Sourdough Joe Would Have Been Surprised

AS WE APPROACH END OF TWO YEARS, WE REVIEW THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO LOCAL PEOPLE 

Sourdough Joe hand-tying fishing flies. (Photo, Country Journal, July 2017) 

Memorial For Joel Elrod Is One Of The "Most Read" Stories In The New Country Journal 

In the nearly two years since the Journal was reinstated in its new web format, we have printed over 600 stories. 

Many of them have generated immediate and intense interest. They've been about roads, weather, government programs, Fish & Game, Covid, local people, Trooper Reports, funerals, schools, culture... anything we can find that might be of local interest. 

As we approach the beginning of our third year, we've taken a good look at the stories that are most widely read. 

It's touching that personal and community loss remain a top draw. 

Of all the hundreds of stories we've printed in the past two years, Sourdough Joe's death was #10 in overall readership. 

No doubt Sourdough himself would have been surprised. 

The top story of all time in the New Country Journal was also one of community loss: the Christmas fire at the Tazlina River Trading Post last winter.