Tara Bitzan
Tara Bitzan is a lifelong Douglas County resident. She obtained a degree in Mass Communications/Print Journalism and English with a minor in Scandinavian Studies from Moorhead State University. She joined the Echo Press in 1991 and currently serves as the Life/Variety/Special Projects editor. She lives in rural Douglas County with her husband, Dennis, and their daughters, Courtney and Cayla. Follow Life Editor Tara Bitzan on Twitter at @TBitzan.Contact
Give your time, gain a friend
Neither Emily Peck nor Autumn Botz thought they were getting a lifelong friend when they joined the District 206 Student Match program, but that might be what has happened.Alexandria Echo Press, 01/09/2013
It's Our Turn: The odds are against you any way you look at it
5, 16, 22, 23, 29, 6. Those numbers just changed some lives in a very big way. According to Powerball officials, two tickets matched all six numbers in Wednesday’s lottery drawing to win the nearly $580 million jackpot. Imagine – $580 million. Can you imagine it? I can’t.Alexandria Echo Press, 11/30/2012
Touching lives with words
Linda Greseth of Alexandria has always dreamed of becoming a published author. That dream recently became reality, but not quite in the way she expected it to. Instead of writing a book, she wrote a song.Alexandria Echo Press, 11/23/2012
Wanted: A child to love
The Tungseths have been dreaming about their future children since before they were married on December 9, 2006. They knew conceiving might be challenging, because Bonni suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, a common female endocrine disorder.Alexandria Echo Press, 11/14/2012
Candidates debate senior health care
A crowd of about 100 people turned out last Friday for a legislative candidate forum on health care for Minnesota’s aging population. The candidates talked about senior care funding, nursing home reimbursements, alternative care options and other issues.Alexandria Echo Press, 10/05/2012
Electrifying Minnesota On exhibit at Runestone Museum
In today's world, many people don't think a thing of flicking a switch and having the room instantly lit up. But imagine what it was like for those who experienced electricity in their homes for the very first time.Alexandria Echo Press, 09/28/2012
It's Our Turn: Parenting is the toughest of all jobs
Wikipedia defines parenting as “the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.” Wish I had that definition when I decided to become a parent 16 years and nine months ago. At that time I relied on Webster’s Dictionary, which simply defined parenting as “the raising of a child.” That sounded a little more doable.Alexandria Echo Press, 09/28/2012
School tax levy may rise 1.9 percent
At its September 17 meeting, the Alexandria School Board approved a preliminary gross certified property tax levy for 2013 that is a 1.93 percent increase from the gross certified tax levy for the current year. The proposed levy of $11.216 million is approximately $212,000 more than the current levy of $11.004 million.Alexandria Echo Press, 09/21/2012
A memory to last a lifetime
While many of us were closely watching the Olympics from our TVs, 15-year-old Conor Allen of Alexandria was experiencing it first-hand.Alexandria Echo Press, 08/29/2012
Judging day held for 4-H Food Review, Demonstrations projects
Judging day for Douglas County 4-H'ers in the Food Review and Demonstrations project areas was held Monday, July 16.Alexandria Echo Press, 08/01/2012
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