Above: The first issue of The Beacon features the wonderful Olive Sullivan. Photo/Jeff Abell
By Jeff Abell owner/publisher
Earlier this year, I had my final conversation with my sister, Sally.
Of course, I didn’t know it at the time. We sat at her kitchen table across from a pile of letters and a plastic container holding an assortment of cookies. She walked around her tiny kitchen, dusting the menagerie of ceramic figures lining the counter.
As she settled back into her chair, our conversation resumed without missing a beat. We talked about our childhood, her love for “Lord of The Rings,” and, sadly, how the latest round of chemotherapy had failed to stem the growing tide of tumors.
Her ovarian cancer had worsened, but I didn’t realize how dire the situation had become. Sally looked fragile, but true to her nature, she cracked a joke and then teased me about being the “baby of the family.” I had always admired her strength in the face of adversity. In many ways, she was the most courageous person I have ever known.
During a lull in the conversation, she pointed to a stack of Beacons I had given her a few months prior. She asked me how the newspaper was doing, and I recited a status report. She offered some encouraging words, and we shared a final laugh.
As I was leaving, I took the old copies of the newspaper off the table to take to the recycling center. Once inside my car, I noticed on the top of one was a note Sally had written to me: “Keep on fighting! The Beacon matters!”
She went into hospice care a few weeks later and died shortly after. I didn’t know it then, but those handwritten words in a newspaper would have an impact a few months later.
Along with most of you, I have heard talk about the “new” Hawk Eye, and we wish them well. For us at The Beacon, we’re going to continue to focus on what we do best by listening to our readers, engaging with the community, and treating our employees with respect.
During the past few weeks as the situation developed, my thoughts returned to the words written by my sister — “The Beacon matters!” Yes, this newspaper does matter.
The Beacon matters because you, the reader, matter, and so does this community. And, as my father used to say, “The truth doesn’t need to be dressed up.”
The truth is you deserve a newspaper that is truly locally owned, home-grown, and responsive to the community. The truth is we will continue to fight for those who support us and even for those who don’t. The truth is community journalism is too important for us to do otherwise.
My sister believed that The Beacon matters and I happen to agree with her. Through your support and encouragement, you have shown that The Beacon matters to you as well. We are deeply grateful, and we can’t wait to continue this journey with you.