Coffee Call

The Monticello – Jasper County Chamber of Commerce held its first “coffee call” last Thursday, hosted at The Monticello News office, 247 West Washington Street.

The “coffee call” is an opportunity for a business to be spotlighted. The COC provides coffee and sweet rolls while attendees network and visit. It lasts from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and the business owner or representative spends a few minutes telling about the business. The “coffee calls” are scheduled for the third Thursday in each month.

Last week I volunteered to host the first one. It was a great success, and every month is filled into next year with businesses wanting to hold the event.

I didn’t think there was much I could tell about the newspaper…I feel like everyone knows all about us, but I was wrong. So, I’m going to highlight here what I said. Those of you who this is old news to, just overlook. Some people will learn something.

The Monticello News was established in 1881…and no, I wasn’t here then, even though sometimes I feel like I’ve been here that long. It operated continuously, through various owners and publishers, until 1975 when my parents, Bill and Chris Hughes bought the paper from then owner Jim Haney. The newspaper office was located at 237 West Washington Street, where it had been for many years.

My father was former business editor of the Atlanta Journal, had a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina, and had worked in newspapers most of his life. Before buying the paper, he had worked in public relations for several years.

Anyway, my parents took over, and immediately began offset printing, switching from linotype which was used until then. I had just graduated high school, and stayed in Atlanta for a time. But, my job there fizzled out and I was unable to find another one, so I came slinking “home” to my parents. It was not home, but it definitely became that.

Anyway, I worked with my parents for a time, then left and went to journalism school at UGA. Before finishing, I decided to marry a hometown boy…and after a year or two in Athens, we moved back here to start a family. Along came Hannah, and I worked part-time with my parents. The years rocked by. Then, five years after Hannah, along came Emily. Right after that I divorced, and began life as a single parent, working part-time at The News, and I took a job managing Monticello Estates to provide for my children.

Then, my mother who ran the paper with my father, was diagnosed with lung cancer. I felt like I was needed more here, so I left the apartments, found a nice duplex to rent, and moved there with my girls.

My mother died a year after diagnosis, and dad and I proceeded to run the newspaper. To be honest, we butted heads… a lot. So, after a time, he semi-retired, and later fully retired. I started running the paper, and have been at it ever since. I don’t remember when he quit being real active in the paper, but he helped until he died in 2011.

As for the head-butting when we worked together, through the years that all changed. We became best friends, and I still miss him every day. There is an empty space in my heart.

Anyway, a few years ago I was able to purchase the current building at a tax sale. I spent about a year and a lot of money renovating it, and now we have a new home…right next door to the old home. We began operation here January of this year.

I could go on forever, and I left so much out. I’ll talk about our mission and ideology next week.