Thank you Greene County for the past three years

Three years ago this month, I was offered the sports editor job at the Greene County Daily World. Well, now I am vacating the sports editor job.

The main constant in my three years in Linton has been change. As soon as things appear to get settled some force of nature blasted my house of cards into a game of 52 pickup.

My main goal of finding new ways to cover high school sports was achieved. Making those methods profitable still needs work.

Three years ago, I was trying to memorize the schools in my new circulation area. I would say things such as ‘Make some noise for your White River Valley Wolverines!” My plan was to show the community I personally cared about each of the six schools.

A few months into the job I was burning out. Had to learn how to pace myself and delegate. Six schools were too much for just myself. Had to trust a community I didn’t yet know to help me.

Building connections in the community took time but I am going to miss plenty of people here. From coaches, players, fans of my work and even some parents of the players. The latter is typically the toughest to please yet I am now Facebook friends with many of them.

Having a child was one of those events that changed everything. Last summer, my wife and I starting looking into our ability to raise a family in Linton without support from fellow family members close by. At the end of the year, the answer was clear. We were in need of more help.

The book of Ecclesiastes tells the truth about how temporary and fleeting life is. That you have to focus on the things that really matter. With this job, your identity can get wrapped into it. I don’t want to make that mistake as a new parent.

This is why my family is moving to Elkhart County. Where my son will have a countless number of cousins to grow up with.

This is where most journalists would give a call to action to support to support local news. However, you don’t need me to tell you that if you are reading this. Instead, I see a future where community news is done by … well… the community.

That happened here with me as sports editor. Parents, coaches and even students chipped in to make my coverage possible. My time here has shown me that community journalism has shifted from media institutions to those who are simply invested and interested in community journalism. I am no longer afraid of this trend.

I do think you will like the new sports editor when he starts in the coming weeks.

As for me I don’t know what is next, just glad I held this job down for three years. The feedback I received this week through social media and texts were appreciated.

I will be watching these schools from the other end of the state. I have a few more stories that will run in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you Greene County, it has been a fun three years.