All the full-time writers and editors at the Greene County Daily World have had a blog - except me. Chris has mentioned it several times but my answer has always been no. Besides my job at the GCDW, I maintain my own website and post in a couple of other places online and so I didn't think I wanted another chore.

And then came the Great Flood of 2008 and my little hometown of Worthington, Indiana, became an island. I couldn't get off the island for several days but the cell phone worked fine and I had internet access all the way through.

When the full extent of the crisis in Worthington became apparent Sunday morning, we were short-handed, an editor was out-of-town and there was a scurry to get everything covered. And I needed a way to post some news up quickly. I needed a blog on the GCDW site.

By the time a Blackhawk landed in the school yard Sunday evening to bring in emergency food and water for flood victims who were expected at our emergency shelter, I planned to give in and let Chris set it up.

The week got even busier and we didn't get it done until late Friday but here it is. This is the first post.