One year ago today we started this paper

Joe Karl
Publisher
It’s been one full year since we started The Seymour Herald and I’ve got to tell you that the response has been way beyond what I or anyone else expected. There truly isn’t a day that goes by without someone telling me or one of the wonderful Herald staff, “how great the paper is,” and “keep up the terrific work.” Another one we get a lot is, “I didn’t know that,” or, “I’m glad you cleared that up because I’ve heard so many rumors.”
I think my favorite is, “The Herald is where I get all my local information from, and that’s how I keep up with what’s happening in this fast-growing community.”
If you couldn’t tell, I’m tooting our horn. But it’s actually through the words of other people.
The bottom line is simple. The people have spoken and they have voted The Seymour Herald is a winner. They show their support by buying papers at the newsstand and subscribing. Of course none of this would be possible with the support of the advertisers.
From what I hear, the businesses feel they get a good return for their advertising investment. By advertising, they are saying that they can provide the community with their products and services. Plus they are also stating their support of the community by supporting the local newspaper.
I hear this quite often from people that have relatives visiting, “As soon as they got to town I told them we got our own newspaper and quickly showed them The Seymour Herald.”

People are proud to live in Seymour, proud of the city, proud of the citizens, and proud of what we all accomplish on a daily basis, from raising our families and doing our jobs, to the bigger issues that concern us all as we tackle them in the churches, conference rooms, and at our own kitchen tables.
Our aim at The Herald Publications is to reflect that pride. We will continue to serve the community with our hearts, minds and souls as we strive to place that pride in the forefront of the community’s consciousness, to show how you, your friends, neighbors, and coworkers embody that pride and live it every day.
As we look forward to the future, we are planning great things and anticipate continued growth. From the very first issue to the one you are holding in your hand, the support of the people of Seymour and beyond has been integral to our success. I thank you and wish you all the same good fortune that has been ours.

Anthony Lambert
Production Manager
It’s hard to believe it has been a year. I remember when I first walked into TN Graphics and met Joe Karl. I was out looking for more business for my graphics design business that I had recently started. After leaving the Newport Plain Talk were I worked as their graphic liaison I knew that the newspaper industry was where I wanted to stay. So when Joe said that he was wanting to start a newspaper it only seemed right that we went in together and made it happen. December 1st 2001, started our work to give you this newspaper that we all love so much. We have had many long hours working to produce this publication that we proudly share with you.
You have stayed with us through high and low during our building process. We thank you for your comments, request, and suggestions that you have shared with us. I am so grateful that I am part of a paper that is so community based. The Seymour community has been so receptive to our paper and our families. Thank you and I hope that we continue to make you happy.

Chris Silcox
Sports Editor
They tell me that it’s been a year now. I guess it’s gone by pretty quick. The one thing that I think is most significant about this one-year anniversary is the staff that has been here since day one. The routine of Monday’s really hasn’t changed that much since last January. Even tonight (Monday) Tony, our Production Manager, and myself will be here until probably 11pm putting things together. Every week after the clock strikes 11, it’s like we’re sitting back there working a jigsaw puzzle. Tony is a lot better at working puzzles than I am.
When I first started doing this, I didn’t even know where Seymour was. This old boy I know named Pudge is from South Knoxville, and when I told him that I was going to come here and help start a newspaper, Pudge said, “You can’t have a newspaper in Seymour. What are you going to write about?” I haven’t seen Pudge since he told me that, but we’ve found something to write about for 52 week in a row. It really hasn’t been that hard.
There’s been a steady cast of characters that have come and gone since that first week. All of the credit that this paper gets for being the most progressive newspaper in the state, and I for one believe it is, should go to Tony, Joe and Michele for sticking it out when they could have given up. They’re the reason why I’m still sitting here writing lines one year later. We still don’t have enough staff members to field a basketball team but we have enough to put this newspaper on the racks Wednesday afternoon come pouring rain or sun. Or maybe even snow.