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	Headed For The Aloha State Micah Lewter is wasting no time adapting to the dress code in Hawaii as he prepares for his new position on the Big Island. Arab Today photo by Dwight Hayes January 24, 2010 Admit it, who hasn't dreamed of living (and working if we must) in the tropical paradise of the Hawaiian Islands. The faltering economy has forced a lot of downsizing and job cuts in the newspaper industry. When Micah Lewter received the news that his position as a sports page designer for a Dothan newspaper was being combined with another newspaper in North Carolina he had no idea where his career would take him. Lewter, a 1996 Arab High School graduate, said the initial news of the impending job loss was quite a jolt. After six years with the Dothan Eagle he was faced with a major career decision. He could apply for his old job at the North Carolina newspaper or he could look for a new employer. He decided to do an internet search for similar positions and the Hawaii job turned up. A trip to Baltimore for an interview sealed the deal. He begins his new job with the West Hawaii Today newspaper on Tuesday. Armed with a Bachelors in Communication, with a concentration in journalism, Lewter, covered the University of Alabama for the the first three years before moving into the lead design and layout position with the Eagle which is owned by Media General. He will be doing the same type of work in at the West Hawaii Today paper which is owned by Stephens Media, LLC. West Hawaii Today, is a daily newspaper located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and covers eight local high schools, local sports, and fishing according to Lewter. Kailua-Kona is also the site of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, the first Senior PGA tour stop of the season each year. 20-25 close friends and family gathered for a send-off party for Lewter last Monday. He left the next morning on a three day cross country drive to get his car to California for shipment to Hawaii on Friday. He flew out on Saturday and was scheduled to begin his new duties on Tuesday. When asked about the new job challenges, Lewter said, "I just thought I had problems spelling the names of the local athletes in Dothan, I can just imagine the trouble I will have with the Polynesian names of Hawaii." As could be expected, his family and friends shared a renewed interest in visiting him in his new digs. Many offered advice to be sure to get an apartment that could handle the expected expansion of visitors. Several said that Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays have suddenly become more important holidays that will surely require a visit. Just to assure the appropriate amount of envy, Micah has already begun to post photos from his new home on his Facebook account. This is the view from the back porch of the Kona Baptist Church. Photo special to Arab Today Micah is the son of Pete and Brenda Lewter of Morgan City and the grandson of Daphine Light and the late Elvin Light of Arab and Carolyn Lewter and the late Ernest Lewter of Fairview. His sister Kristen lives in Hoover.

Headed For The Aloha State

Micah Lewter is wasting no time adapting to the dress code in Hawaii as he prepares for his new position on the Big Island. Arab Today photo by Dwight Hayes

January 24, 2010
Admit it, who hasn't dreamed of living (and working if we must) in the tropical paradise of the Hawaiian Islands.

The faltering economy has forced a lot of downsizing and job cuts in the newspaper industry. When Micah Lewter received the news that his position as a sports page designer for a Dothan newspaper was being combined with another newspaper in North Carolina he had no idea where his career would take him.

Lewter, a 1996 Arab High School graduate, said the initial news of the impending job loss was quite a jolt. After six years with the Dothan Eagle he was faced with a major career decision. He could apply for his old job at the North Carolina newspaper or he could look for a new employer. He decided to do an internet search for similar positions and the Hawaii job turned up. A trip to Baltimore for an interview sealed the deal. He begins his new job with the West Hawaii Today newspaper on Tuesday.

Armed with a Bachelors in Communication, with a concentration in journalism, Lewter, covered the University of Alabama for the the first three years before moving into the lead design and layout position with the Eagle which is owned by Media General. He will be doing the same type of work in at the West Hawaii Today paper which is owned by Stephens Media, LLC.

West Hawaii Today, is a daily newspaper located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and covers eight local high schools, local sports, and fishing according to Lewter. Kailua-Kona is also the site of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, the first Senior PGA tour stop of the season each year.

20-25 close friends and family gathered for a send-off party for Lewter last Monday. He left the next morning on a three day cross country drive to get his car to California for shipment to Hawaii on Friday. He flew out on Saturday and was scheduled to begin his new duties on Tuesday. When asked about the new job challenges, Lewter said, "I just thought I had problems spelling the names of the local athletes in Dothan, I can just imagine the trouble I will have with the Polynesian names of Hawaii."

As could be expected, his family and friends shared a renewed interest in visiting him in his new digs. Many offered advice to be sure to get an apartment that could handle the expected expansion of visitors. Several said that Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays have suddenly become more important holidays that will surely require a visit.

Just to assure the appropriate amount of envy, Micah has already begun to post photos from his new home on his Facebook account. This is the view from the back porch of the Kona Baptist Church. Photo special to Arab Today

Micah is the son of Pete and Brenda Lewter of Morgan City and the grandson of Daphine Light and the late Elvin Light of Arab and Carolyn Lewter and the late Ernest Lewter of Fairview. His sister Kristen lives in Hoover.