Sad news from the business side

The economic troubles have affected everyone - especially those in our business. We've hardly been immune here with budget cuts, shrinking staffs, etc... but the news Thursday about Pioneer Press was shocking and sad.

After next Thursday, 12 Pioneer papers will go by the wayside. Most of them are in the Northwest suburban coverage area and could have an effect on a number of people I've known through the years. That means a number of schools and communities will lose a significant amount of high school coverage they've been used to for years.

Yes, we are competing for stories and news, but we're also all in this together - for worse right now than better. Along the way it's been a pleasure to walk sidelines, sit courtside, roam track infields and freeze at baseball games with people such as current Herald Lake County guy Joe Aguilar, Rick Sorci, Rich Martin, Mike Martinez, Bill McLean, George Wilcox, Ken Keenan and others. I hope the latter five - who are still with the company in some capacity - survive whatever cuts are coming as a result.