Burning up the road
By RALPH HARDIN
Evening Times Editor
For the past few weeks, I’ve been pulling a bit of double-duty.
The State Gazette in Dyersburg, Tennessee, lost its editor and since they are awned by Paxton Media, the same company that owns the Evening Times, I was asked to step in and serve as the editor there while they look for a permanent replacement.
So, if you’re unfamiliar with Dyersburg, it’s about the same size as Marion and West Memphis combined. It’s also about an hour-and-a-half away, so I can’t be there in person very much. I have been making the trip once a week and doing the rest of the job remotely via phone calls and email.
But I have been around the city, introducing myself to the community leaders and elected officials. It’s a nice town, at least from what I’ve seen. I’ve even met people who are at least somewhat familiar with Crittenden County. I’ve had conversa-
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tions about the Sultana Museum, Sid Vicious, the West Memphis 3, and the 2010 “Sovereign Citizens” police slayings, among other topics.
And while it’s 90 miles down the road and in another state, it’s funny how we aren’t really that different from them.
They have a lot of the same issues we seem to have — everyone there complains about the potholes, for example. The two high schools there have a pretty active rivalry. I’ve been told there are a few prominent families that “run the show” — I’ve heard that one before around these parts.
Even the news has kind of run parallel in recent weeks, with drug busts, spring break celebrations, problems with animal control, both ASU Mid-South and Dyersburg State Community College are beginning registration for next semester. and other things making the paper in both towns. There was even a fatal shooting on the front page of bothe the Times and the Gazettte this week.
Even at the state level, both the Arkansas General Assembly and the Tennessee State Legislature are in session right now.
Not gonna lie, between all the driving back and forth and doing both papers, I’m starting to feel a lot like the “Time to make the donuts” guy from those old commercials.
Anybody know anyone who wants to be the editor of the State Gazette, hit me up…
