Pictured left to right are Paramount Broadcasting staff members Ryan Crowe, Music Director for 106.1 FLiP FM; Tony St. James, Owner; Alex Driggars, Managing Editor of the Floyd County Record; and Steven Orr, Sales Manager. Not pictured are owner Pamela Ricketts and sales representative Pamela Sweeten. (Courtesy Photo/Kortney DeBock)
A little over a year ago, I sat down in a cramped booth with my dear friends Pam and Tony for coffee at IHOP in Plainview. Every time Tony moved his head, he would brush up against a plastic shower curtain that was hanging from the ceiling to separate the booths (thanks, COVID). Each time that happened, I chuckled at the utter absurdity of that scene, at just how bizarre the situation in our world was at that moment. Nonetheless, the laughter took a lot of effort to get out. I wasn’t really in a laughing mood. I was nervous — scared to death, more honestly.
I was scared because I was about to make one of those huge, life-shifting decisions that we as human beings are sometimes faced with. Deon Zumwalt had announced that she was leaving the then-startup Floyd County Record, and Pam and Tony were offering me her spot as editor. At the time, I was serving full-time in ministry. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to leave the ministry to run some tiny online newspaper in Floydada of all places, but as I was sitting there, I felt a not-so-subtle nudge, a tugging at my heart if you will, that said “Go for it.” So I did. I haven’t regretted that decision for one second.
So, when the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal came calling on New Year’s Eve, and I felt that all-too-familiar nudge, I knew exactly what I had to do.
Wednesday is my last day as Managing Editor of the Floyd County Record. I’ve accepted a position as the Government and Public Policy Reporter for the A-J.
An easy decision this was not. During my time in Floyd County, I’ve grown deeply fond of the people of Lockney and Floydada. I have fallen in love with this community. I feel at home here. I am profoundly sad to leave. My time here has no doubt been challenging, but I could never have estimated how rewarding it would be. I never guessed that a conversation over stale IHOP coffee would have led to one of the best seasons of my life so far. I have learned and grown so much — as a journalist and as a person — thanks in no small part to the incredible team I have had that privilege of working with in the newsroom and the amazing people I get to associate with outside of the office each day. I’ve made many new friends and grown closer to old ones. For all of that, I am incredibly grateful.
Thank you Pam and Tony for taking a chance on me and forcing me out of my comfort zone. Thank you to everyone at Paramount Broadcasting Corp. for the love and friendship. And most of all, thank you to Floyd County for accepting me as one of your own.
I feel like my time here has been far too short. I can’t help but think that there are some photos left untaken, stories left untold and relationships left undeveloped. But, I am so incredibly proud of what has been accomplished in that short time. I truly believe that the Record is a local news powerhouse, a rarity in a county the size of ours, and I hope that Floyd County knows just how good she has it.
Plus, I have full faith and confidence that the Record staff will come behind and fill those gaps I’m leaving. When I say that we’re blessed with some of the best in the business, I am not exaggerating. In particular, I think that the Record’s readers will be blessed by the work of Ryan Crowe, who is stepping up to serve as editor in my absence. Ryan is a seasoned veteran of the news industry and a wonderful friend. If you don’t know Ryan, I encourage you to get to know him.
Thankfully, my new role in Lubbock will involve at least a little bit of regional reporting, so I’m certain that my work there will overlap Floyd County from time to time. I’m also pretty sure that I’ll occasionally show up in town just because I miss it. You’ll be seeing me, and I always welcome calls, texts and emails.
To that point, I’ll steal a rather cheesy line from my friend (and new co-worker) Nathan Giese’s Plainview Herald farewell column, which he stole from my other friend Alexis Cubit’s farewell column: “It’s not goodbye — but see you around.”
