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 The day was very well attended with several city
of Lincoln representatives as well as those from Logan County
governance, the Little Miss Logan County Luci Bobell, local business
owners and representatives, family, and close friends.
The day began at around 8:30 a.m. with Heather Cosby of Flossie &
Delzena’s arriving with a large quantity of sweet treats and a big
pot of coffee. The food was set up and soon guests began to arrive.
At 9 a.m., everyone joined owners Karen Hargis and Nils Smith
outside the new Lincoln Daily News offices at 520 Broadway Street in
Lincoln for the cutting ceremony.
Those who gathered behind the ribbon included Hargis and Smith,
Richard Smith, Kay Reisner, Little Miss Luci, former co-owner of
Lincoln Daily News Jan Youngquist, Mayor Tracy Welch, Alderman Rick
Hoefle, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Logan County Clerk Theresa Moore,
Lincoln City Clerk Peggy Bateman, LDN staff members Devyn Fry and
Jeff Wyles, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, and Alderman Kevin Bateman.
Holding the ribbon was Lexi Groves of the Logan County Tourism
Bureau and LCTB Board President and owner of Small Town Creations in
Lincoln, Kathie Williams.
The ribbon cut began with Smith offering up expressions of gratitude
to the guests who had come out to welcome LDN to the downtown
community and congratulate Smith and Hargis on the ownership of the
business.
She spent quite a few minutes talking about the decision to become
the owners of the paper, including the time that Hargis and Smith
had talked about whether or not they were prepared to take on that
kind of responsibility. She said a lot of prayer went into every
decision and they felt blessed because with each turn everything had
fallen into place correctly. Among those puzzle pieces that came
together so easily was the new location. Smith said she had been to
a city council meeting one night, and driving home she went on
Broadway (not typical) and saw the large for rent sign in the front
window of the old Becherer Jewelry Store building. She had called
Hargis and they both knew that it was the place they wanted to be
for the future of Lincoln Daily News.
[It should be noted that from the beginning, the new owners were
aware they would have to move out of the former location. When the
owners of CCAonline sold that business it included the building, and
the condition that Lincoln Daily News would exit the building within
12 months of the sale.]
Smith introduced the LDN graphic artists Devyn Fry and Jeff Wyles
and also introduced her husband Richard and thanked him for his
constant support. She introduced her mother Kay Reisner who had
traveled almost 140 miles with Smith’s sister Mindy Browning, to be
at the ribbon cutting and open house.
Smith also told the guests that while it was she and Hargis that
would be snipping the ribbon, the milestone event for Lincoln Daily
News belonged to the entire community because it was the community
that had supported the paper and patronized it since the first daily
edition 22 years ago.
Hargis spoke saying that she and Smith were truly humbled by the
support they have been given. She said the task Lincoln Daily News
has taken on is to support the community and to record our local
history. She said it was a job that she and Smith both loved to do,
but one they could not do if it were not for the community.
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 Smith spoke again recognizing the stringers and
naming them, saying that happily all of the stringers from Angela
Reiners to Derek Hurley, Teena Lowery, Lisa Ramlow, Jeff Mayfield
and Loyd Kirby, who was in attendance and introduced separately had
agreed to stick with the new owners. Smith said she and Hargis were
grateful for their support. Also, the technical workers who help
keeping the daily edition running, Curt Schliech and Brian Bolton
and Smith’s sister Mindy Browning who works with an IT company out
of the Mattoon/Charleston and Jim Youngquist who has promised to
stick with Smith and Hargis for the next few months as they get
adjusted.
Smith introduced Jan Youngquist and asked her to say a few words.
Youngquist said she wanted to say that Hargis and Smith have been
with the Youngquists through the various changes in the business.
She said to the pair, “we are grateful for you, we respect you, and
we know you know the heart of the community, which is what this has
always been about.”
 Mayor Tracy Welch was
the last person to speak. He noted, “Lincoln Daily News is a staple
in our community. You go to a community event, and you see Karen or
Nila there. It is just a blessing for you guys to take this over.
The community is in good hands and so is Lincoln Daily News.”
With the speeches concluded the posed picture was taken by Mitch
Douglas. Then everyone in the crowd assisted with the countdown and
Hargis and Smith snipped the ribbon.
Everyone was invited to come inside and enjoy some of the many sweet
treats provided by Flossie & Delzena’s and to register for a gift
basket that was that was given to LDN to be given away that day by
Small Town Creations.
The open house lasted until 11 a.m. with many of the guests for the
cut staying to take a look around and visit with Smith and Hargis.
Throughout the morning other friends stopped in to congratulate the
pair and wish them all the best on their new adventures.
At 11 a.m. Smith’s mom, Kay Reisner was asked to assist Hargis
drawing the name out for the winner of the gift basket. That winner
was Ashley Metelko, the Administrative Assistant for the city of
Lincoln.
Metelko, when called was excited to learn she was the winner of the
basket that included coffee, biscotti, a ceramic Logan County mug
and to-go mug and a glass pumpkin. She said she had told the girls
at city hall that she never wins anything, so she was surprised her
name was drawn and came to the office soon after to pick up her
gift.
The new office of Lincoln Daily News is located at 520 Broadway
Street in Lincoln. The office will be open Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. to approximately noon with availability in the
afternoons by appointment.
[Nila Smith] |
