I came back from a weeklong vacation Monday and it is hard to catch up. Today, Thursday, I am feeling like I have returned most of the phone calls and e-mails and caught up on important stories at the Journal and our sister newspapers throughout the region.

* * *

Mostly I am happy with our efforts over the week of Aug. 3 to Aug. 9. Michelle Miller-Carl, our news editor, did a great job. There is some subjectivity to news coverage, and some things I would have done differently.

Sandra Ashford, owner and founder of the Sugar Plum Tree stores in Auburn, Roseville, and Granite Bay, passed away Aug. 5. Sandra was the loving wife of longtime Auburn Recreation District administrator Terry Ashford and the mother of Ron, Sindy and Stacy. We ran a funeral notice with Sandra’s photo on page A6 Friday. But, given the prominence of the family, we could have done more.

Had I been here, it would have been a page one story. We still may followup. As the newspaper of record, when prominent locals pass, we need to write fitting tributes.

* * *

At the Downtown Rotary Club meeting Tuesday, several Rotarians gave money in recognition of retired Lutheran Pastor Bruce Lundberg’s handling of Sandra Ashford’s memorial service. Many Rotarians are close to the Ashford family and attended her services Monday.

Terry Ashford was Rotary president in 1981-82 and Ron is well known through his work with the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.

Jeff Patton, a local civil engineer, said he had never felt more alive than after hearing Lundberg speak about Sandra, God, and life after death.

I would describe myself as more spritual than religious. But at the time of the death of a loved one, we all look inward at the meaning of life.

* * *

Bill Martin, a Sierra College trustee, spoke to our editorial board Monday about the importance of the area junior college, its lack of funding and the fact that the next election could sway the board one way or the other.

Martin implored us to give Sierra College the prominent coverage it deserves. He said something like 40 percent of area high school graduates attend Sierra College. The college’s infrastructure is crumbling and rather than fight for more money, trustees such as Aaron Klein, Scott Leslie and Jerry Simmons seem content to make due with the limited monies the school has available.

Martin said he thought the Sierra College story was much more important than the Michelle Ollar Burris saga, for example. Yet, the Ollar Burris is splashed across the front page and Sierra College rarely gets the same exposure.

* * *

Martin made some good points. We will endeavor to give Sierra College and the race for its trustee seats that are on the November ballot more prominent attention, especially between now and the upcoming election. We also plan to continue to cover the Ollar Burris story.

We are always interested in your feedback and are constantly striving to make your newspaper relevant to your life.