It's all in a day's work (sort of)
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
“I didn’t get my paper this week,” the caller told my daughter last
Friday afternoon.
“What’s your address?” Caitlin asked, politely.
“The number is on the front of the house,” the caller replied. “It’s the
house with a table and two chairs on the front porch.”
Well, that ought to narrow it down.
So it was that after seven months as a customer service representative
(in addition to many other responsibilities), Caitlin encountered what I
thought to be one of those infamous crank calls. I immediately blamed
Caitlin’s aunt – my sister – Kathleen Fuller.
After all, it sounded like something Kathleen would do. Except, in this
case, she didn’t.
Meanwhile, if you know someone who didn’t get her copy of The Highland
County Press last week, and whose address is written on the front of the
house, and whose front porch is home to a table and two chairs, please give
us a call.
* * *
For many years, I was a fan of Reader’s Digest (the all-time best “home
library” reading!).
I still am an RD fan; I just rarely see the magazine these days.
Reader’s Digest used to – and perhaps still does – include a humorous
section called “All in a Day’s Work.” You may be familiar with it.
This was/is a forum for readers to submit humorous anecdotes about their
respective work experiences. There’s no shortage of such stories in a
newspaper office. In addition to being expected to know everything that’s
happening – or about to happen – in the community, we’re also expected to
have as much reference material on hand as the public library.
One day in another southern Ohio newsroom, I answered the phone and was
promptly asked for the number of the Portsmouth post office. After
explaining to the caller that I needed a moment to “look it up,” I was told,
rather abruptly: “If the number was in the phone book, I’d look it up
myself. I already looked under ‘P’ for Portsmouth and ‘P’ for ‘Post
Office.’”
Hmmm. All right, then. Since the customer is always right, it was
necessary to proceed with all due caution and respect. Which is what I
attempted, when I asked the fellow if he’d looked under “U” for “United
States Government,” since the post offices are federal offices.
* * *
Unlike in the olden days before the Internet was invented by some
Fortunate Son senator from Tennessee who lost his own home state in the
presidential election, newsroom staffers used to have to look information up
the old-fashioned way – in a reference book. Back then, a few books were
required staples of all newsrooms: a stylebook, a dictionary, a thesaurus,
an almanac, and most importantly, a telephone book.
Being one of the old-timers, I still have all of these books readily at
hand. But I’ll also admit that the Internet is a wonderful source — as long
as you know how to separate “something” from shinola when you’re conducting
those online searches. For all the credible sites on the Web, there are an
equal if not greater number of non-credible ones. Just be careful to know
the difference.
* * *
Speaking of work, Mrs. Hayes Kelley from the Mowrystown community
stopped by the HCP last week to pay for an annual subscription. (Thanks!)
Mrs. Kelley will always be appreciated by this Whiteoak graduate and
lifelong Ridgerunner for operating Kelley’s Market in Fairfax. Kelley’s
Market was situated at the intersection of three roadways: Ohio Routes 247
and 785 and Fair Ridge Road. For many years, this was a great country store
and gathering place for the locals. Mr. Morgan, Mr. Beatty, Mr. Michael,
etc. used to solve the world’s issues, seated across from the oil stove that
heated the entire store.
The store was well-stocked with all the necessities, from milk and bread
to freshly sliced luncheon meats and cheeses, to everyday staple items. And,
for those of us in the southern part of the county, they had also had a gas
pump out front. Very convenient.
The vast majority of those country markets of my childhood are long
gone. My dad and I stopped at many of them, from East Monroe to East
Danville to Samantha to Berrysville to Louden. They were like an oasis in
the desert for hungry workers at lunch time. We’d grab a loaf of bread
(Pennington was my favorite), a pound of Red Top baloney, a bag of potato
chips, and just maybe, if we were feeling special, a small jar of yellow
mustard, which we’d spread with a pocket knife. What a great lunch.
Seriously. (Like Loretta Lynn, this hillbilly never got tired of eating
baloney.)
Not far from home, small, rural communities like New Market and Belfast
continue to frequent such stores. I’m glad they do.
They’re a part of Americana worth supporting.
* * *
Have we been here for more than seven months, already? The honest answer
is yes, we have.
In seven relatively short months, with your support we have been able to
increase our news and feature stories, add several new columnists in
addition to several existing ones, and reach out to our neighbors in
surrounding counties. We’ve also added to our award-winning staff and, in
order to keep the bills paid, we’ve increased our number of advertisers.
(Thanks!)
In case you did not know it, The Highland County Press can now place
your business advertisement in four counties with widespread circulation,
and in two other counties with a small circulation (provided the thefts in
Fayette County have stopped). Perhaps I should point out that our Fayette
County delivery is handled by two men who actually think weightlifting is
fun. One wouldn’t want to be caught stealing newspapers by either of them.
For those businesses and individuals seeking an expanded advertising
base, The Highland County Press can now place your ads in Highland, Adams,
Brown, and Clermont County publications. Thanks to an agreement with Troy
Jolly and his staff in West Union, we can place your ad in The Informer, a
new, all-local newspaper with distribution throughout Adams County. And as
always, we continue to have store drops in select locations in Clinton and
Fayette counties.
Thanks primarily to an increase in advertising volume, we’ve managed to
survive through the traditional industry rate hike period without an
increase. We owe all of our advertisers – especially our local Realtors – a
great deal of thanks for that.
In looking back at our first edition, it’s very nice to report that the
vast majority of our advertisers are still with us. Thank you.
Our business plan is very simple. We pledge to provide great customer
service, with superior quality, and a competitive price. We do not charge
anywhere close to $1,600 for a page, nor do we plan to.
We want our customers to not only feel appreciated, but also to feel
like coming back. Your success is vital to our success. By working together,
we can help one another succeed.
We appreciate your confidence and trust and we thank you.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Friday afternoon.
“What’s your address?” Caitlin asked, politely.
“The number is on the front of the house,” the caller replied. “It’s the
house with a table and two chairs on the front porch.”
Well, that ought to narrow it down.
So it was that after seven months as a customer service representative
(in addition to many other responsibilities), Caitlin encountered what I
thought to be one of those infamous crank calls. I immediately blamed
Caitlin’s aunt – my sister – Kathleen Fuller.
After all, it sounded like something Kathleen would do. Except, in this
case, she didn’t.
Meanwhile, if you know someone who didn’t get her copy of The Highland
County Press last week, and whose address is written on the front of the
house, and whose front porch is home to a table and two chairs, please give
us a call.
* * *
For many years, I was a fan of Reader’s Digest (the all-time best “home
library” reading!).
I still am an RD fan; I just rarely see the magazine these days.
Reader’s Digest used to – and perhaps still does – include a humorous
section called “All in a Day’s Work.” You may be familiar with it.
This was/is a forum for readers to submit humorous anecdotes about their
respective work experiences. There’s no shortage of such stories in a
newspaper office. In addition to being expected to know everything that’s
happening – or about to happen – in the community, we’re also expected to
have as much reference material on hand as the public library.
One day in another southern Ohio newsroom, I answered the phone and was
promptly asked for the number of the Portsmouth post office. After
explaining to the caller that I needed a moment to “look it up,” I was told,
rather abruptly: “If the number was in the phone book, I’d look it up
myself. I already looked under ‘P’ for Portsmouth and ‘P’ for ‘Post
Office.’”
Hmmm. All right, then. Since the customer is always right, it was
necessary to proceed with all due caution and respect. Which is what I
attempted, when I asked the fellow if he’d looked under “U” for “United
States Government,” since the post offices are federal offices.
* * *
Unlike in the olden days before the Internet was invented by some
Fortunate Son senator from Tennessee who lost his own home state in the
presidential election, newsroom staffers used to have to look information up
the old-fashioned way – in a reference book. Back then, a few books were
required staples of all newsrooms: a stylebook, a dictionary, a thesaurus,
an almanac, and most importantly, a telephone book.
Being one of the old-timers, I still have all of these books readily at
hand. But I’ll also admit that the Internet is a wonderful source — as long
as you know how to separate “something” from shinola when you’re conducting
those online searches. For all the credible sites on the Web, there are an
equal if not greater number of non-credible ones. Just be careful to know
the difference.
* * *
Speaking of work, Mrs. Hayes Kelley from the Mowrystown community
stopped by the HCP last week to pay for an annual subscription. (Thanks!)
Mrs. Kelley will always be appreciated by this Whiteoak graduate and
lifelong Ridgerunner for operating Kelley’s Market in Fairfax. Kelley’s
Market was situated at the intersection of three roadways: Ohio Routes 247
and 785 and Fair Ridge Road. For many years, this was a great country store
and gathering place for the locals. Mr. Morgan, Mr. Beatty, Mr. Michael,
etc. used to solve the world’s issues, seated across from the oil stove that
heated the entire store.
The store was well-stocked with all the necessities, from milk and bread
to freshly sliced luncheon meats and cheeses, to everyday staple items. And,
for those of us in the southern part of the county, they had also had a gas
pump out front. Very convenient.
The vast majority of those country markets of my childhood are long
gone. My dad and I stopped at many of them, from East Monroe to East
Danville to Samantha to Berrysville to Louden. They were like an oasis in
the desert for hungry workers at lunch time. We’d grab a loaf of bread
(Pennington was my favorite), a pound of Red Top baloney, a bag of potato
chips, and just maybe, if we were feeling special, a small jar of yellow
mustard, which we’d spread with a pocket knife. What a great lunch.
Seriously. (Like Loretta Lynn, this hillbilly never got tired of eating
baloney.)
Not far from home, small, rural communities like New Market and Belfast
continue to frequent such stores. I’m glad they do.
They’re a part of Americana worth supporting.
* * *
Have we been here for more than seven months, already? The honest answer
is yes, we have.
In seven relatively short months, with your support we have been able to
increase our news and feature stories, add several new columnists in
addition to several existing ones, and reach out to our neighbors in
surrounding counties. We’ve also added to our award-winning staff and, in
order to keep the bills paid, we’ve increased our number of advertisers.
(Thanks!)
In case you did not know it, The Highland County Press can now place
your business advertisement in four counties with widespread circulation,
and in two other counties with a small circulation (provided the thefts in
Fayette County have stopped). Perhaps I should point out that our Fayette
County delivery is handled by two men who actually think weightlifting is
fun. One wouldn’t want to be caught stealing newspapers by either of them.
For those businesses and individuals seeking an expanded advertising
base, The Highland County Press can now place your ads in Highland, Adams,
Brown, and Clermont County publications. Thanks to an agreement with Troy
Jolly and his staff in West Union, we can place your ad in The Informer, a
new, all-local newspaper with distribution throughout Adams County. And as
always, we continue to have store drops in select locations in Clinton and
Fayette counties.
Thanks primarily to an increase in advertising volume, we’ve managed to
survive through the traditional industry rate hike period without an
increase. We owe all of our advertisers – especially our local Realtors – a
great deal of thanks for that.
In looking back at our first edition, it’s very nice to report that the
vast majority of our advertisers are still with us. Thank you.
Our business plan is very simple. We pledge to provide great customer
service, with superior quality, and a competitive price. We do not charge
anywhere close to $1,600 for a page, nor do we plan to.
We want our customers to not only feel appreciated, but also to feel
like coming back. Your success is vital to our success. By working together,
we can help one another succeed.
We appreciate your confidence and trust and we thank you.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]