Dream come true

I’m retired. Am I about to wake up? It’s like a dream come true. The thought of less responsibility is astounding. I’ll have more time for my passion of random acts of kindness and building relationships.
    What touches my heart the most right now is the assurance that the legacy Dad started at the Imperial Republican 69 years ago will live on. Praise the Lord!!
    Jesse and Lloyd Mullen, who also grew up in a newspaper family and have the same sense of community support that we value, have purchased our newspapers and real estate in Imperial, Grant and Holyoke.
    The newspaper industry has changed, largely due to social media. We are continually complemented for maintaining such a quality newspaper as faithful readers say other hometown papers have gone downhill.         What can we attribute that success to? An amazing staff who makes it happen each and every week. From the reporters, sales reps, office staff, ad designers, proofreaders, production gurus, photographers, the pressman, our super IT guy, the weekly cleaners and more. Each and every task is just one of the cogs that makes the wheels roll.
    Picture everyone meeting every deadline in record time, a sentimental feature on the front page, stories and ads reflecting special happenings and opportunities, a baby announcement, student achievements, obituaries that reflect a person’s lifetime . . . But . . . if the labels aren’t printed, how could the paper be mailed? It couldn’t. Every little detail matters. Each requires commitment.
    Newspapers are closing and many are being bought up by corporate. Very little is handled locally after those purchases. Those new owners very seldom set foot in the communities who support them.
    We didn’t want that for our communities, but we didn’t want to face the stresses that go with the territory forever. What would we do? If only I could have back the time I‘ve spent anguishing over whether the papers would survive. The Lord wants us to trust Him. He uses challenges to strengthen our faith. Where was my faith?
    Panic really set in when our partner (my sister) announced her plan for retirement at the end of the year. How could we find the five people it would take to fill her shoes? Her husband retired from the postal service. He signed some papers, enjoyed a reception in his honor and retirement freedom began. My sister wouldn’t have the heart to leave us in the lurch. When would her freedom begin? How about ours?
    The search began to no avail. Then . . . lo and behold . . someone expressed interest in purchasing the papers. Could it be? Other friends have had their newspapers on the market for years.
    A good reputation does wonders. Johnson Publications papers have won coveted awards at the state and national levels. Mom and Dad were active on the state and national levels, thereby knowing newspaper friends across the country, our newspaper parents. We looked forward to both state and national conventions with people who walked our walk . . . talked our talk.
    But how could we know if these folks would care enough? Google immediately assured my confidence. They, too, won national honors, and Jesse received the national Dan Phillips Award for a young journalist. We knew Dan Phillips, a cracker jack of a journalist who died young. His memory surfaced each time that award was presented.
    Another factor . . . they are Rotarians where our motto is “Service Above Self.”
    Once again, I allowed fear to overpower faith. The deal was on. The deal was off. Part of the negotiation meant strict confidentiality. We couldn’t even discuss it with staff or closest friends and family. I was devastated when the direction with their bank went south.
    Then . . . Russ connected them with Eric Exum at Pinnacle Bank in Imperial, Nebraska. Eric and his team personally know the importance of our community newspapers. However, for as much as they wanted to help make it work, it was business. The deal had to pass bank requirements. And it did!
    Other local professionals went the extra mile to make it happen. Derek Russell. Clint Johnson. Our attorney who specializes in newspapers was astounded by the immediate commitment each professional took as if we were their only client. She assured us that doesn’t happen in California.
    Extreme stress! Extreme fear! Did I mention stress? Again . . . I allowed fear over faith. Talk about a waste of energy and sleepless nights. There were situations galore that I worried how this would affect the personal lives of staff. Would the buyers offer benefits? We couldn’t ask those details. In fact, we didn’t ask anything directly. It was all through our broker, another professional, who first connected us with the Mullens.
    Friday, Nov. 19. A date was set. Was this still too good to be true? We personally met Lloyd Mullen who came from Washington to sign the papers. He really exists. This dream was truly happening. Even within the last hour, panic prevailed. We had provided copies of the deeds sometime before and I thought that part of the legal process was achieved.
    That wasn’t the case. We needed the originals. Piles of paperwork had accumulated at home. Revised contracts, required financial records, proof of this, proof of that. Literally 30 minutes from winding this up, it would be delayed without those original deeds. More panic. More stress.
    Faith prevailed. Those precious documents were in my hands as I headed back to the title company and turned them over to Clint who had already dotted every “i” and crossed every “t.”
    It happened. We were no longer owners of the Imperial Republican, Grant Tribune-Sentinel or Holyoke Enterprise. We were no longer responsible for decisions that affected lives of our staff. We no longer had to worry about the conflicts that arise as employers and newspaper owners.
    Was it sad to have our near seven-decade family business come to an end? Not for one minute. Those we have always considered our newspaper family are still just that.
    Mom is thrilled. I heard Dad exclaiming “Splendid!” from heaven, that one word I grew up with that assured me he was proud and that I am special.
    The original response from Austin, our 18-year-old grandson, was “Awe. I’m so happy for you guys.” The next comment . . . “I’m glad if anything the paper gets a good new home. It was such a big part of my life. And I’m glad I got to experience the joy it brought to people. I’m in tears right now.”
    Austin has stood on sidelines, taking pictures with Grandpa. Austin’s mother, our daughter Brooke, loved her role as editor of the Grant Tribune-Sentinel. She was highly respected by the community leaders as well as the families who felt her compassion when she interviewed them.
    When covering Grant activities, she was missing her own children’s activities in Ogallala. But one of the key reasons she switched careers is she saw the writing on the wall. Taking over Johnson Publications alone as the third generation wasn’t realistic. Although she loved her editor role, it came with family pride. Working for someone else wouldn’t be the same.
    And here we are. It’s not our family. But it’s another family. Frankly, after four days with Lloyd as the boss in the office, I feel the Johnson clan and the Mullens are now family.
    Once again, I’m reminded the Lord has a plan. Trust Him.
    Good luck, Jesse and Lloyd. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for providing this amazing gratifying opportunity in our lives. Thank you, faithful advertisers and readers!
    Welcome retirement!!!!