Some final words from Kevin Wendt:

Well dude, this will be the last post from the Biloxi North-Northeast bureau from me, as I head back to San Jose tomorrow (Wednesday).

I've posted the Tuesday paper at newspagedesigner. Tomorrow I drive from Columbus to Atlanta for the wonderful-sounding Atlanta-to-Dallas-to-L.A.-to-San Jose flight.

There's a part of me that's bummed and a bit guilty to be heading off (but another that's ready to get home, and there's an exciting vacation coming up). A couple of us have talked about what we here in Columbus have done, and what theoverall Sun Herald has done, and pretty much agree it will be a long time before it really sinks in.

We've heard reports of people in Southern Mississippi working out street-wide reading patterns so they only need one paper for several residents, just so we can get the paper out to more people. We've seen the front page used on various newscasts, especially the "HELP US NOW" front.

But most of all, I think we all know we're helping people, and we know going forward there is a lot more to do (that's where the guilt sets in). Whether it's the information we can provide or the distraction of a crossword puzzle, this is the event where we truly feel the impact the newspaper can have on people's lives.

There are a lot of tough decisions coming up for folks, especially those with kids who need to get enrolled in school and are unsure how safe it is to stay in Biloxi. For those of us who came to help, I know I'm grateful to be heading back to some sort of normalcy. For those from Biloxi, some whom now own whatever is left in the trunk of their car, I, and I think everyone reading this, wish you the best of luck and as soft a landing as possible.

Some random blurbs/kudos:

* From the Tuesday, August 29 paper to today's Tuesday, September 6 paper, the Sun Herald published 204 pages - about 20 of which were full page ads. The paper began taking advertising in the Thursday edition, if memory serves.

* The original group who published the Tuesday paper was six people: From Biloxi, asst. city editor Blake Kaplan (who has managed this process with unbelievable calm, the man at the center of communcation between the Columbus paper, his paper and Knight Ridder corporate -- no easy task); 1A designer Jared Head (who not only rocked out some great pages, but does a hi-freakin-larious Stan Tiner impersonation), graphics artist/designer Rudy Nowak, wire editor Paul Hampton. The Macon Telegraph sent us presentation editor Randy Waters (who has since be renamed Ricky, Rusty and Raphael). From San Jose: some yahoo named Kevin.

* We've now grown to over 20, with contributions from Biloxi, Macon, San Jose, Miami, Wichita, Aberdeen, Contra Costa, Akron, Charlotte, Ft. Worth and Lexington. Say what you want about Knight Ridder, but when it's time to mobilize, the mobilization happens.

* For the past two days, the Sun Herald has been put together in Columbus and ftp'ed down to Biloxi, where their presses are up and running. The goal is to transtion down there over the weekend, and begin full production of pages in Biloxi Sunday for Monday. Many of those from other KR papers here will transition down to Biloxi with the rest of the team.

* Ever had a group visit your newsroom and you think "jeez, what are these people doing here?" Columbus had another paper show up, and their hospitality has been way beyond the call of duty. Furthermore, they've been unbelievably patient, answering questions about DTI, helping with pages when we're in a jam, and generally just making everyone feel welcome. Many thanks.

*�And of course, to THE newsdesigner, many thanks for posting updates and spreading the word.

kevin

Thank you, Kevin. The work that you, the Biloxi folks, the Times-Pic staff and all the other Gulf Coast journalists have done has simply been the most inspiring thing I've ever seen in this business. Words fail. And let the rest of us remember, as the front-page presence fades and our eyes turn from the South to Supreme Court hearings and state legislatures and other things, that these courageous folks' battles will go on. They now face the gargantuan tasks of rebuilding their communities, their homes and their lives. Godspeed, all of you.