To the Editor:
It is with great sadness that I read about the retirement of Mr. Les Dunford from your newspaper staff. After so many years with our local papers, he has certainly been the reporting voice of so many stories in our three counties.
I am certain that many people will miss his reporting on fires, cattle sales, 4H, seniors celebrations, the recognition of the passing away of those who built our communities, our collective connections in the growth of our communities, and especially his Country Roads column.
In Mr. Dunford’s weekly ‘CR’ columns, he gave poignant, realistic, practical, and oftentimes controversial perspectives that truly were the voice of reason for so many common-sense people. For that column alone, I’m sure that he will be truly missed and remembered.
I certainly hope that our newspaper is able to find someone who will be able to report with the outstanding level of detail, perspective, and expertise that Mr. Dunford has given us for so many years. I know that not everyone agreed with his Country Roads columns sometimes, but I firmly believe that the vast majority of the people, especially taxpayers in our counties, did.
In closing, I am also sure that we all wish Mr. Dunford the very best in his well-earned retirement and in the ‘next edition’ of his life. Thank you, Mr. D.!
Howard Saumer, Lac La Nonne