In September, the Lake Okeechobee News moved from the Fountain
Square building the news had occupied for 30 years to smaller offices at 313 N.W. Fourth Avenue near the Okeechobee County Courthouse.
Downsizing made sense for several reasons. The pandemic showed us
that many employees were more efficient, and happier, working from home. Armed
with a laptop computer and digital camera, a reporter doesn't have to go back
to the office to file a story. Stories can be filed from home or anywhere with
internet access. Some stories are even filed from government meeting rooms
while the meeting is still going on. Our lease for the old building was up on
Sept. 30, 2021, so it was a good time to make a change.
Dealing with 30 years of accumulation of "stuff" was a challenge.
Old files were sorted and many of them shredded. When we could find no market
for old office furniture, and local nonprofits did not want to pick it up, we
opened it up to the public, with the goal of not letting anything usable to
wind up in the landfill.
Old furniture from the newspaper office found new homes in a
variety of places. Staffers setting up their own home offices got first choice
of the furniture not tagged to go to the new building.
The old conference table -- much too large for the new office --
is now used by the Okeechobee County Narcotics Unit for their meetings. A heavy
metal table that was used by the circulation department in the days we hand
inserted was deemed perfect for use in a barn. A farrier picked up some old shelving
for his shop. People with their own home offices wanted the dividers we had
used for the cubicles.
Some old desks we thought would go to the landfill were hauled
away to be fitted with new tops and used as tables at a flea market.
The newspaper staff is still settling into the new office, while
still getting the products to press and keeping the website updated. The
proximity to the courthouse is nice. Instead of looking for a parking space
near the courthouse for a busy meeting, a news staffer can just walk across the
street. The new office is also within walking distance of the sheriff's office,
convenient for news as well as increased safety.
The circulation area is decorated for the holidays.
Editor Katrina Elsken’s corner of the office
Entry shelves showcase some of the newspaper industry’s history
with old photography equipment, lead type and a manual typewriter. Many of the
items on display had been in the old building, although the lead type setting
items came from Katrina Elsken's personal collection.
The multipurpose room gets a lot of use. It serves as the break
area, a meeting area, a place to do phone or in-person interviews, a place for
ad consultants to meet with clients and a work station for any staffer who needs
a spot to work in the building.
Two parking spaces near the front door are reserved for our
customers.
The sign is up over the door. Kris Schwartz is also designing art
that will be in the window.
