Star-Journbal Editor
My friend Don called me on his cell phone. "How's it going out in Hillsboro, Grant?"
I said, "Well, it's been more than two weeks since I've been to Wal-Mart, so I'd say things are going just swell!"
I told him that I was going to start my first column about Wal-Mart withdrawal, so I did.
I was sitting at my desk looking for inspiration for the rest of my first column, when the office door opened and in came a walking epiphany.
It was Marcella Bruce.
She and her husband, Bud, owned this paper back in its days of former glory, when it was regarded as one of the truly great papers in the state.
We had a wonderful chat. I'm honored she made a special effort to visit me.
She agreed with my plan to bring a hometown style back to the Hillsboro Star-Journal.
"Even with television and the Internet and everything else, people still like to read a hometown newspaper," she said, as she pounded her fist on knee. It took little time to realize that at nearly 90 years old, she is both beautiful and wise.
My first self-assignment was to find a ladder and an electric screwdriver and remove the old Star-Journal sign from the front of the Main Street building we had rented for years.
It may not seem like a big accomplishment to you, but for someone who has fallen off his share of ladders, it was an act of bravery on my part.
We want the Hillsboro Star-Journal to be a community newspaper. To chronicle life in our town. To keep a record. To write the living history of our time.
As the official newspaper of record for this town, it is our privilege and responsibility to record births and deaths. Deeds and misdeeds. This includes the police blotter and court reports. As well as public notices from our local government.
Which means that we want to put the focus on your interests. And we need your input.
If you take notes at the 4-H meeting, let us know what's going on. If you belong to a church group, club or organization, tell us what you're doing.
In random order, here are just a few of the subjects we'd like to hear about:
Small-town life, farm life, the simple life, outdoor life, hunting and fishing, hiking and bird watching, running and cycling, horseshoes and bowling, history, genealogy, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, theater, hobbies, gardening, and, of course, the accomplishments of your kith and kin.
You get the idea.
Stop by or give me a call.
I like to drink coffee.
And listen to stories.
