It's no secret that the Stettler Independent looks a lot different than it once did because of changing times and shrinking revenues.
However, it's still here.
I recently had the opportunity to check out the Stettler Independent exhibit at the Stettler Town and Country Museum and... it was awe-inspiring.
While the paper has changed, the change does not diminish its long history in the community.
I am proud to be part of the paper's legacy.
Former publisher and co-owner of the Washington Post Philip L Graham once said, “Journalism is the first rough draft of history.”
He is not wrong.
How much history has been recorded in the pages of this paper?
How much tragedy?
How much celebration?
The newspaper has provided a history in real-time to all the goings on, and that history is something I have endeavoured to keep up with since coming on as editor over two years ago.
Walking through the exhibit, and seeing the old press and the other tools of the trade left me feeling connected to the history I am part of.
I love my job, and not to mince words, it likely saved my life.
When I started freelancing for the Castor Advance in 2018 – How has it been that long already? I digress – I wasn't working because I was still undergoing treatment for my post-traumatic stress disorder.
My wife had been writing for the paper and was hating every minute of it.
I started writing as a form of therapy; fortunately, it turned out it was something I was good at and was able to turn into a second career.
However, it's not something I can do on my own.
I cover an area from Bashaw to Coronation, inclusive of Stettler and Castor.
That is a huge area, especially for one full-time staff member. I do have regular contributors, for whom I am grateful.
That said, it was Al Gore who once said, “The digital revolution has made every citizen a potential journalist.”
For the Stettler Independent to keep recording the history of Stettler and area, I need the community's help.
I need people to submit photos.
I need people to submit letters.
I need people to send me information.
If I don't know things are happening, I for sure can't have them covered.
The Stettler Independent has been going for nearly 120 years, and it is a legacy I want to continue.
Feel free to reach out to me at any time by email kevin.sabo@blackpress.ca or cellphone at 403-741-9921.
-Kevin Sabo is the editor of the Stettler Independent and a journalist for Black press Media.
