For Sandy Webb, writing wasn't something she pursued—it found her.
Sandy WebbSubmitted
A lifelong resident of New Athens, Webb began her unexpected journey as a local newspaper writer in May 2022, when fellow writer Cornelia Grace asked if she’d be interested in covering news for the small village. The invitation came after Webb submitted an article about a Mother-Daughter Banquet held at her church. That single submission opened the door to a new chapter.
“I’m a listener, not really a writer,” Webb shared. “But I love words and I read a lot. Writing comes easily if something interesting is on my mind.”
Sandy had long been known for her heartfelt Christmas cards, filled with thoughtful reflections and messages that many friends looked forward to receiving each year. Their encouragement helped spark her interest in taking her words into the pages of the News-Herald as correspondent for New Athen in Talk of the Town.
She has especially loved learning about the history of New Athens and how much her own neighbors have shaped the small town.
Her connection to the community traces back to her roots. Born in Barnesville in 1946 to Clarence G. and Ruth Alice (Phelps) Bintz, Sandy moved to New Athens in 1957 when her father, an employee of the Ohio Power Company, was transferred to Cadiz. After a search for a new family home, he found a fixer-upper in New Athens—a house in need of love, complete with the challenge of lacking an indoor bathroom. As just a fifth grader, Webb was heartbroken to leave her friends behind. But soon after arriving, she discovered a familiar face in her new classroom: Joe Fogle, the grandson of her old Barnesville neighbor.
“I fit right in,” she recalled. “My fear of moving just melted away. I started making new friends.”
Now, after 68 years in New Athens, Webb says it’s the people who make the village special. Her admiration for the community is shaped by both everyday kindness and moments of shared hardship.
“I could point out a lot of remarkable things,” she said. “When we have had weather disasters -like the tornado and the high winds or high water, neighbors were out helping each other before the sun went down. When a severe illness raises its ugly head, neighbors are at your door volunteering to do or help with whatever you need.”
Those memories, she said, are what keep her warm on snowy winter days.
Though she may not call herself a writer first, Webb has become a voice for New Athens—capturing its spirit, its stories, and the strength of its people one column at a time.
