We’re coming back on step at a time

By: Glenn Harbison

In a social media post Friday, May 15, and in The News Observer of May 20, I wrote of my departure from the newspaper and its predecessors I have served for the past 48 years.

Within those words I said, “So it’s time to say, “See ya later.”” Later has arrived.

I never felt I was serving a newspaper, I was serving Fannin County and to a lesser extent the Copper Basin. I was serving my community, my friends, and everyone who deserved a newspaper dedicated to reflecting where they live, work and play.

I’ve been truly humbled by the huge outpouring of thanks, support and appreciation I’ve received since my social media post was launched. That has a lot to do with what’s to come. The title reflects what is happening, we are coming back one step at a time. We are The Citizen with a focus of Serving Fannin County and the Copper Basin.  I’ll be announcing the start up staff in a few days. 

This website and the Facebook page are the beginning. You’ll need to check both every day, probably around noon or so for updates. We’ll be posting new stories regularly.

For the first few weeks everything will be free. You’ll get all the stories you’ve been seeing me keep up with for years. Then we’ll switch the model a little bit with short reports on the website and a paid subscription option for the full story.

We’re also launching a new magazine Loving Fannin County and the Copper Basin. It will publish just before the July Fourth holiday.

More plans are in the works to make sure this community is not left without the kind of local news source it has counted on for the last 48 years. But for now, Facebook, a website and magazine are our ambitious start. This is a business. If we are going to succeed we will need the support of readers and advertisers – the find of support that has existed for 48 years.