An open letter to Advocate readers
Feb. 26, 2009
Dear Readers:
This is not the letter I hoped to be posting four months after starting the Advocate, but if an online news service is going to yell 'transparency' at every turn, it had better be willing to play by it's own rules.
Put plainly, as a business venture, the Advocate is failing.
Our business model has four indexes to track growth and predict success of the venture: Readership, community involvement, classified use and, of course, paid advertising. I am sad to report that we are faltering badly on three of those.
While readership numbers have climbed steadily since it's inception, now topping 3000 total page hits, and over 300 readers a week, the sparse use of the 'Classifieds' section, and almost no interest in paid advertising has failed to instill lender confidence, thus denying us access to funding needed to expand the staff, or to go to print with a weekly paper.
These are failures that I blame on my own lack of salesmanship and failure to factor in funding for advertising, believing that word-of-mouth and easy internet linking would be sufficient to get the word out.
Community involvement has to be graded as mediocre. Institutions such as the local colleges, government offices and law enforcement, realizing that every information outlet has value, have been willing contributors.
But surprisingly, organizations like ISD boards, economic development agencies and even chambers of commerce have been less than cooperative, many failing even to return messages or respond to letters of introduction.
In short, the shoe-string budget we were operating on is gone, and the need to pay personal bills now has to override both desire to publish and belief in the need for a service like this for Upshur County.
The site will stay open, but article postings won't be daily events.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who is providing information and news releases, and the readers who return daily looking for timely and topical news of interest to Upshur County and the surrounding area.
Sincerely,
DeWayne Spell
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Eagles take on Daingerfield Tuesday
DIANA, TX, Feb. 24, 2009 -- Predicting the game will be won or lost under the glass, New Diana Head Basketball Coach David Schubert says he is excited about tonight's match-up with the Daingerfield Tigers.
"We are playing good basketball right now and are well prepared for the game.", Schubert said. "Daingerfield is very athletic and big they give everyone match-up problems inside and will do the same for us. We have to keep them off the glass, from getting second chance points. If we do that we have a chance."
Daingerfield took the second spot in 17-2A, behind Chapel Hill (MP). Wrapping up district play last Tuesday, the Tigers handed Hughes Springs a 69-61 loss.
Game time is Tuesday night, 8:00 PM at Gladewater.
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Sabine now last 18-2A Girls squad left standing
Feb. 23, 2009 -- The White Oak Ladynecks and the Harmony Lady Eagles were both handed losses in the Area round of the state basketball play-offs last week.
White Oak lost to Marlin 55-42, and Harmony fell to Woden 53-32.
Sabine's Lady Cardinals, coming off of a bye in the bi-district round, beat Frankston 54-38.
Sabine next faces Marlin Tuesday. The game will be in Kemp, starting at 7:00 p.m.
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52-42 Cardinal loss snaps 22 game winning streak
Feb. 23, 2009 -- Sabine's loss to #7 ranked Brock cost them more than a winning streak. The Cardinal's fell from #3 to #6 in state coaches polling after the loss.
At Birdville Coliseum, in Haltom City Saturday, the Cardinals took on the Brock Eagles for a playoff tune-up. The Eagle's defense managed to hold the Cardinals to single digit scoring for three quarters, and handed Sabine it's first loss since December of last year.
Even with the loss, there were some bright spots for the Cardinals that bode well entering the playoffs, such as Tyler Woodrell snatching 10 rebounds and blocking 4 shots. Lie'Quan Byrd and Noah Jackson both had 5 rebounds, and Byrd added 2 blocked shots. Sabine also made Brock pay for their mistakes, going 12 for 17 from the free-throw line.
SCORING BY QUARTER 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q FIN
BROCK 12 9 19 12 52
SABINE 9 7 7 17 42
BOX SCORES
BROCK: Williams 13, Baker 10, Loving 8, McGee 7, Beauchamp 4, Wright 4, Shupick 4, Hernandez 2
SABINE: Noah Jackson 12, Colton Kirk 10, Jacob Kenna 9, Tyler Woodrell 5, Lie'Quan Byrd 4, Josh Montana 4
Even though the match doesn't affect the playoff picture any, coaches in the TABC poling were keeping an eye on the game. Sabine, ranked #3 in the statewide poll Friday, was listed down at #6 this morning, in the latest rankings release.
TABC Rankings - Class 2A - Feb. 23, 2009
1 New Waverly (27-3) (14-0)
2 Ponder (34-1) (14-1)
3 Whitewright (28-2) (13-1)
4 Krum (28-6) (13-2)
5 Brock (28-6) (14-0)
6 Gladewater Sabine (33-4) (14-0)
7 Edgewood (27-6) (14-0)
8 Floydada (27-2) (9-1)
9 Newton (20-6) (10-0)
10 Hitchcock (23-11) (10-0)
Sabine, now 33-4 on the year, will play in the area playoff game vs. the winner of Tuesday's match-up between Frankston and Rosebud-Lott. The details of the game have not been determined.
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Area youth basketball teams get in free to basketball games Feb. 28
KILGORE, TX, Feb. 23, 2009 -- Kilgore College is hosting a “Youth Basketball Day” Feb. 28 at Masters Gymnasium in Kilgore.
All area youth basketball players who wear their uniform to the games on this day will get in free.
“We are looking to make a good connection with the community, and are excited to welcome all young players to come watch the Rangers in action,” said head coach Brian Hoberecht.
Both men’s and women’s teams will face Paris Junior College Feb. 28. The ladies tip off at 2 p.m. followed by the men at 4 p.m.
For more information, contact sports information coordinator Chris Craddock at (903) 983-8181.
Type rest of the post here
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Public meetings and online comment opportunities exist for public comment on several new regulations that will affect Upshur hunters
Feb. 23, 2009 -- In addition to presenting proposed hunting and fishing regulations at dozens of public hearings taking place around the state, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is looking to interact with constituents through an online public comment survey.
Annually, TPWD recommends adjustments to hunting and fishing rules for resource management needs and increased recreational opportunity. Part of the process involves gathering public comment, which helps the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in its final decision making on March 26.
Of special interest to Upshur hunters will be the proposed Special Late Muzzleloader-Only Season. The current muzzleloader-only open season is a nine-day late season during which antlerless and spike deer may be taken only by muzzleloading firearms.
The department proposes to expand the muzzleloader season from nine to 14 days in all counties that currently have a muzzleloader season, make it run concurrently with all other late seasons, allow for the bag composition to be identical to that of the general season, and expand it to include numerous counties, including Upshur.
Along with that, TPWD is proposing a Special Late Youth-Only Season, which would expand the late youth-only season from two days to 14 days and make it run concurrently with the special late muzzleloader season and the special late antlerless and spike deer season. The proposed expansion is intended to create additional opportunity for parents and children to hunt together during January.
The public may get involved in the process by attending one of the 46 public hearings taking place, providing comment online or by contacting TPWD directly.
The public comments section is accessible from the TPWD homepage and includes summaries of some 34 potential amendments to the state’s hunting and fishing regulations, with opportunities to provide input on each proposal.
Public hearings in the Upshur County area include:
City Date Location
Canton Mar. 5, 2009 Farm Bureau Building, 481 E Hwy 243, Canton
Corsicana Feb. 25, 2009 JP Courtroom; 312 W. 2nd Ave., Corsicana
Crockett Feb. 17, 2009 District Courtroom; 401 E. Houston, Crockett
Henderson Mar. 11, 2009 Ext. Office Meeting Room, 115 E Fordall, Henderson
Lufkin Feb. 26, 2009 District Courtroom, 215 E. Lufkin Ave., Lufkin
New Boston Mar. 9, 2009 Bowie Cty. Courthouse, 710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston
For a complete listing of the hearings, visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/meetings/statewide_hearings/.
Visit the TPWD homepage at www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more on the proposed regulations and instructions for online comments. The public comment period runs through March 25.
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