Privacy Policy
Last updated October 21, 2026
The Lotawana News, LLC (“we,” “us”) publishes the Lotawana News and operates lotawananews.com. This policy explains what information we collect through our website, how we use it, and the choices you have.
Information we collect
- Contact form. Your name, email address and message when you write to us.
- Centennial submissions. When you share a story, suggest an interview or upload photos or video on our centennial page, we collect your name, email address and/or phone number, what you write, the files you upload, and whether you’ve given us permission to publish it. If you suggest someone to interview, we collect the name and contact details you provide for them.
- Store orders. When you order from store.lotawananews.com, we receive your email address and order details. Payment is handled by Stripe; we never see or store your card number.
- Website analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand how many people visit and which pages they view. It uses cookies and collects information such as your browser, device and approximate location. It does not tell us who you are.
How we use it
- To reply to your messages and follow up on stories and interview suggestions.
- To report and publish stories in the Lotawana News and, for centennial submissions, in Lake Lotawana centennial projects — only as described on the submission form and with credit to you.
- To fulfill store orders.
- To improve our website.
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.
Where it is stored and who processes it
We rely on a few service providers to run the website. Each handles your information only to provide its service to us:
- Our web server (hosted by Akamai/Linode) receives form and centennial submissions.
- Google Workspace — centennial submissions and files are stored in our Google Drive, and notification emails are sent through our Gmail account.
- Formspree delivers messages from our contact form.
- Stripe processes store payments.
- Google Analytics provides website statistics.
Google account data
Our server connects to our own Google Workspace accounts to store centennial submissions in Google Drive and to send notification emails to ourselves through Gmail. It uses only the narrow permissions needed for this: access to the Drive files it creates, and the ability to send email. It does not read our mailbox or anyone else’s Google data. Our use of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
How long we keep it
Messages and store orders are kept as long as needed to respond and for our business records. Centennial submissions are kept as part of a lasting archive of Lake Lotawana history unless you ask us to remove them.
Your choices
You can ask us to see, correct or delete information you’ve shared, or change your mind about publication permission, at any time by contacting us. You can limit analytics cookies through your browser settings or with Google’s opt-out add-on.
Children
Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.
Changes
If we change this policy, we’ll post the new version here and update the date above.
Contact us
Lotawana News, LLC
P.O. Box 6613, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
noel@lotawananews.com ·
(816) 916-1806