Glowing Praise from a Customer

Wanda Ford-Waring Named Vice President of Corporate Services

Wanda Ford-Waring has been named the Vice President of Corporate Services for Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA.  The announcement was made by President & CEO Ed Dulin. 

Wanda started at INI more than 44 years ago as a teenager in the composing department of Delaware State News. Her job included typing news and advertising content, as well as pasting up the advertising copy on the pages. 

She later transferred to the Delaware State News classified department where she handled inbound classified customer calls, as well as being the back up to the switchboard.  From there, she became then CEO Joe Smyth’s administrative assistant until he moved to Arizona in 1978. 

She remained a part of the corporate services team, including an accounts payable specialist, payroll administrator and eventually became manager of the Payroll and Billing departments, as well as overseeing Reader Services.  Her role later expanded, adding Corporate Secretary and the 401(k) Plan Trustee to her duties of managing the payroll/benefits and credit/collection departments.   Her involvement also includes being a member of the insurance and 401(k) committees.

"Wanda is the perfect person to oversee administrative services for the company.  She's not only well organized and thorough on the administrative end, but she possesses excellent judgment in dealing with sensitive issues" stated Ed Dulin.  "Plus, she's a true believer in our company's values and it shows in her everyday work habits."

Toni Celebrates 10 Years with INI

December Anniversaries

12/2	9 YRS	Charles Murphy	Okeechobee News
12/3	4 YRS	Timothy Mastro	Delaware State News
12/5	16 YRS	Zenaida Matute	Valley Printing
12/9	13 YRS	Victoria Rosado	Delaware State News
12/11	10 YRS	Kristina Schwartz	Okeechobee News
12/13	1 YR	Robert Cook	Delaware Printing
12/13	6 YRS	Jan-Dhu McKinney	North Valley
12/14	7 YRS	Tonda Parks	Delaware State News
12/17	7 YRS	Yvonne Kirksey	Delaware State News
12/17	4 YRS	Karen Riggin	County Times
12/18	1 YR	Jennifer Antonik	Sussex Weeklies
12/22	2 YRS	Antoine Sample	Delaware Printing
12/29	14 YRS	Darin Powell	Corporate
12/30	2 YRS	Melissa Fittro	North Valley

December Birthdays

12/2	Rita Maier	Delaware State News
12/6	Darline Vayda	Okeechobee News
12/7	Victoria Rosado	Delaware State News
12/8	Stephanie Ramos	West Valley
12/9	Anthony Blue	Delaware Printing
12/9	Susanne Stilson	East Valley
12/9	Robert Cook	Delaware Printing
12/10	Mona Navarrette	West Valley
12/16	Robert Williams	Delaware Printing
12/18	Kathryn Yoder	North Valley
12/19	Cynthia Eldred	Delaware State News
12/20	Craig Anderson	Delaware State News
12/20	Sheryle Sussman	Delaware State News
12/22	Lynn Boyd	Valley Printing
12/22	Brittany Taylor	Delaware State News
12/22	Amber Bonnett	West Valley
12/25	Lori Kircher	Corporate
12/25	Vincent Worster	Delaware State News
12/25	David Blatt	Delaware State News
12/25	Penny Bruns	West Valley
12/29	Brett White	Valley Printing
12/30	Jose Bucio	Valley Printing
12/31	Nicole Pettigrew	Corporate

Lee Hoover Has Other Talents Besides Graphic Design

Lee Hoover of Dover, DE, an advertising graphic designer at the Delaware State News, recently participated in the 2016 Biggs Shot Photography Exhibition. The juried competition and exhibition featured the work of professional and emerging photographers living and/or working in the Mid-Atlantic region, and photos were on display at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover for several months.

Her photograph, “Guardian,” taken at dusk at Port Mahon, a remote working-fishing-boat anchorage along the Delaware Bay at the mouth of the Mahon River, shows one of two adult red foxes that were prowling through reeds near the dirt road that winds through the area. Port Mahon is renowned among bird enthusiasts nationwide for viewing migratory birds such as the endangered red knot and other birds such as herons, stilts, avocets, cormorant, and nesting osprey pairs, along with the rare snowy owl in the winter. Lee’s been watching and photographing birds at Port Mahon for many years – “You have to be smart about being in such a remote area, but there’s a lot of peace to be found out there” – and this was the first and only time she’s seen foxes there.

The Biggs Museum was established in 1993 and houses an extensive collection of American fine and decorative art.

This Buds For ------

This bud is for those who helped with the West Valley Senior Expo. It was a lot of work, but a fantastic event for our readers and advertisers. Thank you! -- Charlene Bisson

West Valley Hosts West Valley Senior Expo

The West Valley group hosted its second West Valley Senior Expo Oct. 31 in Sun City West. More than 1,200 people walked through the doors at Briarwood Country Club. About 65 businesses participated in the expo. The West Valley Group had to cut off vendor registration due to limited space. Greg Garcia, orange, passes at raffle tickets while Amber Bonnett shuttles vendors back and forth and Frank Dias directs traffic.

Florida Farm Bureau Honors Local Journalist

Special to INI Florida

Okeechobee News editor Katrina Elsken was honored as Florida Farm Bureau’s 2016 Newsperson of the Year, during Florida Farm Bureau’s 75th anniversary convention in Orlando.

The organization presents the award annually to a  journalist who has provided superior news coverage of Florida’s farm families and production agriculture. Judges faced a formidable challenge in selecting a recipient this year because of the number of worthy nominees. Ms. Elsken was nominated by the Okeechobee County Farm Bureau for her work as the editor and publisher of Okeechobee News.

“Florida Farm Bureau members communicate with the non-farm public in many ways. One of those ways involves connecting with general news media personnel who report on agriculture and related topics,” said Jeb Smith, one of the Florida Farm Bureau State Board Members.

“We seek positive relationships with reporters, editors and others who present Florida agriculture to public audiences. Their work helps us to educate our state’s people about contemporary farm families and their many achievements,” he explained.

“Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Newsperson of the Year award supports our county Farm Bureau media initiatives by recognizing the work of an excellent journalist.

“County Farm Bureaus nominate candidates for the award. For this reason, it is a local honor as well as a statewide prize,” Mr. Smith continued.

“Our 2016 award winner has consistently covered local agriculture for many years. A newspaper reporter and editor, she is known for her fair appraisal of issues, giving attention to the many benefits of farm production in the surrounding community.

“For example, as Okeechobee County Farm Bureau President Jacob Larson noted in his nomination letter, she ‘understands everything agriculture has done to protect the water of south Florida.’ 

“Her articles and columns help give farmers in the region a responsible platform in public policy discussions about natural resource conservation and food production,” said Mr. Smith.

Florida Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general agricultural organization, represents more than 145,000 member-families. Farm Bureau serves to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities.

Delaware Printing Enjoys Halloween

From left to right: Jaclyn Fuller, Toni Hewes, Samantha Bennett, Tony Blue, Ray Ford and Tom Bugbee

Halloween Picture Okeechobee News

Okeechobee News office dressed up for Halloween on Monday, October 31. Pictured Left to right is Angie Bridges, Jean McNeely, Katrina Elsken, Tammi Kelly and Kris Schwartz.