It was in early August of 1986.
I was being interviewed for the position of Executive Director of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce.
At age 27, I applied for the job after five years of radio employment at KAMI Radio in Cozad and as an active volunteer for the Cozad Jaycees.
I was grilled for the next hour by the committee, which consisted of Fred Caventer of JC Penney’s, Ron Hiatt of Western Bank (now Wells Fargo), Gene Sanders of Dayco (now Parker), and Dee Miles (later Lewis) of Town and County Real Estate. The committee members told me they were basically looking for a community cheerleader. Their new director needed to be someone who could run quality promotions; who could represent the community in a positive light; and someone who could establish good relationships with the local media.
It didn’t sound too tough.
Then it was my turn to ask questions.
And I had several.
My most direct question was, “On a scale of one to ten, with one being the worst and ten being the best, rate the unity of your community.” All four committee members squirmed a bit and looked at each other, hoping the other guy would speak first.
Finally, Ron Hiatt did.
“Maybe a five,” he said. “I suppose — on a good day — a six.”
The others shook their heads in agreement.
I inquired as to why he thought the number was so low, and Hiatt stated there were several reasons.
The list is too long to include in today’s column.
I accepted their job offer, which paid an annual salary of eighteen thousand dollars. Six thousand dollars a year more than I was earning working from sun to sun at the Cozad radio station.
The first item of business: Establish good relations with the local media.
That was a cinch with the local radio stations, KCOW and KPNY.
The Alliance Times-Herald was a different challenge.
KCOW and KPNY provided me with a weekly interview, which was established long before I arrived on scene.
KCOW’s Mike Glesinger, who started his job at KCOW on the same day that I began my chamber job — September 8, 1986 – allowed me to assist with some of his football and basketball broadcasts.
The Times-Herald offered me passive-aggressive criticism for my radio appearances.
Well, its staff members did. It’s publisher, Keith Kemper, never took a shot at me for promoting the chamber and the community via the radio airwaves.
Until March 1988.
Alliance was celebrating its centennial and part of the centennial celebration was a home show sponsored by KCOW at Alliance High School.
In my monthly chamber newsletter, I inserted a pamphlet promoting the home show.
Two of Kemper’s higher-ranking officials came apart at their seams. My telephone lit up and their yelling began.
Kemper later called me and wanted a meeting.
I went to his office preparing to be executed.
It was anything but a death experience.
Kemper laughed about the issue and told me, “Well, I had two angry staff members in my office demanding I do something. I am doing something by telling you not to worry about this incident. However, you need to make amends with my staff.”
I did.
Shortly after the 1988 KCOW Home Show, I began writing a weekly column titled, “Note from Horn.”
I continued to do so until November 1988, when I left the chamber to work for KCOW Radio.
In 2015, Aaron Wade and Kyle Cummings requested I write a weekly Husker memories column, which I gladly produced.
After these two icons left the paper, Tami Cox Swearingen and Shaun Friedrichsen asked for more.
I agreed, with the caveat being that I could write about more than the Huskers.
They agreed.
I have happily offered a weekly column for some years now.
I will share this secret. I do so on a volunteer basis.
And YOU can, too.
Alliance (and Hemingford) need a newspaper.
The Times-Herald has been part of Alliance since 1888, the year Alliance was founded.
Times have changed. Once a daily paper, it now publishes once a week.
Once, the presses rolled in the paper’s backroom. Now, it is printed elsewhere.
Once, it offered a large staff. Now, it is operating solely by Shaun Friedrichsen. His wife, Kathryn, works a few hours a week assisting with design.
The Friedrichsens do so for the love of the newspaper business and Alliance.
The T-H’s history is rich. Its future should be bright.
Friedrichsen, who was honored as Nebraska’s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2022, offers his publication on line at a very low price, which is direction most newspapers tend to be travelling. It is far more economical to offer the publication on the internet than offer it in print.
Still the presses continue to roll on a weekly basis.
And I am proud to be part of this family.
As I am sure that Mark Glesinger, Lyn Messersmith, Patricia Jones, John Weare and others are, too.
They also submit written illumination concerning our community.
You can be part of this unique family.
If you know of an event or information that you believe is newsworthy, submit your story and, maybe even a photo, to the Times-Herald.
All you must do is send Shaun an e-mail to: athnewsdirector@gmail.com.
There are no promises that the story will be published. But if not, Shaun will tell you why.
He hasn’t printed every weekly column I have submitted.
Usually that is due to lack of space, However, the column is published the following week.
The Alliance Times-Herald is YOUR newspaper and you and your neighbors need to be kept informed.
Please join me in keeping it thriving.
Keep reading and start writing.
It’s your opportunity to come full circle, too.