In the fall of 2003, a young man fresh out of Arizona State University, began his journalism career. Rather than returning to his native eastern Washington state nor staying in The Grand Canyon State, he ventured to Michigan’s Copper Country and becames a reporter for the Daily Mining Gazette.

In the two-plus decades that Garrett Neese has been a part of the DMG and our community as a whole, he has made an incredible impact.

First and foremost as a journalist. Garrett reported each and every story assigned to him, whether it be a quadruple murder trial or a senior citizens holiday dinner, with accuracy, fairness and heart.

His dedication to his craft was admirable going even so far as riding a bicycle to Chassell to cover Strawberry Festival when his car was in the shop.

But perhaps Garrett’s greatest asset, apart from his extraordinary writing talent, is his ability to see all sides of a story and approach even the most contentious situation with apathy and understanding.

And it’s not just we here at the Daily Mining Gazette who feel that way. Over the years, Garrett’s work has been awarded by the Associated Press, the Michigan Press Association and the Upper Peninsula Good News Awards.

When news of Garrett’s imminent departure broke, several in the community were quick to laud his contribution to life in the Copper Country. Last week the Houghton City Council, which had been his “beat” from nearly the beginning, passed a resolution in his honor, commending his reporting on the City over the years. The Houghton Planning Commission celebrated him with a cake and representatives from the League of Women Voters visited to thank him personally by presenting him with a certificate of appreciation (and a plate of home made cookies!).

With today’s edition of the Daily Mining Gazette, the Garrett Neese Chapter comes to an end. He is taking his considerable talents and experience to a newspaper within our company in Pennsylvania.

Obviously we wish him all the best, but above that, let us here at the DMG add to all that has been said so far in thanking him for his dedication, his incredible body of work and, most importantly, his friendship. God Speed dear friend.