RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
Losses
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher

Losses are some of the most difficult things we have to deal with in life. There are serious losses like losing a family member or a spouse, others like a dearly beloved pet or friend, and then there are the losses that one encounters while participating in sports or business.

There are also the losses of employees, and that is what I am going to talk about today. As you know, Jared Putnam is the editor of the Union Sentinel. I promoted him over a year ago because I saw his potential as he was young, energetic and intelligent. Recently he accepted the job as the sports editor for the Forsyth County News in Cumming, Ga. I encouraged him to take it since I knew he could do the job at a bigger paper that is published four times a week. It was an opportunity for Jared to move ahead in his profession. He has won some photo awards through the Georgia Press Association in his first year, and it was an opportunity for him to move up the ladder instead of staying in a small arena.

I know that the Union Sentinel will suffer because of the loss, but sometimes one has to look at what is best for the person who is working for you. It is sort of like a head coach in the college football game who loses his assistant because someone wants to take a chance on him as a college head coach. The best example that comes to mind is Coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State Seminoles. He has lost many assistants to colleges looking for a new head coach. As Bobby always says, it is an honor to lose an assistant to another college where he becomes a head coach. Another prime example of that is Coach Mark Richt of Georgia.

I am proud of Jared for all his hard work as the editor of the Union Sentinel. I am also proud that he has done so well with the many facets of the job of editor. He has written good, levelheaded stories, and has not slanted news to suit his personal beliefs. He has covered sports in the area and has taken photos that are better than anything which is available in the area. I'm certain that the athletes in Union County are very pleased with the sports coverage he has given them, and I am also certain that they will be disappointed that he will not be here to take them again this year.

But I am equally certain that Jared will do an excellent job for the Forsyth County News and his new community there. I want to wish Jared the best in his new endeavor. I also feel certain that he will not stop with the Forsyth County News. I see his future as bright and successful. He will go higher and higher. I just know he will excel and one day I will see his name at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution or some national publication.

So, thank you Jared for having done a great job, and let me say that it was a pleasure to work with you. I wish you the best. I will miss you, as will this community.