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Just like starting over.

Someone once told me that sometimes you just need to clean the house and start fresh.

We have had a little bit of that recently, but I firmly believe that in time we will be stronger for it.

First off, this week we welcomed a new addition to our advertising team.

Tom Lowe, who spent around four years taking care of business in accounting for The SNAP, became our newest ad representative.

Prior to the SNAP team, Tom spent more than 30 years working in human resources. He has a master’s in business administration and is a graduate of Pfeiffer.

I believe he will be able to tackle sales due to his experience of working with the public and customer service. In a way, he reminds me of longtime advertising rep Dick Connell. For anyone who knew him, I know it’s a stretch to compare the two. But the name Dick Connell was remembered by many ad reps who never even met him.

Tom is joined by Ally Ward, who began her career with The SNAP last fall.

Many people already know Ally and her positive outlook, wanting to make sure customers receive what they purchased.

Ally is a Chamber ambassador and we hope she will be inducted into the Albemarle Rotary Club, at least once this coronavirus clears out.

I see lots of potential in Ally and Tom and believe our readers and advertisers will benefit from this dynamic duo.

As for me, I’ve taken on a few more hats recently. I was named office manager a few weeks ago, in addition to handling my duties as editor.

It definitely is a trying job, but I’ve always considered myself the underdog. Many people hate the media. I know I have always worked to change that, and I have a few more plans up my sleeve to enhance the quality of the newspaper.

One of those steps was to move the popular Throwback Thursday feature back to its original format. Peeking Into The Past now runs once again on our Opinion page, like it did for many years before I existed.

One of those other plans begins this week. Everyone who knows me knows my love for history. We will welcome back SNAP Back In Time. This round we take a look back at life of 40 years ago, in response to The SNAP turning 140 this year.

B.J. Drye is office manager/editor of The Stanly News & Press. Write him at bj.drye@stanlynewspress.com or call 704-982-2123.