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From the Editor: Thank you for everything, and keep on reading
Allie MUG square.jpg

The day you read this is my last day at the newspaper. This is the last edition of the Dawson County News that I will edit, as I start a new job next week at the Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, Ga.

In light of that, I wanted to indulge a little, and write a note addressed to our subscribers and community members, all who have stuck with me the past two and a half years as I have grown as a reporter, juggled the duties of an editor, had amazing experiences and made lifelong friends. 

I want to say thank you for your patience, your support and for making me a part of the community.

Many people don’t know that I grew up in Dawson County or that I graduated from Dawson County High School. I went away for a while to college, then I came back to work here. But in my 24 years living in this county, I never felt as much a part of this community as I have while working at the Dawson County News. I have been embraced by a community of professionals, elected officials and everyday citizens like myself, and even though sometimes the truth has not been kind to our small community, there is so much to celebrate about Dawson County and its people.

We ran a column by Ronda Rich recently that referenced “balcony people,” people who support you, cheer you on, help you grow. Well, my balcony is full.

From a great team at the Dawson County News to the dozens of mentors I have met through reporting and through serving this community (with the help of the leaders in the Rotary Club and the fantastic board at the Bowen Center for the Arts), its standing room only over here. And I have never felt more loved than these past few weeks as I have told people that I will be leaving my job and taking a reporting position at another paper.

It’s bittersweet but I am looking forward to new challenges and new experiences.

So many of you have made my life richer and my job more enjoyable than you will ever know. I will miss this small town when I move to a place where I know no one, but I will always come back. Because this is home.

 

Thank you for everything, and keep on reading.

Allie Dean

Editor

Dawson County News