Old friend says hello: Fluco Blog restarts

PALMYRA — The following is a letter from Fluco Blog’s executive editor and Top Bar Media owner, Bryan Rothamel:

Fluco community,

Most of us remember the two years Fluco Blog operated from Oct. 27, 2009 to Oct. 27, 2011. We had an eventful run of breaking news stories, dissecting complex news stories and sharing in the community’s events.

I stopped Fluco Blog in 2011 because things were not working exactly as I hoped. In order to make it work as I hoped, I would have had to drastically change the model to something I would not have enjoyed. The product would have suffered and I was not comfortable with that more than likely outcome.

The year and, almost, a month since Fluco Blog stopped has been an interesting one for Fluvanna. The budget process was as dynamic and complex, if not more, as the two previous years. The county administration has had significant turnover.

Fork Union Military Academy has started a new chapter with two longtime coaches retiring, new barracks and the new president settled in for his academic term. Fluvanna County Public Schools has had furlough days, new high school actually opening and employee benefits changing significantly.

What a very busy year.

Over the past year I have been approached about Fluco Blog restarting. I was always flattered by the outpouring of support from the loyal Fluco Blog readers. The website had thousands of visits even after it stopped.

In November I had a meeting from a few investors that wanted to discuss Fluco Blog in a detail I never have been asked about. Our infancy discussions were promising. We are in currently in complicated but earnest discussions about how to make this work longterm.

I am more than confident in the negotiations and have decided to restart Fluco Blog.

We hope in January the new administrative group will be able to fully announce how we will help Fluco Blog be everything you enjoyed before and so much more.

My driving force, and something I will never compromise, is Fluco Blog’s unbiased and thorough reporting standard. I continually have made clear that news reporting and editorial structure will not be compromised.

News subjects on either side of issues know me being friendly does not mean blind coverage. Expanding the administration side Fluco Blog might change, but I will not change the news side.

We have developed really dynamic ideas to help make everything we do very transparent. These concepts will be revolutionary to hyperlocal news sites.

I am glad to be back and my hope is you suport Fluco Blog as much as you did before. I am very thankful for this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you around the county.

Sincerely,

Bryan Rothamel
Executive Editor, Fluco Blog