Sports Reporter, Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff

Obviously the rental market is booming because of people who lost houses and have to live somewhere. Can you get a good deal buying a house there or is it still very pricey relatively speaking?

 

I don't know about a good deal, per se, but home prices are the lowest they've been since 2004. The median price is still around $280k. The bang for your buck pales in comparison to a place like Phoenix, obviously, but it's at least an improvement.

 

You can buy homes less than 10 years old in Phoenix for $60-70K. If you think you can commute from Phoenix, you're nuts, though.

 

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. Obviously Flagstaff is much more expensive. But in some places a mortgage payment may be half of what you'd pay to rent. Of course, getting credit is 95 percent of the battle.

 

I wonder who landed this gig. Anyone know?

 

No one has yet. This is not surprising to folks who have been here for a while, because it took five months to hire a damn sports editor (essentially missing an entire fall prep season). For the time being, the sports editor is using a couple stringers. No telling how long it will be before the position is filled.

 

So a quick update: After allowing it to be posted for more than month (which led to more than 50 applications and several follow-up phone calls), the corporate overlords have decided that this position will not be filled. Apparently we're going forward with a one-person sports desk with the occasional stringer. Good times.

 

One person to cover a FCS program and two high schools. Fun times for the SE at less than $30K per year.

 

Yet another example of how little respect sports is accorded at many newspapers.

 

Tellin' me dat's not normal? Got to get on my Ps and Qs.

 

A one-person sports staff. That blows.

Any idea if they plan on filling the position eventually?

 

...

This shouldn't surprise me in this day and age, but it really does. I wonder if they plan on just letting this go until the fall. I can see some argument for not bothering to fill the spot now that summer's getting closer, but as a permanent situation the prospect of this just blows my mind.