The
Geauga Roundtable, a regular gathering of newspaper folk from the
area, had passed into the realm of local history. But suddenly, after
a late phone call from an old friend, the idea returned. Our venue
was the original location – the ‘Golden Arches’ in our county
capitol. Ezekiel Byler-Gregg, editor of the Burton Daily Bugle, had
appeared out of the ether as I was working at my desk in the home
office. Our conversation evoked memories of this bygone gathering.
Soon, other friends involved in the wordsmithing routine also made
contact. This return to friendly interaction over breakfast came
naturally.
So
it was that we met on a quiet day in December.
As
in yonder days, Carrie Hamglaze, ‘Grande Dame’ of local
journalists, served as chairperson of our meeting. She wore Irish
green and Hilltopper red, as was her custom. Around the table sat
Ezekiel and myself, along with Mack Prindl of the Parkman Register,
Martha Ann Reale of the Newbury Siren-Monitor, and Sandy Kimball of
the Claridon Claxon.
“Friends,”
Carrie sang out with purpose, “I’d like to welcome you all back
to our roundtable discussion!”
Martha
Ann smiled at the group, wide-eyed through her cat glasses. “This
is great, Carrie! Thanks for inviting us!”
“Yinz
know it!” Mack sputtered. “I’ve been wanting to talk about
Stillers football!”
“Please
shut up!” Sandy groaned, smoothing her denim blouse. “Now I
remember why we stopped having these meetings. Football, schmootball.
You are such a boor!”
Ezekiel
exploded with a belly laugh. “He can’t help it!”
“Six
Super Bowls!” Mack roared. “Seven after this season!”
Carrie
was perturbed. “Please, please! Let’s get back to business, shall
we?”
“Didn’t
we came here to talk about our newspapers?” I observed, pondering
the circle of writers.
Carrie
nodded with agreement. “Rodney is correct. We are gathered today
for a bit of brainstorming about our publications. Who would like to
begin?”
Mack
frowned. “God help us, lets talk about anything but the Cleveland
Browns!”
Martha
Ann threw her pen. “Shut up, Pringle! Do you hear me?”
“That’s
P-R-I-N-D-L!” he hissed like an angry snake.
Ezekiel
slapped the table with one of his calloused hands. “I’m going
front page with a story about local charities that help brighten the
holidays for underprivileged people in Burton.”
Sandy
nodded with satisfaction, while looking over her notes. “A worthy
subject! I have an article about local churches in the township that
host holiday dinners for the needy.”
My
turn came before I was ready. “Well… I guessed on running a piece
about Christmas in the time of the original Geauga Independent, so
many years ago.”
“The
Independent?” Martha Ann said quizzically.
“That’s
right,” I answered.
“Never
heard of that newspaper!” Mack fumed. “They don’t sell it in
Parkman, that’s all I know.”
“It’s
online,” I explained. “A retirement project. I left the Geauga
County Maple Leaf in 2014. After my business career ended last year,
I decided to create a ‘free speech portal’ which would serve as a
virtual newspaper for the 21st Century.”
“Very
ambitious!” Carrie cheered.
“The
original ‘Independent’ was published in Burton,” I reflected.
“Apparently from 1883-1884. Then the ‘Geauga Independent’ took
over in Middlefield, 1884-1885. The publisher was James A. Davidson.
I found a listing on the Library of Congress website. Not sure if
that indicated the full run of newspaper issues or merely what the
library has on hand.”
Mack
snorted with indifference. “A real paper is printed on… paper!”
“Well,
yes,” I agreed. “Still, the industry is changing. I reckon the
generation coming of age today will feel no particular affinity for
printed matter as we have done. Everybody is on their cell phones
today, more than at a desk, reading. Even old codgers like us!”
Sandy
giggled. “It’s true!”
“The
Maple Leaf was far ahead of the curve in that respect,” I said.
“They’ve offered a state-of-the-art website for some time now,
with a great presence on social media as well. That inspired me to
modify my old dream of reviving the ‘Weekly Mail’ into a new sort
of local publication.”
Carrie
raised her Irish Tea in a toast. “Well done, Rodney!”
Mack
shook his head. “So, is anybody covering the rally for President
Trump next week?”
Sandy
fretted, shaking her gray locks angrily. “Please! Don’t mention
that name!”
Ezekiel
coughed. “Local stories, Mack. Local.”
“That
is local!” he shouted. It’s a local rally!”
Martha
Ann bowed her head. “Mack, you are stirring the pot.”
Sandy
raised her fist. “Obama! Obama!”
Carrie
intervened like a schoolteacher. “Please friends, let’s keep our
focus. We are together to talk about Geauga and compelling stories of
our citizens.”
Mack
turned red. “Okay, then is anybody covering the rally next week for
the Stillers? Looks like another run for the Super Bowl, kiddies!”
Ezekiel
grunted like a bull. “Martha Ann nailed it. You are an ass!”
I
slumped in my chair. “Yes, this is just how it used to be, every
month. I would sit here peering into my coffee while everyone argued.
Thanks for bringing it all back home!”
“Rodney!”
Carrie shrieked. “Let’s stay positive, okay?”
Mack
took a deep breath. “I’m positive that this nonsense is making me
sick at my stomach! Super Bowl Seven coming up, people! Here we go
Stillers, here we go!”
“Mack,
please!” Martha Ann pleaded.
“0-16!”
he yelped. “Your Browns are a stain in the toilet bowl!”
Ezekiel
stood up, suddenly. “I’m going for a coffee refill. Anyone want
to join me?”
The
table cleared without another word. Mack Prindl ended up sitting by
himself. Carrie, Ezekiel, Martha Ann, Sandy and I stood in line at
the front counter.
“Same
as it ever was,” Sandy laughed. “I had forgotten how these
meetings could raise my blood pressure.”
“Right,”
I said. “But you know… I sort of missed them… strangely
enough.”
Ezekiel
nodded. “This is how we discuss ideas and get ready to write our
final manuscripts.”
“Like
a football scrimmage,” I added. “Or a regular workout.”
Carrie
was pleased. “That’s it friends. A lively debate among peers.
Welcome back to the roundtable!”
Comments
or questions about ‘Words on the Loose’ may be sent to:
icewritesforyou@gmail.com
Write
us at: P.O. Box 365 Chardon, OH 44024
Published
regularly in the Geauga Independent
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