‘What happens here, matters here:’ MVI marks

Editor’s Note: To commemorate our 10th anniversary, we are republishing our editorial from our first edition, published on May 2, 2016.

ON DEC. 31, 2015, when The Valley Independent published its final newspaper after a 113-year run, more than the lights at the office went out that day.

The results of community meetings went dark.

So did reports of area sporting events.

People living in our neighborhoods died and we didn’t find out until days later, if at all.

The entire Mid-Mon Valley area was, for the most part, left in darkness.

Our area lost its light and its voice.

In the process, we were on the verge of losing our identity as well.

The four months leading up to today were certainly dark for those of you who thrive on being “in the know” when it comes to local news, sports and other happenings.

However, for a group of dedicated individuals, it certainly was not a dark time. It was a time of rolling up our sleeves and putting together a plan to let our light shine again, to get our voice back.

Several former TVI employees beckoned that there was a need for a daily newspaper, and a handful of local businessmen listened.

Intently.

From those early meetings, the Mid Mon Valley Publishing Company LLC. was born. And the short version would be to simply say, “The rest is history.”

But we’re not taking the short route today. This occasion calls for much more. The debut of The Mon Valley Independent newspaper – YOUR newspaper – is history making.

At a time when newspapers are taking big hits around the world, and when many are closing, the Mon Valley Independent is rising up out of the ashes of the former TVI to once again inform you of what’s going on in your neighborhood, your community and the surrounding areas.

“What happens here, matters here.” That credo first uttered on a cold and snowy day in February by one of the owners of this paper, is more than a sentence. It is a battle cry for an area that demands to be heard, demands an identity. Don’t tell us we only matter in bits and pieces. Don’t tell us we only matter part-time or when the news is bad. We want more than that, and we deserve more than that.

The Mid-Mon Valley has a proud tradition, serving as a melting pot of families from different cultures who put their roots down and called this place “home.”

Over the years, we’ve seen our highs and lows.

We have been visited by presidents and other dignitaries.

We have produced generals, movie stars, world champion hall-of-fame athletes. And we watched as the steel industry left our area, taking many jobs and other businesses with it. And many of our young people.

But through it all – good times and bad – we had our voice. Whether we laughed or cried or yelled, we had our voice.

So it hurt even more to have that voice silenced for four long months.

But today, that voice is being heard again. And it is loud and clear.

And we promise it will grow stronger in time.

We pledge to tell your stories, your highs and lows.

We promise to be that light, that voice that tells the rest of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond that we have a purpose.

We deserve to be heard. “What happens here, matters here.”

Ah, it’s good to be back.