President George Bush mentioned meeting with Missy Johnson during tonight's debate. The president spoke about the cost of war -- particularly the loss of Johnson's husband Staff Sgt. Paul "PJ" Johnson who was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq last October.

For more information about the incident that cost Staff Sgt. Johnson his life and the reaction from family and friends, I refer you to my article The Ultimate Sacrifice. PJ Johnson, the first Upper Peninsula native to be killed in the Iraq War, left an indelible impression on his family, those in the community and beyond. In the story, Missy Johnson is referred to by her formal name Mary.

There's going to be an annoucement shortly, but congratulations are in order for Gazette staffers past and present. In particular, current writers Brad Salmen and Garrett Neese as well as former staffers Erin Alberty, Kevin Colbert, Erik Johns and myself.

More info. on Oct. 3.

I wanted to congratulate former Gazette staffer Erin Alberty on her recent employment with the Saginaw News. Congratulations and good luck!

Although I don't visit this site as much as I used to, I'd like to note that The Daily Mining Gazette's Web site has been relaunched.

I'm not going to comment too much on the new design, aside that it's very similar to other Ogden Newspaper Web sites. I think a site refresh was needed -- the old design was kicking around for awhile.

On the other hand, four years of excerpted Gazette articles have disappeared. A one-month archive takes its place.