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Saying good-bye after 17 years with Ogden Newspapers

View from the sidelines

Craig Harvey

On Oct. 21, 2007, I walked into the OBSERVER doors for the first time as the new sports editor. I sat down in my chair, rearranged my desk the way I wanted it and noticed I had my very first voicemail.

Curious to see what the message was, I began listening. My excitement for having my dream job quickly turned into doubt less than 10 minutes into the job.

The message was from someone in Silver Creek, using choice words not suitable for print, demanding the sports department apologize to the boys soccer team, head coach and community for misspelling a name.

I sat at my desk and asked myself, “What the hell did I get myself into?”

Twelve years later, I can say I got myself into an experience of a lifetime.

After 17 years with Ogden Newspapers — five with the Post-Journal and the last 12 with the OBSERVER — I have decided to put my notepad and tape recorder away and begin a new chapter in my life.

Fresh out of high school, the late Jim Riggs gave me my first journalism job as a part-time sportswriter at the Post-Journal. Working alongside Riggs and Scott Kindberg, I quickly fell in love with journalism.

Seeing Riggs operate a sports department and his love for the job, I knew someday I wanted to become a sports editor. That opportunity came in 2007 as OBSERVER Managing Editor Gregory Bacon and Publisher John D’Agostino took a chance on a 24-year-old, overly-enthused young man, who still had a lot to learn.

When my enthusiasm and over-anxious ways became too much to handle as sports editor, I was fortunate to have Gib Snyder III as a co-worker to tell me to relax. When I thought we weren’t going to make deadline or finish a project on time, Gib was there to tell me we were fine. And 100 percent of the time, Gib was right.

After nine years as the sports editor and the last three years as news editor, I have been fortunate to meet many great co-workers, coaches and readers in Northern Chautauqua County, who I now consider great friends. My most memorable memories have been the conversations with all of you, along with getting opportunities to take my family along with me to events we would not have gone to had it not been for the job.

To each and every one of you, and everyone I have crossed paths with — even the voicemail lady from Silver Creek — I owe a sincere thank you for allowing me to be part of your community.

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