BY SARAH MORISON STEPHENS
OWNER – ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
TOP PHOTO: Bob Ealum, our Happy Hippie Photographer, is making great progress to better health. Thank you for the cards and encouragement.
Happy Thursday all. I just wanted to pop in for a moment and give you some updates.
But I really want to thank everyone who has sent in get well cards and birthday cards to our photographer Bob Ealum. Known as Bobalooo, the Happy Hippie and our roving photographer, I told you recently on our Facebook page about some health struggles he has endured over the past year.
But here is the GREAT news. Bob is recovering right now at the Merry Wood Lodge, gaining strength and feeling so much better. Big thank you to Merry Wood Lodge in Elmore for taking care of our Bobalooo. Due to COVID, we cannot visit right now, but hopefully will be able to set up a window visit soon.
Bob’s birthday was Aug. 24, and as he has been in the facility we could not have a celebration. But he is set to get out soon, and we will announce a birthday party and all things Bob Ealum celebration. You can still send him cards or words of encouragement! Mail them to 365 Kenner Creek Road, Deatsville, AL and I will make sure he receives all of them. You have NO IDEA how much those cards and letters lifted his spirits.
Back on April 1, 2015 when I created the Elmore/Autauga News on Facebook, Bob was the first one to step up and offer his much-needed help. The thought process was I was going to retire from full-time corporate world journalism, and just do a couple of feature stories a week. I never, ever dreamed that the idea would turn into a following of almost 38,000 people in six short years.
Bob was there in the early days and I will never be able to thank him enough for that. Over time people have come and gone, but all filled a much-needed spot in bringing you YOUR local news.
Just in the past week our numbers of readership and engagement are amazing. (See Graphic) Consider that the past couple of weeks have been really difficult. COVID hit our office hard, and life in general has called some of the staff away on other matters. But the team we have is amazing. We have burned the midnight oil when necessary to keep rolling out YOUR stories.
I am so incredibly grateful for my partner Carla Wilson, who manages the business side of things so I can be the news hound and keep the website updated. Over my 30 years in this business, I have also worked in advertising. But that is not where my passion resides.
This “little blog” I started has grown into a full-blown 24/7 adventure. It could not be possible without our entire team, an amazingly loyal readership and advertisers.
Heather Knight, Andrew Edwards, Gerri Miller, Scott Nickerson and our newest freelancers Drew Martin and Amanda Pevey have stepped up in big ways. As our readership grows, our team grows and I thank them and appreciate them. We want to continue growing, and expand our regular coverage area within the counties.
I cannot end this without sending some love to our faithful advertisers. For the first few years, advertising wasn’t included as this was a “hobby.”. But as we have grown, added a popular website in addition to our Facebook page, advertising has become a huge part of what we do. We always want to promote shopping local, but we also have some big supporters in nearby counties. Thank you!
Thank you for following the Elmore/Autauga News. I only have TWO requests. Send us your GOOD news. School, church, organizations, neighbors helping neighbors, hometown heroes, military news…all the good stuff. Because as I have said many times, it takes NO SKILL to report the bad news. It shows up unwelcomed, and we report what we have to report.
Second, please LIKE the page on Facebook. It really does make a difference.
Send your news to me at editorsarah@yahoo.com. Or you can message us on Facebook or our website at elmoreautauganews.com. We REALLY do want to hear from you. For advertising, contact Carla Wilson or Heather Knight at our office 334-285-1299. The office is located next to AirNow on Main Street in Millbrook.
