Melinda’s Column -30-

Even in this digital age, journalists traditionally type -30- at the end of their stories to signify there is no more copy. Back in the days when stories were pounded out on typewriters, then sent to Linotype operators, it indicated the last page, in case pages got mixed up on the way to be set into type. I have no idea why they didn’t just type THE END but perhaps that is a quirk reserved for fiction authors.

In any event, this week’s title is not by chance. This is my last column in my last issue. I’m stepping down from the newspapers after 35 years. This is my first attempt at retiring and while I have every expectation of succeeding, there’s no telling what the future holds.

In 1988, I was 22 years old when Jane Bigbee hired me as the family editor for the Marengo Publishing Corporation family of newspapers. The ink had barely dried on my journalism degree from Iowa State University as I started making a living writing weddings, anniversaries, engagements, birth announcements, class reunions, baptisms, family reunions, First Communions, confirmations, obituaries along with feature and special section stories.

As the “society pages” gave way to social media and no one wanted to describe what the bride wore or what flowers she carried down the aisle, my job description expanded to include school board, city council and other municipal event coverage.

Since 1988, I had five different employers without ever quitting or being hired again. Marengo Publishing was sold to The Des Moines Register in 2000, which was in turn purchased by Gannett, then Gatehouse and finally in 2022, The Southeast Iowa Union. My job duties changed each time until, in a “last woman standing” sort of questionable achievement, I became the editor and chief bottle washer for The Pioneer-Republican, The Journal Tribune, The Star Press Union, The Poweshiek County Chronicle Republican and The Hometown Current.

I won’t miss working nights, weekends and holidays or the feeling of being on call 24/7 but I will miss the people. I can’t walk away without thanking my former co-workers Jim Magdefrau in Benton County, J.O. Parker in Poweshiek County and Susie Turnbull in Iowa County. Their contributions as freelancers made my job a whole lot easier. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.

They aren’t the only ones. If I try to name all the wonderful people who have helped me with this job, we’ll still be sitting here tomorrow and none of us have that much time. You know who you are. I hope you know how much you are appreciated.

If I had to name the best thing about the last 35 years, I’d say it was feeling like I was part of all the towns where I covered news. I very much enjoyed meeting the people who called them home and writing stories that showcased the best those communities had to offer. From city council members to 4-H leaders, the dedication and generosity of Iowa County has never failed to impress me.

I enjoyed writing a weekly column from that very first week in 1988. Thirty-five years x 52 weeks a year equals 1,820 columns. Thank you to everyone who stopped me in the grocery store or at a school event to tell me they enjoyed reading them, especially since at least 1,800 were about my dogs.

What am I going to do now? Nothing truly earthshaking but I’m looking forward to discovering life without deadlines. I’ve handed the reins to the new editor, Winona Whitaker. You can reach her at Winona@Hometowncurrent.com. I hope she enjoys the ride as much as I did.

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Comments: Melinda.Wichmann@southeastiowaunion.com