SUBSCRIBER UPDATE: This post includes the first feature stories emailed to subscribers. Future stories will be a little more involved, but this was timely due to Halloween. I currently have 159 total subscribers, including 32 "paid" subscribers. Thank you very much for the early show of support. According to Substack metrics, my previous content already has approximately 2,400 page views. I'm depending on "article shares" and word-of-mouth advertising to spread the word on this "re-boot" of The Troy Citizen.
Also, note the "By-the-Numbers" sidebar I added. I love those and will try to include numeric facts as sidebars with many future stories.
Speaking of Halloween candy "not being cheap these days," my wife told me she saw a big bag of Halloween candy that was $25. I can't remember, but it seems to me a big bag of Halloween candy was only about $12 a year or so ago. Personally, I'm skeptical of these government numbers that say inflation is only 3 percent.
Anyway, the sorority members are spending a lot more for Halloween candy than they did a couple of years ago. I also wonder if more families that usually hand out trick-or-treat candy might refrain from this due to price spikes.
Comments and feedback on this question appreciated or welcome.
Thanks, Ron. I always tell people that Troy and Pike County are a "great place to raise a family." Not too big and not too small ... and all the amenities of living in a "college town." Plus, we're two hours and 30 minutes from some of the world's prettiest beaches!
UPDATE: I just added nine photos from a real photographer - Troy University photographer Joey Meredith. Unfortunately, I do not have names of these cute children. However, if someone knows these names, you can post them in the Comments Section or shoot me an email at: wjricejunior@gmail.com and I'll add the names in a caption via the edit function.
... This is an example of how I will ADD photos and copy after I have sent out my emails. Also, all Substack copy is archived forever on Substack and is available to ALL subscribers, including free subscribers.
Thanks to Joey and Andy Ellis at Troy's Office of Communications for their help in providing these great photos!
I greatly appreciate all my early subscribers. Several subscribers left super-nice and flattering comments when they subscribed. Here's a sample. Nice words like this are a blessing and motivation to do a good job.
***
Jan Sullivan -“Robin and I support your work because we know it will be interesting. When you had the newspaper before it was great and we have faith in your ability to entertain us again. “
***
"Bill my name is K.W.Keene.I graduated from Charles Henderson in 1976.Always loved Troy.I still do.The only reason I left Troy was to persue a career in Radio.That dream came true because of help from my friends from WTBF,especially my late friend ,Ralph Black.I work at 99.7 WOOF-FM in Dothan.Good luck on The Troy Citizen I can’t wait to read the first issue."
My comment: I'm going to do a feature story on Ralph at some time. He was a great DJ and an even better play-by-play announcer, one of the best I've ever listened to.
***
"Bill, looking forward to staying informed about the happenings in Troy through your perspective. Blessings. “
***
Scott Saunders - "Congratulations Bill. Look forward to reading your thoughts “
***
Wes Gaylard - "I’m a big fan.”
My comment: Back at you, Wes!
***
"I loved reading The Troy Citizen years ago. I was just thinking about it the other day wishing the paper would come back. Looking forward to it again!!!!”
***
"I'm Harriet Gaylard Parr, a live long friend of your mom and dad, mom to Marc, Ross and Phillip Davis. Enjoyed the first Troy Citizen. I love in north Georgia and am so excited to enjoy staying connected to Troy through your writing. May God bless your endeavors.”
***
"Having been born and raised in Troy, AL it will always be home. All family members have passed leaving only friends (high school) and some business friends. “
***
LaKisha Johnson - "Thank you for doing this!!!! “
***
Jill Brooks Maddox - "Best of luck Bill!"
My comment: One of my favorite columns - or funniest (now) - I ever wrote was about the time Jill was my 8th-grade girlfriend and date at The Pike County Fair. Jill, Vicki Schroeder, me and Charles Bradshaw all got on the Tilt-A-Whirl for our first ride.
It took only about 10 seconds for Charles to lose his lunch, followed quickly by me - while Jill and Vickie recoiled in horror and had to last two minutes with vomit flying through the air.
I later recovered; bought a Candy Apple and the dang apple stuck to my braces and wouldn't come out! My mother had to take me to the dentist to get it out. So I had vomit all over my shirt and a candied apple stuck to my braces.
I never went back to the Pike County Fair until this year when I finally worked up the courage to take my kids.
I bet Jill remembers this. I'll re-run that column when I find it.
While Barbara Patterson has retired as director of Student Involvement, she told me she's still working part-time for the University. Back when I was publisher of The print Troy Citizen, Barbara helped me with stories all the time.
I'll write a feature story on Barbara's successor in the future. This is a time-consuming and important job.
Now back to working on my next Troy Citizen feature stories.
SUBSCRIBER UPDATE: This post includes the first feature stories emailed to subscribers. Future stories will be a little more involved, but this was timely due to Halloween. I currently have 159 total subscribers, including 32 "paid" subscribers. Thank you very much for the early show of support. According to Substack metrics, my previous content already has approximately 2,400 page views. I'm depending on "article shares" and word-of-mouth advertising to spread the word on this "re-boot" of The Troy Citizen.
Also, note the "By-the-Numbers" sidebar I added. I love those and will try to include numeric facts as sidebars with many future stories.
Speaking of Halloween candy "not being cheap these days," my wife told me she saw a big bag of Halloween candy that was $25. I can't remember, but it seems to me a big bag of Halloween candy was only about $12 a year or so ago. Personally, I'm skeptical of these government numbers that say inflation is only 3 percent.
Anyway, the sorority members are spending a lot more for Halloween candy than they did a couple of years ago. I also wonder if more families that usually hand out trick-or-treat candy might refrain from this due to price spikes.
Comments and feedback on this question appreciated or welcome.
Sounds like an idyllic place to live Bill. You and your family are blessed.
Thanks, Ron. I always tell people that Troy and Pike County are a "great place to raise a family." Not too big and not too small ... and all the amenities of living in a "college town." Plus, we're two hours and 30 minutes from some of the world's prettiest beaches!
UPDATE: I just added nine photos from a real photographer - Troy University photographer Joey Meredith. Unfortunately, I do not have names of these cute children. However, if someone knows these names, you can post them in the Comments Section or shoot me an email at: wjricejunior@gmail.com and I'll add the names in a caption via the edit function.
... This is an example of how I will ADD photos and copy after I have sent out my emails. Also, all Substack copy is archived forever on Substack and is available to ALL subscribers, including free subscribers.
Thanks to Joey and Andy Ellis at Troy's Office of Communications for their help in providing these great photos!
I greatly appreciate all my early subscribers. Several subscribers left super-nice and flattering comments when they subscribed. Here's a sample. Nice words like this are a blessing and motivation to do a good job.
***
Jan Sullivan -“Robin and I support your work because we know it will be interesting. When you had the newspaper before it was great and we have faith in your ability to entertain us again. “
***
"Bill my name is K.W.Keene.I graduated from Charles Henderson in 1976.Always loved Troy.I still do.The only reason I left Troy was to persue a career in Radio.That dream came true because of help from my friends from WTBF,especially my late friend ,Ralph Black.I work at 99.7 WOOF-FM in Dothan.Good luck on The Troy Citizen I can’t wait to read the first issue."
My comment: I'm going to do a feature story on Ralph at some time. He was a great DJ and an even better play-by-play announcer, one of the best I've ever listened to.
***
"Bill, looking forward to staying informed about the happenings in Troy through your perspective. Blessings. “
***
Scott Saunders - "Congratulations Bill. Look forward to reading your thoughts “
***
Wes Gaylard - "I’m a big fan.”
My comment: Back at you, Wes!
***
"I loved reading The Troy Citizen years ago. I was just thinking about it the other day wishing the paper would come back. Looking forward to it again!!!!”
***
"I'm Harriet Gaylard Parr, a live long friend of your mom and dad, mom to Marc, Ross and Phillip Davis. Enjoyed the first Troy Citizen. I love in north Georgia and am so excited to enjoy staying connected to Troy through your writing. May God bless your endeavors.”
***
"Having been born and raised in Troy, AL it will always be home. All family members have passed leaving only friends (high school) and some business friends. “
***
LaKisha Johnson - "Thank you for doing this!!!! “
***
Jill Brooks Maddox - "Best of luck Bill!"
My comment: One of my favorite columns - or funniest (now) - I ever wrote was about the time Jill was my 8th-grade girlfriend and date at The Pike County Fair. Jill, Vicki Schroeder, me and Charles Bradshaw all got on the Tilt-A-Whirl for our first ride.
It took only about 10 seconds for Charles to lose his lunch, followed quickly by me - while Jill and Vickie recoiled in horror and had to last two minutes with vomit flying through the air.
I later recovered; bought a Candy Apple and the dang apple stuck to my braces and wouldn't come out! My mother had to take me to the dentist to get it out. So I had vomit all over my shirt and a candied apple stuck to my braces.
I never went back to the Pike County Fair until this year when I finally worked up the courage to take my kids.
I bet Jill remembers this. I'll re-run that column when I find it.
While Barbara Patterson has retired as director of Student Involvement, she told me she's still working part-time for the University. Back when I was publisher of The print Troy Citizen, Barbara helped me with stories all the time.
I'll write a feature story on Barbara's successor in the future. This is a time-consuming and important job.
Now back to working on my next Troy Citizen feature stories.