“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Fourteen years ago, I moved back to Jasper on a wing and a prayer to launch a publication
called 78 Magazine. Our first issue featured Bernard’s Store for Men owner Rusty Richardson,
and since that time we have distributed thousands of magazines in the Walker County and Smith
Lake area.

I am proud of my staff and the work we have done.

Now it is time for a new season of 78 Magazine.

Over the last few years, we have been publishing six magazines per year with varying themes.

We will now move to one print magazine per year, published each June.

This was not an easy decision for us, as we know how much people have grown to love our print
publication. However, this business model has become unsustainable, and we believe a more
digitally focused model is best for our company.

We will continue to publish articles on two platforms: 78 Magazine and The Walker Leader.

Articles on 78 Magazine will be of the profile variety, while articles on The Walker Leader will
be “newsier” in nature (milestones, events, community news, etc.).

We hope you will follow both pages on Facebook and Instagram.

The June print publication will not have a specific theme, as in past issues, but will be a
patchwork of themes that have been common in our publication. As always, it will be people-
focused, and we will strive to put out an excellent product.

So far, I have been encouraged by the response we have received when talking to the folks who
do business with us. This is a tough economic time for everyone, and we greatly appreciate the
support we have received from this community and local business owners throughout the years.

I have said it many times: there would be no 78 Magazine without the support of our local
businesses.

Now, as we move into a new era of our publication, we hope to publish even more articles than
before, with the overarching goal of celebrating the good things about this wonderful community
in which we live.

And yes, it is good.

Overall, celebrating the people of our community has been my honor over the last fourteen
years.

And, Lord willing, we’ll continue for many more. 78