Time does fly! It was a year ago that I first rolled into town to begin my new role here at the Demopolis Times. My first year has been filled with getting to know my new community and its people.
Moving is never easy, but after four years in Indiana, my entire family was ready to return to our home state of Alabama and Demopolis appeared to be the perfect place for us to do that. We weren’t wrong in that assessment.
During my first 12 months, I experienced my first Christmas on the River, enjoyed a Canebrake Players’ production, was re-acquainted with Southern football on Friday nights, and was here for the first ever Rooster Day. I even ran my first (and second and third) 5K right here in Marengo County.
One of the best things about working in the community newspaper business is the people with whom you work and build relationships. I’m certainly proud to work with a great staff that works hard everyday. But, it goes beyond the walls of our office. As a reporter, the people you work with include countless individuals and organizations without whom there would be no newspaper. From city hall to the chamber of commerce, police officers to doctors, and volunteers to neighbors, every story starts somewhere and is usually with a call to, or from, someone with a story to tell. It’s been a great pleasure over the past year getting to know our new neighbors and telling their stories. Our goal is to always share these stories with honesty and integrity.
Truth is, I’m still finding my way around a bit and still learning about people and places I should know.
I hope our readers are pleased with the direction of their newspaper and I’m always open to suggestions, and yes, even criticism. As I said earlier, as far as I’m concerned, everyone is part of the newspaper staff.
For my family, we feel blessed to have been welcomed with open arms into Marengo County. It is a great place to live and watch our children grow up and we look forward to many more years in Demopolis and at the Demopolis Times.

(This column originally appeared in the Wednesday, June 22, edition of the Demopolis Times.)