Serving These Communities

Covering the Heart of Hamilton County Since 1983

Four different writers with very diverse backgrounds have a monthly article. Don Day writes about life in Arizona and how it differs from the Valley - in lifestyle, weather and history. He has been writing for the paper since 2001.  A strict Interpretist, Bill Waller takes a look at how different laws and rulings by government officials and bureaucrats conflict with our Constitution. He has been writing for the Courier since 1999. Dick Smith is our designated “Old Timer.” His monthly article usually compares today’s culture with that from the ‘40s and ‘50s. He has also been writing since 1999. A religious perspective is supplied by Reverend Thomas Trammel. He is in his third year of contributing a monthly piece.

In addition, the Publisher, Mike Koewler writes a weekly column about anything from his childhood life in Ripley to the latest controversy in the nation or neighborhood.

The newest editorialist to put her words into print each week is Gail Lykins. Her column - Peanuts’ Gallery, passes out compliments and peanuts to people (who remain anonymous) based on their behavior. She started in November of 2006.

While not a true editorial writer, Mary Ann Stone’s column is the most heavily read. A mostly retired lady who grew up in Lockland, her column, “Out and About With Mary Ann Stone” could only appear in a paper as simple as the Courier. Her premise is simple - she writes where she went (Seniors, Eagles, Moose, Legion, Knights of Columbus, Grocery Shopping, Weddings or Funerals, what she did and who she saw, as well as those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. In an average column, she lists well over 100 different people, all who cannot wait to see their name in print.  

Community Columns and School News

Each week, at least eight columnists submit a column about their community. These include school news; meetings and other coming events; Boy and Girl Scout articles; birth, birthday or anniversary announcements (Mary Ann doesn’t know everyone!) or anything else they feel residents might be interested in.

Schools also get a lot of ink, often in multiple colors. Between the dozen Catholic or private schools and five public school districts, the Courier usually has a variety of pictures. Of course, family and friends love to see the children’s picture in the paper. A very special tradition, now in its tenth year is the presentation of the “Class of the Future.” We visit over 40 kindergarten classes, take their pictures and present them in a two-page spread over several weeks in the fall. We started with the Class of 2010 - children who are now freshmen in high school. Of course, we also cover high schools sports, especially football.

Entertainment

Another area where the Courier is exemplary among community newspapers. Most carry a crossword puzzle and horoscopes, but we offer more than this. A weekly section of good, clean, family jokes, Twig Walkingstick - a column about science written for the six-ten year old group (which adults also rank highly), Sudoku Puzzles, a large Word Search Puzzle, Guess this Picture (which other papers are now copying) and a cryptic puzzle.

Other regular columns are targeted to specific audiences: senior citizens, computer aficionados, pet owners, people interested in healthy diets. Rather than using self-promoting ads as filler, the Courier has short articles with Do-It-Yourself or Beauty Tips, Sports or Trivia Quizzes, Good Manners and, for really small spaces - little known but interesting facts.

Though not entertainment, the Courier also publishes obituaries or death notices of people from our coverage area or ties to it. Unlike other papers that charge for these (and anniversary announcements), the Courier never has. There is, in our opinion, something ghoulish about demanding money so a family can let people know a loved one has died.

Oh yes. We are a “news” paper, and we cover news. Emphasis is placed on council meetings, as these affect residents directly and sometimes immediately. They are presented in a factual manner, without a slant toward what might be on the writer’s agenda. Readers have come to rely on the Valley Courier for unbiased reporting, a trust that has to be built over years, not weekly issues.