About 18 years ago, I began doing some writing for the Daily Herald. At that time, I was writing as a reporter and covering a variety of article topics, such as city council items, tax increases, new businesses, zoning adjustments — a little bit of everything.

In 2014, I began writing a regular column titled “Tales from Utah Valley.” Writing these columns has been fun, and this column is the 300th I have written. I try to let readers know about goings-on in Utah Valley and share perspectives and news from people and organizations, especially those who are working to, as the saying goes, make the world a better place. There are many of these in Utah Valley, and there is always plenty to write.

A regular theme in this column over the years seems to be suicide prevention. There are those in our communities who are working to educate people about suicide and provide help for individuals who are struggling. I am privileged to have had opportunities to help get the word out about organizations such as Hope4Utah, Hope4Orem and AFSP Utah (Utah’s chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), although this is not an exhaustive list of those who are working tirelessly to help.

I have felt strongly about writing about victims of violence and abuse and the help they can receive through people and organizations such as The Refuge Utah and the Utah County Children’s Justice Center. These groups often need volunteers to help survivors, and the people of this valley are eager to lend a helping hand in these circumstances and others.

In fact, there are some right here in Utah who have donated their own time and resources to ensure that people don’t go hungry through organizations such as Tabitha’s Way. Not only do they help provide food for those in need, but they also provide backpacks, school supplies and special holiday meals. Again, volunteers keep these services running.

In addition to all the good works I have had the opportunity to share, there is a lot of fun and excitement that happens here. City summer celebrations, lights on the mountain, the giant flag in the canyon, exploring local history, using scenic trails, art displays, Utah Lake and the beauty that surrounds this area are just a few examples.

As a writer, I’ve had many occasions over the years to do some things that I normally wouldn’t do. I once rode along with deputies from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office as they participated in night pursuit training (I was terrified). I shadowed detectives from the Pleasant Grove Police Department as they worked various cases, including looking for a missing person. I stood by while the Lehi Fire Department trained in ice rescues.

The best part of being a longtime writer for a newspaper, however, has been the many people I have had the pleasure to meet. These people and their stories have made an impact on my life, changing my perspective and widening my view. One time, I sat down with several Venezuelan refugees as they told me about their lives. I will never forget this experience. A few years ago, I interviewed a young woman who was homeless and living in a car. Another time, I talked with a woman who had finally escaped an abusive spouse after years of violence. These are the stories that need to be told.

Newspapers have changed in the past few years, but let’s make sure they don’t go away. Local news is essential to democracy. Newspapers have long been watchdogs for local government as reporters keep residents informed about how their tax dollars are being spent, what politicians are up to, what is being built or torn down and much, much more. While even local newspapers are online now, many people still enjoy sitting down to an actual paper newspaper they can hold in their hands and read. I am one of them. Thank you for reading.

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