(Editor’s note: This is the letter that Julie Pease intended to send to The Advocate-Messenger instead of the one that was published in Thursday’s newspaper.)

I was saddened to read of the departure of The Advocate-Messenger’s editor Ben Kleppinger and feature reporter Bobbie Curd. I know Bobbie will be working freelance for the paper, but these changes remind us of how fragile the print media business is at present.

I moved to Danville eight years ago and it took me a few years to become involved with my community. As I became more involved in the challenges facing our community, I had more opportunities to interact with Ben and Bobbie. I always found them to be professional but also deeply invested in Danville and Boyle County.

Ben has provided insightful coverage of our local governments and was always open to learning about what community members believed was important. Bobbie provided excellent and fair coverage of the Herrington Lake coal ash issue, which is still unresolved, and so I hope part of her freelance work will be on the issues challenging our lake.

Ben is moving onto important and challenging work with CASA in Lexington. He will be missed.

Bobbie, I am glad you will still be freelancing for The Advocate-Messenger and I hope to work with you again on the issues facing this community.

Robin, it has got to be lonely in the newsroom, but I am glad you are still there.

Readers, our local newspaper is under threat, it needs our support. Please subscribe, take out advertising, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. The Advocate-Messenger has worked to streamline the paper and save costs, we need to have their back. 

Thank you, Ben and Bobbie, for your service to this community. Good luck.

Julie Pease

Danville