A new chapter for The Beacon-News

Today starts a new chapter in the chronicles of this newspaper. This issue of your Winfield Beacon — Wayland News is the first under the new ownership of the Southeast Iowa Union.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Southeast Iowa Union is in fact a union between the Fairfield, Washington and Mt. Pleasant newspapers.

For over a century the Union papers and the Beacon — News, in all of the various iterations, have lived in the same neighborhood. As neighbors do, there have been pleasant smiles and a friendly wave when paths have crossed.

With this issue we have now moved from casual acquaintances to family. By joining in the Union family, along with the Clarion — Plainsman in the Brighton, Richland and Packwood area which came on board last May, we think our resources can be pooled and do some pretty amazing things.

The newspaper business is a family affair to me. I grew up in my grandfather’s newspaper office, in a newspaper business that he purchased from his father. My mom and dad hauled me around for my first paper route when I was five and I started to work for my dad selling advertising when I was 23.

This business is very personal to me. I think, in ways you may not even think about, it is very personal to you as well.

The stories we share on our pages are about you and your family. Accomplishments, accolades, warts and wrinkles, every family has them, and I am excited to experience them together.

Now, as part of the family, we are committed to make the Beacon — News thrive.

Our reporters are in the area so there will be more original reporting that focuses on the Winfield, Wayland and surrounding communities. Our sports reporters are covering WMU and WACO, so we will continue with dedicated sports coverage. Our advertising representatives are serving the area so local businesses have the opportunity to share their messages with all of you.

Add all of this to the resources available through The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, our parent company, and the pieces are in place to carry on positive traditions and implement many positive changes.

Change may not sit well with everyone, but, rest assured, many of the things you enjoy and count on in your local paper will still be here. Our hope is that the changes that are made, you will find to be improvements. That is the intention.

Speaking of intention, and this is a big one, the Beacon — News was not brought into the family just so it could merge into the Southeast Iowa Union.

I can’t predict the future, but I can tell you that merging is not on the to-do list.

The intention is to continue publishing this paper in its current form and publication day, with extra support and resources.

Moving forward with this exciting new venture, I do need to ask for a little help. The simple fact is that we can’t do it without you. I ask that you continue to subscribe, if you have a business consider running an ad, tell your friends that good things are happening at the paper and suggest that they pick up a copy.

Beyond purchasing something, let us know about the cool, fun things happening in your community, your neighborhood and your family. I also encourage you to share your ideas on how to make the paper better! When we all work together we can make good things happen.

That is what families do for each other.

Please feel free to reach out at matt.bryant@southeastiowaunion.com or call me at 319-653-2191.