Hello DeSoto.

I feel a bit silly introducing myself to you. Less than four months ago I was here as a reporter. But, I suppose a re-introduction is in order.

For those of you who don't know me, I came on board with the World Company when it purchased The DeSoto Explorer early last year.

After six months as a reporter in DeSoto, I left to become the editor of The Bonner Springs Chieftain and The Basehor Sentinel, the company's two newest newspapers.

I had a good time in Bonner Springs and learned a lot in my three months there, but when the opportunity arose to come back to DeSoto, I didn't think twice about it.

Sure, I was a little sad to see former editor Pat Sangimino leave. The two of us have been through a lot together. Pat was my editor in Olathe and I guess you could say I followed him to DeSoto. He was a great editor and if I have any success in this position, I know a big part of the credit goes to him.

As much as I knew I would miss Pat, however, I couldn't think of anyone else's job I would have rather had.

He's set up things nicely here and I'm going to do my best to stay the course he plotted over the past year.

I'm also happy to be back amongst the people of DeSoto.

Looking back, it seems I took the long way around to this position, but I can honestly say I'm glad it happened the way it did. Working first as a reporter in DeSoto gave me an opportunity few editors get. I got to know a lot of you on a first-name basis.

Coming into Bonner Springs as an editor first showed me the importance of knowing a little something about the people whose names appear in your newspaper. After a few weeks of editing stories, the names became familiar, but many of them had no faces.

It's easy to come into a town and form a quick impression. We tend to size up a community according demographics. What's the population? What's the average income? How many churches are there?

Once you get to know the people, however, those numbers mean very little. You quickly learn the most important statistic is the number of people who say hello to you as you walk down the street. In that category, I know from experience that DeSoto ranks very high.

I can't say I'm going to miss the sometimes endless school board and city council meetings, but I'm glad I had to the opportunity to attend them. There's no better way to learn what's important to a community.

I knew I had made the right decision in coming back after only a few days. I walked into the office to find a jar of honey on my desk with a note that read: "From Darrel Zimmerman."

That feeling of community was reinforced last week when I was driving around DeSoto for the first time in a long time. I turned a corner to see Ron Crow peddling his way up 83rd Street toward DeSoto City Hall. Until then, I hadn't realized how much I missed his daily visits.

I look forward to sitting down and talking to him again soon. I hope the rest of you come by for a visit as well. My new duties as editor will keep me in the office more, but I plan to get out into the community as often as possible.

In the meantime, feel free to drop by the office or give me a call. I would love to hear what's on your mind.

I promise to do my best to give you a newspaper each week that is for and about the people of DeSoto. I know from past experience that you will hold me to that promise.

They say the new year is a time for new beginnings. I suppose they're right, but it's nice to share that new beginning with some old friends.