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Currently retired and living on the shores of Mexico, John Derby is the founder of the Merced County Times and Mid-Valley Publications. He is currently enjoying his time away from the newsroom he developed in 1964 by sailing through the waters south of the border while continuing to write his weekly From Ship to Shore column and other articles of interest to the readers of Mid Valley Publications' newspapers.

Insights and Opinions

The Many Newspaper Jobs In All The Years

John Derby Sep 13, 2021

As the publisher of this grand newspaper, and turning 85 this week, I look back at the more than 60 years of being a newspaperman, and I can’t think of a better way to live. Thank you to all who have read about my wonderings and allowed me to write unbridled. I am still writing with a clear mind everyday, and when I wake up in the…

Insights and Opinions

Synchronized Traffic Lights Could Help Our Air Quality

John Derby Sep 7, 2021

This year will go down as one of the worst air quality years in the valley on record. One of the reasons is that our valley is like a huge sack which…

Insights and Opinions

Are We Ready To Accept Afghans In Our Town?

John Derby Aug 30, 2021

The last figure we saw was over 65,000 Afghans were being flown out of Afghanistan to somewhere; however, it did not say where. Are we willing to have…

Insights and Opinions

We Are At War Today Just As We Were In World War II

John Derby Aug 30, 2021

We do not know what it was like during World War II, only what we read in books; however, today must have many comparisons. First of all, the war went on and on and on. This country needed workers and the conditions were often difficult. People volunteered and made sacrifices. There were shortages and prices were high, with many things…

Around Town

Rare collection of Merced trade tokens shows up on eBay

John Derby Aug 16, 2021

A rare collection of historic Merced tokens showed up for sale on eBay recently, and it has local history buffs talking. These are…

Insights and Opinions

There Was Time When California Fires Were Stoppable, Now…

John Derby Aug 15, 2021

Year ago, fires burned regularly in our California forests and they were an asset, ridding the forests of the undergrowth. Actually, the forests needed them…

Insights and Opinions

Mr. President: It’s About Time To Get People Back To Work

John Derby Jul 29, 2021

There was a time when COVID-19 was at its peak and businesses were shutting their doors at a rapid pace. Paying people a bonus when they lost their job was the right thing to do. However, things have changed, and businesses are opening up again, but there are no workers. We write specially because the sit-down restaurant businesses cannot…

Around Town

Gene Mondo’s daughter sheds more light on Mondo Building

John Derby Jul 29, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE—In a previous story about The Mondo Building, we wrote the building was built by Gene Mondo. That was incorrect. It was built by the…

Around Town

Historic courthouse in line for federal funds

John Derby Jul 22, 2021

Nothing is certain until you have the cash in hand; however, it was exciting to hear that the Merced County Courthouse Museum in downtown Merced has been…

Insights and Opinions

What Happens When Your Well Goes Dry?

John Derby Jul 22, 2021

This is the first time in my life I have had to depend on a well for my water, and I have been seriously thinking of letting my lawn go dry. However, it would be the only lawn on the whole block which would be dry. Then as fate would have it, the Saturday of July 4th weekend, I woke up, and there was no water. The well had gone dry. At…

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