By: Kathryn Fenstermacher

You may have noticed some new names, new faces, and new stories floating around the Positively Blackford blog in recent months. Just like the rest of our community, we’ve gone through a few changes over the past couple of years – and we hope you will agree that they’re changes for good. We wanted to take a moment to re-introduce ourselves, whether you’re reading our blog for the first time or have been following us from day one.

Our first and biggest change is a commitment to a more regular publishing schedule. As a small, grassroots publication, it can be difficult for us to find the time and personnel to sniff out new stories. This year, we are making it a priority to proactively seek out timely yet timeless stories about the great things happening in our county, and to get the word out as soon as we can. We’re partnering with local writers and photographers to make this goal a reality. We want Positively Blackford to be your trusted source for heartwarming stories about the real-life people, places, and events that make Blackford County a great place to live, work, and play.

Second, we have brought a new local editor on board. Say hello to Kathryn Fenstermacher, a professional writer and new Blackford County resident, who stepped into the role of editor in June. Kathryn studied writing at Taylor University, graduating in 2013. She has been writing ever since, whether publishing the stories of alumni from Fort Wayne Bible College or drafting distribution agreements for international companies. At the heart of it all, Kathryn loves learning and sharing stories. Her husband, Scott, works at Taylor University as a kinesiology professor and directs Taylor’s community wellness clinic, The Invitation Program. Kathryn and Scott live in Hartford City and are excited to get involved in the local community, both personally and professionally. 

We would be amiss if we didn’t tip our hat to our founding editor, Stephen McCollum, for his outstanding work leading our organization over the past several years. Stephen is enjoying retirement in South Carolina, but he’ll be keeping his eye on Positively Blackford from afar to stay up to date on the goings-on in his beloved home county.

That takes us to our third update: we’re getting social! Positively Blackford has a designated Facebook page where we share our latest stories and network with other local organizations to promote their positive news. We’re hoping to expand our social media presence even more, so keep an eye on those hashtags! #weareblackford

Fourth and finally, we have added an events calendar that lets you easily see what’s going on in the county. More than that, if you’re a Blackford County organization, you can add your own events to the calendar to share with the community – and it’s completely free! Our calendar is powered by What’s Up 24/7, an online platform that allows users to search for events, attractions, or businesses within a specific zip code. Blackford County has sponsored a two-year subscription service with this program that covers the fees for any local business or organization who wants to join. Learn more about the platform on the county website, and start sharing today!

Here at Positively Blackford, we know the county’s best-kept secret: that positive stories are unfolding around us each and every day. Blackford County is a truly remarkable place, and we’ve all got stories that show it. Let’s not keep those stories to ourselves, but let’s share them with our neighbors, our surrounding community, and the world. If you have a positive story to share, reach out to us at positiveblackfordnews@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!