Letters: Good-bye, Newton County

— I have reserved the Little Buffalo River Visitors and Convention Center on Spring Street in Jasper from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. I hope you can find the time to drop in for some refreshments and allow me the opportunity to thank you for your support over the years. —

To you, the reader:

For the past 24 years I have written for and edited the Newton County Times. That ends on Monday, Aug. 11 (2025).
It also ends my 47-year career in the newspaper business, all spent with one organization. I was hired as a general assignment reporter by the Harrison Daily Times on Aug. 11, 1978. I was assigned editor of the Harrison paper's sister publication the Newton County Times in March 2001.
I have considered it both an honor and a privilege to document the history of Newton County for almost a quarter of a century. A lot has happened over the years.
Most memorable for me are: The consolidation and reorganization of school districts in the county; the many accomplishments of the Newton County Hometown Health Initiative (HHI) that include the Jasper School Based Health Center, the Jasper Farmer's Market, the Jasper Community Garden and the Drug Free Community Grant program Partners In Prevention (PIP) and of course the local effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I got to meet and know Newton County Farm Families of the Year, photograph Newton County Fair Youth Livestock Show grand and reserve champion exhibitors; photograph just about all the fair and Christmas parades; report on quorum court, city council and school board meetings too numerous to count, and meet so many interesting people who made their homes in Newton County and shared their stories with you, the reader of the newspaper.

I quickly realized that many of the newspaper's subscribers are former residents who want to keep in touch with their hometowns. I always edit the newspaper as if it is a weekly letter from home.
The work of covering the county became more challenging when the newspaper office in Jasper was closed and I was relocated to the newsroom at the Harrison Daily Times. Thankfully, many of you came to my aid by continuing to submit photos and stories about events I could not attend. That is what makes the local newspaper your newspaper. I hope that will always continue.
Over the years, I have invested personally in the community. I plan to continue to attend and serve HHI and PIP and to use my years of experience to assist Community Matters.
I have reserved the Little Buffalo River Visitors and Convention Center on Spring Street in Jasper from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. I hope you can find the time to drop in for some refreshments and allow me the opportunity to thank you for your support over the years.

Sincerely,

JEFF DEZORT
Former Editor