With some metropolitan newspapers folding and going on line with the news (in mostly two-newspaper major markets), it seems as if the newspaper industry is on the ropes and appears to be doomed.
    Wel-l-l-l-l maybe not!
    My experience has shown that the small daily newspapers, like the Pilot News, have an advantage over the larger metropolitan newspapers be-cause they are the ONLY NEWSPAPERS in the WORLD that CARE ABOUT THEIR CITIZENS. The Pilot News is a daily history book which reports and promotes happenings in Marshall County.  I’m old fashioned, I guess, but I still like to hold the newspaper in my hand, take it with me wherever I go and sit back, relax and read it with a cup of coffee.

    The Pilot News was owned longer (73 years) by the Boys family than any other owner. Samuel Evan Boys, my grandfather, purchased the paper in 1904 and the paper was sold in 1977.  My grandfather called his entire staff “The Pilot Family,” as he wanted to report the news from his “family” to “your family.”  He came up with the motto “A Paper for the People” and reported the news in a fair and unbiased way.  He always said “We didn’t make the news . . . we just reported it.”  
The Pilot News was always there guiding the way when things got tough. People depended on the paper for the news and advertising – keeping them informed. The paper did its part to help the people of Marshall County to get through the rough times. 
For example: During the Great Depression and again during WWII, the Pilot News offered many free services to its readers through its news and classified columns. The Pilot also helped by maintaining circulation by organizing what was called “Egg Days.”
The paper promoted and/or sponsored worthwhile events that were for the betterment of people of Marshall County such as: Auto Shows, Cooking Schools, Home Shows, L.P.G.A. Golf Tournaments, WLS Barn Dance (both radio shows were broadcast from Plymouth), Tex Ritter Show, U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers chorus (performed three times in Plymouth) Jazz Ambassadors (performed four times in Plymouth), the Blueberry Festival and many other events.
During WWII, the Pilot News carriers raised more than $5,000 in War Bonds and Stamps for the war effort. In September of 1971, the Pilot News donated the ground between the library and the Pilot building on Center Street so the library could expand its facility.
Hey, let’s get back to the Egg Days.  What were Egg Days anyway?
I do remember that event during WW II, but at that time I didn’t realize what it was all about.  It all began during the Great Depression when my grandfather (Samuel E. Boys) started what he called “Egg Days” to maintain the circulation to help the retail businesses. The people wanted the paper, but they didn’t have any money to subscribe – so he made it very affordable for them.
OK, here is how it worked . . .
Most people back then had chickens, so he bartered by having the people bring their eggs to the Pilot News office. They were given a receipt on their subscription amounting to the market price PLUS 5 cents per dozen for all the eggs they brought to the newspaper office. They could subscribe for one month, six months or for a year. Most people had enough eggs for a year’s subscription – and some even made money. The customers were happy, the egg market was happy, the merchants were happy and the Pilot News family was happy. This went on from 1930 until 1945. An average of 50,744 eggs was transacted during the two-day event each year for 15 years.
The Pilot News is now 158 years old and has seen many changes, but keeps following its course through history.  Changing in some ways is OK, because that is how you grow, but now the management of the Pilot News has kept some of its tradition by giving . . . as my grandfather said “A paper for the people.”
I guess it is my turn to say something. . . “I have faith in the people of Marshall County and I know they always will support their local newspaper. I believe in the first amendment. . . FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
The Pilot News is here to stay . . .
POP QUIZ: In which Indiana city and in what year was the first professional baseball game played?
ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S POP QUIZ:  The question was “What Indiana county is called the Covered Bridge Capitol of the World?  Answer:  Parke County. It has 32 covered bridges!
Well, that’s it for now . . .so until next time . . . this is my view from the Pilot house.

Mike Boys is a lifelong Marshall County resident, former newspaper owner and former public officeholder. The dictionary defines a Pilot House as “an enclosed area on the bridge of a ship, from which the vessel is guided.” His views, opinions and news appear occasionally on the Pilot News Opinion page.