Thursday, Feb. 04, 2010
One year and counting...
John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher
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It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, I was packing up in a small town of 1,500 people – Logan, Iowa – and getting ready to move back to the “big city.”
“Big city” being a relative term, I suppose.
Just about any city was big compared to the towns in Harrison County, Iowa. And you know, that was OK with me.
My time running two small community weekly newspapers in Iowa is time that I will cherish for the rest of my life. In fact, that experience helped shape me as a newspaper person, a publisher and in a lot of different ways.
Having made good friends and (I hope) doing good work made the decision to move back challenging. But in the end, moving to a bigger newspaper and getting back to the area where I started in this business helped make that decision pretty darn easy.
And just as exciting was the opportunity to renew some friendships in Blue Springs.
Having spent 10 years at The Examiner (the first five at the old Blue Springs office on R.D. Mize Road), I met a lot of terrific people out this way. And I got to establish myself in a diverse circle as a sports writer, advertising representative and eventually a department head at the newspaper.
Not surprisingly, old (and new) friends at the Chamber of Commerce welcomed me back with open arms (and promptly got me back on the golf tournament committee) and I have had the privilege to reacquaint myself with many former advertisers, coaches, parents, business owners and civic leaders.
If it makes any sense, Blue Springs both changed and didn’t change while I was gone for 2 and a half years. Missouri 7 looks about the same. Lunar Bowl is still in the same spot (thankfully). And I still knew the quickest way to Blue Springs and Blue Springs South high schools.
I returned to town to see a flurry of activity on Adams Dairy Parkway – something that was long overdue – and in just the short year I have been here, I have seen Target and Maurice’s open up in an area that is bustling with activity.
Speaking of the chamber, they’ve made a lot of changes and improvements during my first year here. I know Lara Vermillion, who will soon be celebrating her one-year anniversary too, has the chamber moving in the right direction.
I hope the Blue Springs Journal, too, has made some positive changes in the year I have been at the helm. I have enjoyed getting involved again in the Blue Springs community, attending city council meetings and ribbon cuttings and seeing the town move in a positive direction.
I know year two will be even better. If there is anything you would like to see in the Blue Springs Journal, please don’t hesitate to call with a suggestion, story idea or comment.
John Beaudoin is publisher of the Blue Springs Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail jbeaudoin@bluespringsjournal.com.
