People, Places, and the Stories That Still Matter

I want to begin by thanking the readers who have signed up for the Bootheel Beacon newsletter and the many visitors who find us through social media—especially Facebook. Your interest, your clicks, and your encouragement matter more than you may realize.

As we look toward the coming year, advertising must be the catalyst that sustains the Bootheel Beacon. Creating, contracting, and publishing advertising is the essence of what will make—or break—the success of this community newspaper. Advertising is not just revenue; it is partnership, trust, and shared investment in local storytelling.

Like so many small-town museums, the Malden Historical Museum faces challenges. Finding volunteers who deeply love the history of their hometown is not easy. The advent of the internet has, in many ways, swallowed trust and replaced it with distance. Yet history still depends on people—people who care enough to preserve it.

When I walk through the Museum’s Hall of Honor and see hundreds of names I have known all my life in Malden, I feel a deep responsibility. These names represent a seventy-year collection built by founders who believed our stories were worth saving. Preserving that legacy is not optional—it is a commitment.

The Bootheel Beacon is now looking for guest writers. We want your photos. We want your memories. We want your stories. This paper is not meant to be written about the community—it is meant to be written by the community.

In the mid-1970s, when I wrote for the Malden Press-Merit, my favorite articles appeared in a simple column I called “People.” I remember being thrilled to write about a young woman smiling in front of Stovall's on Madison Street selling small bunnies in downtown Malden. I captured the right moment as she was showing the small animals to the delight of children on the street. That was news—not because it was big, but because it mattered to someone.

Working on the Press-Merit staff under the direction of editor Allen Black was one of the most engaging and meaningful periods of my life. Together, we captured moments in Malden history that still live on for generations who cherish their family heritage.

David’s Doings is a continuation of that idea. It is about people. It is about memory. It is about paying attention to the small things that make a town feel like home.

If you have a story to tell, I hope you’ll share it. History is still being written—one moment, one person, one memory at a time.

David’s Doings is not about the past alone—it’s about remembering who we are, together.