
Want to be The Herald’s next editor? Expect long hours, minimal pay and enormous personal rewards.
By GEORGE CUSTER/Editor — The Herald turns two years old today. A lot has happened since we published our first stories about news along the Highway 58 corridor on February 28, 2021.
In the beginning
In that first week of publication, The Herald broke stories about a stolen car being recovered by the sheriff’s department, Zero Clearance Theater was moving into the WAC, a story on the pleasures and perils of Diamond Peak, and Dean Rea kicked in a story about a fellow journalist who planned to walk the length of Oregon. Those were among the many published that first week.
I’m sure I mentioned it before but, Doug Bates, our founding Editor, had everything to do with getting The Herald off the ground. His experience was invaluable and he worked feverishly to establish a news site worthy of your viewing.
Still in it’s infancy
Are we flying high yet? That’s a matter of perspective. We’re here and plan to keep our readers informed on the important topics of the day. What is our local government doing with your tax dollars? Who might be providing live entertainment this weekend? Are there any threats to our local environment by profit seeking groups? We can’t read your mind on what you think we should publish. However, we are dedicated to providing accurate, reliable, and unbiased news and information to you, our readers.
Once you’re off the ground and flying low, trying to gain altitude, that’s the hard part. You have to really pay attention. We think we’ve been doing that.
By the way, you can, at any time, go back to any article that The Herald has published. I took that walk down memory lane this morning to reflect on the last two years. Go to the bottom of any category and you will see where you can read any previous story that has been published.
By the numbers
The Herald has published 2,367 articles (not counting this one)
Our site averages over 25,000 views per month
We have had over 9,700 total users in the past 30 days
The Herald has over 1,000 subscribers
Over 2/3’s of you see us on your mobile device
As always, I feel compelled to keep asking for your support. As newspaper after newspaper cease to publish due to varying circumstances, we are determined to keep our communities along highway 58 informed.
We’re always looking for contributors. Contact us if you would like to write an occasional article or two (or know someone who might).
Please give whatever you can to support journalism that matters. You deserve it.
The Highway 58 Herald is a 501c(3) nonprofit run primarily
by volunteers.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.