It’s mid-October 1998 and the wee hours of Wednesday morning. The last of the barflies are spilling out onto the street and I look over at my editor Jerry Jones as he caps off a score on a LaCrosse-Washtucna and Garfield-Palouse grid match.
“Well, you about done there?” he asks, looking through his “notes,” which range from short lists on the back of receipts to small torn sheets.
“Yeah.”
I had given notice about a week or so before and knew that I would miss the marathon sessions that he and I pulled every Tuesday at the Whitman County Gazette in order to put that baby to bed the next day. Twelve, 13 even 14 and 15 hour days were not uncommon.
We’d be joking about high school coaches at 1 a.m. still shaking from our umpteenth cup of coffee or tea. Those were golden times for me. Times I truly gained respect for the word “editor” and all it encompassed.
When I bid a fond farewell to Jerry and the Gazette staff, I found myself working for another fine editor who, again, instilled the good work ethic and confidence in me that few have during my lifetime.
Chris Case welcomed me with open arms to the world of the North Kitsap Herald — an act I have seen her do countless times, to countless people since. That’s the way it is when you’re a editor of a community newspaper.
Together we watched change. Marveled at it. Frequently commented on it to our readers and each other.
I consider her one of my closest friends.
Not only for the support she so often provided but for the continued respect and admiration she earned without asking. Chris worked through it all and she did it with a smile on her face. I hope this is one lesson that truly stays with me throughout my days.
Change came again to our community last week when Chris announced her resignation. The news — while somewhat expected — still came as a shock to me. But when I applied for the job of editor, once again, her genuine support was there.
I am very proud to be the editor of the North Kitsap Herald and came to realize almost immediately that Peter Iverson, the Herald’s first editor and founder, was right as rain when he likened the paper to a baby over 101 years ago.
Iverson was a staunch believer that it takes a community to raise a child — so am I. You are the community and as such I humbly ask your assistance on guiding and improving this century’s old infant.
Being a new editor must be something like having a kid, I imagine.
I expect sleepless nights of needless worry. Joy when small steps are taken. Anguish when a mishap occurs. Changes. Some will stink worse than others. Am I a nervous parent?
You bet. If your kid misspells a name on a test, his or her teacher sees it. If ours does, over 11,500 readers do.
Even so, mistakes will happen. Our staff is human after all.
Be patient with us.
Be kind.
Remember that no matter what happens here at the Herald everything we have done since this baby first rolled off the press, Feb. 1, 1901 has been for the community.
That’s what I love about small newspapers and that’s why I jumped at the opportunity to work with the citizens of North Kitsap and continue Iverson’s tradition of excellence and service. I will do my best to fill the shoes that have been carefully placed for me at the editor’s desk.
That much I promise.
These are big shoes, mind you, but I know that as I learn to walk in them and when I stumble — and I will from time to time — the community will be there to catch me, helping me back on my way as I work to make this paper the best it can be.
