Thank you for sharing this journey with me

Thank you. During the past five years I’ve meet hundreds — maybe thousands, judging from my email address book — of you while serving as the managing editor for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

It’s been a pleasure to learn about your stories and share them with our readers. Meeting my neighbors and discovering how we are all connected remains my most treasured memory of my years at this post.

This is the last issue of the Frontiersman I will shepherd from the idea stage to your doorstep. Beginning with the Tuesday edition, former staffer Matt Tunseth takes the reins. You can contact him at matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com, or 352-2268.

I hope you will show him the same steadfast kindness and support that I have received.

There is nothing like being the editor of a small-town newspaper to teach you about where you live in the world. It’s also been a great way to build — sometimes interesting — connections with my community. Thank you to Patti Fisher of Meadow Lakes, who grew catnip for me one year upon learning of my cat’s love for it.

Thank you to Van Wilson of Willow who tipped me in January 2012 to the news that Dorothea Taylor had beaten a moose with a grain shovel to save her husband, George Murphy, from having the life stomped out of him.

Wilson has stayed in touch through the years. He’s good for story tips and also details like which coin-op Frontiersman boxes in Willow are empty. We had planned a face-to-face meeting over coffee before the Sockeye fire postponed those plans. I have time to reschedule now, Van.

Thanks to Brian and Karoline Geerdes for their photo support. A lot of the Mat-Su is only accessible by air, and without a company airplane and pilot, sometimes it can be hard to reach the site of a plane crash, forest fire, or checkpoints along the Iditarod Trail. The Geerdes have helped with all of that. Both are photographers and Brian is a pilot who owns his own small plane. He’s shared photos and space in his plane to support our reporting efforts.

That Sunday when the Sockeye fire broke out, Brian Geerdes was flying near Willow while I was on the ground chasing the story, and reporter Brian O’Connor was working the phones from the newsroom. Geerdes landed at the Willow Airport, picked up my camera and took it flying for about 40 minutes — until the airspace closed.

What’s remarkable is that the Geerdes will accept no compensation for their support of the Frontiersman. Av gas isn’t cheap; thank you for “flying the extra mile” to help us cover the news.

Thank you to Katie Rousey, who has shared her photography with the Frontiersman for nearly 30 years. When I gave her the news of my departure I told her I’d also have time to pay the debt I owe for her photos. For payment, she asked for a coffee date months ago. Starting Monday, I will have time to happily oblige.

Thank you to Greg Gusse for his photography, words and encouragement.

Thank you to Jenny Weaver for writing stories and taking photos for us. Most of the Weaver family has helped the Frontiersman in one way or another over the past few years, including son Kaden Weaver, who was our intern this summer.

Thank you to public information officers Catherine Esary, Patty Sullivan, Beth Ipsen and Megan Peters. You’ve all been very gracious about answering my calls, emails and texts at all hours of the day and night. Special thanks for answering my texts on the weekends when I am pretty sure you aren’t really working.

I can’t put together an exhaustive list here of all those I owe at least thanks, or even a cup of coffee. But I would be remiss to overlook Emily Forstner, who has been the Schools page coordinator for more than a decade. She also helped come up with the idea for the page. Her dad would be proud to see what she’s built.

The Schools page is actually how we connected with the Weaver family years ago. Kaden was part of the program, and after he graduated from Palmer High, his mom reached out to me about her own writing aspirations.

It’s been an amazing journey we’ve shared together. I won’t miss responding to forest fires, mid-air plane crashes, or fatal car accidents. But I will miss all of you, the people who are the heart and soul of my Valley.

My family and I plan to stay in the area, and I am beginning my search for new employment. Hopefully in a position that affords me a better balance between my personal and professional life.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Thank you again for your kindness, generosity, and for counting me as one of your own.

Heather A. Resz was managing editor of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman from Sept. 21, 2010, to Aug. 9, 2015. Contact her at hresz@mtaonline.net, or at 354-1414.