Thank you

COLFAX — When I was hired by the Whitman County Gazette at the end of August, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that I would be covering prep sports in the area (with the occasional Washington State story sprinkled in) and I knew that I was going to start right smack-dab at the beginning of the fall season with football, volleyball and cross country.

What I didn’t know was everything else that would happen. I didn’t know that I would be able to sit front-and-center and cover one of the best high school volleyball programs in the state. I didn’t know that I would be covering a four-overtime football game that would last until almost midnight. I didn’t know that I would see an entire high school cross country team go to state. I didn’t know that I would see a girls basketball team go undefeated. I didn’t know that I would have an opportunity to cover the local Special Olympics team and I didn’t know that I would write about the death of one of the most influential college football coaches of the last 40 years.

Throughout all of those experiences, you, the Whitman County community, have been extremely welcoming. From the coaches to the players to the parents to the everyday-residents, you all have played a significant part in helping me provide the best stories I can for this community.

These experiences and more in the past six months have helped me grow as a journalist and have only further emphasized the fact that this career is the one that is meant for me.

But, with a lot of jobs and careers, new opportunities come, often unexpectedly.

Near the end of January, I was messaged by a former coworker at the Lewiston Tribune about a potential full-time job opportunity. Fast forward a little over a week, and I was formally offered the job.

After a lot of thinking and consideration, I made the decision to accept the position as the full-time Lewis-Clark State College beat reporter and prep sports writer for the Lewiston Tribune, and the March 2 edition of the Whitman County Gazette will be my last as an employee for the Gazette and Free Press Publishing.

I didn’t expect to have to make a career decision like this so early on into my tenure at the Gazette, but I also know that this offer wouldn’t have been made to me if not for the work that I had done since I started here – work that wouldn’t have been possible without the help and collaboration of all of you. So for that, again, I thank you.

I also thank Roger Harnack, who gave me my first full-time job opportunity and provided me with the chance to continue a career that I love.

I also wanted to thank Drew Lawson, the sports editor of our sister paper, the Lincoln County Record-Times, who has always been more than willing to offer conversation, experience, advice (and Colfax stories for away games) at any time.

Next, I wanted to thank my coworkers, Justin Slayton and Teresa Simpson, for being two of the best people someone can have in a newsroom with them. The work they’ve done for the Gazette cannot be praised enough. And the advice, stories, laughs and conversation they’ve provided every single day have helped make this job one I always looked forward to coming to.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of you who have read and supported my stories since day one. Thank you for liking and sharing my stories, thank you for the kind words you have offered to me about the coverage I have provided, thank you for holding me accountable whenever I made a mistake or error and lastly, thank you again for providing me my first real opportunity and one of the most gratifying experiences of my career .

I know that whoever Roger will hire will continue to bring this community the sports coverage that Whitman County deserves, and I know that you all will continue to support Justin and Teresa’s work as you all have supported mine.

Finally, one last time, thank you. My time at the Gazette is something I will always value, and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of you supporting my work. Thank you.