Wedgwood Shopping News / Ridglea Shopping News / Cityview Shopping News Newspapers are mailed directly to homes in 76133, 76132, 76109 and 76116 zip codes.
12/18/2020
With a heavy heart, we announce the December 16, 2020 issue will be the last one for the Wedgwood, Ridglea & Cityview Shopping News. In a year that has seen unprecedented chaos, confusion and Coronavirus, it has become increasingly difficult to navigate the ever-changing world as a small business owner. For those who are not familiar with the history of the paper, I would love to share a brief background with you:
In 1963, Wedgwood was a fledgling community when developers E.L. Baker, Gene Payte and Irvin Krauss approached Ruby Dering and asked her to start a newspaper. At the time, Dering, a well-established property owner and community advocate, was editor of the Wedgwood Country Club newsletter so it was a natural segue to publishing a community newspaper. The primary purpose of the paper was to help develop Wedgwood and surrounding areas as a family community, bring people together and keep them informed as to the openings and closing of schools, churches, grocery stores, boutiques, pools, parks, playgrounds and more! In addition, the goal of the paper has been to provide business owners with an affordable and effective advertising avenue that helps them increase their coffers.
Dering eventually sold the paper to her friend, Dollie Duke Thompson. As a Realtor, Thompson knew the areas that were exploding with new growth and expanded the paper’s circulation into the Ridglea and Cityview areas. After Thompson’s death in 1998, I took over the role of publisher. It’s been an interesting job that has given me the opportunity to meet a bunch of fantastic people. I enjoy talking with our customers every couple of weeks when I personally drop off papers at their businesses and the rapport I have cultivated with our home based business owners who have become like family. The Wedgwood Shopping News has earned a stellar reputation and I am proud to have played a part in that achievement.
To many of you, Kay Pirtle is a familiar face as she has been with the paper for more than half it’s history. She has held dual positions as editor and salesperson and truly enjoys her job. “We’ve watched businesses come and go, area publications bloom and die on the vine and yet we continued to hear “I love your papers, from both readers and advertisers alike” said Kay Pirtle. “Our papers were different in that we featured area businesses on the front page in every issue. Everyone wanted their front page feature story! It has been thoroughly rewarding to have been able to meet and interview so many successful and knowledgeable people through the years. I’ve learned about everything from air conditioning and heating to antiques to banking and finance and beyond. I will miss the many people that have had a part in making this paper great!” Karen Scott started in 1995 and many of our customers have watched as her two daughters have grown up around the office. They, along with their friends and cousins, spent many afternoons lounging on the couch in my office watching movies, eating snacks or doing homework. There were lots of tears, laughs and love to go around! Finally, after the retirement of long-time employee Linda Waggoner, we added another Linda to the mix. Linda Sosa came on board in May 2014 as an outside salesperson and like Kay, has cultivated a long list of loyal advertisers - many of whom have called or emailed to express their gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to work with all of us. Many of these same people have become like family and we will miss them.
There is a familiar saying that I have heard many times in my life, “All good things must come to an end.” The phrase is one with a literal meaning that urges one to enjoy the good times while they last. It is said to have come into existence in the 14th century and means that everything that is deemed nice, ends; it depicts the circle of life to say that everything has an end; and everything that one is fond of comes to an end, eventually. And, so here we are. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed the Wedgwood, Ridglea and Cityview newspapers. All of us have worked diligently to bring you the very best publication possible and are sad to see it come to an end. However, I am looking forward to spending the next few years traveling, working around my house, enjoying my friends and family and most importantly, visiting my son, a privately trained chef, who works in Rogers, Arkansas doing what he absolutely loves! And, that makes me a happy mama!
So, thank you to everyone who has been a part of the story of the Wedgwood, Ridglea and Cityview Shopping News. We will treasure the memories and hope you do, too!
