Community Journalism is Good for Longevity!

America's oldest worker is Midwest writer, 100

Astrid Munn
Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

WASHINGTON – One way to get the news in small-town Nebraska is to open the phone book, call a number and ask whoever answers if he or she has a story. Another way is to call a neighbor who has cars with out-of-town license plates parked out front and ask questions.

That’s how Mildred Heath has been getting the scoop in her central Nebraska community.

At 100, she is the Overton, Neb., population 659,correspondent for the Beacon-Observer, a weekly newspaper her family owns. The paper has a second office in Elm Creek and 1,500 subscribers.

Heath’s dedication has won her the 2008 America’s Oldest Worker award, as well as an honorary membership in the National Press Club, which also turned 100 this year.

Experience Works, a nonprofit program that provides job training for older workers, organizes the award.

And Heath does work hard – 30 hours a week – pursuing community news. As well as never smoking or drinking, she credits her longevity to her active social life.

“I’ve always been very active and take part in things,” she said. “Working with people is what it’s all about.”

Heath started her career at age 15, running a Linotype – a machine that turned hot lead into lines of type for the printing press.

She married Blair Heath in 1927 and bought the now-defunct Farnam Echo and founded the Overton Observer. For many years, Heath and her husband lived in the rooms behind the Observer office with their three daughters – all of whom she has outlived. Her husband died in 1985 at age 80.

The Observer became the Beacon-Observer when Heath’s family purchased the Elm Creek Beacon.

“She used to run the show and hasn’t backed off much,” said Norm Taylor, 69, Heath’s son-in-law and the Beacon-Observer’s owner. “She doesn’t want to. She always says, ‘I feel needed. As long as I’m needed, I’ll do it.’ ” Heath was named Nebraska’s oldest worker 10 years ago, and this year’s award marked her first visit to the nation’s capital.