Where are they now: Darrick Boord

Editor's Note: We'd like to hear from all of our expats and retirees. E-mail your news to df1898@gmail.com. Here's an update from the Editorial Department's Darrick Boord:

I left the T-R in March 2007 after five years, escaping just before the Gatehouse folks took over. I took a marketing job at the Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, where I did a bit of everything. My responsibilities included designing print ads, writing radio ad scripts, updating the website, creating in-house signage, writing press releases, creating and coordinating special events, customer service, vendor relations and even collecting rent from outdoor vendors. It was definitely interesting, with something new going on every day.
In June 2009 I joined Loudon Motors Ford in Minerva to do internet marketing. Basically, I took photos of the vehicles and uploaded them to the website, as well as some other web-related duties.

After just more than a year at Loudon's, I returned to journalism. I re-joined the Press-News, the weekly paper where I got my start years ago. I had actually been working there part-time since shortly after starting at Hartville, helping with layout on a day off from the MarketPlace. I came back on full-time in September as assistant editor/sports. Basically, I'm the number two guy in the newsroom and handle all the sports. I cover events, take photos, update the website, etc. - typical newsroom stuff, just a little more of it since we're such a small staff. Even smaller than the current T-R staff, as hard to believe as that may be. :)

Kids are growing up ... Brittany will be a teenager in January, and Phil just turned 10. Brittany is doing a lot of singing now, and just did her first solo in front of our church on my anniversary a couple weeks ago. She is a voracious reader, plowing through at least a few books every week. Both kids bowl, and Phil plays baseball and basketball, too, and never, ever sits still for anything. I've been told that he even stands at the lunch table at school. He's full of energy and enthusiasm.

Heather earned her teaching degree (early childhood education) in May 2009 and worked as a preschool aide last year, before determining that she'd be better off as a substitute teacher this year. She's been keeping pretty busy, usually teaching at least three days a week, and sometimes all five. We also teach kids' church once a month, and all four of us are very involved in various activities in our church.

That's pretty much it, for all who may be interested. I do miss the T-R and all the great people I worked with there. But I sympathize with the folks who are still there, working hard to put out a quality product while dealing with being more understaffed and overworked than ever before. Good luck, T-R staff - you all are in my prayers.