Piercing Thoughts: Thank you, Trempealeau County

I’m not very good at saying goodbye.

As I’m sure some community leaders and residents within the Trempealeau County Times area can attest, it doesn’t take much to strike up a conversation with me about nearly anything. 

The hard part is getting me to walk away (Just ask editor Andrew Dannehy. The guy has fielded some phone calls over story ideas or coverage approaches that might have broken records for call duration. Sorry, Andrew).

But I am walking away, at least for now. This is my last full week as associate editor for the Times. I have an opportunity — one that sits firmly in the ‘dream job’ category — I cannot turn down elsewhere.

My final day at the Times will be Oct. 2. You can continue to follow my work on Twitter/X at @BenjaminJReport.

I cannot comment yet on what specifically my next challenge is, but I can say without a doubt that it would not have been possible without my time here in Trempealeau County.

My last Piercing Thoughts column is to you, the readers of the paper. These last three years have provided me opportunities and stories I never saw coming.

Stories about the power of local people fighting for the rights of their neighbors. Stories about incredible postseason runs from area prep sports programs. Stories about how local government or elected body decisions impact the everyday citizen.

Stories about you. 

Thank you for trusting me with your stories, your passions, your work and your words. Thank you for allowing me to make mistakes — and God knows, there were plenty — and learn from them. Thank you for accepting the young (can I still say that at 27 years old?) writer who often brought with him bad jokes, high energy and some difficult questions.

I tried to bring my passion for sharing these stories and the written word every time I left for work. I hope that was visible.

The communities in this county are special because of the people who reside within them. While these rural places boast smaller populations than others nearby, they each carry their own specific, remarkable traits and features. A lot of that comes down to the residents.

Numerous stories stick out from my last three years here. As I went back and looked through some of my bylines over my tenure, the stories that kept catching my attention all came down to the same general premise — someone was doing their part to make a difference for others.

Continue to look out for each other, local businesses, organizations and schools. The children attending county schools repeatedly impressed me through their thoughtfulness, kindness, intelligence and abilities. Your future is bright here.

I have made a few stops in my journalism career, and I must say that readers of this paper are lucky to have a publication that focuses on hyperlocal stories. Sometimes these stories might elicit negative reactions or not always share a positive view on what is happening in the county. But every single edition is about Trempealeau County and is put together by people who live in the communities they cover.

Times editor Dannehy is a tremendous asset for area communities. Continue to support him, reporter Debbie Foss, whoever replaces me and the business staff at the Times. You are fortunate in 2024 to still have a local paper that is actually local, one full of people who strive to craft the best editions they can so you can stay informed.

I will be grateful for my tenure in Trempealeau County for the remainder of my life because it reinforced in me the power of true journalism and what can happen when people look out for each other.

Thank you for accepting me and my work. It has been an honor.