 Veteran city reporter Nila Smith is now in charge of our city desk.
She has been a fixture at city council meetings for over two years
and has brought our readers clear, concise and accurately detailed
reports of all council meetings.
Smith has also been involved with meetings of other community
organizations and with issues besides city government. In addition,
she has taken over reports from police, fire and rescue, as well as
local classifieds.
In her new position she will continue to work to expand the
coverage of local news stories, which readers of LDN have grown
accustomed to seeing and depending on.
Mike Fak, managing editor, said: "Nila has become a great luxury
to not only me, but to the entire publication. She is a student of
whatever she covers, and she never goes to any meeting not having
done her homework and research on the issue. Nila is dependable,
capable and determined to get the news right, and I'm not sure
anyone anywhere can have more confidence in a reporter than I do in
her. I am delighted we can expand her role even more and look
forward to our local news coverage continuing to grow."
 New to Lincoln Daily News, Marla Blair is a former Lincolnite who
has returned home and has joined the staff at LDN. She will have
several roles, including being our local schools reporter.
Blair was a reporter for the Cass County Star-Gazette in
Beardstown for over 10 years and the editor for almost three years.
And, she wrote for two years for the Ashland Sentinel.
Partnering with an artist from Havana, Blair researched and wrote
content for three coffee-table-style books focusing on historic
buildings and homes in three Illinois communities.
She has also written promotional content for tourism brochures
and community development literature for Cass County and
west-central Illinois.
Now she is back in Lincoln, and LDN is delighted to have her join
the staff.
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Fak said that in initial interviews with Blair he knew he had
found another perfect match for LDN.
"Marla understands completely the role of a neighborhood
newspaper," he said. "I found her finishing my sentences when we
talked about engaging the community and helping people understand
that this newspaper is all about them if only they contribute to
make it so."
A significant portion of Blair's time will be spent with local
schools, making sure they report their activities, awards and
accomplishments, but Blair will also cover other events as needed to
continue expansion of community news.
LDN's primary mission remains to provide the most news and
accurately reported information about, to and for our community.
You, our readers and our advertisers, are the yardstick we
measure by. Thank you for all the ways that you have helped LDN
grow.
As the only online daily community news startup with no affiliate
publication to become successful, that we know of, we know we
need to give
you, the community that we serve, as well as all our excellent
newsroom employees, the credit.
Locally owned and established to help promote Lincoln and Logan
County through quality news reporting and coverage of activities and
events, Lincoln Daily News is now in its 12th year.
[LDN]
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