Opinion : 15 Years sounds like a long time, but where did the time go?

15 years ago today, began an experiment into what we thought was reinventing news. When you're on the cusp of something big you don't know that. What began as an experiment to reinvent news, like it should be done, started first in a little office under the name of a newspaper.

In that building I had the chance to work with some of the best people. Ironically, I didn't arrive there at their request, but rather a, "hey, let me help and sell some ads for you, just pay me some commission," type of deal. As I went to work, I got to rub elbows with some of the very best people. Mary, who to this day still makes me smile just thinking about her, Faith Ann whom we just lost, but she too makes me smile. She was one that gave me a perspective on this job that I needed. Then there were the ones sticking their necks out on the line to create something that ultimately became Vinton Today, Scott and Julie along with Pat.

Previously, I had worked at the newspaper selling ads, working with some sweet people there. There was Becky who gave me the basics on selling advertising and Roxanne who was the sweet front desk gal. Both are now gone and again you say, "It's always the good ones.." Then there was Connie and Sherry who are both still running around Vinton. The older I get the more I appreciate the paths that you cross along the way. Sometimes you are fortunate like I have been to have been blessed with awesome people that add to your life and in some way helped to developed who you are, and I'm grateful to all of these people.

Now as I say that, I suppose I'd be remiss in not mentioning the obvious. I had a front seat to 30 year of reporting getting to see the background of life as a reporter, learning how to handle so many situations and how to hash out a situation. As a reporter on my own I got to deal with COVID, something no one had dealt with before and so many other things that were new. Most of the time previously I worked in the ad section of the paper and later on the website, and then added in most of the website minus hard hitting news stories. So as the dynamics of the site changed it wasn't a huge leap to fill that position as well.

Now as I cross this 15 year mark I reflect on all of the good people that I've met in this field and appreciate them all so much more.

In the last 15 years, I would guess you the reader, haven't probably considered that the real heroes in this story are the dedicated advertisers that also saw a dream and the possibility of moving local news into the next century. Without them, there wouldn't be a Vinton Today. These people support the community in this way and are really the unsung heroes and the backbone to this operation. Thank you so much to each of you for making this experiment a reality!

Behind the scenes I get to talk to the many readers from all over the country from the east coast, the west, the north and south who have connections to Vinton. When this all started, I didn't think about THOSE readers, but I've found that there are many who miss "home" and want to keep in touch, so they follow Vinton Today. I get to be the pen pal of these wonderful folks, and I love that part of the job!

Every year I reflect on the dream and talent of a couple of guys whose paths crossed in an office. You might say they were "monkeying" around with the idea of what is now Vinton Today, creating it and making it appear out of thin air. As a result of that I got to rub elbows with Kurt and Lu which was always fun. I never got tired of the imagination and dreams for Vinton and what it could be while we sat in the same room just batting around ideas.

Then there's the guy who still blows my mind. Wesley. He's the true brains of this operation. He's the one that took the ideas out of thin air and created what you are seeing today. He's the smart guy that built this website. It can't be stated enough that he creates unhackable websites. Now that's a HUGE deal! In the world of websites, over the course of 15 years, it didn't take long to discover how important, brilliant, and awesome Wesley is. He's one of those types you probably wouldn't notice on the street. However, this guy is the absolute best. You have no idea how many times something happened on the backend of the website and I'd send an SOS message to Wesley. USUALLY, it was the operator of the website (ME) that was doing something that messed things up, and every time with the patience of a saint he'd explain all of the technical mumbo jumbo involved in computer coding to this coding illiterate person and explain what was going on. I seriously feel like I've had a first year college course in how website function just from him.

At this point in time, the website is in dire need of being rebuilt, but we just haven't had time to sit down and brainstorm what we'd like to do next, how to make it look and new features to add...(Ideas are always welcome from you all too!)

To wrap up this chapter, I want to thank each of you for being here. I have been blessed and I don't take it lightly. I will brag a bit here. Right now we are closing in on 3.5 MILLION visits to the site. The Facebook page alone has 8.5 THOUSAND followers! I am pretty sure that is the largest website and Facebook page in the county. Not bad for small town Vinton!

Thank you to all of the contributors to the site. When it first started the idea was to create a co-operative or a central hub of information for Vinton and Benton County (and possibly those towns just outside the Benton County border). At the time, I couldn't picture how that would work. But now as I look at more than 1,000 authors on the back end, I get it.

The idea was to give all of you a place to be able to zap in your news, your events, and things like obituaries (ALL FREE). We wanted to create a central hub of activity, and I think we did it. While I might push all the buttons (literally and figuratively, I guess) this website is your website as much as it is "mine," I just have the passwords. The beauty is that you, the readers, drive this website with your interests, ideas and all of your activities, and I love it!

Thank you for the last 15 years, for your unwavering following, words of encouragement and financial support every time it's time to rebuild. It is so appreciated.

Don't forget if you haven't yet subscribed, you can do that by clicking HERE. Each day around 11:45 a.m. you will get the latest list of stories published in the last 24 hours.

There is also another way that you can lend a hand. There is a way to support Vinton Today with a monthly donation, or if you want to with an annual donation or a "just when I think of it" donation. Click the words in blue or right HERE. Even a small monthly adds up if everyone does it. But hey, don't worry if you can't, I completely understand and don't feel bad about it at all!

So thanks everyone for sharing the last 15 amazing years with me. You're the best, and I wouldn't want to live in any other place! Thanks for being the wonderful folks that you are!

Here's to the next 15 or so!

-Valerie