Everything comes to an end eventually. And now, after five years, it is time for me to say goodbye to County News Online (CNO) – and for CNO to say goodbye to you!
Today, this chapter will come to a close.
The story of County News Online, however, began much earlier, back in 2014, when Bob Robinson asked me to create the first CNO website with a focus on educational topics. After Bob decided to step away due to health and age-related reasons, the Board was considering ending the project altogether. However, knowing that the website had already established a certain level of name recognition, I didn’t want to see all that work go to waste. Since the Board had no one available to take over, I offered to continue the project myself.
About five years ago, I took over County News Online and expanded it significantly. I introduced new categories, broadened the range of topics, and aimed to reach a much larger audience. The decision paid off, as the website experienced steady growth in visitors, page views, and Facebook followers over the years.
Unfortunately, the nonprofit organization Empowering Darke County Youth has now decided to discontinue its fundraising activities, which means that County News Online will also be shutting down. While this marks the end of a project I have been proud to run and grow, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to carry it forward and build on the foundation Bob originally created.
Let me make one thing very clear: The Board’s decision is not the result of a lack of success. Quite the opposite! Over the years, CNO has continued to grow in terms of website visitors, page views, and followers on Facebook. The project has developed into a well-followed source of local news, information, and event coverage.
The reasons behind the nonprofit organization’s decision to end all of its fundraising activities are something the Board will hopefully address in its own statement at the appropriate time. I don’t want to get ahead of that announcement.
Five years of hard work, dedication, and passion
Looking back, I see the end of County News Online from two very different perspectives.
The first is, of course, the emotional one. After investing a big part of five years of my life in this project, it is not easy to simply close the door and walk away. CNO was much more than just a website. It was a daily commitment, a passion, and a project that I put my heart and soul into.
For five years, I ran the website as a one-man operation, without any support. Well, almost none. My wife was always there for me, had my back, and helped whenever she could. Without her support, things would certainly have been much more difficult.
On average, I invested approximately four to four and a half hours every single day in County News Online. That adds up to an enormous amount of time over five years! There were days when it was exciting and rewarding, but there were also days when the workload was exhausting. Keeping a website running, creating content, sharing information, and maintaining a presence on social media requires a tremendous amount of dedication.
Nevertheless, I never lost sight of what I wanted to achieve with CNO. Seeing the website grow and knowing that people were reading, following, and appreciating the content made all the effort worthwhile.
And that brings me to the most important part of this farewell.
A heartfelt THANK YOU!
To everyone who supported County News Online over the past five years: THANK YOU!
Thank you to all our readers who visited the website, followed the stories, and returned again and again.
Thank you to our Facebook followers, to everyone who liked, shared, and commented on our posts. Every interaction helped CNO grow and reach more people throughout Darke County and beyond.
A very special thank-you goes to the businesses who supported Empowering Darke County Youth through sponsorships and advertisements on County News Online. Your financial contributions made this fundraising project possible and helped support the organization’s mission.
Your support from the outside was always greatly appreciated. It showed me that the time and effort I invested in CNO were making a difference and that people valued what I was doing.
And, of course, a very special thank-you goes to my wife. Her encouragement, patience, and willingness to help whenever needed were invaluable throughout this journey.
County News Online may have been a one-man operation, but it was never a project without people behind it. Every reader, follower, sponsor, and supporter played a part in its success.
Looking ahead: A (not so) new chapter for us
While there is certainly a sad side to saying goodbye to CNO, there is also another perspective.
With the website coming to an end, I will finally have more time to dedicate to our photography business, photojournalism and will do some more photo art. Over the past five years, County News Online has required a significant part of my daily schedule. Now, those hours can be invested in other projects that are equally important to me/us.
Photography (including PhotoArt) and photojournalism have always been a passion, and I am looking forward to spending more time doing what we love.
For at least the next few months, we plan to continue sharing photos of local events on the County News Online Facebook page. So, even though the website will be closing, there will still be an opportunity to enjoy some of our event photography for a little while longer.
However, if you enjoy our photos and want to make sure you don’t miss future updates, I encourage you to follow Premier Photojournalism on Facebook as well. That way, you can stay connected with our photography and follow what comes next.
Every ending is also a new beginning
Five years is a long time. There have been countless stories, countless updates, many hours of work, and plenty of memorable moments along the way. Looking back, I can honestly say that I am proud of what County News Online has accomplished.
Of course, I wish things could have continued differently. It is never easy to let go of something you have built with so much dedication. But sometimes, circumstances change, and we have to accept that one chapter is coming to an end.
I am leaving County News Online with many great memories, a sense of accomplishment, and, most importantly, gratitude for everyone who made this journey worthwhile.
As of today, County News Online will no longer be updated. But the experiences, the connections, and the support I received throughout these five years will remain with me.
To all our readers, Facebook followers, sponsors, supporters, and everyone who was part of this journey: Thank you for five wonderful years!
I wish you all the very best, and I hope our paths will cross again, whether through photography, photojournalism, or somewhere else in our community.
For now, it is time to say goodbye to County News Online and look forward to what lies ahead.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
KJ Wagner
