Thank you for a memorable first year

Thank you for a memorable first year

   “I am not the editor of a newspaper and shall always try to do right and be good so that God will not make me one.”

– Mark Twain

   Mark Twain – Samuel Langhorne Clemens, if you please – was a lot smarter than I’ll ever be. 

   One year ago this week, at precisely 4:53 p.m. Aug 24, 2009, I sent the following note to my wonderful former co-workers: “Thank you for everything.”

   A moment later, I sent a brief, polite and respectful letter of resignation to my former employer. In spite of our two decades of a mutually beneficial business relationship, the former employer did not respond. Nor has he. (Not a problem.)

   Three days later, on Aug. 27, 2009, it was announced that the newly formed Cameco Communications, LLC had acquired The Highland County Press from Mr. William Latham and the Sun Publishing Group.

   Mr. Latham founded The Highland County Press 11 years ago as an all-local community newspaper. For the past 12 months, we’ve done our level best to build on that tradition – despite a few unforeseen and unprofessional obstacles lobbed in our path like a juvenile tosses water balloons on Halloween night. (Not a problem.)

   This week’s edition of The Highland County Press completes year No. 1 for the present publishing team, which includes: Vice President of Operations (and half a dozen other titles) Angie Matticks, Graphics Designer Lisa Wharton, Sports Editor Stephen Forsha, Classified Advertising Manager Caitlin Ryan,  Managing Editor and Director of Online Content and Development Brandy Chandler (who is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest professional title in the Free World), and Office Manager Rosemary Ryan.

   This is an award-winning newspaper and online media development team and I am honored to work with all of them. I’m also amazed that they put up with me.

   In addition to this impressive staff, we are also blessed to have a number of equally competent contributors.

   * My son, Colin, was our first sports photographer, covering last year’s “fish fry game” and the season-opener against Western Brown, won by the Indians, 41-32, in Coach Brian Spicer’s first game. Thanks, Colin.

   * My wife, Pam, has contributed as a proofreader of both the print and online editions and she has managed to maintain some semblance of order at home while I am off doing whatever it is I do. How we got through last year’s business transition with one daughter in college and a son in high school, playing two sports, and you working as an RN in two counties, I’ll never know. Thanks, Pam.

   * My daughter, Meghan, now a schoolteacher, has filled in as a customer service representative, salesperson and proofreader. Thanks, Meghan.

  * Jim Matticks produced our first online videos and also helped greatly in some of the newspaper office renovations. Thanks, Jim.

  * Bill Horne, a college professor, has been writing columns for many years and is always quick to point out my misinformed opinions. He agreed to write for the HCP last summer, and I’m glad he did. He’s a good man. Thanks, Bill.

   * Gary Lewis, the Hillsboro City Auditor, also has been writing newspaper columns and maintaining a local website for a few years. In my opinion, he is one of the best public servants in Highland County. Like Bill, Gary’s a good man and we’re fortunate for his weekly columns. Thanks, Gary.

   * Bob Patton is THE Highland County sports historian. He is a retired educator, coach and school board member, and he writes what is, without a doubt, the most popular sports history column in the region. His South Central Ohio League columns are well read throughout the league’s counties. Our e-mails regarding Bob’s columns are always positive. Thanks, Bob.

   * Jim Surber, a former Highland County surveyor, is the Darke County engineer. Jim is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known, and his writing certainly supports that viewpoint (even if he does like the movie “Idiocracy”). Jim was one of the people I really looked up to as a young man. Thanks, Jim.

   * Jerry Pruitt is a former real estate agent and a local historian for Mowrystown and Whiteoak Township. When my family moved to the Fairfax community in the late 1960s, Jerry was the real estate man who showed the house, not too far from Crooked and Whiskey roads, to my parents. His Mowrystown Recollections remain a popular HCP feature. Thanks, Jerry.

   (A point of interest for the Mowrystown community: Bill Horne, Jerry Pruitt, Jim Surber and I are all graduates of Whiteoak High School. Bill, Jerry and Jim were smarter than me in school, but I was ornerier.) How many newspapers in America have four Whiteoak High School graduates writing for them? This one does!

   * Mike Ballentine is a local minister and the director of the Highland County Homeless Shelter. His contributions are usually very popular – unless he mentions pajama shoppers at Wal-Mart! Thanks, Mike.

   * Suzanne Hopkins, the director of the Highland County Senior Citizens Center, has been on Page 3 for all but one edition in the past year. She was in the hospital the only week she missed her deadline. We forgive her. Thanks, Suzanne.

   * John Grimes, of the Ohio State University Extension, has been on Page 7 for the last 52 weeks. Because of our press time, we’re always a week off with John’s columns, but that’s OK. Readers enjoy his agricultural and educational updates. Thanks, John.

   * Kara Juillerat of Whiteoak High School has been one of the best when it comes to submitting local school news. Kara keeps it simple for the editors. She always includes a brief, well-written story and an attached JPEG photo with each news release to promote the Bright Local Schools. Thanks, Kara.

   * J. David McChesney and the staff at www.going1up.com. They provide a great online service for the newspaper industry. Thanks, David.

   * Our newspaper motor route carriers are simply the best: Debra Morris, Candace McCleese, Janet West, Ray Moore, David Lawwill, Sharon Boswell, Sherry Barnes, David Elliott and Todd Ralph. Thank you!

   * Tony Adams of The Clermont Sun and Brown County Press and all of the pre-press and press personnel who help us produce each week’s edition. Thank you.

   And thanks to so many more of you. People like Ruth Durham, Charlie McDaniel and Kris Cross, who have helped out with some deliveries of papers; our local librarians, the communications and public relations specialists who make their respective bosses look good, and the everyday citizen journalists who help make The Highland County Press a genuinely local community newspaper and website.

   Through all of our first-year trials and tribulations, though, we have been extremely fortunate to have very loyal advertisers, particularly the Highland County Board of Realtors and the local real estate and auctioneering business professionals.

   Their advertising support – and yours – allows us to do our best to provide a high-quality local newspaper and informational website for Highland County.

   As we continue to follow in Mr. William Latham’s footsteps by publishing a real, local community newspaper, we can’t thank you enough for letting us be a small part of your week.

   We do appreciate it. Thanks.

   Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.

“I am not the editor of a newspaper and shall always try to do right and be good so that God will not make me one.”

– Mark Twain

   Mark Twain – Samuel Langhorne Clemens, if you please – was a lot smarter than I’ll ever be. 

   One year ago this week, at precisely 4:53 p.m. Aug 24, 2009, I sent the following note to my wonderful former co-workers: “Thank you for everything.”

   A moment later, I sent a brief, polite and respectful letter of resignation to my former employer. In spite of our two decades of a mutually beneficial business relationship, the former employer did not respond. Nor has he. (Not a problem.)

   Three days later, on Aug. 27, 2009, it was announced that the newly formed Cameco Communications, LLC had acquired The Highland County Press from Mr. William Latham and the Sun Publishing Group.

   Mr. Latham founded The Highland County Press 11 years ago as an all-local community newspaper. For the past 12 months, we’ve done our level best to build on that tradition – despite a few unforeseen and unprofessional obstacles lobbed in our path like a juvenile tosses water balloons on Halloween night. (Not a problem.)

   This week’s edition of The Highland County Press completes year No. 1 for the present publishing team, which includes: Vice President of Operations (and half a dozen other titles) Angie Matticks, Graphics Designer Lisa Wharton, Sports Editor Stephen Forsha, Classified Advertising Manager Caitlin Ryan,  Managing Editor and Director of Online Content and Development Brandy Chandler (who is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest professional title in the Free World), and Office Manager Rosemary Ryan.

   This is an award-winning newspaper and online media development team and I am honored to work with all of them. I’m also amazed that they put up with me.

   In addition to this impressive staff, we are also blessed to have a number of equally competent contributors.

   * My son, Colin, was our first sports photographer, covering last year’s “fish fry game” and the season-opener against Western Brown, won by the Indians, 41-32, in Coach Brian Spicer’s first game. Thanks, Colin.

   * My wife, Pam, has contributed as a proofreader of both the print and online editions and she has managed to maintain some semblance of order at home while I am off doing whatever it is I do. How we got through last year’s business transition with one daughter in college and a son in high school, playing two sports, and you working as an RN in two counties, I’ll never know. Thanks, Pam.

   * My daughter, Meghan, now a schoolteacher, has filled in as a customer service representative, salesperson and proofreader. Thanks, Meghan.

  * Jim Matticks produced our first online videos and also helped greatly in some of the newspaper office renovations. Thanks, Jim.

  * Bill Horne, a college professor, has been writing columns for many years and is always quick to point out my misinformed opinions. He agreed to write for the HCP last summer, and I’m glad he did. He’s a good man. Thanks, Bill.

   * Gary Lewis, the Hillsboro City Auditor, also has been writing newspaper columns and maintaining a local website for a few years. In my opinion, he is one of the best public servants in Highland County. Like Bill, Gary’s a good man and we’re fortunate for his weekly columns. Thanks, Gary.

   * Bob Patton is THE Highland County sports historian. He is a retired educator, coach and school board member, and he writes what is, without a doubt, the most popular sports history column in the region. His South Central Ohio League columns are well read throughout the league’s counties. Our e-mails regarding Bob’s columns are always positive. Thanks, Bob.

   * Jim Surber, a former Highland County surveyor, is the Darke County engineer. Jim is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known, and his writing certainly supports that viewpoint (even if he does like the movie “Idiocracy”). Jim was one of the people I really looked up to as a young man. Thanks, Jim.

   * Jerry Pruitt is a former real estate agent and a local historian for Mowrystown and Whiteoak Township. When my family moved to the Fairfax community in the late 1960s, Jerry was the real estate man who showed the house, not too far from Crooked and Whiskey roads, to my parents. His Mowrystown Recollections remain a popular HCP feature. Thanks, Jerry.

   (A point of interest for the Mowrystown community: Bill Horne, Jerry Pruitt, Jim Surber and I are all graduates of Whiteoak High School. Bill, Jerry and Jim were smarter than me in school, but I was ornerier.) How many newspapers in America have four Whiteoak High School graduates writing for them? This one does!

   * Mike Ballentine is a local minister and the director of the Highland County Homeless Shelter. His contributions are usually very popular – unless he mentions pajama shoppers at Wal-Mart! Thanks, Mike.

   * Suzanne Hopkins, the director of the Highland County Senior Citizens Center, has been on Page 3 for all but one edition in the past year. She was in the hospital the only week she missed her deadline. We forgive her. Thanks, Suzanne.

   * John Grimes, of the Ohio State University Extension, has been on Page 7 for the last 52 weeks. Because of our press time, we’re always a week off with John’s columns, but that’s OK. Readers enjoy his agricultural and educational updates. Thanks, John.

   * Kara Juillerat of Whiteoak High School has been one of the best when it comes to submitting local school news. Kara keeps it simple for the editors. She always includes a brief, well-written story and an attached JPEG photo with each news release to promote the Bright Local Schools. Thanks, Kara.

   * J. David McChesney and the staff at www.going1up.com. They provide a great online service for the newspaper industry. Thanks, David.

   * Our newspaper motor route carriers are simply the best: Debra Morris, Candace McCleese, Janet West, Ray Moore, David Lawwill, Sharon Boswell, Sherry Barnes, David Elliott and Todd Ralph. Thank you!

   * Tony Adams of The Clermont Sun and Brown County Press and all of the pre-press and press personnel who help us produce each week’s edition. Thank you.

   And thanks to so many more of you. People like Ruth Durham, Charlie McDaniel and Kris Cross, who have helped out with some deliveries of papers; our local librarians, the communications and public relations specialists who make their respective bosses look good, and the everyday citizen journalists who help make The Highland County Press a genuinely local community newspaper and website.

   Through all of our first-year trials and tribulations, though, we have been extremely fortunate to have very loyal advertisers, particularly the Highland County Board of Realtors and the local real estate and auctioneering business professionals.

   Their advertising support – and yours – allows us to do our best to provide a high-quality local newspaper and informational website for Highland County.

   As we continue to follow in Mr. William Latham’s footsteps by publishing a real, local community newspaper, we can’t thank you enough for letting us be a small part of your week.

   We do appreciate it. Thanks.

   Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.