Commentary

Posted in: Commentary
Commentary: Thank You
By Mitch Traphagen
Dec 31, 2008 - 9:02:02 PM

Victor is getting three or four minutes of fame for all of the wrong reasons. On Friday night, a story about the East Iowa Herald ending production hit the Associated Press wire, by Saturday it had appeared on news Websites from the Quad City Times and Dubuque Telegraph-Herald to the Chicago Tribune - and even my hometown paper, the Worthington Daily Globe.

By Sunday, the story was being analyzed on blogs across the Internet. When I joined the AP through their Newsfinder service for weekly newspapers, I had every intention of somehow contributing to the service - but I never expected to see my own newspaper among the list of stories.

The first version of the story contained some inaccuracies but that had, apparently, largely been corrected later. The writer is an excellent journalist. He is, however, tasked with writing roughly a billion stories a day so the occasional, non-critcal inaccuracy is not much of a surprise.

As you can see in paging through this newspaper, ad sales didn't drop to nothing, as referenced in the original story. But beginning in November, sales did decline 20 or more percent. To a start up business such as this one, such a decline is a death knell. With that reduction in sales, there isn't enough money to pay the printing bill or make payroll - such money has to come from somewhere else. That "somewhere else" - also known as my personal checking account and credit cards - was running dry. Ironically, even the New York Times reported a sales drop in excess of 20 percent for that same month.

A few blogs are using the AP story as an example of the way things are today with the economy. But what wasn't stated in the story was the number of businesses and individuals that went out of their way to support the paper - just so the community could have a paper. Fred Stiefel, Orville Bloethe, Rohrer Brothers, Farm and Family Veterinary Clinics, Victor Lumber, the Carnforth Inn and Victor Oil all ran ads they really didn't need. Although none of them would ever mention it, they ran ads because they wanted you to have a newspaper. They did it for the community, not for themselves. That selflessness and commitment to their neighbors is what should be talked about on blogs - not the failure of the newspaper.

Other advertisers such as Capper Auto Center, Marengo Farm & Home, Big G, Village Pharmacy, Twice Around the Block and Ampride in Marengo, DeNeve Storage, Marengo Motors, Ben's Repair, Carquest of Marengo and Belle Plaine, Beltone of Marengo, Grinnell Regional Medical Center and M&N Grain all joined the newspaper early on. They took a chance on us and it is because of them we were able to continue as we did. The AP story quotes me as saying that many people have written to thank us for being here. It is not me that should be thanked - it is all of the people and businesses mentioned above. They made this newspaper possible.

I never saw the business side of a newspaper as selling advertising - I saw it as selling cars - or renting storage units or selling hardware. My job didn't end when, for example, Capper Auto Center signed up for an ad - it had just begun. I needed to sell cars through that ad. I felt just as much a part of their business as they were of mine. No one - not even the smallest ad - was ever taken for granted.

Thank you to all advertisers. Thank you for taking a chance on this newspaper, thank you for letting me be a part of your business.  Also a part of my business was the Cooperative Telephone Company of Victor.  They helped me and the newspaper in so many ways.  The community is fortunate to have such a dedicated service in town.

The Herald had hit bumps before but somehow we managed to overcome them. In one particular case, that "somehow" was actually "someone." Dr. Leonard Seda, a man who by all rights has earned a retirement of leisure, instead spends much of his time working behind the scenes to make things better in town. His work has impacted entities both big and small - this newspaper included. During one of the first bumps, people stopped in to offer money to help - naturally, I couldn't accept but the simple fact that such an offer was made magically had the needed effect. Because of that, I redoubled my efforts to make things work - with a heart overflowing with gratitude that someone would make such an offer.

Without readers, of course, there would be no newspaper at all. My sense of responsibility and gratitude to the readers of this paper simply cannot be measured. The first subscriptions came in before the first edition even hit the stands - and they have continued to come in to this day. I lack the talent to form the words to sufficiently thank you. I grew up in a small town and I know that it can be difficult for a newcomer to find footing - but that was never the case with me - I was welcomed with open arms. Thank you. You made the investment and the long hours worth it. I am so very fortunate and blessed to be able to call so many of you my friends. The words you have shared, the letters and emails, now have a permanent home in my heart. You have changed my life for the better and I will always be grateful to you - you have honored me in more ways than I could possibly imagine. Thank you for sharing your lives and your stories. Thank you for making the newspaper possible.

And last but certainly not least are Joe Simmons, Pastor Doug Morton, Susie Turnbull, Ron Pexa, Bev King and Laura Timm. This newspaper was an enormous success with readers and that success is due to them. I will forever be indebted to these fine writers for sharing their hard work and talent in the pages of this newspaper. I can’t begin to think of a way to thank them adequately.

There were many highlights throughout the year - most of which are included in these pages with the end of year review. One, however, stands out. I was fortunate to have been able to accompany the Iowa County veterans on their trip to Washington, D.C. Seeing the honor and distinction of those men is something I will never forget. Knowing the dedication of those who made it possible will always be remembered as well.

Also during that trip, I had the honor and privilege of meeting Congressman Leonard Boswell - a man I have come to respect and admire. It was also my distinct pleasure to meet two of his staff members, Greg Johnson and Susan McAvoy. Greg is a frequent visitor to the area, working hard to give everyone access to the congressman.

Of course sports was always a highlight - I loved it all. Thank you Coach Smith for putting up with me during football season.

The New Year is fast approaching. I have no idea what 2009 will bring but I do know that, in the end, everything will be OK. Here, I have met the people who can and will make a difference in all of our lives. At the schools, I have met the future. East Iowa is in good hands today as it will be tomorrow. Your faith, selflessness, courage and optimism guarantee it.

Perhaps poet and author Edith Lovejoy Pierce said it best in her famous quote, "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

With a heart filled with gratitude and admiration for each of you, I wish you all a very Happy New Year.

© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald