Have you ever run into Per out and about at an event? Often times, if it is mentioned how he’s seen everywhere, his response is the same: “I’m just doing my job.”
In some respects, he is. He is a co-owner of four local newspapers. His job is to be at events, to provide coverage of as many happenings as possible in the communities we cover.
It’s the same way with Mark Wilmes in our Tyler office. He is also “everywhere.” This Fourth of July, neither of them will be sitting around the fire with family with a drink in their hand. They will be covering events in both Currie and Ruthton.
In addition, our editors are not just sitting around. They are giving back to their communities at the same time.
In our Lincoln County Fair edition that was published last week in our other four papers, there was a story on Mark. At the fair, he will be honored as Lincoln County Outstanding Senior Citizen. He is the first to say there are other people who deserve it more than him. But we know better than that. And after Per and I had the chance to attend the Lincoln County Relay For Life Sunday night, which he and his wife Kathy co-chair, we are even more convinced he is absolutely deserving of this honor.
In addition to Mark’s honor, while Per was covering the Tracy Lions Club’s 50 years of service on June 14, he received a surprise as well; he was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship award along with John Edwards of The Caboose. John’s photo appeared in the paper that week along with other award recipients. Per’s did not. He would tell you it was because he was covering it. I will tell you, there is always someone watching him.
He would also be the first to tell you he didn’t deserve the award because he was just doing his job.
He’s right, he was doing his job. But he does his job seven days a week. When we see larger papers tell readers and organizations, “just send us a photo,” he’s the first to say, “no, I’ll come take it.” He wants to be there, even just for a photo. You never know when a story will develop. But more importantly, these are our communities. We want to be there to cover them. We want to celebrate them and promote what they do.
It’s an exciting time when editors are recognized for the sacrifices they make, especially when they could be relaxing at home once in a while. Instead, they are helping with community theater in Tyler or working a Kiwanis Club fundraiser in Tracy. These guys are 100% dedicated to their communities, as part of their jobs and outside of work.
We’re lucky to have both of them dedicated to our Above The Fold papers.
And next time Per thinks he won’t be recognized in the paper, he’ll think twice and know I always have something up my sleeve.
PER PETERSON receives his award and pin during the Lions 50-year celebration June 14.
