Thanks to outgoing editor, Ali Bronsdon, for her outstanding job as Leader editor for the past several months, and best wishes to her in the new role of Mission Valley Aquatics director. A talented writer and photographer, she also provided leadership, promotional abilities and what I term “a caring sense of community.” She appreciated and cared for the people and groups she wrote about and liked to tell their stories. Fortunately for the community, she’ll remain here and use those abilities in her new role.

Weekly newspapers often are stepping stones for aspiring young writers. Not all of them find the training ground suits them and they drop out for one reason or another. Those who do like the field of community journalism can step up the ladder rather quickly.

I don’t dare even trying to name them all, but former local staffers have moved up to own their own papers; become outstanding editors and department heads of larger publications; or develop skills to  become successful freelance writers. The Leader has had many of them as did the Flathead Courier and Ronan Pioneer staffs over many generations.

Being in business isn’t easy these days – even in a great family-type community A look at the number of empty store fronts and rental spaces is proof of that. And it isn’t getting any easier due to the increasing volume of on-line purchases.

Communities such as the Flathead, Mission and Jocko Valley have tremendous eye appeal, remarkably friendly and welcoming residents, good schools and churches, medical facilities, parks, playgrounds and recreational resources, fire and police protection, and cultural amenities needed to provide positive family living experiences.

Frequently visitors will find the region more attractive than where they’ve been living, and decide, “This is great. We’re going to live here, buy or start a business.” Often, they find themselves under-capitalized, in an overly-competitive business, in a much smaller market than they anticipated. Turnover is frequent.

Incidentally, from what I’ve seen of the writing and photography of new Leader crew members Bryce Gray, Jaren Haser, and Emilie Richardson, they’re going to serve the community and Leader readers well. My best wishes to them.