You’ve heard the term “miracle worker,” haven’t you? The term describes a person who, when faced with one of those almost impossible tasks, wades into the challenge and comes out on top.

Well, last week there was a miracle worker in the newspaper office. I’ll explain. His name is Randy Moll.

As you know, last week was the first issue of the new “Westside Eagle Observer” and subscribers received their copies in the mail as usual. Well, the reason the papers arrived on time is due in the greatest part to Randy and the long hours he labored to make it happen.

Combining the three newspapers — The Gravette News Herald, Decatur Herald and Gentry Courier-Journal — may seem to the uninitiated just another job. But, believe me, that just ain’t so.

There were many logistic, computer and other challenges to overcome as well as coordinating news from the three locations, determining what and where stories and pictures could be used. And, of course, there were those unexpected glitches that occur in any new endeavor.

Randy worked it out. Of course it took countless hours. I don’t know how late he worked but if there had been a cuckoo clock in the paper office that little bird would have sounded two, three or four coos last Monday morning. Hopefully this week was not as stressful.

Janelle Jessen, the Decatur newspaper coordinator, who has worked with Randy several years at the Gentry paper, complemented his efforts and Susan Holland at the News Herald did her usual professional job with Gravette stories.

Me? I’ll admit I just tried to stay out of the way. You who know me know I’m computer illiterate when it comes to new programs. I just don’t adjust well. I blame it on . . . . well, let’s just leave it there.

Randy is a computer whiz. I shudder to think what last week’s paper, and even this week’s, would have been if the challenges had been left up to me.

So every subscriber is encouraged, when you meet Randy, (he and Janelle are in the Gravette office quite a lot), shake his hand and give him an atta-boy.

As the new publication progresses, you will see changes and adjustments and challenges that will involve prioritizing stories and pictures in the amount of space available each week. We know our readers will adjust with us as we forge ahead, will have patience when we make inevitable mistakes and will cheer when the finished paper continues to improve as the chronicler of the westside area.

The Eagle has landed. It will continue to soar to new heights.

Dodie Evans is editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be contacted at [email protected]