The Washington Daily News has been a part of my life since I could read. I am now 70 years old. From 1960 until 1985, I lived all over the country. My mother would send me clippings, and sometimes the whole paper. When I would call home, she would always mention something she had read in “the news.”

I came back to Beaufort County to live in 1998, and a big part of my daily routine was my first cup of coffee and the morning paper, The Washington Daily News.  In the past couple of years, I have noticed considerable changes in the content, quality and, in general, the layout of the paper, i.e., things were not always in the same place each day. And often things such as the comics, crossword and Dear Abby were repeats from the day before.

As things continued to diminish, I decided not to renew my subscription when it expired March 30. On April 2^, a friend showed me his paper and there were no comics and no Dear Abby. Then on April 3, I read Mr. Vansant’s comments in the Daily News regarding the reorganization and changes to the content of the paper. After scratching my bald head and pondering his reasoning and justification for some time, my thoughts ran to this: Did Mr. Vansant poll his subscribers before making his decisions? I think not. A great deal of my friends like syndicated columnists; they offer opinions other than the major news networks. They also think comics are pretty neat, and they are my age. They also think that Family Circus often rings a bell from their past.

I must add that I know nothing about the costs involved in putting a newspaper into the streets. I also know that there is competition from electronic mail and social media. Further, I think the people should be given, in print, what they want, and I don’t think they are anymore in the Washington Daily News.

Finally, I think I paid my last respects to an old friend by not renewing my subscription. It was easier this way than hanging on until its last breath, which I predict will be soon if things don’t change — for the better.

Talmage O. “Tal” Hamilton

Belhaven