All I wanted to do was give this community a 'happy little newspaper.' For 21 years, I’ve tried my best to be a cheerleader for the greater Brandon Valley community.

In October of 2016, after 13 years as the editor of the now-defunct Brandon Valley Challenger, my position was eliminated. I was asked to remain on staff until the end of that year, but I’ll never forget that third week in October—a week filled with emotional heartache and fear, but also a glimmer of hope. That week began with the loss of a dear friend to a sudden brain aneurysm, and just a day later, I received the call that my job was ending. By Friday, after a week of heartbreak and uncertainty, a simple conversation at a community event sparked the idea that would become the Brandon Valley Media Group.

With the encouragement of friends and community members, we launched the BV Journal on August 2, 2017. The journey hasn’t been easy. For the first two years, we couldn’t earn revenue from legal notices due to regulations, and every year since, costs have continued to rise. Printing, postage, and payroll—the three P’s—are our biggest expenses. When we started mailing the Brandon Valley Trader in 2017, costs were manageable, but now they have more than doubled. The Journal’s mailing costs have also increased significantly.

Advertising, our main source of revenue, has become a struggle. It’s disheartening to receive a 'not interested' from businesses I’ve supported for years, even as I continue to share their stories and celebrate their successes. That’s what community businesses do—we support each other.

Over the years, I’ve supported hundreds of local causes, served on the Brandon Community Foundation for 13 years, served on the Chamber’s special events committee for 21 years to help raise funds and support community causes, given countless hours and donations to local fundraisers, my church, and organizations like the Ed Polzine Wild Game Feed Fund. I do all this because I care deeply about Brandon, Valley Springs, and our schools. I’m a Lynx through and through, and I strive to live The Lynx Way every day.

Turning to GoFundMe is my last hope to keep the doors open. My staff and I are now in our third year without a raise, even as our own costs of living rise. This plea for help is not for raises. I’ve drained my savings, gone without paychecks, and given every last dime that I can. With the exception of my parent's passing in 2014 and 2021, respectively, this is one of the hardest moments of my life, but I’m humbly asking for help—from my community, fellow business leaders, our subscribers and anyone who values local journalism. Your support will help us keep telling the stories that matter to Brandon Valley, and keep community journalism alive. I am deeply grateful for every blessing and every bit of support. Right now, I’m hanging on by a very thin string, and I hope you’ll help me keep this newspaper—and our community’s stories—alive.