Stockbridge Community News celebrates 2-year anniversary

SCN Board of Directors celebrates 2-year anniversary. Front row: Amy Haggerty, Bev Glynn, Hope Salyer. Row 2: Nancy Wisman, Rose Collison, Patrice Johnson, Diane Rockall, Row 3: Roberta Ludtke, Joan Tucker, Judy Williams. Not pictured: Molly Howlett.

by Judy Williams and Patrice Johnson

Measuring the impact of a local news and information service can be subjective at best. If a steady stream of donations, a growing advertiser base, financial solvency and letters of appreciation are indicators, the Stockbridge Community News is wrapping up its second year in fine health. Other signposts are pointing toward progress in building a stronger, healthier community:

School. Superintendent Karl Heidrich recently mentioned that for the first time in four years, our kindergarten and early childhood classes have increased in size over the prior year.

Real estate. Realtor Jackie Scheller reports in an article on page that over the past two years, approximately 450 home sales have occurred in SCN’s area of circulation. “Taking into account a national average of 2.3 people per household, this amounts to 1,000 new or shifting people in the area,” she said.

Public perception. While chatting with a stranger in Chelsea, Patrice Johnson, SCN’s president and editor in chief, mentioned she was from Stockbridge. “The woman’s eyes grew wide,” Johnson recalled, “and she said, ‘My! That’s the school with the amazing journalism and robotics programs. I’ve been reading about all the national awards they keep winning.’” Johnson grinned. “Two years ago, I hardly would have expected that response.” Come to find out, the woman lives on a mail route that receives the SCN print publication.

So what is SCN’s storied past? In 2016, Stockbridge area residents were voicing alarm that the area was receiving less and less local news coverage. They feared our community would lose a vital medium that bonded it together. To explore solutions, Chuck Wisman and Johnson met with experts and researched the market, discovering that 75 percent of residents in our rural, farm-oriented community had virtually no access to quality, consistent local information.

They drafted a proposal, and in Aug. 2016, the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation granted $5,000 from the Charlotte and Robert Camp Memorial Endowment Fund for the hiring of a college intern to help jumpstart a multimedia local news and information service for the good and welfare of the community.

Eastern Michigan sophomore Hope Salyer began work Sept. 15, and within two weeks, she had SCN’s website up and running. During the first month, the online service had 1,100 views.

A task force of volunteers stepped forward, and in November, a 4-page print edition rolled off the presses. The newspapers were mailed at no charge to school district households, and volunteers hand-delivered them to local businesses.

Processes evolved and the roster of helpful hands grew. In December, SCN established a board of directors and became a self-standing, Michigan nonprofit and IRS 501(C)(4) organization. Founding directors included Pres. Patrice Johnson, V.P. Molly Howlett, Treas. Judy Williams, Hope Salyer, Nancy Wisman and Roberta Ludtke.

SCN now has three national awards under its belt.

Fast forward two years, and SCN now publishes a 24-page newsletter with three national awards under its belt. Its website regularly hosts more than 25,000 views per month, and its Facebook page updates nearly 1,300 regular followers on daily news. SCN’s board of directors has grown to 11 members, adding Rose Collison, Bev Glynn, Amy Haggerty, Diane Rockall, and most recently, Joan Tucker. An array of adjunct directors and reporters make valuable contributions each month.

The energy in our local community feels palpable, and as Township Trustee Terry Sommer said in a meeting, “It’s our newspaper. It’s all about us, and we need to support it.”

SCN’s board of directors wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to readers and supporters. We are pleased to be a part of this thriving community of good neighbors.