4. Hometown Hard News

 

    

    

    The stories are true, everyone knows everyone in a small town, and everyone knows what is going on in your life! Growing up in a small town, you learn pretty fast that your news is not limited to local newspapers or television stations, you could just as quickly learn the hottest news driving down the street or looking at a text. In Salado, Texas the residents are as reliant on gossip as they are for the local news station. But even with the private Facebook group, Salado People, which feeds the nosy and bored residents, The Salado Village Voice remains the prominent source of small-town news.

    The Salado Village Voice covers all areas of Salado. On their website, they specify their topics under News and Opinion, Sports (Salado ISD), Obituaries, Living, Calendar, Crosswords & More, and Classifieds. Since Salado’s population barely touches 3,000 residents (2019), the Salado Village Voice primarily focuses on Salado ISD, where they can report on sports, academics, grants, and school board decisions. 

    One of the most recent, and most impactful story for Salado Village Voice was published on August 25, with the headline “Thomas Arnold Elementary Garden Receives $10,000 grant”. This news feature highlights the grant given to Thomas Arnold Elementary School by the Texas Department of Agriculture, which will allow the school to continue to restore the garden. When the garden was finished, after the tireless work of volunteers, on August 27 the garden was dedicated to the late Kathi Walrath. Even through her battle with breast cancer, Kathi Walrath donated her time to the school as well as young troops stationed in Fort Hood.
  

 

   This dedication to Kathi Walrath, a mom, friend, volunteer, and warrior represents the immense impact she left on Salado and Salado schools. 

Even though gossip is an "essential" news medium in small-towns, Salado is thankfully not fully dependent on the never ending cycle of drama. Local news sources like Salado Village Voice are important to the culture of Salado. Whether it's a sweet dedication to a loved one or a celebration for a Salado Eagles football win, or even the 2019 Homecoming Queen and King, these reports keep the small town lifestyle alive with a close-knit community.