Good news in Gladstone

Talk about it

What’s new in Gladstone? If it’s good news, ask Tim Dunnagan. He’s launched a newsletter that features only good news, profiles on residents, Top 10 lists, humor and free ads.

Dunnagan started “Gladstone Good News” in January and intends to print the newsletter monthly. The last 20-page edition — 135 copies — was published March 1 and is free.

Dunnagan moved to Dickinson from Las Vegas in July. A housing developer and landscaper, he fell in love with Gladstone and intends to build a home there for his wife, Jan.

“I’ve never lived in a small town and I wanted something different,” he said.

He said the “Gladstone Good News” is an opportunity for him to pay it forward.

“I feel I’m giving back — nobody pays for their advertising if they want to pay something forward,” he said.

Looking for property to purchase in Gladstone, Dunnagan observed three eagles flying overhead — a good omen.

“You can see the stars here,” he said. “When I lived in Vegas, I never saw a star in 23 years. It was time for a change.”

Dunnagan purchased the Gladstone depot and is remodeling it as a repository for art and memorabilia. He’s also planning a small restaurant and outdoor eating area.

“I want Gladstone to be a wonderful place,” he said. “People tell stories how great the town was when they were kids — that’s what I want too.”

Dunnagan described his newsletter as a mixture of the past, present and future — everything from photos of the 1919 Gladstone baseball team to the Skateboard Guy (Austin Marquardt) and upcoming theater performances at Dickinson State University.

“The newsletter isn’t patterned after anything,” he said. “I’m not a computer geek, I’m not a good writer — I’m a designer, that’s what I’m good at.”

Dunnagan uses curiosity to his advantage. He doesn’t hesitate walking up to a boy who is skateboarding at the post office and asking him why he hangs out there.

“I drive up and down the streets to help me relax,” he said. “That’s how I met Olga, she’s Russian — the sweetest gal you could ever meet.”

His interviews are condensed into the featured Gladstonian of the Month.

He’s published photos of flowers that are intended to put everyone in the mood for spring. He featured Gladstone’s The Pub, which is now open on Sundays. He profiled his wife’s book, “You get it when you get it … my journey from caterpillar to butterfly.”

He printed a page titled “very unusual deer sightings and rumors in Gladstone” and the Top 10 list suggesting reasons why Gladstone needs a major league sports stadium.

His research uncovered a photo of William E. Gladstone from the 1880s and why the city was named after him.

He publishes “What is it?” photos and challenges readers to identify them. And he publishes pictures of homes he is building and available for purchase.

Jan Dunnagan describes her husband as one-of-a-kind individual.

“He’s the kindest, gentlest man, who sees the world differently that most of us,” she said. “He’s a visionary. He can walk into a room that has nothing but white walls and see the possibilities.”

She said Tim doesn’t care to watch the evening news.

“He says, ‘How come we don’t focus on the good stuff?’ We talk about that a lot,” she added.

Jan said her husband sees himself as the mediator between the old and new — that Gladstone will be experiencing a lot of changes in the near future.

“He’s been part of the community of Gladstone from day one,” she said. “He wants people to realize how great their community is, yes it’s going to change, but let’s embrace the changes.”

Finally, Jan said her husband doesn’t take himself too seriously.

“I think the downfall of a lot of us is we get so wrapped up in life we forget to giggle,” she said. “I think he brings an element of charm and whimsy to people that maybe they’ve forgotten they had.”

Copies of the newsletter are available at the Gladstone Post Office, The Pub, Southwest Grain and Stix n’ Twigs Café in Dickinson. The newsletter may be viewed online at gladstonenorthdakotahomes.com/newsletter.

Tags: gladstone, dickinson, local