Season 1, Episode 20

 Doug Sikes

Work underway on new history for Columbia County

Doug Sikes is the publisher of Acclaim Press, the company that is currently working to produce a new volume of history for this county. He and Mike Gee, local historian, were working together this week to get the word out on the new volume. If you haven't heard about the plans for a new history of our county, here's your chance to have your family, church or business included in a keepsake reference volume that will be around for years to come!

The deadline for submitting your family information has been extended so if you haven't finished yours or been putting it off, gather up your info and send it in. The brochure on how to submit your invitation is available right off the main counter in our local library on North Jackson Street. Even if you're not a writer, the company can help you get your info in good shape for publication. 

Doug and Mike were also contacting local businesses sharing how they can get their company's information in the keepsake edition. I viewed a copy from another county during my interview with Doug and I was impressed with its quality. If you've never seen a World Book Encyclopedia, you won't appreciate the paper, binding and leatherette cover this book will boast. I was also impressed with the 200-year guarantee on the paper quality. I intend to save my receipt should there be any issues during the coming centuries!

The podcast got off to a slow start, as I was mesmerized by the tie that Doug was wearing Monday. It was gorgeous! Then when I glanced at his business card and saw that he's listed as publisher for Acclaim Press, I was further gob-struck. But I got over it shortly and things were going well until I asked if I could submit a photo of me for publication along with information about the Ford family. You'll be surprised at how diplomatically he handled that question. And an invitation to have lunch with Doug and Mike at one of Magnolia's finer eateries smoothed my faux pas completely over. When they hinted at using one or more of my drone photos of our community in the volume, we became friends for life!

Take a listen to this edition of Life in LA and learn how your family, business,  or church can be included in this new volume coming out in 2024. You can contact Mike Gee by email at mgee@arkansas.net or Acclaim Press at ColumbiaCountyBook@AcclaimPress.com or drop by the local library for more information.  Or visit the South Arkansas Heritage Museum on West Main to learn more about what our heritage is all about.