There are moments in life when you realize you are not standing alone, even when it often feels like you are. Over the past two years, I have experienced something that I never expected and never asked for, yet it has become one of the most powerful reminders of what community truly means. To all of the silent supporters, whistleblowers, and individuals who have reached out to me anonymously with information, documentation, encouragement, and support, I want you to know that your actions have not gone unnoticed.
Many of you are people I may have never met. Some of you may have crossed paths with me in the past and simply chose not to reveal who you are. That anonymity in itself is something I find incredibly meaningful. It tells me that what matters most to you is not recognition or credit, but the outcome. It tells me that your motivation is rooted in something far deeper, a belief that truth matters and that our community deserves transparency and accountability.
Never before in my life have I asked for help from people, and truthfully I still do not. Yet so many of you have taken it upon yourselves to help anyway. You have helped me, you have helped this newspaper, and in doing so you have helped this community. That was always the intention of the Grants Pass Tribune. From the very beginning, this publication was meant to serve the people of Southern Oregon by bringing forward information, exposing what needs to be exposed, and giving a voice to issues that otherwise might remain buried.
The level of support I have received from people who remain behind the scenes has been nothing short of extraordinary. Some of what has been shared with me has been honestly shocking, not only because of the information itself but because of the courage it took for you to step forward, even anonymously. Many of you have provided documentation, investigative leads, background information, and details that have helped connect pieces of a much larger puzzle. Every email, every message, every phone call has mattered. Even the smallest detail can sometimes become the missing link that helps reveal the full picture.
I want each of you to understand how deeply grateful I am. Words in a newspaper will never fully capture the appreciation I feel for what you have done and what you continue to do. The only way I know how to express that gratitude is through this publication and through the work itself.
At the same time, I want to encourage those who may still be hesitating. If you have information, if you have seen something that does not feel right, or if you believe there is a piece of the story that has not yet been told, please come forward. Call us, email us, text me. My number has always been public, and it will remain that way. Even if you believe what you have to share may not be significant, it could be exactly the piece we have been missing.
Fear has kept many good people silent for far too long. I understand that fear, but I also believe the time for silence has passed. The time to stand is now, and when you do, you will not stand alone.
For two years I have been Josephine County’s punching bag. That reality has never changed my commitment to this work, and it never will. I have no intention of letting my guard down, and I have no intention of walking away from this fight. The mission of this newspaper remains the same as it was from the beginning, to seek the truth, to serve the public, and to hold power accountable.
To those who have already stepped forward, thank you. Your courage matters more than you may ever realize.
To those still considering it, know that your voice matters too, and when the time comes, I will stand with you.