By David Brock
The Advocate-Messenger

Area residents are used to seeing The Advocate-Messenger on their doorstep, on their kitchen table, or on the floor when housebreaking a pet.

Recently, though, motorists have waited next to the pages of the local newspaper in rush-hour traffic.

The new Advocate van is covered from bumper to bumper with enlarged stories and pictures from past editions of the paper.

The van is part delivery wagon, part advertising ploy, and all 1995 Ford Econoline, with more than 158,000 miles in the rear view mirror.

In its past life, it was used by The Interior Journal in Lincoln County. Advocate Marketing Director Lori Yankey said that, although the van was purchased for function, changing its look was the next priority.

“It was larger than the van we had, but it was an ugly old green thing when we got it,” she said. “We thought we could do something to make it look better and be a little creative. We started trying to come up with something that would get someone’s attention.”

Several concepts were weighed before the decision to create what Yankey refers to as “our rolling billboard.” Two made it to the design phase.

One possibility was turning the van into a replica of the Mystery Machine from “Scooby Doo.” Another was smiley faces.

Crystal Etherington, a commercial printing specialist at the Advocate, used a computer program to show what the finished product would look like. The virtual models still left Yankey searching.

Plastered with newsprint

The idea to plaster the van with newsprint finally came from a jolt of inspiration she had walking into work one day.

“We were thinking about those other possibilities but could not really decide,” she said. “We have those Advocate umbrellas that have the paper printed on them that sit in a bucket by the front door. When I came in that day, it just hit me that it would look great all over that van.”

This time Etherington’s computerized rendering made it clear that they had found a winner.

The next step was deciding what news copy and photos should be immortalized in the permanent decal. Yankey decided on several photos to please the senses and stories that stirred fond memories.

The most recent Danville and Boyle County football championships, as well as Kentucky’s watershed 2006 football victory over Georgia, are on the sides. There is also a colorful picture of the Great American Brass Band Festival balloon race.

The individuals most clearly and prominently displayed are siblings Georgina, Matthew and Roberta Anderson. A large picture of them receiving an FFA award is plastered on the side.

The van is now used for a variety of purposes. It is used primarily for deliveries but also shows up at schools and sporting events.

The van only hit the road in August but already is becoming a familiar site around town. Yankey said The Advocate-Messenger on wheels is fast becoming the automotive face of the newspaper.

“We’ve already gotten a lot of comments on it in a short time,” she said. “It draws a lot of stares, so I guess you could say it is working.”