A little over five years ago, Julian Emerson approached B.J. Hollars, Patti See and I about the idea of writing a regular column for this newspaper. The affable Gary Johnson was the editor back then. It was an exciting time, and I felt honored to be part of something new. As a novelist, short story writer and poet — essays were new territory for me.
No one at the Leader-Telegram ever told me what I should or should not write about, and in those early days I did my best to abide by a 750-800 word count for each essay.
But gradually, over time, I stretched that to a thousand words, and, a few times, even eleven hundred. In the world of newspapers, this kind of freedom and real estate on the page is unheard of. I know many, many writers around the world and none of them had the latitude I did every three weeks to write about whatever I wanted.
My favorite columns were stories I wrote about local people, places and food that I can’t imagine many other publications accepting. I’ve been able to write about lutefisk — twice. I followed milk-hauler Wayne Myren from farm to farm as he performed his work, I wrote about my favorite teacher Doug Smith, the Packers (three times), The Joynt, roadkill, the YMCA and my children. I was able to explore parts of the Chippewa Valley I had never seen and learn aspects of this place’s history I might not have otherwise encountered.
This newspaper means more to me than you could ever know. My wedding announcement was published in these pages, and my dad’s obituary. When I was a kid, I would sit at the kitchen table and study boxscores in the Sports pages. I grew up admiring writers like Joe Knight, Dan Lyksett and Ron Buckli. I liked to peruse birth announcements, and, back in high school, the newspaper was the source for planning which movies I’d see over the weekend.
When Sacred Heart Hospital closed — the same hospital where my son Henry was born and where my mother-in-law Lynn worked for more than 40 years — the Leader-Telegram was the best, most comprehensive source of news regarding the closing. I know that the newspaper will continue to follow this story with an interest, reverence and familiarity that no other media outlet could match.
A hometown newspaper is a sacred, sacred thing. It is the history of our lives. It is the chronicle of where we live. It is the last best instrument of accountability we citizens have to keep our politicians, civil servants and local corporations in check. The men and women that craft your newspaper do not toil at their jobs for fortune and glory. The journalists of this paper perform yeoman’s work, writing about your children’s schools, athletic events, concerts and plays. They announce the opening of your businesses. They publish notices from your churches, and they print the words of your pastors and priests.
Very recently, I have felt called to pursue a path in state public service, and that is why I am regrettably retiring from this column. If you only knew the pains that Editor Matt Milner and Assistant Editor Liam Marlaire take to preserve political neutrality within the confines of this paper you would be astonished. Astonished. They are scrupulous about balancing attention between the right and the left, and I can attest to this firsthand. My decision to branch out into the world of public service would put them in an impossible position and compromise all the hard work they do, every day, to provide you with high-quality journalism untainted by personal political opinion.
I used the word “regrettably” because writing for this newspaper, this community and this region has been one of the great joys of my life. As a kid, I wrote for both the South Middle School and Memorial High School newspapers. Writing is all I have ever wanted to do, outside of being a bullpen catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. Writing for this community is sweeter and more intimate than any of the awards or accolades I’ve won over the years, because the work is pure and dignified. I once had a very wonderful New York City editor who advised me not to write for this newspaper. I think she was concerned about my “brand” or “image.” I remember thinking, “I don’t think you understand who I am or what I’m interested in writing about. And I don’t think you understand that I don’t worry too much about my brand or image.”
I have a favor to ask you. If you value local journalism, if you interact with the newspaper’s myriad services, if you want to hold politicians and businesses accountable — you need to invest in this enterprise. Keep renewing your subscriptions. Give subscriptions to your children or grandchildren. If you own a business, why subscribe to “People” magazine or “Vogue,” publications that don’t give a rip about the Chippewa Valley? Why not subscribe to the L-T? The same newspaper that is invested in you, your families, businesses and faith communities.
The last 10 years have been some of the most exciting times to live in this region. Eau Claire’s renaissance in the aftermath of the Uniroyal closing has been miraculous. But it isn’t political to acknowledge the region’s loss of two hospitals. It isn’t political to say that water rights will continue to be an issue for this region. Elections will continue as always. Babies will be born, new citizens will move to this community and old citizens will pass on. Who will write about them? Who will remember them? Imagine your greatest success, or your spouse’s, or your children’s. Who will celebrate those successes? Who will celebrate you?
This newspaper always has and will continue to, as long as you support it.
Thank you for reading my columns. Thank you for supporting this newspaper that I love so much.
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