Going paperless

I’m going paperless. Yep, it’s true! With last Friday’s sale of Johnson Publications Inc. involving our newspapers in Holyoke, Imperial and Grant, I am without a paper connection for the first time in, well, forever, I guess!

Now, don’t get me wrong! I will continue to be a strong supporter of the newspapers — both print and digital versions. I just won’t know what’s in them before they’re published!

When I was a few days old, my hands and feet were literally in the ink at my dad’s newspaper office in Imperial, Nebraska, where my tiny prints were stamped in my baby book.

The footprints grew in size and experience as I was initiated into the news industry as a young child, studied it, lived it, taught it, practiced it and learned from the masters.

For 42 years at The Holyoke Enterprise, these feet have walked the walk and lived the life in a fulfilling career that gave me the wonderful opportunity to have a front-row seat many times.

Front row to the community — to the dedication, commitment, support, patience, tolerance, and even disagreement and unrest that it takes to move toward unity and success.

Front row to the state championships and the bittersweet runner-up finishes, Santa’s visit at Christmastime, hailstorms at harvestime, church anniversary celebrations, school plays, school board governance, community members coming together to support in times of tragedy, hospital/school/city/county building projects, band concerts, the front room of a family suffering tragic loss, celebration programs for local/state/national honors, and fundraisers for those dealing with medical needs or tragic losses.

And front row to the issues that can lead to division and animosity ­— striving to report fairly and accurately.

I have watched with pleasure the young child who can walk underneath our front counter without bumping their head as they bring me dandelions on paper day when they come in with their grandma.

I blink and that child is graduating from high school, then college, then sending in a wedding story, then a birth announcement. And we start all over with measuring growth by whether the next generation can walk under the counter ledge without bumping their head.

I have watched in awe as I observe the ways this community embraces each other in times of need. We cry together, we play together, we support each other. I have absolutely loved the opportunity to witness the passion for community that I see in Holyoke and all of Phillips County.

I have stumbled, I have fallen, even as I have tried to remain fair and accurate in all that’s been reported. I recognize that I’ve not always pleased everyone, nor will I ever. And that’s OK. I have learned many life lessons through it all, and I’ve appreciated each unique personality that goes into making a community function.

Relationships are built through working together, serving together and even disagreeing on certain topics. I am blessed to have connected with so many people in my 42 years at the Enterprise. Those relationships will be cherished and enhanced.

Changes in the industry over four decades have been vast — but the belief in people and sense of community remain strong.

As I embark on a new chapter of my life called retirement, it’s bittersweet. I look forward to spending time with husband Bob, who retired a month ago, as well as with our kids, Duncan and Molly.

But I will miss the front row seat to the life events of this community. I’ll miss having details at my fingertips and being able to share them in a believable medium for better understanding and communication. I’ll miss coordinating community advertising projects and contests that our business community has been ever so supportive of.

I am extremely grateful to my parents who introduced me and my sibs to the newspaper business and led by example as their footprints demonstrated publishing a reputable paper and serving a community they believed in.

With my partners, Lori and Russ, we have shared our individual strengths in making our business work successfully. I am glad that we could partner in an industry we believe in wholeheartedly.

While the run has been great, I look forward to just calling them sister and brother-in-law and sharing the dream of retirement from newspapering.

I can’t possibly say enough for the staff members who have shown such dedication and integrity over the years to contribute to our weekly publications. When credit is given, it too often comes my way when it’s my staff members who deserve the recognition.

I’m not gonna lie! It will be an adjustment for me to wait to read the paper when it’s published, without any input or knowledge of content whatsoever.

I have confidence in Darci, Ashley and Andrew at the Enterprise and in the Mullens who have shown a similar belief in community that has been the Johnson philosophy in newspapering.

While I may not own a newspaper or work at one going forward, I will always remain a fan of good solid journalism.

Thank you, community, for the inside view to your life, for the encouragement and support. I look forward to our new relationship. I will forever cherish memories of my time at The Holyoke Enterprise.