On August 29, I made an urgent phone call to John Hacker. I had just read a front-page story offering up some lame excuse about why the all-powerful newspaper publishing conglomerate was halting publication of the Press.
John answered with a sullen “hello.”
“John,” I asked excitedly, “is it true what I just read?” “Yep,” John sighed. “John, what are we going to do? What are we going to say to the fine folks of Carthage when they discover that they are no longer going to be able to sit at their kitchen tables on Wednesday mornings and read the latest edition of Curtain Call?”
“Yeah, my concern exactly,” Hacker replied.
I sensed a touch of sarcasm in his voice but I attributed it to his exasperation with the events that were unfolding.
Well, this story has a happy ending. Once John came to grips with the reality of what I had just said he went to work to assuage our concerns.
I’m told that John began meeting with a group of concerned Carthaginians who understood the importance of knowing about events taking place at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre (for example the final weekend of their current production “The Savannah Sipping Society” for which there are a few seats remaining).
They, also, thought it would be important for folks to know about local government, local school sports and activities, local coverage of Maple Leaf, local business and fraternal organizations, local….well, you get the idea. Local!
They knew that although there has been an effort by another area newspaper publisher to cover Carthage that no one would be able to give the time and dedication necessary to fully cover all that goes on in this great town. And, they don’t have John Hacker.
So this morning, grab a cup, sit down at your kitchen table, slowly and with reverence peruse and savor the brand new edition of the re-born Carthage Press. Give thanks to Hacker and all the others who have made it possible to see your kids participating in their favorite social or sports activity. See what your city government has been up to since August 29 (gotta keep an eye on those politicians, you know). Read about what’s coming up during Maple Leaf.
And most importantly, check out what’s going on at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre.
Thank John Hacker and thanks for reading.
