The News Editorial: Covering variety best part of the job for community journalists

There are several advantages to working for a community newspaper one of which is the variety of things we get to cover on a weekly basis is perhaps the best thing about being a community journalist.

In looking at the past week, on Thursday I started the day by going to Worland High School for the University of Wyoming Signing Day, recognizing those who commit to attending UW for academics. It was a family event with many parents in attendance for the brief program.

After that it was a few blocks over to the Washakie Medical Center to wait for the arrival of a dinosaur bone that was going to be scanned so additional research could be completed on some of the anomalies found in the fossils.

Also in the past week I have covered our fair board, listening and watching as they worked to finalize details of this year’s fair, July 23-30.

They have several new events they are trying this year and it will be interesting to see if the community supports them including a Fair Royalty and a Strutt Your Mutt competition. Both events are open to the community, you do not need to be in 4-H or FFA to compete. There are age limits for the girls to compete for Fair Royalty, but no age limits for the mutts or their owners.

Also on Monday I listened as the community weighed in on the proposed location for the new ambulance station at the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission meeting.

While they could have made a decision Monday, they wanted to ensure the public had every opportunity to provide input and are opting for the full public hearing process.

Also on Monday I reached out to incumbents to see if they would like to announce whether they plan to seek re-election with the filing period starting today.

Speaking of filing. There are many positions open, some are full-time positions, some are part-time, but they all take commitment.

This is your chance to get involved either by running for office or supporting a candidate or later by voting or being an election judge.

As I write this I am looking at my schedule for Wednesday and I see that the ribbon-cutting for the new bus stop at the Pit Stop on 10th Street is on the calendar.

The bus started stopping late last month, coming back after a several year hiatus.

In talking to Pit Stop owner Mike Bailey he said things have been going well.

This weekend there are plenty of things that will keep myself and our staff busy with Ten Sleep graduation, Worland graduation parade, the music and melodrama at the museum and, of course, high school sports seasons that are nearing an end.

People ask if we are busy and sometimes seem surprised when we say yes. Some people say nothing happens in a small town. I guess it’s all in your perspective.

From the perspective of the staff at the Northern Wyoming News, there is a lot happening in our communities.

Stop and take a look around and see for yourself.

—Karla Pomeroy