Looking Back

The other day a gentleman came into the Courier to check out the archives. He had been coming in on and off for months looking for a certain article. He had a partial clip but no date. So, taking what information he did have he started combing through the countless pages of text in the general timeframe he thought the piece had been published. It took some time but he finally found the article and more, some dating back to the 1940s.

Eventually, he would have copies of those pages recreated to keep for future generations as they provided background, history and context to the family ranching operation’s earlier years. This was yet just one more example of why I love the newspaper. Not just because we get to tell the stories to inform people today, but also so future generations can experience and reimagine our time.

Many local people love commenting on the “Yesterday’s Memories” section of this paper, or on the archives themselves when they come in to view them or look up some obscure fact. In almost every instance, much of the county’s history is cataloged right here in this very building. It gives me a sense of pride to care for, contribute to and maintain the paper for those future generations. So they can better remember, understand and appreciate our time.

As I started to consider what I should write for the New Year I thought about our plans for a yearly look back on 2018 and we started reviewing the stories. I took over in April and already we have printed some exciting news. Oil spills and the pipeline have graced the pages alongside new businesses, cancer survivors telling their stories and citizens hoping to run for office to better our community.

To put it lightly, it was a banner year for my life and my time has not exactly been idle. I left active military life for only the second time since setting out for the Marines at 18 years of age. When I got this job it was a Godsend as we were considering our options and wondering how we could stay in Glasgow with our family. To have the ability to take up a post writing for some amazing people and to stay local in the town my wife and kids have fallen in love with is an extraordinary blessing.

To finish up before I ramble on too long, when I think about this year I think about how amazing it has been to hear your feedback, understand what Valley County wants in a newspaper and seek to provide the best news stories, photographs and design we possibly can. Mostly because this community deserves it and because that is what we love to do (and I hope that shows each week).

So thank you for a great year for The Glasgow Courier and we look forward to not only making 2019 an amazing year for us and you, our readers, but every year to come. That way in 100 years they can look back and think about all the good times, bad times and everything in between, because that is what matters to us.