Our commitment stays unchanged

What does this mean?

Jack Ronald and I have both been asked that question over the course of the last couple of weeks following his retirement announcement.

Probably the most significant result of Jack’s retirement Tuesday is that he will no longer be an everyday presence in our office. (Although, I understand it might not seem like he’s left at all given that on his first official day of retirement Wednesday the paper featured his story about Inez Lowe’s 100th birthday and his weekly column.)

Jack is taking some well-deserved time off for a while, visiting grandkids and, hopefully, escaping the 90-degree weather that seems insistent on sticking around in Jay County for a while. He’ll continue to write his weekly column and editorials.

Beyond that, it’s entirely up to him. If he gets bored, which I hear his wife Connie is worried about, he may decide to pick up a story here and there. He may just swing by the office for coffee. Or, he may enjoy not being in the big, brick building that has been his home away from home for the last 45-plus years. Time will tell.

For me, some things will stay the same and some will change.

I’ve been running the editorial operation of the newspaper — essentially what you see on these pages every day — since being named managing editor in July 2013. That won’t change. I’ll still be making coverage decisions, designing pages and everything else that goes along with the “editor” title.

The difference for me is that as “publisher” I will now be running the day-to-day operations of the company as a whole. That means overseeing the whole operation, not just newspaper content. It’s a new challenge, not one I would have envisioned when I first walked through the doors as sports editor in March 2001, but one I’m excited to take on. And it certainly helps that I know I’ll have Jack to consult with if and when I need to do so.

With Jack retiring and me taking on additional duties, we’ve hired Bailey Cline as a reporter to pick up a chunk of the writing duties. (Check out the business roundup on page 5. You’ll meet her there.) She’ll pick up many of the meetings Jack and I have been covering over the last few years, most notably Jay County Commissioners and Jay County Council. I will return to handling Jay School Board, which Jack and I have traded back and forth a few times already.

The changes will also likely mean some additional leadership opportunities for Chris Schanz, who we’re thrilled returned to the staff in February after what I now refer to as an “extended hiatus.” He will continue to serve as sports editor, but I also know he’s someone I can count on to handle whatever I might need to throw at him.

So, what does all that mean?

There will be some changes, with new faces and different responsibilities.

What remains the same, and always will, is our commitment to you, our readers. Our focus will continue to be on providing quality, comprehensive coverage of local government, personalities, schools, events and everything in between.