ridertown.com
September 1, 2003
Baghdad Diary
As if in answer to last month's issue in which I pointed out the obvious reach of Ridertown through the World Wide Web, we received an email directory listing request from SPC Joshua Silver (MHS '01), currently stationed in Baghdad. He has generously agreed to share some of his experiences there as a member of the U.S. Military Police Corps. His first two letters to Ridertown are now online in The Spring Street Journal, and they make very interesting reading.
SPC Joshua Silver's news and the Iraq Forum in the Ridertown Forums are examples of the services Ridertown provides St. Marys that are not being (or cannot be) provided by other media.
Don't Panic! Just Subscribe
In an effort to create more junk snail mail, which requires postage, the government we deserve is cracking down on the ostensibly pernicious demon of unsolicited email. Apparently the trees saved by electronic transfer do not justify the crushing burden on industry of hitting the delete button daily.
The upshot is this: beginning with the October 2003 issue, Ridertown will email this newsletter to subscribers only. Subscribing is easy - simply reply to this email and type the word "Subscribe" in your message. Or click HERE and send, without any message necessary. There will also appear a new link called "Newsletter" in the left-hand column on the Ridertown.com Home page, which will lead to subscription instructions.
Roughrider Football is Back
August saw the return of football season, much to the relief of pigskin-play deprived Ridertowners everywhere. At this writing the locals are undefeated, with come-from-behind victories over Sidney and Defiance and a Chicken Bowl downing of Urbana under their belts going into September.
The Spring Street Journal. (Auglaize County's Only Locally-Owned Newspaper) provides the first and best print coverage of Roughrider Football, online with complete write-ups and color game photos by Andrews Photography a couple of hours after each game. Check out the game coverage so far and come back for every game the rest of the season. Go Riders!
Life Is Good - Hit Me!
Unique Visitors to ridertown.com in August 2003 set a new one-month record, outnumbering August of last year 7,826 to 5,638 (a 38.8% increase), and extending Ridertown's streak to 36 consecutive months topping the same month previous year numbers.
FYI, "Unique Visitors" is a conservative counting method, recording only one request per remote computer per day. Computer stations that are used by more than one person, such as at businesses, libraries, schools, etc. will still only be counted as one visitor each day. Beware of other website claims for "hits" (requests for all file transfers including individual graphics). For example; in August 2003, Ridertown's 7,826 "Unique Visitors" resulted in 811,551 "hits."
The Spring Street Journal. August 2003 Front Page News:
Radio Radio Video to Film at Opera House
Kain to Perform at Summerfest Teen Dance
Schaaf Opens Duck Race Ticket Sales
MHS Releases Back-To-School Information
Park Committee Thanks Community
Local Researcher Invited to Speak in U.K.
Riders Take Chicken Bowl 14-0
Lininger Wins Duck Race
Summer Band Awards Perfect Attendance
Riders Rally Past 'Jackets
SPC Joshua Silver in Iraq
Riders Find A Way to Win Again
Baghdad Diary: Payday
The Spring Street Journal. August 2003 Area News:
BEC Offers Quality Management Session
Events to Aid School Restoration, Area Tourism
BEC Offers Quickboos 2002 Sessions
The Spring Street Journal. August 2003 Obituaries:
Clifford J. Elsass, 79
Robert E. Kiefer, 49
Isabella C. Silver, 90
Deloris M. Smith, 81
Arthur L. Rogers, 80
Vernon Minkner, 71
Josiah Bartlett, infant
Dylan Henning, infant
Dorothy Elizabeth Line, 97
Richard P. Neely, 79
Thanks for visiting ridertown.com!
Chris Botkin
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ridertown.com is owned and operated by Chris Botkin, a fifth-generation St. Marian born and raised who is active in local service organizations and a heck of a nice feller despite a dearth of perspicacity, pulchritude and luck. Ably assisting is Dave Stilwell who is busy with family and volunteering beyond any reasonable bounds of human endurance. We both have day jobs, too. Our goal for Ridertown is world domination, but we'll settle for dragging St. Marys kicking and screaming into the Information Age. Are you going to come quietly, or do we have to use earplugs?
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