OUTLOOK - Sixteen years of writing the news and capturing the events of Outlook and the surrounding Lake Diefenbaker region has led weekly news journalist Derek Ruttle to come to the following realization:
"I think we should take a pause, look behind us, and appreciate the things that have happened in peoples' lives around here," he said.
Ruttle, who started his career at The Outlook in March 2007 at 21 years old, has seen and covered many memorable events, happenings, and headline-grabbing stories in the years since. Whether it's town council happenings, local sports coverage, news from school hallways, interviewing political leaders, stories of crime and punishment, or capturing those insightful 'slice of life' pieces in communities dotting the local landscape, Ruttle has covered them all many times over.
Knowing that there have been mountains of stories told over the years, Ruttle has decided that now is the perfect time to pull the trigger on a special book project that he's been mulling over for some time.
'Riverside Tales: Stories and Headlines from Small Town Saskatchewan' will shine a spotlight on Outlook and the surrounding area, highlighting the stories and news items that have made - and continue to make - living in this part of west central Saskatchewan so memorable and unique.
"I've covered a lot of ground in a lot of communities," said Ruttle. "From Outlook to Elbow, Milden to Beechy, and Dinsmore to Kenaston; I've captured a lot of news and told a lot of stories over the last 16 years. I think it's high time that this part of the province gets recognized because it's very special to me. There's nowhere else I'd rather call home."
Ruttle hopes readers will enjoy taking this trip back in time as the very best of the best in news articles, feature stories, photos, editorials, and opinion pieces will be presented. As well, the book will feature special "Where Are They Now?" updates and Ruttle will also provide commentary on each article, sharing some behind the scenes tidbits on the people involved and how the story came to fruition.
In addition, Ruttle will get personal as he opens up on stories from his own life and also shares his viewpoints on a number of issues facing our world today.
If you're a subscriber of The Outlook or a dedicated reader of anything that Ruttle writes, this book might need to be added to your holiday wishlist.
'Riverside Tales' is targeting a Christmas 2023 release.
