A tough sacrifice

I get it. Times are tough. So it was with some reluctant cheers that Publisher Stacey Cowles reinforced our spirits with a plan outlined in the Spokesman-Review (April 8) that, at least for now, will help save the jobs of most if not all of his fine staff.

I’ve been faithfully devouring the S-R for 16 years with few disappointments (except for some nonsensical editorial board musings). I can put up with the loss of one day, but I’ll miss my addiction for Sudoku, Crossword Puzzle, Minute Maze, Hocus Focus, and of course the Op-Ed page!

If I was a persistent nomophobe I suppose I could survive with my face stuck to the screensaver for an hour or so. But I like the smell of the news; how it feels in my neuropathic fingers; able to jot answers or explanations in the margins in a vain effort to solve the world’s problems — and help the author be more attuned at asking “why?”

One warning, though, if you ever drop Midstokke or Francovich from your ranks I’m likely to move on to a “news copy” elsewhere, reluctantly. I’ve already recently subscribed to the High Country News and added the L.A. Book Club to my stable.

There is a storm brewing out there and it does not portend well for the honest and complete newspaper industry: no disrespect to online new services, but please … I can’t tolerate flim-flam or real fake news.

H.W. Braham

Spokane Valley