Staff Report

Dec. 21, 1999 11 PM

To commemorate the closing of the 20th Century and the dawn of a new millennium, The Messenger will publish a special edition to be released at midnight on Dec. 31.

Highlights of the stories that have affected Pike County throughout the century will be printed, along with other information about the end of an important century in world history.

With time running short, The Messenger will accept photographs from local residents that show glimpses of important moments that have shaped and affected Pike County since the dawn of the century.

"This is a super way for people out there to show others the visual images of the things that have changed the way we think and the way Pike County has developed over the last 100 years," said Brian Blackley, managing editor of The Messenger. "There are people out there who have important documentation of crucial events in their lives and in the history of Pike County. We are asking that they share them with us and with Pike County."

In order to publish the photographs, The Messenger will accept pictures delivered to the office during regular business hours with as much information as can possibly be gathered. The images will be scanned in while the customers wait and will be returned within five minutes.

"We don’t want to keep them," Blackley said. "We simply want to scan them so that they can be shared with others. This can be done in a matter of minutes and there will be no risk to the donors that the pictures will be lost."

Photos should include a description of the event represented and names for those included in the photograph if possible. The photo should represent something of significance to Pike Countians.

"Whether it’s a photograph of the first construction crews at TSU or a picture of damage from Hurricane Opal, we want to share it," Blackley said. "We want to provide an encapsulated look at the century in this special edition."

The publication will be available through racks only. It will various racks throughout the area at midnight. Copies will be limited in supply, so readers are encouraged to get them early.