Hello again, Davenport

When long-time editor Mark Smith left The Times, I had a chance to write some stories in Davenport until a new editor was found.

In the short time I was here, I met several teachers, city officials, business owners and community members and saw first-hand what kind of community Davenport is.

I got to cover such stories as the Christmas lighting contest and the Davenport girls’ soccer team winning the state championship.

Then, a new editor was found and I returned to Ritzville full time.

As you have read by now, Chris Person has stepped down as editor to take a job with the National Park Service. So I’m back. This time, I will be taking the interim editor title and will be spending more of my time each week covering Davenport and Lincoln County.

I am excited to return to a city that I was just starting to get to know. I am excited to meet as many people here as I can and was planning on encouraging people to come visit me in the newsroom in this column. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 situation, Free Press Publishing has closed all its offices to the public. So any contact right now will have to be over the phone.

If you have something you want your local paper to cover, give me a call at 509-551-8896, or email me at davenporttimes@centurytel.net.

Of course, we are in the middle of a very serious time in our state. No other state in the nation has been hit by COVID-19 as hard as Washington. I know our readers are going to depend on The Times to deliver relevant, timely information. The entire staff of Free Press Publishing is working together to achieve this. I am proud to be part of that team. However, I also plan on providing some non-virus news coverage as well that focuses on the community.

I also would like to take this time to invite everyone to like the Davenport Times on Facebook. We will be providing need-to-know updates there about the COVID-19 situation and any other news stories that can’t wait for the next print edition.

I am very excited to be back and hope that you continue reading The Davenport Times.

Jeremy Burnham is the interim editor of The Davenport Times. Email him at davenporttimes@centurytel.com