I Might Be Wrong: Thank You

It is with a bit of sadness that I announce Monday was my final day at the Desert Dispatch.

I will be moving to the Daily Press in Victorville as a staff writer in the sports department.

I arrived in the California desert in February 2006 and embarked on an amazing learning experience. I consider it a great honor and pleasure to have served the Barstow-area as the Desert Dispatch's sports editor from nearly four years.

I truly enjoyed my time here. Barstow will always been known as a place with a lack of resources to those on the outside. Although close in physical proximity to our glitz and glamour neighbors to the North and South, in many ways we couldn't be further from Los Angeles or Las Vegas. But I am here to tell you that Barstow has the greatest resource of all — good people. I truly believe with good people anything is possible. 

Before I leave, it is imperative for me to thank a lot of people because just like sports, journalism is a team effort.

Thank you to our readers. If you read or glanced at the sports section for even a second, I greatly appreciate it. I realize that we were far from perfect and you can't please everyone, but if you liked any bit of what I did, that is the icing on the cake.

To all the coaches, athletes and others I interviewed throughout the years, thank you. I realize how important time is. You could have spent yours doing any number of other activities rather than listening to my mundane, half-thought-out questions. Your patience in answering my questions means a lot to me. 

To all the athletes, before I started covering high school sports I wondered what any 16 or 17 year old really had to say. Turns out a lot. I got great stories and insight from many of you. I know I would not have been able to convey anything similar at your age. I wish you all great success in all your endeavors sports or otherwise.

Thank you to all my co-workers past and present. Each and every one of you added something to our staff and made the job a bit more fun in some way.

Thank you to Scott Shackford for giving a kid from Pennsylvania a chance and for allowing me to experiment. 

Thank you to David Heldreth and Aaron Aupperlee. 

Aaron was essentially the third member of the sports staff at one point even though it wasn't required of him. Aaron always brought good ideas, a great attitude and dedication to the table. His work without a doubt made the sports section better.

Thanks to David for being my partner in crime in the sports section from 2006 to 2007. I'm still waiting to top it, but some of the things we did when we were a two-person sports section are some of my favorite memories in journalism. You'll do a great job as the new sports editor.

David and Aaron, I greatly look forward to the day when we can collaborate again.
Thank you to JoAnne Dutcher for making me laugh even at stressful moments on deadline and for not taking it too personal when I threw markers at you.

Thank you to Kay Lovato for simply being Kay and my desk neighbor. 

Thank you to all my freelancers — Steve Saenz, Tony Riley, J.J. Calvacca, Matthew Schneider, Cameron Dougharty. You all added to the section in ways I never could have on my own.

I have to give a very special thank you to Steve. Your dedication to the section went well beyond the call of duty but was always greatly appreciated. I learned a lot about sports, photography and life from Steve. From the my first day at the Desert Dispatch when you came to the office to introduce yourself, I knew I had a friend in Barstow. I'm even happier to still have you as a friend now.

Finally, a huge thank you to my fiancée Brandi Chenault. You may have not contributed directly to the section, but I can tell you that you had a lot to do with any bit of success I had.

To the people of Barstow, by all means keep in touch. Our time together meant more to me than just producing a few articles. I want to hear how everyone is doing and wish all of you nothing but the best. You can directly e-mail me at mpeters@kent.edu or find me on various social networks. If you see me at any games, or anywhere else for that matter, please feel free to say hello.

It's been an absolute pleasure and a ball.

Thank you,
Matthew Peters