Former Editor Pamela Rensing Muses on Her History at The Herald

By Pamela Rensing

In 1992, I marched into the Mascoutah Herald office and presented my resume to publisher Greg Hoskins with all the confidence and flair I could possibly project. I had no journalism experience whatsoever, but I loved to write and read books.  I figured I could fake my way through everything until I got the hang of it.

Apparently, Greg never actually read the resume of this non-experienced woman because he hired me. Never in my wildest dreams would I have known then how my world – my life – would change.

Throughout the years, I had the incredible opportunity to meet two governors, several senators, many local congressmen, and various school superintendents and teachers from all grades in Mascoutah and surrounding communities. The number of devoted residents who participated in local clubs, organizations, and churches always amazed me. They became my work friends and family.

I was allowed to walk through local police departments as if I owned the places – at least that is how I felt.  Mascoutah Police Chief Scott Waldrup promised to issue me a “Get Out of Jail Free” card although he must not have been serious because I never received it. (And yes, that was a joke). Former Mayor Jerry Daugherty and current Mayor Pat McMahan were two of my favorite people throughout the political years.

In the beginning of my career, I learned about cutting-and-pasting articles to pages that would be boxed up and driven to the press plant. We had a dark room where camera film was developed and photos were processed. Those who currently use photoshop software will never understand the hours and hours it took to develop the photos in a tiny closet-like room with no windows.

Finishing the newspaper at approximately 2 a.m. or later on any given week was not unusual. I’m afraid I can’t remember all the newspapers we published, but there were: The Mascoutah Herald, Clinton County News, Fairivew Heights Tribune, Scott Flier, The Farm Impact (devoted to farmers and farm related businesses), and the Gray Blade (whose name always cracked me up. It was devoted to senior citizens). There were several more throughout the years that came and gone but I can’t remember them all.

Computers evolved at a rapid pace, and the staff strived to keep up with that part of the industry.  It would take volumes to document all the changes through the years involving desktop computers, laptops, page layout software, printers, Wifi transmissions, photo software and storage, city and school board meetings transmitted via Zoom, newspapers available by print or online, the importance of Facebook and e-mail, etc.

More importantly were the changes we reported in Mascoutah, a city that was growing by leaps and bounds due to Scott Air Force Base. In 2011, the old Mascoutah High School was demolished and a new, modern one that rivaled any in the area took its place.  New residential housing flourished.

Despite the growth, Mascoutah was and still is tenacious in its hold onto historic roots and traditions.  The Mascoutah Homecoming is about as traditional as you can get.  A parade on both Saturday and Sunday evening, food stands, carnival rides, bands playing on the train station stage and the Ag building, truck and tractor pulls, and the Miss Mascoutah Homecoming followed years later by the Little Miss Mascoutah pageant.

Unfortunately, the Herald had some sad stories too. Of course, there were several reported through the years, but for me personally, there are four articles where I felt my heart break.  All four were the deaths of people I admired and loved.

When former Mascoutah Police Chief Kevin Gordon (2016) and Mascoutah Lt. Kevin McGinnis (2018) passed away, it was my job to write the articles regarding their deaths.  Gordon, McGinnis and I were friends at Cahokia High School and often joked about ending up together in Mascoutah.  With each sentence I typed, I cried.

At the time of his death, former Mascoutah High School teacher and coach Sam Graf (2019) was a part-time sports reporter for the Mascoutah Herald, so I knew him well. Everyone knew of Sam’s love for Mascoutah sports, so much so, his family made sure to send me the articles he had just finished before he died so they could be published.  I kept assuring them that it wasn’t necessary and everyone would understand, but they insisted.  They kept telling me Sam would want it that way.  With each sentence I typed, I cried.

And then there was Greg Hoskins (2024).  To say I was devastated by his death, would be an inconceivable understatement. In the 30 years we worked together, we planned, talked, laughed, argued, fought, and debated. He was more than my boss; he was my friend. With each sentence I typed, I cried.

On the day Greg died, my mind reached out to that 1992 memory of me standing before him, handing him my inexperienced resume.  Did that one simple moment change my life?

It did.

Now the reigns of the Herald are in the capable hands of Greg’s son, Scott Hoskins.  It’s a new journalism industry with changes being made every day, not just every year.

Happy 140th Anniversary to the Mascoutah Herald! I’m so proud to be part of your history.