Back in 1897, James Ross Clemens was ill. Not-so-careful passing on of that information had Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name of Mark Twain dying in London. When a reporter checked on Twain before publishing his demise the author responded, “The report of my death was greatly exaggerated.”
Morley Safer, during his Jan. 6 “60 minutes” reported “that newspapers are folding all over the country. It’s a dying business.”
Morley did not do his due diligence as he would have found out any papers that have closed or cut staff are large metro dailies which make up less than five per cent of all North American newspapers.
Investor Warren Buffett bought more than 60 community newspapers in 2012 and suggested there is a present and future value in weekly and small daily papers.
Community newspapers are doing okay because people want to read the actions of their councils, school boards, the results of school sporting events and what’s happening in the business community. Readers turn to community papers for obits, police reports, weddings, births etc. We are watchdogs in our communities. We help to protect the public’s right to know.
All that said you will notice I am not in Florida golfing this winter so if you come for a visit don’t be afraid to bring cash...
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Shrove Tuesday is coming up on Feb. 12. The Trinity Mennonite Church on Highway 552X will be hosting a pancake and sausage meal from noon to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Okotoks United Church will also be hosting a Shrove Tuesday meal from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30pm.
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Fellas, I just realized next Thursday is Valentine’s Day. Must have been invented by either Hallmark or Purdy’s chocolates. Regardless, I know life at home will be more pleasant if you acknowledge the day to your spouse. Check out the feature in this issue for some ideas to make the day a special one.
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February is also the time to put your financial house in order as March 1 is the last day to top up your RRSP. We also have a feature in this issue on finances. Last tax year Okotoks and area contributed more than $4,000 per household to RRSPs — a total of more than $74 million. This was the highest of any community within a 60-minute drive of Calgary.
