Editor: The Watchdog

Have you ever wondered, “Where would you go to find the info on this page if you didn’t have the newspaper?”

Well, your schedule would start to look a lot like ours, because you now have lots of meetings and events to attend, some occurring simultaneously. We have 4-5 people covering things (which sometimes isn’t enough) because this is a happening area! With events like Nights on Broadway, the Lavender Festival and summer library programs, “Oh, the fuel you will burn as you go all the places!” Like a less fun version of the Dr. Seuss book.

For records, some of it can be found online, but some government agencies may charge a small fee to individuals accessing records, like on THP’s website. For obits, you now have eight or so different area funeral home websites to check.

A lot goes into every edition and update online. It is definitely a team effort. It can be exhausting at times, and we all make sacrifices for the job, as with anything in life, but it’s worth it.

The newspaper is vital to a functioning democracy; it’s the watchdog.
It informs on issues and celebrations and can be a rallying cry for anyone needing community in the wake of a tragedy.

It is the good, bad and ugly of our history – a mirror for society. Sometimes we may not like the reflection, but information gives us the tools needed to change what we cannot accept.

People have been saying for years, “Newspapers are dead.”

We’re 156 years old, and as long as you keep reading, we’ll be here. We all grow and change as we age. Your paper has become more digital and immediate to keep up with the times, but we’re not dead. Actually, we have a lot more readers online, from all over the world. So, don’t write us off just yet, please. Thank you for reading your local newspaper.