Captain’s Log: Up and Down I-80

I’m somewhere between Lovelock and Winnemucca again, talking into my phone and watching it try to keep up with me.

It’s a strange way to write. I’ve never quite trusted dictation. I’ve always done better with a pen in my hand or a keyboard in front of me. Even back in school, I noticed something about how my brain works—if I was standing at the board, marker in hand, I could think more clearly than if I just sat there trying to talk it out. There’s something about my fingers that helps the ideas line up.

But here we go - because typing is problematic behind the windshield. Because lately, it’s been a lot of miles.

This week, it’s another run up I-80—Fallon to Lovelock to Winnemucca—working on a grant presentation, meeting with people, talking about what we’re building. Burning up the highway.  

And here’s what we're hearing.

When we sit down and explain what we’re doing—bringing local newspapers back, rebuilding something that used to be the backbone of these communities—people are listening. You can see it happen. Their eyes light up. They remember what it felt like to have a real local paper. Something that belonged to them. Something that showed up every week and told the truth about their town.

Most people don’t need much convincing. They’ve been waiting for it.

That’s the part that’s so gratifying. It’s that moment when someone realizes, “Oh, you’re serious. You’re actually doing this.”

Not everyone sees it that way.

Every once in a while, I’ll run into someone who gives me a polite smile and a warning—don’t spread yourself too thin, don’t overdo it. Sometimes there’s a metaphorical pat on the head in there too, like this is all just a nice little project.

I listen but never take it to heart.

Because the overwhelming response is coming from the communities themselves. And they’re not skeptical. They’re grateful, engaged, and excited.

So we keep going.

Back and forth across this stretch of Nevada, learning every stop along the way. Fallon. Fernley. Lovelock. Battle Mountain. Winnemucca. These roads have always felt like home.

And that’s the point, I guess -- we're building something that belongs here.

So while we find all the good stopping spots across the wilds of Nevada, we’ll always be right here...

...Keeping you Posted.

Rach