I’ll miss his corny stories and jokes; hit ‘em straight boss!

To say I’ve had a flood of emotions and a million thoughts racing through my head in recent weeks is a gross understatement.

I’ve known for a while I was facing knee surgery, or “revision” as my surgeon stated. I had a total knee replacement 10 years ago and now, for some reason, my kneecap decided it was done working properly and should be replaced.

In the weeks leading up to surgery, all sorts of things ran through my brain, usually between 1 and 4 a.m. when I normally solve the rest of the world’s problems.

Then, on top of that, came news that our previous owners were selling the newspaper portion of their holdings.

What did that mean for me? What did I want to do once the sale was completed? Was this the end of my journalism career?

Again, more thoughts and feelings to deal with in the middle of the night, on top of the upcoming surgery.

When I began my time at the Tri-City Times, after chatting with General Manager Randy Jorgensen, I had entertained the idea that once he decided to hang it up and call it a career, I would be close behind and follow him out the door.

Well, that time has come. “Randy has left the building,” so to speak. Although he is still just a panic button push away, if needed.

I absolutely count it one of my high points of 40+ years in journalism, to have been able to work alongside Randy and the entire ownership team.

He certainly has been a mentor, friend and confidant, whether he wanted to be or not!

With his decades of experience with journalism and life in general, I value his opinion, his friendship, and even his corny jokes and stories!

I have always held Randy in high esteem, having heard about and known of his tremendously successful, award winning career in journalism.

Without question, he is a true professional in the business and the journalism gods just don’t make people like Randy anymore.

The willingness to do whatever it takes to be successful, despite the sacrifices I know he has made, has always been evident.

While there are still plenty of unanswered questions, the adventure continues.

I’ve been in discussion with the new ownership team and in addition to my continued role here at the Tri-City Times (with a few additional responsibilities), I will also be working with the Yale Expositor crew.

Local journalism, and the stories that make small communities tick, still burns within me. So much so, that I think I am ready for the new challenge both publications will surely present.

After seeing one of my grandmas was writing every week for the Durand Express (a weekly publication west of Flint), the journalism bug bit me at a young age, while early in my high school years.

My Grandma was a hoarder of Durand Express papers. Stacks and stacks of them were everywhere. I spent hours looking at them and telling myself, one day, I’d be doing that.

Now, along with being here at the Tri-City Times, I will return to where it all started, at The Yale Expositor. A full circle moment.

I started in Yale sweeping floors, cleaning ink off presses, taking out the garbage, all the while keeping my eyes wide open on production day. I began writing sports for the paper my junior year in high school, working my way up through the ranks of my dream job.

Now, I return to Yale (in addition to Imlay City) in the twilight of my career, ready for new challenges, I think.

The healing of the knee continues, as do the middle of the night ponderings. ALL of them!

Thanks Randy, for giving me the opportunity and for being a great friend!