An Annual Memorial To A Great Individual

Spring has finally arrived in Delaware.  How do we know this?  Daffodils?  No.  The calendar?  No.  The weatherman?  HA!  No!  Because Jack Smyth’s memorial tree on The Green in historic downtown Dover is in bloom! 

 

 

 

Anniversary Celebration for Sharon Harvey

In between snow storms and training on the Brainworks system the Dover Advertising Team squeezed in some time to celebrate Ad Services Manager Sharon Harvey’s 45^th Anniversary with the company.  The team surprised her with lunch from a favorite local deli and cupcakes galore… yummy!  Sharon really was surprised!  The celebration was on Friday, March 7, the day after her anniversary so Sharon was left thinking that everyone had forgotten all about her big day.  In addition to the lunch, the company gave Sharon a beautiful engraved gold pendant necklace and a Kohl’s gift card.  Sharon’s work pals-- new and long-time -- had some additional special gifts for her, too!  A good time was had by all!

Janet Madray Honored by Okeechobee News Staff

Independent News Media Florida said a fond farewell to distribution manager Janet Madray last week, with a small gathering at the Okeechobee News office.

Janet joined INI/Okeechobee in February 1993 as circulation manager. From January 2001 to May 2005 she was the circulation manager and classified advertising manager. From May 12, 2005 to the present, she was distribution manager for the INI Florida group.

Janet, who decided to leave the newspaper business to work for her husband's business full time, said it was a tough decision but she felt it was the right one for her family.

"The newspaper was a blessing for me and for my family," she said. Despite all of times that newspaper circulation emergencies got her out of bed in the middle of the night, she said she will miss it.

Janet led the circulation department through some demanding times, taking the Okeechobee News from thrice-weekly to daily in 1992, and then back to three times a week after the economy was rocked by the real estate market collapse. She led the circulation team during the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, dealing with problems on the fly in order to get the newspapers to the public despite high winds, flooding and curfews mandated by local law enforcement. With much of the county left without electricity for days or weeks at a time, the print editions of the newspapers were more important than ever as a source of the local information.

“Few if any of our staffers have been as loyal and dedicated to serving the community through their work as Janet,”  said Tom Byrd, Florida group president.  “My hat’s off to her hard work and accomplishments, and all of us wish her well in this new chapter of her life.  We’re going to miss her, but know she won’t be a stranger.”

 



Janet enjoyed cake with her co-workers at the Okeechobee News on March 29. Her last day was March 30.

 

 

 

Janet was presented with a shadow box filled with items to remind her of her days at the newspaper office.

Better Watch What You Say

Eric Kopp of the Okeechobee News got a shock when he sat down to proof the April 2 edition of the Okeechobee News.

For a long time, when Eric has proofed the obituary page, he has made the same joke "guess I better check to see if I am on the page."

On Tuesday, April 1,  he opened page 6 with that same comment, and started to scan the page on the screen. A few moments later he exclaimed, "Wait a minute! What's my picture doing there!"

Kristina Schwartz, who put the obituary page together, was the prankster. The humorous obituary she wrote listed Eric's age as "Ancient."

She explained that when she realized April 1 would be on a production day for the thrice-weekly Okeechobee News, she couldn't resist playing an April Fool's Day joke.

Eric commented that he had been a little suspicious as rest of the staff (who were all in the joke) seemed to be hovering around the news desk where he was proofing pages. Still, he said seeing his own obit was a complete surprise.

Diane Timmons printed a copy of the fake obit page out for Eric, before making sure the prank obit was deleted from the computer files (although we saved a pdf) and giving Eric the real page 6 to proof.