Notes from the newsroom

Notes from the Newsroom is ending its short run today, at least with me as the author.

As of next week, I will head down to Missoula to begin a copy editing and page design job at the Missoulian. Former sports editor Heidi Hanse will take over for me.

So, as is custom, I wanted to take a few lines to reflect and thank everyone who has made my time in the Mission Valley so wonderful.

Coming into this position at the Leader, I knew it was going to be great before I started and it has been. I've learned so much, made some mistakes along the way, then learned some more.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to begin my career.

Each day I got to do a job I love and have extreme passion for. I couldn't come close to narrowing down a favorite moment or story, there are too many. This is a dynamic, interesting and beautiful place to live and work in.

Continuing my path at the Missoulian is exciting, but there are a lot of things and people I wish I could bring with me there.

Thanks go out to everyone who trusted us with their words and made our pages come alive with their stories: To all my sources, all the callers who kept us on our toes and all the public officials who we bother constantly.

To Paul Fugleberg, who has offered priceless guidance and friendship. Thanks for all those burgers and fries, too.

To my fellow Leader reporters, Heidi, Sasha and David: You guys work so hard and are the guts of the Leader. I can't thank you enough for all the effort and amazing stories you've put together. We've worked hard, and that's ever important. You know what they say, it's all you.

Each week we put together a newspaper for our readers. You are the lifeline of the newspaper. I always think after deadline on Tuesday, I can't wait for you to read it. The most important thing I can say is thank you for reading.