Goodbye

Two months shy of my 10-year anniversary at the Healdsburg Tribune, I will say goodbye to the job that has transformed me into the person I am today.
I was recently offered the incredible opportunity to join State Senator Mike McGuire’s staff as a district representative and communications coordinator. I have known the senator since his days on the school board, and have reported on his rise from city councilmember, mayor and county supervisor to state senator. I am excited now to join his team.
The new position will take my passions — news, politics and making a difference in people’s lives — and combine them into a job that I have dreamed of.
While I am clearly excited about my future, it’s bittersweet for me to sit here and type this. I sat in this same chair and wrote news stories about city leaders coming and going, about firefighters battling blazes, about people dying, about changes and twists and turns in our communities. I sat here and wrote a column about getting married in 2008. Then I wrote about having a baby in 2010, and about having another baby in 2012. The Tribune has never just been my job, it’s been a piece of who I am.
I will forever be grateful to Publisher Rollie Atkinson, who is so much more than a publisher, really. He is a community journalist to his core, a good man, a loyal employer and a friend. There’s nothing better as an editor than knowing that your publisher has your back and there was never any question that he had mine.
Nine years ago, I was still a brand new reporter when then-Editor Ray Holley gave his notice that he would leave the paper. On his way out, I told him I knew a guy who might be able to do the job when he left. Ray’s response changed my life. He said, “What about you?” and then walked out of the door. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind that I could take a 140-year-old paper and lead the way. And it only happened with the help and support of Ray, Rollie, and then-Managing Editor Barry Dugan, along with dozens of dedicated reporters, columnists and contributors along the way.
I’ve met some really incredible people over the last decade, covered some interesting folks and became a part of the Tribune’s history. Of course, not everyone loved me, and I learned that was fine too. I have fielded dozens, if not hundreds, of phone calls from upset or angry readers. But I have also received flowers after writing an obituary of someone’s loved one, made true friendships and received many thank you cards for helping get the word out about one thing or another. Every minute has been worth it. It really is one of the best jobs in town and I will miss it.
The paper is now 150 years old. There have been so many editors, so many reporters and there will be even more. That’s what incredible about this institution — it is bigger than any one of us — and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I want to thank everyone who worked with me at the paper, everyone who answered my phone calls and emails about the news and everyone who kept reading during my almost 10 year tenure. I hope you still do. I know I will.
I have a few more papers to go. I will be with the Tribune until the issue of Feb. 5. If you want to stay in touch after that, I can always be reached at ke******@gm***.com.
Kerrie Lindecker is the managing editor of the Healdsburg Tribune for a few more weeks, but will remain a loyal Tribune reader and supporter.