I feel like that Eminem song… “Guess who’s back, back again Shady’s back, tell a friend Guess who’s back, guess who’s back? Guess who’s back, guess who’s back? Guess who’s back, guess who’s back? Guess who’s back?
Yep, I’m back, TEMPORARILY!
You see I’m still waiting on a few things up here in Chattanooga that need to fall into place for my next adventure. And, as I am sure you all noticed, our Publisher Dee McLelland announced his retirement. I’m just filling in until they hire his replacement to keep things moving along smoothly. I wish Dee all the best in his retirement and thank him for what he has done for the newspaper and for allowing me the opportunity to continue to work for the Courier after I had to move abruptly to care for family.
Coming and going and facing changes are part of life. With that being said, you should know that things will continue to move forward with our online and print editions. I thought this would be a good place for a few reminders.
The Coastal Courier and its previous versions such as the Liberty Herald and Hinesville Gazette have been serving this community since 1871. We publish a weekly print edition on Wednesdays and have an online edition that is constantly updated at: https://coastalcourier. com/ Our deadline for our print edition is by end of day Monday. Press releases and news submissions should be emailed to: Editor@coastalcourier.com
If you want to advertise in the Courier, call our office at (912)-876-0156 and ask for Addie Ricketson-Carpenter. Or email her at: acarpenter@coastalcourier.com For classified or legal ads call our office and ask for Danielle Holden. You can email her at: dholden@coastalcourier. com We have a new Sports Editor, Gerald Thomas III. It makes my heart happy to see we are giving our high school athletes the attention and coverage they deserve. I covered sports for nine years and it was the best experience EVER!
If you have sports related submissions or requests send them to: gthomas@bryancountynews. com The Coastal Courier is proud to be the legal organ of Liberty County, but we need continued community support. I think Dee said it best last week when he said: “You can read us in print and online, but if you don’t support your community newspapers they will cease to exist.”
Many newspapers across the country have shuttered their doors. The printing costs have more than doubled in the last few years forcing even some larger newspapers to go 100 percent digital only.
That is the case currently in Chattanooga where the Chattanooga Times Free Press, a daily paper in circulation since 1869 and serving several thousand subscribers, will cease to print daily editions, except for a Sunday paper. They plan to transition to digital content only on the other days.
I may be old fashioned, and we may only have a print edition once a week, but there is something about holding a newspaper in your hands.
It’s a tangible connection to your community. We cover Liberty County like no other newspaper can. You won’t find such hyper-local coverage on the Board of Education, County Commission, City government, local events and prep sports in the Savannah Morning News, the Long County Press or the Tattnall Journal Sentinel.
We are your local news outlet.
We inform you on about new businesses supported by press releases from the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce. We support local organizations and report on those who constantly serve our community like Manna House, Keep Liberty Beautiful, The Liberty Boys and Girls Club, the Hinesville Rotary Club and so many others.
We are the watchdog of the local government and report on what is happening and being discussed at City Council meetings, the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Education. We do that knowing that you want to stay informed and may not have the opportunities to attend their respective meetings. That is what we are here to do.
Our Corporate owners will work diligently to search for a permanent replacement for our outgoing Publisher, Dee McLelland. In the meantime, be assured we still have the personnel in place to keep things moving along.
Patty Leon is senior editor of the Courier.