[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E508-E509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING THE LEADER ON 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM GRIFFIN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
The Leader newspaper on its twenty-five years of excellence.

[[Page E509]]

  In 1987, Garrick Feldman and his wife, Eileen, published the first 
edition of The Leader, a community-oriented weekly newspaper that 
strove to serve all of its readers ``without fear or favor.''
  Today, the Feldmans, with the help of their dedicated staff, bring 
Arkansans in Pulaski, Lonoke, White, and Prairie counties the important 
news that affects their lives.
  The Leader's coverage of our local schools' academic and athletic 
accomplishments serves as a reminder of the talent throughout the 
community and the promise of the future.
  Over the past quarter-century, The Leader has experienced tremendous 
growth, earning the title, ``the best large weekly in Arkansas'' for 
the past four years.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating The Leader on their 
accomplishments during their twenty-five years in business and in 
wishing them continued success.
  Mr. Speaker, The Leader recently published an article highlighting 
this milestone, and I submit it in the Record.

                   [From the Leader, Mar. 17., 2012]

                     Newspaper Celebrates 25 Years

                          (By Eileen Feldman)

       In the first issue of The Leader on March 4, 1987, 
     publisher Garrick Feldman said, ``The North Pulaski Leader 
     intends to be a mirror to the community--to report all that 
     is newsworthy in Jacksonville, Sherwood, the air base and 
     surrounding areas . . . We want to chronicle the events, both 
     small and large, that are taking place here . . . The 
     newspaper also promises to serve its advertisers well.''
       He continued, ``This newspaper will be about you and your 
     neighbors, so let us hear from you if you have news to share 
     with others.''
       Twenty-five years later, The Leader is keeping its promise 
     of delivering community news for an affordable subscription 
     price and delivering consistent results for advertisers 
     through a combination of mail (with its free edition, The 
     Extra) and home delivery to subscribers in an expanded local 
     area which now includes Pulaski County from Sherwood and 
     Gravel Ridge to Jacksonville to Little Rock Air Force Base. 
     The Leader is also serving all of Cabot and most of Lonoke 
     County including Lonoke, Austin, Ward and Carlisle and the 
     surrounding rural confines. In White County, The Leader 
     serves Beebe, McRae, El Paso, Garner and Butlerville and to a 
     lesser extent Searcy including many White County rural 
     routes. The Leader's reach also extends into Prairie County 
     giving our advertisers an even bigger bonus for their buck.
       By all accounts, The Leader has grown by leaps and bounds 
     and we want to thank you, dear readers and also our 
     advertisers for your steadfast loyalty to The Leader and to 
     the American dream.
       Some of our advertisers have been with us since the 
     beginning, and to you we extend our gratitude and our wishes 
     for your continued success in business. May we continue to 
     grow together.
       What publisher Feldman said then still holds true today, 
     ``Share with us our joys and sorrows--your proud moments and 
     your sad ones. The news that ordinary people make is just as 
     important to us as what their leaders do on city councils and 
     school boards.''
       And it still holds true today that ``if you have an 
     engagement or wedding announcement, send us the announcement 
     and also a photo. If there is a birth in your family, send us 
     a picture also.''
       Of course, times have changed in 25 years so we now accept 
     all this by e-mail at leadernewsarkansasleader.com or at 
     [email protected]. But we still do some things the 
     old-fashioned way--mailed submissions are still accepted and 
     cards of thanks and obituaries are still free.
       We love to cover our local schools and encourage teachers 
     to let us know of their students' accomplishments and awards 
     as well as their own.
       We still consider covering significant birthdays, 
     centenarians in particular, and submitted photos are always 
     welcome. Letters to the editor are always welcome. We want to 
     hear the voice of the community.
       We also pride ourselves on our local sports coverage 
     including football, basketball, baseball, volleyball and 
     soccer and also local news which impacts sports. Coaches 
     comments and local submissions of news tips and photos help 
     to give flavor to those pages.
       As we said back in 1987, ``This newspaper will try to serve 
     all of its readers without fear or favor. The Leader intends 
     to open its pages to everyone.''
       We also want to extend a big thank you to the many on our 
     staff including our son Jonathan, who joined our staff as an 
     editor and who will help us continue to produce a strong 
     family-owned and community-oriented newspaper.
       We wish to thank our veteran reporters, Rick Kron, Joan 
     McCoy and John Hofheimer, who rejoined the staff after a 
     brief hiatus and a visit to Greece. All journalism award 
     winners, they've helped make The Leader what it is today.
       Also Christy Hendricks, our creative designer, as well as 
     Jeffrey Smith, who has come a long way since his first days 
     at The Leader and who's made many friends with his Cabot and 
     Beebe coverage. Sarah Campbell, an ASU-Jonesboro grad, has 
     local roots in the area, which have helped her ferret out 
     some outstanding local stories.
       Sports editor Ray Benton's attention to local sports is 
     outstanding and caters to our greater local area with the 
     help of veteran sportswriter Jason King.
       We also wish to thank our advertising staff led by General 
     Manager John Henderson and our Publications Manager Matt 
     Robinson. Also invaluable members of the sales staff are 
     Linda Hostetler and Susan Swift. You've stuck with us through 
     thick and thin, through the idiosyncracies of the economy, 
     its ups and downs.
       We couldn't have done it without you. You've all helped us 
     get to where we are today.
       There are many other staff members--designers, artists and 
     photographers--who should be singled out for their loyalty 
     and outstanding work ethic. And there are many more starting 
     at the front office and on to the pressroom and mailroom, 
     where the final product is prepared which arrives at your 
     front door or in your mailbox. (We'll introduce them all to 
     you in a later edition.)
       Readers, advertisers and staff, you have helped The Leader 
     become what it is today. Continue to grow and thrive with us.

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