If you’re reading this at about the time most people get the newspaper, it’s probably too late to suggest that you consider running for a local office, or encourage someone you think highly of to seek election. But maybe there’s still time. Filing for local elective offices closes Friday (May 17) at 4 p.m. at […]
No Bad Days
Add another candle
I’m not sure anyone around here makes a cake big enough, but it would be fun to see if we could get 116 birthday candles flaming all at once (don’t ask me to blow them out, my high oxygen-capacity marathoning days are behind me). It’s not one of those noteworthy anniversaries that ends in a […]
A new byline
Word has begun to get out that we’ve hired a reporter to replace Ann McCreary, who is retiring (gradually, it turns out, which is fortunate for us because we still need and appreciate her help). At this point, all I’ll say is that we will be welcoming a veteran newsperson to the staff the first […]
A big and bold visitors’ guide
This week we sent to press the Methow Valley Summer 2019 magazine, our largest special publication of the year. And this year it’s bigger than ever. We added 16 pages to the magazine to accommodate more information, more graphics and more photography (and, thank you, more advertising as well). It will arrive in the newspaper […]
The Barn bash
The Winthrop Auditorium Association is throwing a party for itself this weekend — and why not? The nonprofit group that operates the Winthrop Barn thinks it’s about time for the community to pay some overt attention to the history, value and future of that venerable building. Might as well accomplish that with a great dinner, music, prizes […]
Life on the shoulder
The other day, a local person I was talking to noted that when spring finally arrives in the Methow Valley and things start to get breathtakingly beautiful around here, people leave. Spring break for the school district (this week) has a lot to do with that, as does cabin fever (see Erika Kar’s column from […]
Saying goodbye — but not entirely
It’s a bittersweet week for us at the Methow Valley News. Ann McCreary, a longtime News reporter, is retiring at the end of the month. We’re happy for her, but sad to see her go. Ann has been a reliable, prolific producer of high-quality news and feature stories since before I arrived here nearly eight […]
The real Olympia
“Olympia” is a utilitarian word in Washington state. It’s shorthand for all things governmental. When someone starts a news report with “in Olympia today,” we know it’s probably going to be about the Legislature or the governor or some state agency taking action (or not). “I’m going to Olympia” suggests something purposeful. It can be […]
Hiring is a tough job
If you pay attention to our classified ads, you may have noticed under “Employment” that the Methow Valley News is looking for candidates to fill a vital role at the paper: reporter. That single word connotes a lot at a small weekly newspaper. The job usually requires not only news reporting skills and a clear […]
Liberty lunacy
From the Hopeless Ideas That Just Won’t Die department comes, one more tiresome time, a proposal to split off the eastern half of Washington to create a new state. This year’s photo-op grandstanding effort originated with Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, in the form of House Bill 1509 — a proposal to divide Washington at the […]
