Thanks so much for the Columbus news.
As a teenager, I got my start as a neighborhood reporter writing for the Columbus Dispatch. I am a neighborhood reporter now in Loudoun County, Virginia. I have two columns with Times Community Media as a neighborhood reporter, and I have a regular column writing for Sam Huff, NFL Hall of Famer, the legendary linebacker who does color for Redskins Radio. Sam and I are best friends, and we won an award last year with the Virginia Associated Press for best sports column in a non-daily newspaper.
When I was in high school, one of my teachers recommended me to Birney Imes (Jr.), the editor and publisher of the Dispatch at that time. I sent in a regular column most of my senior year.
I grew up in Columbus, graduated from New Hope High School and then graduated from Mississippi University for Women in 1954.
I still have friends and relatives in Columbus, and I would love to let them know I am still reporting as I know most of them still read the Dispatch.
Billie Faye (Patterson) Van Pay
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.