Newsroom Journal: Life of a Small-Town Editor (Sept. 27-Oct. 3)
(Note: Newsroom Journal is a collection of various notes and observations through the eyes of Brad Fuqua, managing editor of the Western News in Libby, Mont. The journal is updated periodically as the week progresses.)
Sunday, Sept. 27
• 3:30 p.m. – Interviewed Cindy Ostrem-Johnston about the volleyball team's victory on Saturday over Ronan. The team got yet another sweep in Northwestern A play.
Monday, Sept. 28
• 8:43 a.m. – Going through sports results this morning and writing up stories. Also dealing with other news. As I wrap up stories, I'll post online and include links in Twitter.
• 8:43 p.m. – Wow, look at that … I'm posting exactly 12 hours later from my first message today. We just wrapped the newspaper and I think the front page turned out pretty good. We've got an awesome ArenaCross photo that Canda Harbaugh shot along with stories on the Dancer trial, the new no smoking law going into effect and a Troy School Board member filing an appeal concerning school district actions. And of course, we have plenty fo sports for all of the Logger and Trojan fanatics out there. Time to head home, I still have 3 hours, 15 minutes left of my wedding anniversary.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
• 10:30 a.m. – Very disturbing news this morning. One of our employees, Charles McFarland, is in the hospital after suffering what appears to be a heart attack. Many of you will know Charles either as one of our guys who sells advertising or as a volunteer with Libby Ambulance. He is in Kalispell now in the intensive care unit.
• 11:13 a.m. – Just got off the phone with Mike Schikora, who will be playing this weekend in Libby. He talked to me from his spread in Colorado. Nice fella, has many, many relatives here in the Libby area. And he just finished a new CD that will be available when he comes out here on Saturday.
• 1:17 p.m. – We're trying to figure out how to get everything covered this week. It's busy and with only myself and Canda putting out two editions, long days and short nights become the norm. We've got homecoming week at Libby High School, the Stand Down at the VFW, the chili cookoff at the Heritage Museum, sporting events on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a number of other stories we're trying to put together for the next edition.
• 6:10 p.m. – Libby defeats Columbia Falls, 6-0. The Loggers look good in this one … Columbia Falls is down this year. Weather's getting cool and windy today … kinda feels good but I hope it doesn't get out of hand.
• 7:52 p.m. – The Lady Loggers soccer team downs Coumbia Falls, 6-3. Libby led 2-1 at halftime and then Anna Valentine scored three straight goals over an 18-minute of the second half. I can safely say that Anna is one of the top 10 high school girls soccer players I've seen over the past 20 years.