Steve Begnoche, Fierce Questioner of the Status Quo, to Retire as COLDNews Managing Editor

[XLFD]

"It will surprise no one who knows Ludington Daily News Managing Editor Steve Begnoche that he began his foray into journalism by questioning the status quo." 

So begins the City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews) report on the retirement of their 61 year old managing editor, and the sentence I read today that almost fried my computer when I reflexively had a 'spit-take' when I read it.  Thankfully the E-Torch was saved by those same reflexes being able to direct it away from the computer.

My limited experiences with Steve Begnoche has shown he apparently has received all the answers he needed from the status quo quite awhile ago, and has used that knowledge to defend the local institutions and officials even when they have been doing questionable acts and enacting questionable policies.  I wish Mr. Begnoche a great retirement, but sincerely hope his replacement starts their career by questioning the status quo, because this needs to be addressed in Ludington right now.  The article continued:

"While he is certain to keep questioning, he’ll do so in retirement, effective April 15. A party to honor Begnoche and his 29 years at the Ludington Daily News is planned for 5 p.m. Thursday, April 14 at Barley & Rye, 107 W. Ludington Ave.

Begnoche came of age in the 1960s and ’70s, so it comes naturally for this once “long-hair” who spent almost as much time suspended from senior year in high school as in it to question what might be done differently.

“Being persnickety” is how he refers to himself in his days as a nontraditional student at Eastern Michigan University. As such, he went to the office of the school newspaper, the Eastern Echo, to tell the editorial staff what he thought of their entertainment coverage — not much. 

Editor Dennis Devine responded by offering Begnoche a position on the newspaper staff writing about the college campus’ arts and entertainment scene.

“Well, join us,” he told Steve. 

That was in the late 1970s, and it launched Begnoche’s journalism career.

Begnoche joined the Ludington Daily News staff in 1987, and he and his wife, Brenda, moved their family of five to the community. 

Begnoche, 61, plans to spend more time with his grandchildren in retirement. He'll continue to write a column for the paper and take photographs, which has grown to become one of his favorite pastimes as he enjoys the outdoors, particularly Ludington State Park."

[XLFD]

Can anyone remember the last time that Steve Begnoche wrote an editorial or article where the status quo has been challenged, especially on local issues?  Or give me at least one meaningful time in his managing editor career or even before when he has questioned it at the COLDNews?

[shinblind]

Personally, Steve Begnoche seemed to suffer from a bad case of the Stockholm Syndrome.

Steve the enabler had a rubberstamp for a backbone.

The only good thing about Begnoche retirement is that he hasn't yet announced that he is running for City Council. Then again he lives out in Hamlin. Unless he can snare an apartment from MacLean. 

Sycophant Begnoche would be a real toady for Shay.

[Willy]

I've met Steve a few times and he seemed to be a genuinely nice guy but his tenure at the LDN, as far as his challenging the "status Quo", can only be described as MIA [missing in action].  What Steve has not realized or maybe he has, is that he has emboldened and bolstered the anti citizen policies of local Government by not doing his job. Of course if doing his job is  just reporting on powder puff news, police reports and fire reports as well as selling advertisements then I guess he could be considered a success but his lack of oversight regarding the truth and insisting that complete and accurate news stories should be the highest standards acceptable by his staff leaves everyone who knows what really is going on with a bad taste in their mouths. It's sad to say but I'm not sorry to see him go. I do hope his predecessor will be someone who will actually report what is really going on in a fair and thorough manner.

[AQUAMAN]

Actually, I'm happy to see him go, unless it means someone worse yet is going to be his successor. Willy, how long did you talk to him and on what subjects? Anything about that Rotta guy? Well, I did, more than once. He only let me quickly get in about 2 sentences in about 20 minutes of blabbering on about himself. A legend in his own mind is the way he came off to me. Good riddens, and move back to San Antonio Tx. is what I recommend to him. His only journalistic claims is to avoid and ignore the truth, and twist it to fit the COL's agenda and version of truth. Cocky, arrogant, and condescending is a true fit for his personality, same as John Shay. Maybe that's why the two get along so well. Neither has any appreciation for the local history nor the people. You're made to believe and feel like Ludingtonians are nothing but poor white trash.

[Willy]

Admittedly we only discussed things in general that did not include politics but that was before the XLFD era. I'm sure we would have had a different conversation after I saw how crappy he was at covering the news and information X had brought forth and revealed to those who control the City and which he should have printed, truthfully, in his paper.