By Staff
Adam Prestridge
It doesn't matter if you've been somewhere for seven months or several years, goodbyes are tough.
Last week, this city boy was promoted to president and publisher of Atmore Newspapers, Inc., publisher of The Atmore Advance and The Escambia Advertiser. When the opportunity arose, it was a tougher decision than I anticipated.
Having worked in the newspaper business for just over eight years now, being a publisher has always been a dream of mine. Working my way up the ladder from a stringer to reporter and later sports editor and managing editor, it was obvious there weren't too many rungs left in the ladder.
Then the long-awaited promotion was put on the table late last week, but what was thought to be an easy answer turned out to be harder than anticipated.
When my wife Jennifer and I decided that Atmore was the town where we wanted to build our careers and family, we decided to say a little prayer. We asked God to give us a sign assuring us that this was the right move for us.
Honestly, it was thought that the sign would never come, until Tuesday.
Preparing The Luverne Journal for the final time as editor, I realized that I had forgotten to interview a key person for one of the stories. In a panic, I called Ellen Solomon.
As the interview progressed, Miss Solomon, who's a native of Crenshaw County, was asked if she had worked after graduating from school. Her answer nearly knocked me out of my chair. She said she worked as a teacher in Atmore for several years and later in Troy.
That was our sign.
Later that day, Miss Solomon gave me a copy of the book she wrote, The Planted Seed, which is about her journey through life. The book includes a lot about the Town of Atmore, the people she met and her experiences there.
The plan is to use Miss Solomon's book to help my wife and me get accustomed to our new hometown and neighbors.
God's path I'm now sure was intended for me to be in Atmore, a community of old friends and new beginnings.
Now it's time for our new beginning.
Adam Prestridge is president &publisher of Atmore Newspapers, Inc.