Probably a dozen times in the last six months I’ve said “I really should write a column” about this or that. And then I’ve moved on with my day.
That’s my first confession. My second is this — column writing doesn’t come naturally. I’ll stare at a blinking cursor on my laptop for minutes at a time.
Even so, in talking with a few different people over the last several weeks, I’ve realized that there’s some curiosity for a newsroom update. And so, I forge ahead.
I don’t think it comes as a surprise to say it’s been an unusually eventful season in Wells County. Since I began as editor in August, there’s been a seemingly endless Rolodex of news — numerous changes within the Health Department, a murder in Markle, a kidnapping investigation … and so on.
When our newest reporter, Jonathan Snyder, started at the end of October, we had cautioned that November and December would be pretty full with holidays and year-end items but that the first quarter of the year was often quieter. By mid-January, Jon very respectfully questioned the accuracy of that sentiment as Sydney Kent and I rattled off the laundry list of items that had popped up that week.
January began an unfortunate hat trick of auto accidents for our staff, which I kicked off. After being T-boned by a vehicle running a red light, I jokingly sent a picture of my crumpled car in the intersection of Main and Wiley to publisher Doug Brown — “Do we need photos for tomorrow?”
For the record, by the standards of a total-loss crash, I feel fortunate — nobody involved was seriously injured, and I was already purchasing a new vehicle. But it was also deeply frustrating, especially amidst the “seemingly endless Rolodex of news” previously mentioned. I’m incredibly thankful for those who supported me in the following weeks — and also for a fortune cookie that January night which read, “Everything will come your way.”
My immediate response was, sarcastically, “Just like that Nissan Altima” … but perhaps that was a bit nearsighted.
January was also the first time I was still writing something from the night before as our lovely printing press staff arrived in the early hours of the morning. In my experience until then, that honor had been solely born to sports editor Ryan Walker’s Friday night football coverage. I regret to say I’ve since gotten a little bit more used to it — and a little bit more dependent on our wonderful local baristas.
So, if there’s any merit to a cookie’s fortune, I think it was far more likely in reference to continued sagas, dissolved partnerships, contentious public meetings — oh, and a solar eclipse. That last one was pretty fun though.
If there’s ever an argument for the importance of staying up-to-date on local news, it’s right now. Late nights (often followed by early mornings) have abounded, but not without import. And so, we forge ahead.
holly@news-banner.com
