Gurner Joins Staff

Gurner Joins Staff As Herald Reporter

Water Valley photographer Jack Gurner has joined the Herald staff.

“I’ve come full circle,” Gurner said about the transition.

“As a teenager my first job was with the North Mississippi Herald. It was over 40 years ago when I went to work for Edward B. Shearer, who ran the Herald and  a printing shop.”

Gurner describes his early work in the Herald as  a printer’s devil, which is an apprentice who performs a number of  tasks.

“In other words, I was a ‘go-fer’. But, I was in good company. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Warren Harding, and Lyndon Johnson all started as printer’s devils,” Gurner said.

“This was the beginning of my newspaper career. Over the years I was fortunate to work at some good newspapers. I was a photographer for the Daily Sentinel-Star in Grenada, and moved up to the title of photojournalist at the Memphis Press-Scimitar. From there I became graphics editor of the Memphis  Business Journal,” Gurner continued.

“We are pleased to have Jack on board at the paper,” publisher David Howell said. “Jack has deep Yalobusha County roots and has made numerous contributions to the Herald in the three years I have been here.”

“In the 20 years that Jessie and I have been back in Water Valley, I have contributed occasional articles and photographs to the Herald while operating my own business. Now I’ll be a part of the Herald family as a reporter and  photographer,” Gurner continued.

Gurner Photography will remain in business, but will be open by appointment  only.

“Over the past 40 years things have changed dramatically in the newspaper business. When I went to work, lead type was still in use. Today the computer  has taken over the newsroom. What hasn’t changed is the importance of a  newspaper to a community,” Gurner said.