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14A- RED ROCK NEWS, Sedona, Arizona Wednesday, November 3, 2010
By Hoyt C. Johnson
LARSON NEWSPAPERS COLUMNIST
To begin this week's column, I can't help but
employ a play on words by referencing the fact
that a few weeks ago, it literally rained journal-
istic accolades in this community -- though some
journalists might suggest that "figuratively rained"
would be a more appropriate expression.
Whatever the case, let's not debate that issue
here or now. Instead, I want to state that I~ was so
impressed by the harvest of exceptional awards
accompanying the accolades, I cannot resist
publicly acknowledging the obvious excellence of
Sedona Red Rock News, as well as the journalism
department at Sedona Red Rock High School, in
this column.
Obviously, the almost simultaneous
announcement of prestigious awards for
both our community newspaper and the
journalism department at SRRHS was
uniquely impressive -- to the extent that
I wonder if any other small town and its
high school anywhere could boast of
similar, impressive tributes. "Of course,
this is Sedona," I rationalize with obvious
conceit -- and go ahead, call me a cheer-
leader if you want to.
In earlier editions of Sedona Red Rock HOY~ C.
News, Managing Editor Trista Steers and
Lu Stitt, a feature writer, identified indi- JOHNSON
viduals at the newspaper and at the high "
school who created the work that earned
numerous statewide awards for journalism excel-
lence and commitment to community for the news-
paper, as well as 63 awards for the high school via
the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association's
annual joumalism contest.
Yes, this newspaper won both the 2010 Arizona
Main Street Business Excellence Award and first
place in the Arizona Newspapers Association
competition for Newspaper Online/Web Page
-- and journalism teacher Maureen Barton's
students won an unbelievable 63 awards for the
creation of SRRHS's yearbook, literary magazine
and monthly newspaper.
And not to be overlooked, Sedona Red Rock
News also earned second place for Page Design
Excellence, second place for Departmental News
and Copy Editing Excellence, third place for
General Excellence, and third place for Best Use
of Photography -- and five staff members previ-
ously identified by Steers won individual awards.
Congratulations to all the winners -- but at this
point, let's back up 47 years to OCt. 3, 1963, when
Robert Larson Sr. and his wife, Loretta, introduced
this community to a new weekly newspaper, Red
Rock News, which was called "The Voice of
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon."
In my book, "The Sedona Story: Settlement
to Centennial," I wrote the following: "Under
the first edition's headline- New Weekly For
Sedona-Oak Creek -- publishers Robert and
Loretta Larson reported that the newspaper was
to be printed every Wednesday. And in the report,
Robert Larson, identified as Bob, was quoted
thusly: 'We have considered this venture thor-
oughly; in fact have given it thought and much
discussion for the past four to five years. We have
seen several papers come and go, and with each
one, we weighed carefully the reasons why. We
firmly believe with the help and patience of the
good people of Sedona [many Whom we already
know] we can give a good, newsy community
newspaper.'"
I continued by writing: "Bob also reported that
he and his wife, Loretta, had owned and published
a newspaper in suburban Phoenix for more than
seven years, and that they had three bOys, Bobby,
13, Tommy, 9, and Jerry, 7. Also, according to his
story, Loretta was going to write, edit, proofread
and gather news while taking care of the
front office. Surely, Loretta was glad to
read that Bob hoped to soon add an addi-
tional woman for the office!"
Features of particular interest in the
first edition of Red Rock News included a
letter regarding the development of a new
brochure to advertise and promote this
entire area, which was written by chamber
of commerce President Walter A. Nelson
Sr and a news report that referred to the
Barry Goldwater Ball in Tucson by stating
that Goldwater, "spoken of as a 1964
Republican presidential candidate," would
speak at 10 p.m. The Larsons' new publi-
cation displayed a sense of'humor, too, in
a column titled "Speaking to Homemakers," which
advised that a woman who insists on wearing the
pants in the family should expect cuffs on the
bottom.
In "The Sedona Story," ,I continued as follows:
"During the years that passed, Bobby, Tommy
and Jerry joined the staff of the Larsons' news-
paper, and Bob Jr. became publisher in 1978.
' The following year, the Larsons moved into what
some residents still call 'the old post office' at the
corner of Mesquite Avenue and Van Deren Road.
Subsequently, the Larson family published two
other newspapers, The Journal in Camp Verde
and Cottonwood Journal Extra in Cottonwood.
Later, after Bob S'r. and Loretta retired, a greatly
enlarged staff included their daughter, Liz, and her
husband, Patrick Schweiss. Also, Bob Jr.'s wife,
Vicki, worked for the company."
Today, the newspaper founded by the Larson
family almost a half-century ago is the 2010
recipient of the Arizona Main Street Business
Excellence Award -- and as previously reported, it
also is a prestigious winner in the annual Arizona
Newspapers Association Better Newspaper
Contest. Apparently, this degree of excellence has
influenced our community's high school students,
too.
Certainly, Sedona Red Rock News does much
more than experience "the call" of Sedona -- it
sends it, too.
I
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In special recognition of the short statement from Banya
60th anniversary of the Korean Lim, Sedona business manager
War, the Sedona Korean- and president of the Korean-
American Association is hosting American Association, a
an appreciation lunch for Korean luncheon, and an open mike for
War veterans and their families, anyone to express their grati-
The event will take place tude or share memories of their
Friday, Nov. 12, from 11 a.m. time in service. Participants will
to 2 p.m at the Mago Healing include members of the Sedona
Center, 340 Jordan Road inKorean-American community,
Sedona. The staff of the hosting veterans and their families.
venue will offer free shoulder Sixty years has distanced the
massages to the veterans in collective memories from the
honor of Veteran's Day. days of the war. To the Americans
The event will include a who served, however, and to
!i i ii ; i i'
the Koreans who saw their
country ravaged by war before
it emerged as a modern leading
financial success, 60 years has
not erased their memory.
The Sedona Korean-American
Association would like to gather
the Korean War veterans from
Northern Arizona this Veterans ~
!iii~
Day to share memories and show
its appreciation for the sacrifices
they made in a foreign land for a
foreign people.
Veterans can RSVP to Lim at
567-7897 or 274-2957.
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Congratulations to WMC scrub technician Kathryn
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especially when the savings will
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