Dear Editor,

I want to write and say how much I appreciate the Pickens County Courier. You have a good balance of news. Something for everyone, not just big-time world news.

Years ago, my late mother said of a local weekly newspaper that she liked it better than the big-city newspapers because it had what she wanted to read. Local news about the people she knew and wanted to hear about and local happenings. Believe it or not, many people still want that even today.

There is TV, radio and the internet, yet there is still just something about a hometown weekly newspaper that is appealing. We have to wait an entire week between events printed in the paper to get an answer, not immediate gratification like the internet.

Do you remember when you ordered an item out of a catalog and it said “allow six to eight weeks for delivery?” It usually took six weeks. You had time to wonder about when it would arrive and you’d be like a child on Christmas morning when opening up the package. I miss those days!

One thing I love about the paper is when there is a story that covers the page. I remember one about the book where a black couple escaped slavery. I ordered the book and read it. In a “hurry up and get it done yesterday” world, it’s nice to have something to look forward to each week.

The paper can be read without any interruptions by those pesky pop-up ads and Uncle Sam or Big Brother peeking over your shoulder. You can easily cut out articles and save without any government knowing which ones, unlike the internet, which knows I sent this in.

Even running a small-town weekly newspaper is a lot more stressful than you would think. If you see any of the management or staff out, take time to stop and thank them for their work.

Be thankful for having a free press and being free to agree or disagree with whatever is printed. At one time having our freedom of speech taken away we would think of a third-world country invading us. Now we have people in our own government who would no doubt take away that freedom. Don’t ever let them! Fight for your right to read freely and speak your opinion.

I hope this publication doesn’t go all digital as many are doing. Printed, you have an actual item to hold, unlike digital, which is on a screen. Eventually, if small-town weekly newspapers are phased out, we will be hearing only what the government wants us to hear like in the book “1984” or “Fahrenheit 451.”

Keep on printing and we the people will keep on reading. We will by doing so remain free to think and decide for ourselves! Long live the free press and long live the freedom of the people to read as they want!

Eddie Boggs

Westminster