Okay, maybe we're a little biased. But putting out a community newspaper is one of the best jobs ever. It is watching, and recording, life as it unfolds before us. It is exciting and fun. It can also be painful, heart wrenching and sad.

However, we never lose sight of our awesome responsibility to you. And we strive each day to earn your trust by offering you a newspaper, and website, that is accurate, comprehensive and local.

We accomplish this task by using a concept that is almost comical in its simplicity, but exquisitely choreographed for its successful execution.

We hold a mirror up to the Ashe County community. In its reflection is you, your town, your neighborhoods, your schools, your businesses.

In its reflection we see the wonders of this community and the people who define its character.

Those people, like you, are honest, hardworking and struggling to do the next right thing.

As a newspaper, our single pursuit is to strive each day to provide a reflection that is precise, sharp and clear. An image free from the distortions of politics and personal agendas.

This is our greatest challenge. But we must also get it right.

In each edition, we try to do just that. But on occasion, we make mistakes. It happens. It happens to everyone. Our mistakes are a bit different, however. We print them. Those mistakes then live forever on the newsprint on which you're reading this, and now in cyberspace.

We understand that your newspaper creates the touchstones of your personal history. We take that responsibility seriously. We know that if your son or daughter or grandchild's photograph is published in the paper and his or her name is misspelled, it won't end up hanging in its most important location in your home, the kitchen refrigerator.

When mistakes are made, we will admit them and correct them accordingly.

We want to leave you with a couple of final thoughts. First, the Post is your hometown newspaper and it is important that we know what is going on in our community. If your church or civic group is holding an event, call, email or fax us. We'll make sure the community knows when and where it's going to happen. Take a photo during the event and write down what happened. Again, call or email it to us and we'll make every attempt to publish it in your paper in a timely manner.

And finally, for many of us, the last few years have proved difficult navigating the tough economic times. However, we have a gut-deep belief there are brighter days ahead. That belief has re-energized and strengthened our grip on your mirror.

As our brighter future unfolds before us, we can all watch as our reflections glow, and grow.