What a long strange trip it’s been. This year has been a roller coaster ride of monumental proportions for us at The Manning Times. Time and space will not allow me to tell the entire story. Let’s just say I’m looking forward to 2008.
We started our year off in our new offices. I’ve been a newspaper guy off and on (mostly on) for more than 30 years. Never have I had offices that have perfectly suited the needs of my profession. I do now.
Thanks to the freedom my partner in crime Jeffrey Black allowed me, I (along with the advice and counsel of many) was able to create the perfect environment for the dysfunctional Manning Times family Carol, Joanne, Cathy and I have assembled. A year later there is little I would change.
We have a comfortable and functional home and were able to preserve a slice of South Carolina history plus make a significant positive contribution to the face of Manning’s downtown.
You take what the Land Law Firm started many years ago, add the improvements Jeffrey made with his South Mill Street buildings, and the treasure the Johnson, McKenzie, Robinson Law Firm created, we have a great start on the historic downtown district so many of us envision. Let’s keep it going.
••••
In this issue of Clarendon County’s newspaper is the final installment of our Quasquicentennial celebration. A couple of years ago as Clarendon County was celebrating 150 years I started thinking about our newspaper’s upcoming125th anniversary. Loyal Lieutenant Joanne Taylor recognized the significance of this event, embraced the idea and would not let it be placed on the back burner like too many of our great ideas have been in the past.
Late last year, we heard of a newspaper celebrating an anniversary nearby and although Joanne was sick with the flu de jour she insisted we travel and witness this event. After witnessing the celebration, we knew we could do better. We researched during the next few months hoping to steal the good ideas of others. None existed that were acceptable to us.
Tenacious Joanne, Cathy and I met week after week trying to figure out how to tell the story. We came up with a concept that led to a schedule and deadlines. We would not ever accomplish a thing at The Manning Times if it were not for the deadline.
Even as the first deadline approached we were meeting and discussing how to best tell the story. It was a challenge to not stray from the printed pages of The Manning Times and tell the story as if it were a history textbook. Once again, strong willed Joanne made a stand and kept Cathy and I on task.
Covering 125 years of newspapers in eight special editions was a monumental task. Everyone in The Manning Times family was involved. We recruited help without which this project would not have been possible.
Archivist Johnette Brewer was a dream to work with. She balanced her overwhelming responsibilities and critics to help us meet our objective while making sure that in the end our needs helped Clarendon County Achives accomplish their mission. It was a true partnership for the greater good.
Archives volunteer Carolyn Chilton became an adjunct Manning Times staff member and navigated the miles of microfiche that contain the images of The Manning Times and Clarendon County’s history. Thanks to her hard work and our project, the Archives now have an index to Clarendon County’s newspaper and history.
Both of these women were a joy to work with and we could not have done it without them.
Managing Editor Cathy Gilbert and staff members Eric Goold, Brian Jarvis, Konstantin Vengerowsky and Jerriod Grizzle did a great job of finding interesting and relative ways to tell The Manning Times story. It was a difficult and challenging job.
Joanne and her marketing staff of Nancy McNair, Jennie Ligon, Jessica McCord and Emily Edens, along with Carol Dowell and her graphic artists Iva Jean deOliveiera, Analisa Smith and Carl Jackson Jr. created award winning and relevant ads. Distribution professional Carolyn Young built massive biceps hauling these beefy editions to our readers. And you can’t forget Betty Usry whose insanity kept us sane. They have completed a body of work we can all be proud of.
When you look at this final installment and digest the vision of Clarendon’s leaders who predict what the County will be like in the year 2032, take note of our loyal friends and advertisers who made this project possible. I think they got their money’s worth. History will prove if I’m right or wrong. Regardless we are all grateful for their support.
As we start our 126th year, I renew the pledge I made when I arrived in Clarendon County in 1999.
“I take the role as the current caretaker of your 125 year old newspaper very seriously. I have a pledge with 1,000s of readers and 100s of advertisers to produce a newspaper worthy of my community. I plan to publish the finest newspaper Clarendon County has ever had.”
The entire Manning Times family is committed to this mission. Have a great ’08!
