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I wrote well over 400 columns for the Boone County Journal in the last eight years. Most focused on the communities of Ashland, Hartsburg, and the rest of rural Southern Boone County. A typical Travis Naughton opinion piece might include stories about kids, teaching, music, or hot rods. I wrote several stories that called attention to local heroes and people who deserve to be recognized for trying to make the world a better place. And yes, I did pen a political piece on occasion, but only rarely.

After my column about presidential politics was posted last week, Boone County Journal owner (and Ashland mayor) Gene Rhorer decided to send me a loud and clear message. When I opened this week's paper to look for my column in it's usual spot on page three, I saw a letter-to-the editor, written about me, in its place.

Over the years, countless readers have taken the time to write a letter in order to voice their displeasure with my opinions. I have always welcomed such discourse. After all, readers are entitled to their opinions, too. However, this week was the first time that my column had ever been replaced by a reader's letter.

I wrote a damned-good column for this week's paper, one that celebrated the achievements of young people. I spent over three hours writing and refining the piece, as I always do, in order for the writing to be as good as possible. Without a simple heads-up or any explanation whatsoever, publisher Gene Rhorer cut my column and instead ran a rambling letter that attacked me both as a writer and as a citizen.

Why? That's exactly what I asked Gene when we spoke on the phone later Wednesday evening. Before I could ask, though, Gene had a question for me. "Travis, will you admit that your column last week was pointed? Will you admit that?"

"Yes," I answered.

"So you admit it was politically a very pointed column?" Gene asked again.

"Yes, I've written several political columns over the years."

"Well I had a stack of 6 or 7 letters from readers after we ran your last column, and I had to choose one to put in the paper. You understand that?"

"Yes, I understand. I have no problem sharing the opinion page with readers' letters. I've done that lots of times. I'm just not sure why you replaced my column with the letter instead of running both."

"It's my dollar, Travis. I won't be chastised by you."

"I'm not chastising you, Gene. I'm just confused as to why you didn't give me the courtesy of a heads-up first. Something like, 'Travis, I'm not running your column this week. We'll have you back next week.' I shouldn't have had to open the paper to read my column and discover a letter attacking me in it's place."

"Don't chastise me," Gene repeated. "It's my dollar. I will run this paper the way I see fit."

"I'm not chastising you or telling you how to run your paper. I just think it would have been a decent thing to let me know what was going on before I had to find out that way."

"I will not be chastised, Travis. It's my dollar. Stop chastising me."

Exasperated, I said, "Gene, I'm glad you know the word 'chastised', but I'm just asking you a question. I'm not chastising anyone." (For the record, "chastise" is defined as "to rebuke or reprimand severely.") I said, "I'm just upset that after eight years of writing for the paper and serving this community, this is the way you decided to treat me. I think I deserve better than that."

Gene refused to give me a reason for why he opted not to run my column, and eventually it became clear that it had to do with my political opinions not aligning with his. After he made a remark stating, once again, that's it's his dollar and he'll run the paper the way he wants to run it, I said that it was obvious that he did not want me to continue writing for the Journal. "Run your paper however you want, Gene, because I won't be writing for you anymore."

Gene Rhorer, the mayor of Ashland and the owner of the town's only news outlet said these final words before hanging up the phone. "That's fine. This was a Democratic paper before, but it's a Republican paper now. It's better this way."

When Bruce Wallace owned the paper, he frequently printed opinion pieces written by Republicans Vicky Hartzler and Josh Hawley. Since the mayor purchased the paper, Hartzler, Sarah Walsh, and other Republicans have had a great deal of coverage. In one particular issue, an opinion piece written by Hartzler appreared on the front page of the paper in the "News" section. Impartial news coverage in Southern Boone County is officially dead.

Gene Rhorer has turned the Boone County Journal into a propaganda paper for the Republican party, and I am glad to have no further interest in his efforts to ruin what was once a respected, small-town news source.

So now you know how it all happened, and I have tried to be as accurate as possible in my recollection. I'm sad that my career at the paper had to end this way, but I'm comforted by the support and words of encouragement by my many readers and friends. I'll keep writing, so I hope you'll keep reading.

Peace.