Happy Mother’s Day weekend everyone and I wish an especially happy day to all the moms out there. We wouldn’t be here without you.

A big thank to Albemarle Main Street Manager Joy Almond. She arranged to have the artwork of our entries into the annual Draw Your Mom contest placed in a downtown window so everyone can drop by and take a look. The work of the young artists can be seen at 140 W. Main St. Stroll by this weekend and take a look at the work of these young artists.

We had two winners this year. There was only supposed to be one winner, but the judges were torn so we added a winner.
Riley Thompson, 10, of Albemarle drew a wonderful picture of her mother, Holly Paplin. Micah Boing, 7, also of Albemarle, used only pencil to draw his mom, Kristen Boing.

Both of our winners will receive $25 gift certificates for their good work.

I also wanted to pass along a few newspaper housekeeping items this week.

As you may have read last week, the Stanly News & Press is having a small subscription increase for most rates beginning June 1. For readers who want to avoid the increase, you can drop by our office and renew your subscription for up to two years before June 1. During the month of May, we are also giving free T-shirts with each new subscription or renewal. Subscribers may also want to consider converting to our monthly EZ Pay rate. That rate is actually decreasing from $7.49 to $6.50 per month.

Another feature that is decreasing in price is celebrations. Items like engagements, weddings, anniversaries and birth announcements have typically been charged from the first word. From May 13 forward, these items will only be charged $1 per word if they are more than 500 words.

So, you get 500 words free. That should cover most things except very descriptive wedding announcements. Photos added to these celebrations will be $10 each.

These celebrations are basic community news items and definitely have a place in the Stanly News & Press. I hope this change will encourage more people to share these good news items with the community as a whole.

Roger Watson is publisher of The Stanly News & Press.