Goodbye

To the Editor:

The work is done and with it, I am too.

After 18 years of gainful employment at the Mount Vernon News, I am hanging up my press pass.

If we should happen to run into each other in the future, any questions I pose are purely because I'm nosy, though I’ll still have my camera on my shoulder.

I consider myself lucky. I am honored to have worked in journalism for almost two decades. Born and raised in Knox County, this has been an incredible journey to bring the news to my neighbors, near and far.

I've been a witness to the tragic and triumphant moments in the last 18 years. I have had photos and videos published across the internet and the world, such as the Miami Herald and the New York Times, on MSNBC and Fox News. I know that the News website I oversaw for 18 years, was viewed in Iraq, Argentina, and even Amity. I know that a semicolon can screw up an article in more ways than just punctuation.

Working with Virgil Shipley was an inspiration each day. He set the bar for journalistic devotion. I've worked with some of the great journalists, graphic designers, carriers and newspaper executives in Mount Vernon and Knox County history, including Allison Glass, Callan Pugh, Samantha Scoles, Corby Wise and many many more. Each bringing their life experience and knowledge to topics from agriculture, government, and sports with the determination to tell your stories each day.

If you've been a loyal subscriber, thank you. I hope you have found the last 5,000 plus editions worthy of your time. They were always worth my time.

I say goodbye, waving with ink stained fingers.

Joshua Morrison

Mount Vernon

Voter Suppresion

To the Editor:

Why are Republicans trying to suppress the vote?? Sabotaging the postal service BY DESTROYING SORTING MACHINES, cutting overtime hours, removing postal boxes on streets, discontinuing police security service to postal routes, limiting one drop box for even heavily populated counties in Ohio and other states, sending unofficial armed groups to intimidate voters at the polls (intimidating voters is illegal), making intimidating phone calls to voters in MI, WI, PA, OH (proven by the indictments of 2 operatives in MI), fake drop boxes in CA, challenging in the courts, the PA law to extend mail in vote counts for 3 days after Nov. 3 ( rejected by the Supreme Court). Republican lead states have closed many voting locations-particularly in minority and heavily populated areas causing long lines and discouraging working voters who may not be able to take off time. BUT REALLY? What are they worried about? CAN’T THEY WIN A fair and open election? There is little evidence of voter fraud, even after the the Trump commission investigated and was then dissolved. The only real attempt at voter fraud was Trump encouraging North Carolina to try to vote twice. Oh sure, he was kidding. But IT sounds like a dog whistle to me. 

Joyce Skocic

Mount Vernon