Newsroom holiday party Dec. 14
Please plan to join us during the late afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 14, for some BBQ holiday food. We’re supporting the locally-owned Deet’s BBQ this year. Offerings range from ribs and wings to pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, to plenty of sides, cornbread muffins, salad, and, of course, a couple of kinds of cobbler. The food will be waiting for you in the newsroom conference room. (There will be a few surprises during the party, too.) Thanks, and see you then.
Meet LaCora Shorter
My name is LaCora Shorter. I grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and attended Start high school my first 2 years of high school. I then went on to online school at Connections Academy of Ohio for the remaining 2 years. I am a freelance graphic designer; I’ve been freelancing for about 2-3 years now. I specialize in logos, ads, and 3D modelling.
Prior to The Blade, I was a security officer at Job1USA. I also worked for Continental secret service Breau. I worked as a security officer, and a receptionist. Mainly I handle calls, and allowing people in and out of the building.
At home I have a kitten named Starla. She’s Siamese and all black (rare lol). She’s been my best friend, and great support when I feel alone.
Meet Mike Purdy
Mike Purdy
Mike joins our newsroom editing team, most recently from the Lima News. A graduate of Ball State University in Indiana, Mike also worked for more than 20 years at The New-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., as a wire editor, copy editor, paginator, and several other jobs. Thanks to the Gannett loaner program, he worked for four months for GNS (Gannett News Service) Sports in Washington. Mike began his journalism career at age 16, working as a sports freelancer at the Daily Standard in Celina, Ohio. After graduation, he worked at Greensburg Daily News and the Logansport Pharos-Tribune, both in Indiana.
Meet Max Householder
Max Householder
My name is Max, and I am the most recent addition to The Blade’s copy desk. My hometown is Swanton, and I currently reside there.Before joining The Blade, I was a sports reporter at the Northwest Signal in Napoleon, and before that I worked as sports editor at the Fulton County Expositor in Wauseon for nearly 10 years. I enjoy watching sports, reading, especially Stephen King and Brandon Sanderson novels, and binge-watching shows in my free time.
Sturgill named Eddy winner
Zach Sturgill
Zach Sturgill of the webdesk is the third-quarter Eddy Award winner. Zach started at The Blade in June 2022. He publishes stories to the website, posts to social media, finds and adds videos to the website and eBlade, and edits video, among other tasks. Zach has also been willing to jump in and help the copy desk when it was short-staffed. Asked what food he wanted to share with the newsroom as part of his Eddy, Zach requested Jet’s pizza. It will arrive about 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, just in time for election night. As an Eddy winner, Zach also receives a $50 gift card.
Gruver appointed News Editor
Alicia Balog Gruver
We are pleased to announce that Alicia Gruver, who marked her eighth year at The Blade this month, is assuming the role of News Editor. Alicia is originally from Austintown, Ohio, and later attended Kent State University, where she graduated with a journalism degree in 2015. While at Kent State, Alicia served in several positions on the Kent Stater student newspaper, including assistant managing editor and copy desk chief. Alicia received the Marge McNab Block Award, named in honor of the late wife of Paul Block, Jr., which is presented to the graduating Kent State senior woman in the journalism program with the highest GPA.
Kim and Kurt
