Speaking Personally

This issue marks the two-year anniversary of our ownership of Howell County News. When this goes to press, Ron and I will have published 100 papers. 

When we first took the paper, I was fond of saying that I didn’t know much about news. I was a writer who bought a newspaper. It was my optimistic opinion that my naiveté and impartiality were assets. Now, I’d say I know just enough to be aware of how much I still have to learn. 

In honor of this big round number, however, I’d like to share some of my favorite memories of the last two years spent bringing you the news:

-The first Bear City Festival I covered as the newspaper lady in 2019 was such a happy day. The weather was perfect for a fall festival. I smiled so wide and so often that my cheeks hurt for days afterwards. 

-Attending high school sports games was such an unexpected pleasure. I’ve never been too interested in sports, so this was an absolute surprise. I’m proud to say I GET IT now. There is something undeniably inspiring about watching the sons and daughters of this town fight tooth and nail for every point. It is my honor to sit in the stands and yell my head off for the Bears. 

-Covering an election year was a dream come true. Since my first social studies class in elementary school, I have been fascinated with politics. Suddenly, I was invited into rooms with senators, congressmen, the governor, Missouri lawmakers, and mayors. It was my privilege to ask them hard questions about important issues that affect our community.

There have been so many wonderful moments I could fill a whole edition with happy and important memories of these last two years. Many of those moments are thanks to readers who took the time to call, email, or visit to give me their opinion (not always positive) of this or that story. Any success we have had is thanks to you, loyal readers. Whether you subscribe in print or online, pick up the paper at the newsstand, or share the paper with your neighbor, I’m grateful to you all. If you keep reading, I’ll keep showing up, asking questions, and writing the news. 

To thank you for reading, we are giving away two sets of four tickets to the first Mizzou home game of the football season on September 4 against the Central Michigan Chippewas in Columbia. To enter to win the tickets, just call the news office at 417-252-2123 or email editor@howellcountynews.com with your name and phone number and tell us you read the two-year article. Two winners will be contacted by phone.