Staying positive and looking ahead

It’s great to have a hand in this newspaper again. My wife Christine and I look forward to continuing the Cooke family tradition of ownership in this institution, which was purchased by my great-grandfather in 1911 and has been in operation since 1874.

Lasting messages from people of good humor

Neighbor Grover sez he lives in his own little world because everyone there knows him. Haven’t visited tombstone humor in a long time, but people of good humor can leave a lasting impression—carved in granite.

‘Summer-aritans’

EDITORIAL You might call them “Good Summer-aritans.” That’s a (terrible) pun on the well-known “Good Samaritan” story but it’s pretty accurate in describing some programs going on this summer in Rockdale. They are beating heat and hunger.

Tales from the web: No, not that kind!

EDITOR’S CORNER This morning I stumbled out the door on the way to my car to head for work and encountered something that shows up frequently at my house. An ambitious spider had spent much of the night constructing an intricate web between the garage door and my wife’s van.

At the grave site, a slight scripture mixup

SPOILIN’ THE BROTH Neighbor Grover sez he doesn’t like political jokes because he’s seen too many of them get elected. Here for your collection of religious humor is a true story, courtesy of good friend Greg Nichols whose father’s column is carried each week on this Faith page. Dr.

3 big projects

EDITORIAL Ten years ago this week was the beginning of the end for Alcoa’s Rockdale Operations. In June, 2008, Alcoa announced it was shutting down three of its six potlines at the Rockdale Operations smelter. In November Alcoa revealed the other three were also going down.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘Proposed budget will harm VA employees’ Dear editor, As private citizens, and as proud members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2109, We would like to inform your readers about the value government employees bring to our community.

I still remember editing the ‘old-timer’

EDITOR’S CORNER Has it really been 20 years since I edited the “old timer?” I guess it has. I’ve said many times the very best thing about this job is all the people I’ve gotten to meet whom I never would have known otherwise.

‘Miss Doris’ made English fun in the 50s

Like many youngsters I bought, read, and traded comic books. I had a big box full of them. During the times I was on the farm, I was away from my friends and classmates. Comic books and the World Book Encyclopedia became my salvation from loneliness and depression during slow times on the farm.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reporter Juneteenth coverage appreciated Dear editor, I wanted to say thank’s again for the incredible coverage in The Reporter of the Rockdale Juneteenth Celebration this year.