I would like to take this opportunity to officially introduce myself. My name is Emily Messer, and I am honored to be taking on the role of editor at the Lake County Leader.

I’m sure most of you have likely seen my byline surface across the pages of the Leader over the last year, as I have had the opportunity to cover local government, business, education, agriculture and more. 

I am a semi-recent graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. There, I studied writing, photography, ethics, media law and most importantly, how to write stories that matter to our community. I found journalism by mistake, but quickly immersed myself in the field. The adventure of reporting, the pursuit of truth and the opportunity to document untold stories fueled my passion for writing both inside and outside the walls of UM. 

I’m originally from the rolling hills of southeast Missouri. It was a rural area, and the closest town to me was not much larger than St. Ignatius. 

I also wanted to take this opportunity to officially announce my engagement to the love of my life, Grey Heimark. This fall, we’ll be married, and then my byline will change to my new last name. Grey and I met while I was attending UM, and he, a lifelong Lake County resident, quickly introduced me to this valley and everything that makes it special.

I’d also like to thank my former Editor, Kristi Niemeyer, for her guidance over the last year and for entrusting me with this new position. I’ve had the pleasure of working with this veteran journalist, and the skills she taught me won’t be forgotten. 

This change in leadership won’t entirely alter my coverage, as I plan to continue covering local government and as much community news as possible. Community journalism is our foundation at the Leader. We aim to keep residents informed, capture the celebrations and document the unfolding history of our towns. 

I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know so many members of this community over the last year. I am excited to continue building those relationships and meeting many more of you. While trust in the mainstream media is often challenged, my goal as editor is to provide accurate, fair and meaningful journalism that serves our readers.

I also encourage you to reach out to me with story ideas, questions or feedback. Hearing from our readers helps us better understand what matters most to the community.

Thank you for your support of the Lake County Leader, and I look forward to serving as your new editor.