Hello.

I think that's as good a way as any to introduce myself to Shakopee.

I am a new staff writer at the Shakopee Valley News, starting my first day on this cold January morning. Starting a new job always brings a bundle of nerves as there are new people to meet, new methods to learn and new stories to write.

However, this new start isn't necessarily a foreign concept. As a weekly newspaper reporter, there are always new people to meet, new ways of reporting the news and new interesting stories to tackle each week. New is just part of the job.

I come to Southwest Newspapers from Litchfield, Minn., where I was weekly reporter for nearly three years, covering everything from dairy farms to school concerts, armed robberies to local pageant queens, new businesses to elections. I suspect the readers here in Shakopee are interested in much the same things – maybe not the cows – but things that matter and affect their daily lives.

I look forward to being a part of the Shakopee community and writing about your news.

Kristin Holtz is a staff writer at the Shakopee Valley News and can be reached at kholtz@swpub.com.