continue to find room for your stories and photos - from new writers and old - in our Sunday Sports section, as well as throughout the week.

All of your stories also will continue find a home at www.TheGazette.com, under my “Community Corner” blog. I will continue to populate that blog with my own thoughts and ideas, but it is a spot reserved for your stories and photos.

So keep sending me your features about go-karting and motocross, running and biking and whatever else crosses your mind.

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Our high school journalism program is just getting started for the 2012-13 school year.

We have three visits set up next week - with Central City students coming here and trips to Marion and Cedar Valley Christian - and another in September.

But we are looking for many more. Our goal this year is to visit the more than 90 high schools in areas reached by The Gazette and KCRG.

The message is the same - we want to showcase your talent on our websites and, possibly, in the paper while also adding content and coverage of your school and your programs to our websites.

We once again will be awarding two $500 scholarships to contributors at the end of the school year and also draw for prizes after the fall, winter and spring/summer seasons. We are giving away Kindle Fires this year.

If you are interested in this program and me visiting your school, contact me at (319) 368-8696 or jr.ogden@thegazette.com