Publisher Points - We would like to work with you in 2023

by Kelli Barnes

A newspaper, by definition, brings news of interest to the area where published, in the form of the printed page. If a newspaper is good, it will be useful to you. Yes, searching in multiple places to find what you need to know is an option, but the job of the newspaper is to compile a good mixture of information about the community into one central, convenient location. The more cooperation between the newspaper and the community, the more valuable the newspaper will be to its residents, organizations, and businesses.

Unfortunately, individuals can get in the way of this process because of personality conflicts. Or, it can happen by withholding information from the newspaper, by discounting the need for the newspaper, or simply just forgetting to bring information to the paper for publication. This does hurt our small business, but more importantly, it hurts the community. The stronger the newspaper, the stronger the community. This is a fact we cannot ignore. We may not always agree, but we can all agree one centralized location to disseminate information is valuable.

Each week, you will find obituaries, stories about meetings and events, church information, classified and display advertising from local and regional merchants. Also, legal notices concerning important upcoming activities in the community are required to be printed in the newspaper of record. School sports and information about student progress is included. Information from the local sheriff and police departments, in addition to stories about all school boards, city councils and commissioners court are here to keep you informed of current activities when you cannot attend.

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I understand there is a group of people who do not read newspapers or consume any news. We want to reach those who want and need to be informed. Readers are our audience, then they take the information to all the others in our community via word of mouth. Thirty-plus years of research back up this theory and it holds true.

If you are in a place of authority or privy to information useful and of interest to our community, please make the commitment to open a line of communication with the newspaper. We are here for you and for the betterment of the community. We will not become the story, we will not make a judgement, but we will present information in a straightforward manner. Our journalists are professionals, and I am committed to keeping trained journalists in our community.

There is a place in the newspaper for editorials, letters to the editor, and paid advertisements. These are not to be mistaken for news items, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newspaper. Keep them coming.

Finally, let me wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This season means different things to different people and produces different emotions depending on life experience and current life situations. For me, this season is a time to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus. He alone can bring true peace, and produce lasting faith, hope, and love. Seek Him.