By RYAN LANCASTER
Staff Reporter
For just over a year now I've been a reporter for this magnificent publication, and in that time I've learned a fair bit about my key coverage areas – Medical Lake, Airway Heights and unincorporated areas of the West Plains.
I'd like to think that, by extension, so have readers of the Cheney Free Press, those fine folks who might not have the inclination to attend meetings of the city council or school board, the opportunity to speak with local officials or the time to scan the web for nuggets of relevant news that might present a deeper story.
It's also been my pleasure to act as a stand-in for area residents at numerous events and activities throughout the region. Jumping into a freezing Medical Lake in February, sitting (somewhat sickly) in the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker or interviewing picketers on the front lines of the fight to keep Pine Lodge Corrections Center from closing – rarely a dull day in this job.
But there's only so much a reporter can personally witness or that his sources can tell. Information conduits like City Hall or the local Sheriff's Office are vital to a clear understanding of what's happening in a given area, but they don't provide anything close to a complete picture.
So I'd like to humbly ask you, dear reader, for a sort of one-year anniversary gift.
The true colors of a town, a city or a region don't often emerge from something the mayor said or the school board decided. The best, most striking stories stem from the genuine experiences of the individuals who make up a community. The typical person probably wouldn't think of alerting the local paper for anything less than a blatantly “newsworthy” event, like D.B. Cooper sighted selling Bibles on the front stoop or Bigfoot paddling across the backyard pool.
But something that might seem run of the mill to you or your neighbor can often offer up a colorful slice of local life when shared. I'm always in the market for those out of sight tales – little or big – that probably wouldn't be noticed by the casual spectator. Drop me a line sometime and you might just brighten a neighbor's day with your unique hobby, past adventure, or crazy plan for the future.
And sharing doesn't have to be in the form of a full-fledged story idea. Our opinion page is crying out for your great idea, anecdote, outlook or rant (as long as it's under 350 words). Too often these days we all get so caught up in our own hectic pace that we forget others are running right along with us. Letters to the editor can inspire conversation about important issues among neighbors and they're an armchair way to tell elected leaders exactly what those important issues are.
Plus, it's kind of fun to see your name in the paper.
For those who don't want the notoriety, send us writers some feedback on what we've written. It's always a gift to hear we've done well and, while not always enjoyable, it's immeasurably constructive to hear how we've goofed. As a great man once said, “If you have no critics, you'll likely have no success.”
Thank you in advance for your participation in this paper and, through it, your community. I look forward to hearing from you.
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