Reality has overcome optimism … again. Our two year effort to bring quality local journalism back to the small town communities of south Washington County has ended. We were struggling in a business climate where size matters and the economics of scale rules. “Too small to succeed” is no less…
Going the full 52 rounds is bound to jar one’s brain and body, so it’s okay that I feel dazed, confused, and stupefied after a year publishing this little weekly paper in the depths of the worst economic conditions in 50 years. With some dedicated, unselfish help from dozens of…
West Fork’s councilmember Rodney Drymon might have been onto something at a budget workshop a couple weeks ago when he suggested that the only city department capable of increasing its revenue was the Police Department. What he might have overlooked is that not only does the city get a portion of traffic fines,…
From Steve Winkler There are over 15 individuals whose words regularly appear from time to time on the pages of the Observer. Other than a small stipend for some news and sports reporters, the columnists, feature writers, and commentators selflessly contribute to this community project. Sometimes the editors will suggest a…
You almost have to be living in a shoe box not to be a part of the electronic age. The electronic revolution has happened in a compressed time frame, in less than 25 years. We have columnists in their 80’s who can tap out a column and email it; they…
By Susan McCarthy susan@wcobserver.com I’ve never been much of a trend-setter. Marketers refer to people who are the first to buy or change their behavior as early adopters. They’re the first to “go organic”. They own the first electric cars or the latest I-Pad. But this week, my family and…
By Susan McCarthy, Publisher Last week, our photographer, Brooke McNeely got married to a great guy, Larry Galligan. We’ll have more details on the wedding, soon, but the event started a discussion about wedding bands and how there is an adjustment period for a new husband to get used to…
