Happy New Year from the Herald

Boundary County is approaching 2012, and we at the Herald want to thank everyone for their support, story ideas, photos, letters, concerns and great attitude toward the county’s only newspaper.

The Herald celebrated 120 years in business in 2011, making it one of the oldest businesses in the county.

I am going on my fourth year with the Bonners Ferry Herald and I must say, I work with some amazing people.

Marlisa Keyes, wife of our publisher and reporter/editor of newspapers for more than 25 years, has lent her expertise in design to the layout of the Herald. She does a wonderful job and works tough hours to give us this fantastic product. She also writes for the Daily Bee so her time and dedication to the Herald is appreciated. Keyes added the fun little details and graphics this year adding character to the Herald.

The Herald office welcomed two new employees during 2011, Linda Johnson, office manager and  Jaycee Janzen, part-time ad representative.

Johnson joined us in February. She is knowledgeable and helpful to all subscribers and non-subscribers. She also keeps us all happy with her fantastic dessert creations and goodies. We are now all gym members thanks to her.

Janzen has implemented new project ideas and helps our ad director, Jennifer Van Etten with new clients as well as keeping our faithful clients happy with their advertisement.

Van Etten celebrated her husband Jason’s  return from a year in Iraq in September. She has been with the Herald for five years. Her goal is to work with local business and customers to achieve optimum advertising at the best cost for the individual. She will go out of her way to assure the best advertising. She has recently been nominated to be on the board of the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce.

I am the one reporter in the office. I have been with the Herald for three years.  I have had the privilege of working with so many people in the community who have been kind enough to help me.

Ken Carpenter as always has kept us entertained this year with his weekly column. His wife Joy Carpenter also gifted us with a couple great play reviews.

Bob Gunter has had a lot of people respond this year to the Do You Remember column and photos. 

Mike Weland, a Herald alumnus and writer of his own news online site, continues to help me when he can with news. We appreciate his help and experience as a seasoned reporter.  When ever I have to be away from town he has my back.

Ken ‘Doc’ Toline has been writing for the Herald.  His stories are wonderful and we are so glad to have him lend us a helping hand.  Our readers have complimented us on his work.

We are happy to announce that Laura Roady’s Outdoor Column is back temporarily.  I know this is well received news to her many fans. She will be in Bonners Ferry for a couple months and will be providing us with her great stories. She is glad to be back in Boundary County and said she is happy to be writing for our community again.

We also have had so many community members send in their sports photos, best shots, birth and anniversary announcements, graduations, etc.  So many people in Boundary County have stepped up to make this the community’s newspaper and I am so grateful to all of those who have provided the community with information and photos.

I speak for all the Herald staff of four, we continue to strive to work together as a team with our community. We put together the very best paper we can.  We welcome ideas, and suggestions.

We look forward to the New Year in hopes of improving where it is needed and providing the things the community wants to hear.

The 120-year-old Bonners Ferry Herald is the community’s newspaper and we invite you to participate in another fantastic year by sending in your photos, and news.

I and all of us at the Herald wish everyone the very best in the new year.

For story ideas or photos, call Julie Golder at 267-5521 or e-mail to jgolder@bonnersferryherald.com.