Social media sites have increased in popularity, especially in the last year. Before beginning at the Evening News, I had a Facebook page.
I really wasn’t into MySpace.
And, to be honest, I wasn’t too keen on blogging.
It’s been about two and a half years since I starting with the Evening News and the paper has significantly redesigned the way to reach out to readers.
I’m not totally sold on blogging. I think I prefer using Twitter to communicate quick ideas to readers. I use the medium a lot when I attend government and school board meetings.
I think Twitter is a great way for me to get out little pieces of information that readers won’t get in a story, as well as some of the core decisions made in real time.
As soon as Bedford Public Schools board of education announced Jon White’s retirement, I posted it on Twitter.
If I need to find someone who has recently lost a job, I send out a Tweet and within minutes, I have a direct response from someone locally who is interested in sharing his story.
It’s amazing how fast something like that spread. Like friends on Facebook, I can follow whomever I want on Twitter. Sometimes there are mundane daily tasks posted like what someone had for breakfast, but then there are other times… like the death of Michael Jackson, that I found information out almost instantly.
At first, I wasn’t sure how I would like using Twitter, but after using it for about six months, I’m sold. It’s my preferred social media site.
The Evening News has a Twitter page featuring breaking news and daily headlines. My co-worker Paula also frequently posts on the site.
Check us out: me (newschic); Paula (MonroeOnaBudget) or the Evening New (monroenews)
I’m sure you’ll get addicted too.

Just read the report from 2008 on water quality from the South County Water System. Everything checks out. Some small traces of lead were found, but at 0.4 parts per billion, it was far smaller than the maximum of 15 parts per billion that would be declared unsafe to drink.
Water was tested monthly from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008.
Drinking from the tap is perfectly safe. There is a recommendation to let the faucet run for 15 to 30 sec. before filling up a glass.

I covered Monday night’s kickoff celebration of the annual Big Read of Monroe County. It was held at the La-Z-Boy Center at the college.

I was impressed with how many people attended, especially the range of ages. I talked to teenage students as young as 15, which is quite refreshing. Most people picked up free copies of “The Great Gatsby” novel and then watched the movie.

There had to be around 200 people attending the event. I guess it’s nice to see — in this world obsessed with technology — that warming up to a good book remains a favorite pasttime.  

I even ran into my high school English teacher who now teaches at the college. It was good seeing you, Mrs. Venier! And thanks for all the English lessons that helped me land my job!! 

Hope to see you all there again next year!

– Dean Cousino

– Paula Wethington

I spent the better portion of last night at Bedford Township Hall. The majority of the candidates for township trustee attended.
Township Supervisor Walt Wilburn and Treasurer Sherri Meyer also came to join in on the wait for returns, even though they both ran unopposed.
The contested candidates, for the most part, were poised and patient.
Walt, however, looked like a nervous wreck. He told me he was on edge because each of those running were his friends.
I guess I didn’t really believe him because, after all, he is a politician. But, after the final numbers were tallied, Walt hugged at least four of the candidates who were still in the main hallway of the government center.
One of the best moments was when he went up to Tom Covrett, who lost his bid for trustee. Mr. Covrett, who is serving his last year on the planning commission, has been actively seeking the seat. He really wanted to continue serving the citizens of Bedford Township.
Walt embraced Tom for what seemed like forever, but was really like a couple of seconds. He leaned over to Tom and told him he was disappointed he wasn’t elected, but encouraged him to try again. Tom said he would have to see how the next few years play out, but said he might give it another shot.
Another moment that struck me was the graciousness of incumbent Trustee Paul Francis. He didn’t realize he had been re-elected until seconds before I approached him for comment. Besides being humbled, Mr. Francis said anyone of the seven candidates serve the community well.
He said he would be more than willing to work with the new trustees to make improvements to the community. Mr. Francis also acknowledged there are a number of challenges facing the township in the next couple of months.
Humility seemed to be contagious at Bedford Township Hall last night. It was everywhere from the township supervisor on down.

Bedford High School announced its results from the mock election it held yesterday. The school’s winner was Barack Obama, who received 326 electoral votes to John McCain’s 212. Obama also won the school’s popular vote, 227 to 214.
Ralph Nader received 22 votes. Bob Barr receieved 8 and Cynthia McKinney received 2 votes.

We’ll have to see if the students’ results compare with the township and the nation.