Published: June 24, 2009 09:13 am      

Two years and I’m still here

Two years ago, if you asked me where I would be in the great state of Mississippi – I would have said Pontotoc.

But when opportunity knocks, you better open the door. My husband, Paul and I left Pontotoc in a cloud of dust when he was hired at his alma mater of Ethel High School.

And before we could get settled into our house, I was hired as news editor.

I joked to my co-workers that my first Monday at The Star-Herald I was pretty sure we weren’t going to have a paper!

There were two reasons, 1. I hadn’t written a story in seven years and 2. the news cupboard was bare.

As luck would have it, I had intern Matthew Breazeale ready to do my bidding, I managed to write one story and find all the pieces of the puzzle that make the newspaper.

It was a crazy two days.



The best source

I am also fortunate to have a source for all things Kosciusko and all things Attala County sitting right next to me at work – Ms. Nancy.

She has steered me in the right direction on more than one occasion. She knows everyone and everyone knows her.



Some of the nicest people

I will say I have lived a few places and felt like an outsider but, not here. I thank you all for making me feel like this was my home from the moment I arrived.

Everyone waves and says “Hello.”

It could be that they are my relatives through marriage because I believe that Paul is related to half the county. I appreciate it all the same.

I like getting your feedback – both good and bad. If you don’t have both, you aren’t doing your job.

Since y’all have put up with me for the last two years, I planned to stick it out for a few more to come!



Leslie N. Dees is the news editor of The Star-Herald. Email her at editor@starherald.net or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lndees