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Yes, the rumors are true.
After nearly 34 years steering the Cedar County News — and 29 years captaining the Osmond Republican, Laurel Advocate and Randolph Times — Peggy and I are sliding over to the passenger seat. Our youngest son, Kellyn, and his wife, Emily, are now the publishers of our four community newspapers.
Proud. Happy. Nervous. Anxious. Those are just a few of the emotions swirling around our house lately. We’ve been trying to figure out exactly how to feel about this big transition — and truth be told, we’ve run the whole gamut more than once.
For months now, I’ve been bracing for this hand-off, watching the calendar creep toward the date we circled in red: Oct. 1. That day mattered for a few reasons. It marks 29 years since we bought the Osmond Republican, the Laurel Advocate and the Randolph Times, creating what’s now the Northeast Nebraska News Company. But mostly, it’s special because it’s our youngest son’s birthday. Kellyn turns 32 — and that day back in 1993 is one we’ll never forget.
Peggy had a reputation by then for not wasting time once labor started. We warned Dr. Vlach about this, just to be sure he’d be ready. And when Peggy’s water broke one Thursday afternoon while she was working at the Cedar County News, we did what any experienced parents would do: grabbed the go-bag and hit the road.
Now, if you know me, you know I have the same Pavlov’s-dog reaction every time I get near Yankton. I can smell Taco John’s from miles away. So yes, we made a quick detour — one six-pack and a pound later — we pulled up to the emergency room at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Priorities, right? Meanwhile, Dr. Vlach — who knew Peggy’s history of quick deliveries — hopped on Dr. Roger Filips’ plane in Lincoln, raced back to Hartington, then jumped in his car for the mad dash to Yankton. He figured he might barely make it in time to “catch the baby.” Not this kid. Kellyn decided he’d do things his own way. He took his sweet time — eight long hours — before finally arriving, late but healthy and strong.
And honestly, that’s been Kellyn ever since. Always carving his own path. Some folks might call him independent. His dad just calls him stubborn.
Well, that stubborn kid was determined he’d be different than his siblings. Even though he showed a real love for photography at an early age, he refused to use those skills at the newspaper office the way his brother and sister had. He loved sports — loved to watch his teams play every Saturday and Sunday — but wouldn’t write a single sports story. So of course, we figured once he graduated high school there was no chance he’d ever come back to work at the paper.
Boy, was I ever wrong. Not only did Kellyn return to Hartington and jump right into the newspaper business, but he started doing things Peggy and I had never dreamed of. Turns out, all those years he pretended not to care, he was actually paying attention — soaking up the talk of deadlines, advertising and small-town storytelling we tossed around the car or the supper table.
And now here we are — watching our youngest and his wife take the reins of a family business that’s been our life for decades. Peggy and I couldn’t be more proud (or more grateful) to see the papers we love so dearly stay in the family.
To our loyal readers: thank you for trusting us with your stories, your milestones, and your hometown news all these years. We hope you’ll keep cheering for Kellyn and Emily as they bring fresh ideas, youthful energy, and maybe a little of that trademark stubbornness to the job. If history’s any clue, they’ll keep these newspapers thriving — just their own way, of course.
(And if they ever stop at Taco John’s on deadline day, well … some traditions are worth keeping.)
