Thanksgiving is exactly one week away, kicking off the holiday season. But it is not stuffed turkeys or visions of sugarplums that are dancing in my head.

Nope, my thoughts are preoccupied with … February? Yeah, my mental time warp has cost me three holidays and the start of winter but that is what often happens this time of year.

I really don’t have any special fondness for the second month of the calendar but every winter The Tribune's staff starts to focus on one word: Profile. Some people are thinking about receiving gifts but we are already thinking about giving ours - Profile - the monster special section that focuses on you and your community.

At more than 100 pages and more than 60 local stories, last year's edition was one of our best ever. But don't for one second think we are content. This year's section promises to surpass last year's effort with an exciting and entertaining collection of stories that span all aspects of our world.

Despite what some of the smart mouths here at The Tribune have said, Profile is not a four-letter word. In fact, Profile is our pride and joy, our best work. And it takes each and every one of us, from classifieds to the pressroom, from advertising to composing, from newsroom to circulation to make it happen.

And although the finished product won't land on your porch until Feb. 26, the work has already started. Every year, at about this time, we start the process of creating the massive undertaking that we hope offers something for everyone. This year is no different.

But really, we need you -the readers - to help us. We want to know what types of stories you want to see.

Know someone who has an interesting story they are willing to share? Let us know.

Know a cool story from Lawrence County’s past, present or future? We would love to hear it.

In fact, we will be asking you for help directly. From now until February, The Ironton Tribune news staff will from time to time be asking for input and guidance. On the bottom right corner of the front page, we will ask questions, drop hints and teasers and seek sources for some of the stories on which we are working.

Lawrence County is filled with interesting people but we need your help to find some of them. We want the newspaper to be more interactive.

Ultimately, we want to create a newspaper you can enjoy and in which you can take pride.

So, remember our present to you will come a little after Christmas. But if it is the thought that counts, we hope this year's edition of Profile will really add up to an exciting read.

Michael Caldwell is managing editor at The Ironton Tribune. To give a Profile 2006 tip, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 13 or by e-mail at news@irontontribune.com.