Here's BJ's new freebie 77 South

The new BJ tabloid first edition

Here’'s the first issue (April 28, 2995) of the BJ freebie weekly tabloid 77 South, serving Lakemore, New Franklin, Springfield, Coventry, Green and Manchester. The BJ announced the publication when the Leader which has long served the area said it would cease publication. Later the publisher decided to continue, so there is now a little competition there.

77 South got off to a rousing start with a front cover column by Steve Love and a story by BJ staffer Stephanie Warsmith on the Green Schools levy on the May ballot. There also was a color ad spread across the bottom for Beiler’'s Dutch Penn Market in Uniontown. Inside was a welcome letter by managing editor Mike Burdich and an impressive staff box listing Charlene Nevada, news; Bill Lilley, sports; and Kimberly Barth, photography. Ralph Paulk and David Lee Morgan each had a byline and George Davis, BJ retiree, had three. There was a double-truck color ad from Bedrooms Today and two full-page ads by Fred Martin Chevrolet plus three pages of classified.and 16 or so other ads and a couple of promotion ads in the 24 pages. There were 15 news stories

The South Side News Leader, sitting on the same store shelf, had six news stories and four photos on its front page and 24 items inside its 20 pages. There were more than 50 small ads and three pages of classified , but no full-page or double-trucks. There was one ad seeking freelance reporters for the Leader.