E D I T O R 'S D E S K
Editor-in-Chief,
Maebeth Johnson
Editorial Note: Change of
Editors
Beginning with this issue, there will be a change of Editors. This
change in editors is a significant milestone in our publication. It
holds special meaning because as many periodicals struggle in this
changing economy, we want newspapers like ours to flourish and
grow...we bring the good news, inspiration, and entertainment. Our
newspaper has found a permanent place in your homes through the
years, ever since 2001.
Nine years ago, the creation of this newspaper by Justine TenZeldam
was a dream, a community newspaper that highlighted the lives and
accomplishments of her neighbors, and reported the events and news
of her community. But only the good news. This newspaper connects
neighbors, makes friends of strangers, and brings pride to families
as their stories are published.
My
own reasons for stepping down as Editor-in-Chief at this time are
twofold: First, as my health has been extremely taxed this year; I
need to allow myself a more relaxed pace on the layout/publishing
end. I have been an employee of One in getting this newspaper from
concept to print each month, working with a sales team and graphic
artists for the past seven years. I don't want to see this
newspaper end; I want it to flourish and continue to entertain,
educate and inspire you. Second, I work fulltime in Sacramento and
have been commuting for the past fifteen years. The candle is quite
burnt at both ends; it is time for a slower pace. The last four
months I have been very taxed with ongoing illness.
You should not notice any change in the publishing or our online
presence of The Gold Country Times because of this change.
We will continue to publish monthly although our future goal is
bi-monthly. Your favorite writers will continue to bring you fresh
and exciting stories and event coverage in the 'Good News'
newspaper. Contact Ms. Maebeth at
editor@goldcountrytimes.com with your advertising needs. The
main newspaper contact number remains 209-267-9886. Press releases,
event news, article submissions, and music/theater notices will
still be sent to my attention: contact me at
tcruzio@sbcglobal.net.
Maebeth's support and experience will shape our newspaper in the
coming months, bringing new ideas and fresh outlooks while
retaining our wonderful,
community
newspaper format you look forward to each month. Don't count me
out; I will be back at the Editor's Desk again one day. Maebeth
Johnson will make every effort to follow the style in reporting the
'good news' set forth by her two predecessors, our founder Justine
TenZeldam, and myself, while continuing to improve our newspaper.
Please join me in welcoming Maebeth Johnson to the 'Good News'
newspaper, your newspaper. She is very excited to be joining our
staff. Enjoy our issue! Thank you, Eva Dunn
Summertime Fun!
We're having a
great time in Amador County; come join us!
Cannonball Run Car Show
Fireworks Show & Games
Cru-Zin in the Vineyard
Wine, Art & Music Summer Social
FREE T.G.I.F. Concerts in the Park
Concert at the Castle: Sister Swing
Amador County Fair: It's a Jungle!
Weekly Farmers Markets
Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival
AND...so much more!!
Home Country
By Slim Randles
We all
watched as the flag came by. It was the first thing in the parade,
of course. Great big one, carried by two of the kids from the ROTC
at the high school. The bands followed, along with the mounted
patrol, the ski patrol in their summer-weight jackets, the float
with the princesses on it, and the local kids leading dogs and cats
– some rather reluctantly – on leashes.
For some of us, the Fourth of July parade is a chance to see just
how much the local kids have grown over the past year. For others,
it’s a chance to see something that is really ours. This is our
parade. These are our people. These are the people who make our
little valley unique in the whole world. This is a chance for us
all to get together and celebrate us, you know?
But all that comes later. What comes first on this day above all
others is the American flag. Oh, it’s a great big one. Where they
found this one, I don’t know, but it takes two high school boys to
carry it. It really doesn’t matter
what size
it is, because it’s what it means to us that counts.
To Herb over there, there are memories of his terrible days in
Korea, I’m sure, and the wounds that sent him home early. To Doc,
maybe it’s the way the G.I. Bill let him go back to college and
become his life’s dream of taking care of sick people. To Annette,
over across the street there, there is a look in her eyes that
tells us that flag meant she could protest whatever the complaint-du-jour
was during her college days. She knows there are few places in the
world this tolerant of unpopular opinions.
There’s Dewey down on the corner. He’s got his hand over his heart
as the flag goes by. Maybe he’s thinking of a country that will
allow him to start a business with a borrowed pickup and a shovel
and supply our flower beds with fertilizer. He sure hasn’t been
able to make anything else work for him, so far.
But these are just speculations, because
what the flag means to each of us is personal. We don’t have to
tell anyone. We never have to explain. We even have the freedom not
to be here looking as the flag goes by. It’s an American thing. A
very private American moment.
www.slimrandles.com
"A man to ride the river with." -Louis L'Amour
"Slim's writing would make Hemingway proud and Jack London
envious." -Max Evans
Welcome, Slim Randles!
Slim Randles will be writing a monthly column for
us, his first is featured above. He is a breath of fresh air!
Honest, humorous, down to earth...you will enjoy reading his posts.
It's hard to tell where the outdoors leaves off and the writing
begins in the life of Slim Randles, because they both have been
entwined and inseparable for decades. When Slim wasn't in the
Newsroom of a newspaper- either as an editor, reporter, or
columnist- he was in the open, getting cold, wet, burned by the
sun, starving and otherwise having a great time. He has been a
hunting guide in New Mexico and Alaska, made the first solo dogsled
trip across Alaska's Arctic Slope, Paddled a canoe down the Yukon
River, built a log cabin 12 miles to the nearest road, and drove a
dog team in the first Iditarod Race. He has also packed mules and
roped calves in a rodeo. And he has written about it in newspaper
stories, magazine articles, and books, both fiction and
non-fiction. He was a popular columnist for the Anchorage Daily
News and The Albuquerque Journal, and now writes a syndicated
newspaper column, "Home Country". He is also columnist for New
Mexico Magazine and lives both in Albuquerque, and in a small cabin
with a huge porch in very nearly the geographical center of the
state. He's still young enough to start his own colts, and old
enough to know better. His coonhound thinks he's wonderful! Read
Slim's first contribution to the left on this page. Welcome, Slim!
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SUBSCRIPTIONS: $20 per year and $16 for seniors/veterans. To
subscribe, call (209) 267-9886 with your mailing address, or mail
your check to: GCT, PO Box 897, Sutter Creek, CA 95685.
Gift
Certificates available! Let your families and
friends stay in touch with a newspaper subscription to the 'Good
News' newspaper. Click HERE for
information. The Gold Country Times
www.goldcountrytimes.com
Published in Sutter Creek, The Gold Country Times, serving
over 6,000 readers in four counties along with the dynamic
internet community with the ‘Good News’, is a positive example of
journalism with an eclectic assortment of articles and reviews
ranging from health and wellness to the arts.
OUR MISSION: We are dedicated to providing the 'Good News' and news
of the Gold Country, and reaching more communities than any other
single newspaper. Along the way, should we educate, inform, and
entertain, it would be a good thing.
ADVERTISING: Competitive rates; Special rates for non-profits. Call
(209) 404-6277 for more information on multiple-month ad discounts.
Ask about our 'bundled' specials--print advertising, online
advertising, and a website at specially reduced prices. Maximize
your advertising dollars at affordable rates. Alternate number: Tim
209-256-4566.
CIRCULATION: 6,000 readers in four counties. The Times is
published monthly. Subscriptions: $20 yr, $16 seniors, vets. Mail
to: POB 897, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
CONTACT: Write to us at PO Box 897, Sutter Creek, CA 95685. E-mail
Eva at tcruzio@sbcglobal.net
with event/church news Cell:
Tim at 209-256-4566.
For Display Ad
sales, contact: Martin at 209-404-6277 or e-mail Maebeth any time at
editor@goldcountrytimes.com. Ask about our ongoing advertising
specials!
We
welcome submissions of event news, photographs, articles, press
releases, literary pieces, and poems and will consider them for
publication. Contact Eva at
tcruzio@sbcglobal.net Or contact Tim 209-256-4566. We
also welcome your suggestions/comments.
"The Gold
Country Times is not responsible for any action taken by any
person as a result of reading any part of this issue. The pieces
are written for information, entertainment, and suggestion—not
recommendation. Any action reflected by this publication is the
sole responsibility of the individual and not of this publication,
its staff, owners, or contributors. Opinions expressed in this
issue are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent
those of the Gold Country Times. Our writers are freelancers
and contributors. The Gold Country Times will not be
responsible for any infringement of copy or trademarked material by
advertisers and any other publications. Any materials for
advertising are supplied by the advertiser. The advertiser will
hold the Gold Country Times harmless and without liability
to any 3rd party. Rights revert to writers/poets upon publication.
The Gold Country Times welcomes Letters to the Editor and
retains full discretion as to material published. Display
ads/graphics/artwork created for advertising may not be used
without the written permission of the Editor. Photos are used 'with
permission' in this publication.
Freelance writers and contributing reporters are always welcome to
write for the Gold Country Times. Experience the fun of journalism
while being part of the 'Good News' team!
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