ringing the bells

We didn't win the game, but it was still a lot of fun and the one we all wanted to win was the one who came out ahead in the end.
Friday night the Traveler and KSOK radio raised over $4,000 for the Salvation Army by ringing bells at Country Mart.
When we heard that the Salvation Army's annual red kettle drive was not going so well, and that they were having trouble getting bell ringers, we decided to get involved.
We "challenged" KSOK to a competition in the front of Country Mart and we all rang bells on Friday night. We realized we were in trouble when we saw they were all out in costumes and had the radio station's truck on hand playing music.
Going up against a radio station at fund raising in a public location was probably not the best strategic move. They are professionals and we were taking them on at their game on their own court so to speak.
But it wasn't about winning. It was about doing something positive for our community, and having a bit of fun along the way.
When the money was counted, KSOK had a lot more than we did, almost twice as much. The total between us was $3,975. That does not count the change that was donated, so the total would easily be over $4,000. It also does not count the donation Country Mart made, which was going to be based on its profits while bell ringing was taking place.
The Army still needs money, so don't stop putting money into the red kettles. We can only hope other bell-ringers have as much fun as we did.
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Part of the fun was checking out each other's costumes. When we heard KSOK was going to be in costume, of course, we had to come up with some as well.
Costume shops in town were busy Friday.
By time time I got ready all the ringers from the Traveler were gone. Action! editor Sydney Bland had left behind a Santa costume, and so I decided to try to wear it.
I had never put one on before, and didn't realize at the time that I was putting it on backwards. Lots of people pointed out the problem.
The real problem was that my wife wasn't there to tell me how to dress.
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This is what small town journalism is all about, and what community journalism is all about.
As the "media" our job is to report the news, to tell you what is going on in the community.
At times it is also to get involved an try to help out where we can.
The newspaper has promoted the Salvation Army a lot this year. It is a good organization that does a lot of good. They are the first ones there when there are disasters. They also help to make sure that those who could not afford it otherwise, are able to have something during the holidays.
We try to support other good causes during the year as well.
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It's that time of year again, the time when people are decorating their houses with lights. One great tradition is to drive around and look at the lights.
As usual, we will try to let you know where the lights are.
I would like to ask our readers to let us know where the good lights are, so we can pass that along. Send me an email, (jjordan@arkcity.net), or call us (442-4200) , to let us know.
We wi ll start running the list in a week or so.
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Our friends over at the other radio station in town, KACY, also stopped by to visit us during the bell-ringing.
You can get a sneak-peek at what is going to be in the Traveler each day at 1 p.m. on their radio station. At that time each day either myself or another staff member, gives a brief synopsis of the day's news.