I first noticed the Beacon back in December 2007. Being familiar with Missoula’s Independent, I found myself constantly comparing and contrasting the two. First impression told me the Beacon was smart, the image I was seeing was sporty and sleek, like a celebrity. It wasn’t until later that I discovered the paper was owned by celebrities Maury Pauvich and Connie Chung, who own a home in the Flathead. The Independent, on the other hand, has been criticized by many as advertising sleaze. However you classify dirt, it looks like it takes dirt to grow a grass roots style newspaper.
But I like that the Beacon is clean and doesn’t advertise sleaze- no cigarette ads no matter how “organic” the tobacco and no dating services. And the size of the Beacon is slightly smaller to flip from front to back. And what looks like the quality of paper they print on (recycled or non-recycled) has that subtle glossy feel to it. Part of staying in the newspaper print game these days does take a tactile edge in the market place. Even if your paper is free. Internet news doesn’t hold the memories I associate of print newspaper: waking up at 6:00a.m. at my mother’s house in Whitefish, stoking the fire and reading the Daily Interlake that has already been delivered to her front door. You get the picture. The Interlake holds fond memories, even if I don’t agree with the editor on the topic of global warming. I am a connoisseur of news, no matter what the medium. I appreciate all the media in our area, even if I don’t agree with the many viewpoints that are shared or exposed.
I just don’t think Bucky Walford should have his mall, for instance. This is more than just a stoplight issue, it is an environmental issue. And I don’t think that the Whitefish city council is petty. Any small victory gained by Whitefish civil servants for the good of many should be applauded. For the most part, I like what Whitefish has grown into in the last thirty eight years (which being my age is about how long I have watched Whitefish grow). And if bureaucracy slows things down, maybe this could be viewed in terms of a speed limit on growth. After all, haste makes waste. All this was stirred in me the second day of the year, with my new Beacon issue as I sat with my feet kicked back watching the snow fall and contemplating the editor’s advice for the various towns in Flathead County. I liked the roust for local government, but the words were like a jagged little pill for this little local girl.
All this rousting going on, all this **it being stirred- and for what reason? The Interlake had a headline a few weeks back- something about Muhlfield- the Whitefish city council fellow who was guilty of sleeping at his girlfriend’s house- that made him sound like a criminal. When mountains are made out of molehills, one wonders what the intent is. Last week’s Pilot quoted Tim Gratten, an area developer in on the mountain-making (and mountain making in more ways than one if you know the Gratten family) as, “just wanting to stir things up.” Jeesh. Is it really worth the effort? This sounds like the escapades of a little boy on the playground. And it has the whole valley in a tizzy.
The Beacon will have its place at the news stand. It has the money to do so. I no longer compare it to the Independent, which has returned to- in my mind- its rightful position as the only independent newspaper. Meanwhile, the media players are kicking up the dust on the playground. Let just hope that our emotions stirred won’t cloud the view.
-Kris Neckermann
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