Let the adventures begin
Lead Summary
By
By Rory Ryan-
It was a familiar feeling and a good feeling last Friday night, walking the sidelines at Richards Memorial Field to cover the Hillsboro Indians and Western Brown Broncos season-opener.
Last Friday – my first day at The Highland County Press – also was an eventful day in a number of ways. It was a long day, too. The real highlight of the day, however, came at precisely 7 p.m., when I discovered that I had three digital cameras in my possession and not one of them worked. The best of the lot, a borrowed Nikon, had a dead battery. Never mind that I had asked the camera lender the day before if I needed an extra battery. “No,” she said. “You’re all ready to go.” Wrong.
The next camera was missing its memory card or disk or chip or whatever it’s called. It was missing it because I took it out and left it on my desk. The camera which would become my third and final option displayed an error message about not reading its memory card.
With 30 minutes to go until kickoff, I didn’t dare head out to Sauner Road in search of camera equipment. It was at that moment that family friend Rich Rhoads hollered at me and demanded to see some press identification. “I need a camera,” I said. Rich offered to leave the football stadium and find either a camera battery or a memory card. Before leaving, though, he fixed good ol’ Camera 3 and I was back in business.
So were the Indians. Under new coach Brian Spicer, they played an exciting brand of fast-paced football. They won, too; 41-32. And I will confess to leaving at halftime (did I mention I’d had a long day?), but that was only so I could listen to Ernie Blankenship on the radio on the ride home. Ernie’s been broadcasting local sports for more than 50 years now and nobody does it better.
Congratulations, Coach Spicer and gridiron Indians, on a great start to the 2009 season. •••
Did I mention that I bought a newspaper? Did I mention that I bought a newspaper in the midst of the worst national recession since the Great Depression?
Well, nobody’s ever made the mistake of saying I have half the brains that God gave a goose. However, I still believe in good community newspapers and their ability to have a positive impact on their respective communities, particularly on these editorial pages.
For those of you who are not familiar with my columns, I will tell you that I am first and foremost a baseball fan. I love the game. Although I didn’t see him play, I will insist that Ted Williams was the greatest hitter who’s ever lived. I will insist, too, that Peter Edward Rose belongs in baseball’s Hall of Fame.
I’m a Notre Dame football fan, too. Just ask my friend and World War II Navy veteran Clyde Pidcock. (Happy birthday, Clyde!)
I’m also a big John Wayne fan.
I’ll make references from time to time about the Duke and his movies. There’s one line from “The Sons of Katie Elder” that seems oddly appropriate right about now. Early in the film, an old horse-trader rides up to the Elder ranch – or what’s left of it. He was offering a herd of horses to Katie Elder. On credit.
When John Elder (Wayne) asked the horse-trader for the same deal after his mother had died, the trader replied: “Well, Mister, every once in a while a man’s entitled to do something crazy. It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything crazy in my life.”
I just experienced a similar feeling. Hopefully, it will soon pass.
Other columnists who are new to this newspaper’s Op-Ed pages include Bill Horne, Gary Lewis and Jim Surber.
Bill, a college professor, has been writing columns for many years and is always quick to point out my misinformed opinions. We differ on many topics, but also agree on many things. I am very happy he’s writing for the HCP.
Gary is the Hillsboro city auditor and, like me, a rather conservative individual. He’s been writing newspaper columns and maintaining a local Web site, www.rightrunner.blogspot.com, for a few years. He’s much more detail-oriented in expressing his thoughts than I am, and he always does his homework.
Jim is the Darke County engineer. Politically, I would consider Jim a moderate Democrat. He is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met, and his writing certainly supports my favorable opinion.
One point of possible interest for the Mowrystown community: Bill, Jim and I are all graduates of Whiteoak High School.
It is my hope that these gifted writers will add plenty of food for thought to the HCP Opinion section and our soon-to-be revamped Web site. (Maybe we can encourage Jim Moore to weigh in with his thoughts, too.) •••
A few other new faces at The Highland County Press are much more important than the new publisher.
These are the folks who actually make it all work (somehow).
They are: Angie Matticks, HCP director of advertising and online media; Lisa Wharton, graphics designer; and Stephen Forsha, sports editor. They are all award-winning newspaper professionals and they all understand that customer service tops everything else.
• Angie brings more than a decade of graphics arts and online media experience to the Press.
She is a former Wilmington College student and is enrolled in The Art Institute of Pittsburgh (online division). Angie is already familiar with the majority of our advertisers and she’ll be speaking with you soon.
• Lisa has more than two decades of experience in newspaper ad design, composition management and editing. And there simply is not a better proofreader around. I’m proud to have her on board.
• Stephen, a Wilmington College graduate, has a great eye for sports photography and is fast becoming a versatile reporter and editor. He’s an Associated Press award-winning journalist and has a very bright future.
Now, for a few family references.
My daughter, Caitlin, is our customer service representative and classified ad coordinator. She is a 2009 graduate of Wilmington College, with a major in English and a minor in history.
My mother, Rosemary Ryan, who was the Hillsboro city auditor from 1988-2005, is our part-time business manager. Basically, she works when she feels like it.
My wife, Pam, a registered nurse at Highland District Hospital and Hospice of Hope at Adams County Regional Medical Center, will also help out with stories and photos in her “spare time.” Her assistance will be invaluable. Lastly, our daughter, Meghan, a senior at Wilmington College (maybe we ought to hit Wilmington College and Dr. DiBiasio up for a few ad dollars!), majoring in education, will help out as her schedule permits.
Colin, a North Adams freshman, will likely be out-and-about with his old man, covering a few ballgames this fall.
So, there you have it. We are a family owned and operated local newspaper – no “nationwide” publisher or editor searches will be necessary. We are committed to quality journalism in a community publication.
We ask for your support – and for your patience – as we begin this adventure.
Thanks for reading.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Last Friday – my first day at The Highland County Press – also was an eventful day in a number of ways. It was a long day, too. The real highlight of the day, however, came at precisely 7 p.m., when I discovered that I had three digital cameras in my possession and not one of them worked. The best of the lot, a borrowed Nikon, had a dead battery. Never mind that I had asked the camera lender the day before if I needed an extra battery. “No,” she said. “You’re all ready to go.” Wrong.
The next camera was missing its memory card or disk or chip or whatever it’s called. It was missing it because I took it out and left it on my desk. The camera which would become my third and final option displayed an error message about not reading its memory card.
With 30 minutes to go until kickoff, I didn’t dare head out to Sauner Road in search of camera equipment. It was at that moment that family friend Rich Rhoads hollered at me and demanded to see some press identification. “I need a camera,” I said. Rich offered to leave the football stadium and find either a camera battery or a memory card. Before leaving, though, he fixed good ol’ Camera 3 and I was back in business.
So were the Indians. Under new coach Brian Spicer, they played an exciting brand of fast-paced football. They won, too; 41-32. And I will confess to leaving at halftime (did I mention I’d had a long day?), but that was only so I could listen to Ernie Blankenship on the radio on the ride home. Ernie’s been broadcasting local sports for more than 50 years now and nobody does it better.
Congratulations, Coach Spicer and gridiron Indians, on a great start to the 2009 season. •••
Did I mention that I bought a newspaper? Did I mention that I bought a newspaper in the midst of the worst national recession since the Great Depression?
Well, nobody’s ever made the mistake of saying I have half the brains that God gave a goose. However, I still believe in good community newspapers and their ability to have a positive impact on their respective communities, particularly on these editorial pages.
For those of you who are not familiar with my columns, I will tell you that I am first and foremost a baseball fan. I love the game. Although I didn’t see him play, I will insist that Ted Williams was the greatest hitter who’s ever lived. I will insist, too, that Peter Edward Rose belongs in baseball’s Hall of Fame.
I’m a Notre Dame football fan, too. Just ask my friend and World War II Navy veteran Clyde Pidcock. (Happy birthday, Clyde!)
I’m also a big John Wayne fan.
I’ll make references from time to time about the Duke and his movies. There’s one line from “The Sons of Katie Elder” that seems oddly appropriate right about now. Early in the film, an old horse-trader rides up to the Elder ranch – or what’s left of it. He was offering a herd of horses to Katie Elder. On credit.
When John Elder (Wayne) asked the horse-trader for the same deal after his mother had died, the trader replied: “Well, Mister, every once in a while a man’s entitled to do something crazy. It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything crazy in my life.”
I just experienced a similar feeling. Hopefully, it will soon pass.
Other columnists who are new to this newspaper’s Op-Ed pages include Bill Horne, Gary Lewis and Jim Surber.
Bill, a college professor, has been writing columns for many years and is always quick to point out my misinformed opinions. We differ on many topics, but also agree on many things. I am very happy he’s writing for the HCP.
Gary is the Hillsboro city auditor and, like me, a rather conservative individual. He’s been writing newspaper columns and maintaining a local Web site, www.rightrunner.blogspot.com, for a few years. He’s much more detail-oriented in expressing his thoughts than I am, and he always does his homework.
Jim is the Darke County engineer. Politically, I would consider Jim a moderate Democrat. He is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met, and his writing certainly supports my favorable opinion.
One point of possible interest for the Mowrystown community: Bill, Jim and I are all graduates of Whiteoak High School.
It is my hope that these gifted writers will add plenty of food for thought to the HCP Opinion section and our soon-to-be revamped Web site. (Maybe we can encourage Jim Moore to weigh in with his thoughts, too.) •••
A few other new faces at The Highland County Press are much more important than the new publisher.
These are the folks who actually make it all work (somehow).
They are: Angie Matticks, HCP director of advertising and online media; Lisa Wharton, graphics designer; and Stephen Forsha, sports editor. They are all award-winning newspaper professionals and they all understand that customer service tops everything else.
• Angie brings more than a decade of graphics arts and online media experience to the Press.
She is a former Wilmington College student and is enrolled in The Art Institute of Pittsburgh (online division). Angie is already familiar with the majority of our advertisers and she’ll be speaking with you soon.
• Lisa has more than two decades of experience in newspaper ad design, composition management and editing. And there simply is not a better proofreader around. I’m proud to have her on board.
• Stephen, a Wilmington College graduate, has a great eye for sports photography and is fast becoming a versatile reporter and editor. He’s an Associated Press award-winning journalist and has a very bright future.
Now, for a few family references.
My daughter, Caitlin, is our customer service representative and classified ad coordinator. She is a 2009 graduate of Wilmington College, with a major in English and a minor in history.
My mother, Rosemary Ryan, who was the Hillsboro city auditor from 1988-2005, is our part-time business manager. Basically, she works when she feels like it.
My wife, Pam, a registered nurse at Highland District Hospital and Hospice of Hope at Adams County Regional Medical Center, will also help out with stories and photos in her “spare time.” Her assistance will be invaluable. Lastly, our daughter, Meghan, a senior at Wilmington College (maybe we ought to hit Wilmington College and Dr. DiBiasio up for a few ad dollars!), majoring in education, will help out as her schedule permits.
Colin, a North Adams freshman, will likely be out-and-about with his old man, covering a few ballgames this fall.
So, there you have it. We are a family owned and operated local newspaper – no “nationwide” publisher or editor searches will be necessary. We are committed to quality journalism in a community publication.
We ask for your support – and for your patience – as we begin this adventure.
Thanks for reading.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]