Strange doesn’t describe it. Surreal maybe comes close – strange, not seeming real, like a dream. With each new update from state and federal government, life gets to be more surreal as we cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
When we finished the April “atmore” magazine last week, we were operating under what we knew deadline day, March 25. Beyond that, we couldn’t foresee what would happen with businesses. Friday, March 27, Gov. Ivey closed some of the businesses in which we were planning to distribute the magazine this week, specifically today, April 1.
Last week, we decided to print fewer magazines since people are not moving around so much. But we’re also putting the magazine online. To see the magazine online, go to www.atmorenews.com and click on the atmore magazine tab. We thought that would be a good way to give our advertisers value for their ads.
Some of them may be closed now, but we plan to have copies of the April issue for them when they open back up. We know many of you want the magazine to read and pass along to others.
Some businesses who are open have magazines this week.
Last week, March 25, we published a Home and Garden special section in Atmore News. The section was in the plans long before everything changed. Businesses had committed to buy ads in that section. Even with all going on around us, we appreciate the fact that not one advertiser cancelled their ad due to the virus in the special section or in the magazine.
We gladly and gratefully give kudos to those working to keep our society going, but may we also say how much we appreciate our advertisers.
Home & Garden special section – Atmore Truckers Association; Baldwin Gulf Coast Pest Control; Bondurant Lumber & Hardware; Coley Air Conditioning; First Chantz Tree Service; Frost Lawn & Garden Services; Mooney’s Diesel; Philanthropic Seed; Regional Homes; Shaklee; Smith Tractor Company; The Yellow Garden; West Escambia Utilities.
April “atmore” magazine – Astound Physical Therapy; Atmore Community Hospital; Atmore First Assembly of God; Baldwin GYN & Aesthetics; Buster’s Restaurant; Buy Rite Drugs; Canoe Furniture and Sleep Shop; Classic Custom Cabinets; David’s Catfish; David Morris Construction; Davis, Bell & Amerson; Dean’s Grill; Designs on Living; Dixie Catfish; Edward Jones; Escambia Lawn; First National Bank & Trust; First Pentecostal Church of McCullough; H&R Block; HealthActions Physical Therapy and Fitness; Jon Miller; Mooney’s Diesel; Novus Glass; PHD Realty; Philanthropic Seed; Premier Foot Care; Southern Real Estate; State Farm; State Line Tire Shop; Steve’s Farm; The L House; The Meadows; The Warehouse Market & Bakery; United Bank.
When businesses are able to open back, please thank them for continuing to support the newspaper and magazine. If you can get a magazine at their business now, please thank them.
It’s important for Atmore News to keep going. We’re working smart – keeping our distance, working from home some. But we also need to get information out there, especially for the folks who don’t have Internet. You may notice this edition of the News is a little smaller than usual. We don’t have sports … or school news … or much community news. No meetings, no gatherings to cover, no check presentations, no Business of the Month, no ribbon cutting. But we do still have Myrna’s “What’s for Supper?” I think we’d have to close our doors if we didn’t have that.
We realize printing “atmore” magazine is not critical news-wise, but you’ve told us so many times through the years how much you love it and look forward to it. And maybe now, it will be a welcome diversion as we all cope with this new reality, at least for the near future.
Thanks to our advertisers who continue to see the value in what we do. And thanks to our readers who continue to see the value in what we do.
God bless.