Hi, Vicksburg!

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — If you keep up with the Vicksburg Daily News, you’ve probably seen my name pop up a few times in the past couple weeks. Well, allow me to introduce myself.

I sorta hate these introduction columns. I never know what to say. Have you ever been on a website setting up a profile and it gives you the prompt: About me…yeah. I hate those. It’s such an open-ended question. What’s my favorite color? food? movie genre? song? It can be overwhelming, and I don’t think there is nearly enough characters to express even a fraction of who a person is.

But enough about that (you’ve probably already caught on that I’m an over-thinker). What to say? What to say? Well, I won’t bore you with the details so here’s a quick rundown.

I was born in Joplin, Mo., to a military family. When I was a young teen we packed up and moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala., because my grandpa worked for B.F. Goodrich and transferred him there.

I went to school at the University of Alabama and majored in Astrophysics. Yup, you read that right. But now, did I end up doing anything with all that education about stars, nebulae, and galactic evolution? Nope. Not the first little bit. And thank God! (Literally!) He knew it wasn’t right for me because my heart lay in a different field.

Right after college I got married and was instantly sucked into the world of newspapers. I began in advertising and digital design. Over the years as I progressed up the metaphorical ladder of my career, things fell apart with the marriage. Simply put, we realized we were better suited as friends. And luckily for the sake of our two children, we remain friends to this day.

Overall I’ve had 16 years of journalism and newspapers under my belt; but I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life. I love the news life. I’ve done everything from photography, layout, sales, design, sports, politics, community, schools and yes, even crime. Lord only knows some of the things I’ve learned about people when it comes to crime reporting-like seriously, the things people do.

I’ve worked in newspapers in four states: Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. And not to toot my own horn, but other people seem to think I know what I’m doing and have given me first place awards in all those states.

Most recently, I was a publisher of a modest newspaper in the northern part of the ‘Sip. I served in that position for five lovely and active years. So how’d I end up here? Well, let’s just say I blew up a few “bridges”.

See, I have always tried to be a voice for the people. I believe in my duty to report the truth to the best of my ability. So when a few underserved people in that community approached me with accusations of election tampering, I took it seriously. I started investigating and low-and-behold, they were right. I found the paper trail, the state statutes, eye-witnesses and collaborating facts. So beep-bop-bam, I posted the story and it went live.

A few “higher-ups” in the community weren’t used to being exposed so they contacted the owner of the paper down in Jackson. Well, potential advertising dollars were at stake so I got a call. They told me to take the story down. I refused and in my impetuous wisdom, took the matter to social media and exposed all the sordid details. I received another call from Jackson. This time they “insisted” I take it down…I “insisted” they take the job and…well, I’m sure you get the picture.

At that point, I realized I hadn’t just burned the bridges with the journalistic world, I’d blown those bridges to pieces. Corporate media doesn’t forget whistle blowers easily. So I packed my bags and headed back to T-town where my family still lives.

“Okay, Steph,” I thought. “Time to go back to the drawing board.”

Imagine my surprise when VDN‘s David Day and I spoke, and he actually said he wanted me to come work for him. I really couldn’t believe it. I even made sure to tell him exactly what I’d done up north. Pretty sure at some point in that conversation I said, “Are…are ya SURE? Like sure-sure?” (Obviously, y’all can deduce his response.)

So a hop, skip, and jump down the interstate and here I am.

Vicksburg, I love ya! There is so much to do, so much charm, so much potential here. Sure there are a few issues, but with the type of people in this community, there isn’t a doubt in my mind those problems can’t be solved.

To everyone, I’ve met so far? Thank you for the warm and engaging welcomes. Y’all sure know how to make a gal feel at home.

So hi, Vicksburg! I’m here for you! I will work for you! So if ya have something for me or that you’d like me to know or report on, gimme a call 662-292-6023 or shoot me an email stephanie@vicksburgnews.com.

And in the words from one of the best movies of all time (Casablanca)…I have a feeling this is “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”