Where did 2014 go? It seems like we just started the year yesterday. Maybe it was because we were busy making improvements here at the newspaper is the reason why the year flew by.
The biggest improvement we made in 2014 was the installation of a newer printing press. Though we have not worked out all the bugs, we are getting closer to having a press that will perform at the level and quality we expect for you our readers. In the coming months we will begin experimenting with more color pages throughout the newspaper. I will ask that you have a little patience with us as we bring additional color units online.
As reported last week, one of the best things the newspaper accomplished in 2014 was the digital archiving of the newspaper all the way back to 1907. This will be an invaluable resource to the newspaper and the citizens of Appling County. As an example of what a good resource this will be, a lady stopped by the office a few days back to renew her subscription. During her visit she stated that a train had struck a relative in the early 1900s and she expressed that she had always wanted to see if there was a news article regarding the incident. I asked her for the approximate year and the last name of the relative and within a few minutes I printed her a copy of a news article related to the incident. The News-Banner again expresses its sincere appreciation to the Appling County Commissioners for partnering with the newspaper in this endeavor. The digital copies are available at the Appling County Clerk of Court Office, Appling Heritage Center and Appling Public Library.
Looking to 2015, know that this newspaper will continue to strive for excellence for you. The News-Banner has already started looking at ways to make the digital archives available for online viewing and we will have more details coming about this in the near future. The newspaper has also recently added additional staff to assist in the area of news coverage.
The objectives of The Baxley News-Banner are, “The continuous growth of Baxley and Appling County through better government and education, religious and moral awareness.” On behalf of the staff of The Baxley News-Banner we wish you a happy and prosperous New Year and we look forward to serving you in 2015. If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
-Jamie Gardner