Seven years ago, I became
frustrated when our local weekly wouldn't report on issues and events
important to Lowndes County people, so I began my own newsletter. I get
suggestions from all over Lowndes County regarding potential stories and
information.
I write Esther's Trumpet,
print it and distribute it to 13 Mom and Pop stores in Lowndes County. The
bi-monthly circulation puts 600 miles per month on my vehicle, and the
printing and paper costs are around $300.00 I get out about 3,000 hard
copies per month. I pay for everything myself, but for the last year I have
been soliciting donations from the community. I really need the help, but
to remain independent we are not a 501(c)(3), so donations are not tax
deductible.
One of my goals is to
promote literacy in our small low income county of 13,000. Because I write
about what is important to the average person, I am thrilled to report that
Esther's Trumpet flies out of these little stores.
I invite articles from the
community and in 2007 I hope to encourage our local school system to arrange
for high school students to become interns for Esther's Trumpet. Our plan
is that to report on local city council meetings and then write about those
meetings. We believe that this will help their writing skills and encourage
them to be involved.
If you are at all familiar
with Lowndes County, you know that it is the county between Selma and
Montgomery, the scene of 45 of the 54 mile 1965 Voting Rights March.
Although the Civil Rights Struggle is legend here, this community has
remained low income and many people do not even graduate from high school.
Currently the unemployment rate is about 7%, and most of our children live
in poverty.
We will be enlarging this
web site to bring you more information about beautiful Lowndes County,
Alabama. Please email me or the Webmaster any suggestions you may have for
further development.
Barbara Evans
TRUMPET
From the Desk of the Editor