Keith's column: A thanks to the community

To say I wasn’t nervous prior to the Montana Newspaper Association Award Banquet would be just as big of a lie as saying I wasn’t happy when I won.

Six first place plaques – covering everything from a car wreck on the 90 to a state tennis champion.

The smile didn’t go away for quite some time during the awards ceremony in Missoula on Saturday.

But something didn’t feel right.

I was surrounded by fellow journalists, coworkers and had a beautiful date.

But something still didn’t feel right.

As I headed west on the 90, chasing the sunset and getting closer and closer to Mineral County it set in – it wouldn’t feel right until I got to share this with the people that made it possible.

In what must have been a rare sight for the Four Aces, I walked in to several strange looks still wearing my suit and tie from the banquet. I was too excited to go home and change first.

“Why are you so dressed up?”

“Wow you cleaned up!”

“Where’d the mustache go!?”

Question after question along these lines bombarded me when I walked in.

The hugs and high fives and congratulations made those questions well worth enduring.

Then it felt right. Then it felt like it was time to celebrate.

Because my job doesn’t work without you, the people of Mineral County.

Without you giving me the privilege to document your lives there would be no newspaper, no awards and no reason to watch YouTube videos and learn to tie a tie.

To be given that privilege, to be able to look into your lives on a weekly basis. To be able to share in the celebrations, in the tragedies and the every day occurrences.

To be stopped at one place or another in the county and receive a compliment for a photo or story or some aspect of the paper. Even to be stopped and told by someone they didn’t particularly agree with or enjoy an article.

That’s why we do what we do. And those small comments of support will forever mean much more to me than what any plaque says.

Thank you Mineral County. These awards belong to you.