We moved to Jefferson in January 1996 during a blizzard that closed I-80 behind us. We were a two-vehicle caravan, my husband leading the way in a Dodge conversion van, our oldest son, who had just turned 12, hanging his head out the passenger side window to alert his father if he came too close to the ditch. I followed in a Plymouth K car. We were glad to arrive safely. The tropical fish survived; most of my houseplants did not.
I wrote in my Christmas letter 11 months later that we had not uprooted our children, but that we had transplanted them. I pictured roots carefully removed from Michigan’s sandy soil and wrapped in burlap to be planted in a new home.
The transplant worked. The family saplings took root and thrived in the fertile soil of Greene County. I thrived, too.
Just two months later I started writing for the Bee and Herald.
I learned important lessons there about things like honesty and fairness and accountability. More importantly, I came to understand the fabric of Jefferson and Greene County. People matter here. We respect each other, even when we disagree. We are cordial. All of us, including those who have never farmed, appreciate the value of black soil, well-timed rain and gentle breezes. We happily participate in our communities because we know the value of not only taking care of ourselves, but also contributing to the greater good.
I built relationships with news makers and news sources. That takes time. I built relationships with readers. I learned to value every single person who reads my writing. Those relationships are worth cultivating and tending. They are incredibly rewarding.
And so, I’ve entered a new era, taking a giant step into a fresh realm of journalism that allows those relationships to be more important than the price of newsprint and ink. Watch for fair and accurate news stories, relevant features, and notices of things that really matter, like soup suppers and the birth of a baby. There will be articles and columns written by local writers many of you know. “Space” will be used generously for those things that strengthen the fabric of Greene County.
This will all be free to you, our readers. That’s made possible by the support of area business owners who value their customers, their potential customers, and the way we live in Greene County. You can support GreeneCountyNewsOnline, your locally owned news source, by supporting our advertisers and/or visiting their websites. You can also support GreeneCountyNewsOnline directly by clicking on the “Donate” button on the “About Us” page.
Henry R. Luce, founder and publisher of the Time/Life dynasty, said, “I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world.” My goal with GreeneCountyNewsOnline is to be as close as possible to the heart of Greene County.
~Victoria Riley
