March has always been the start of many things. Spring begins and little buds push through the soil to reach toward our taunting sunlight.

In business, March also marks the beginning of the fiscal year. Many businesses, including The Courier-Herald, use this new beginning as the time to make key changes we feel put us in the best position to succeed for the approaching business cycle.

For our newspaper team, this has meant a slight restructuring, which has brought back a familiar face, and also seen the departure of some of our much-loved employees.

Reinvigorating our news team at the top in both Enumclaw and Bonney Lake will be our new editor, Dennis Box. Dennis is an Enumclaw native, who previously served as the founding editor of the Bonney Lake Courier-Herald. Dennis was promoted to regional editor and has worked in Covington and Kent, overseeing the editorial department for Sound Publishing’s South King County group of newspapers.

Former editor Kevin Hanson is now our senior reporter, and will continue to provide exceptional news coverage.

Dennis returned to help us maintain the quality of coverage provided by Brenda Sexton, our previous senior reporter, who retired last month. Brenda’s outreach to the community in that role set a new benchmark, which we are committed to maintain – with your help.

Many of you have also had the pleasure of meeting our lead sports reporter, John Leggett, at school sporting events. We’ve also had to let John go as a regular employee, but you can expect to see his regular contributions as a sporting columnist. And we’re proud to have John working behind the scenes to arrange the Courier-Herald’s first high school “Roundball at the Rock” charity basketball game, to be staged March 24. Proceeds will benefit Rotary First Harvest’s community food program.

Also departing is our Sumner advertising representative Jennifer Anderson. Jennifer was with the company for just eight months, but made a solid impression during that time and helped us in many ways. Beginning this month, I will personally be assisting advertisers in that market with the marketing needs.

And rounding out our changes, as of the 16th of the month, our longtime circulation manager, Linda Bondhus, will be leaving us. Last year, Linda stepped down as circulation manager to become an assistant in that department, allowing Dawn Inmon to assume the role.

With all these changes, it might be understandable if you’re feeling a bit dizzy. But with these shifts, there’s one thing that remains steadfast – our determination to provide you with the best, most accurate and most dedicated local news coverage of our town anywhere.

We are the Plateau, and you’ll always be able to find current, quality news in the Courier-Herald..

Though we had to make some tough decisions, the team we’re moving forward with is the best, most experienced, most engaged and most professional you’ll find.

We’re excited about the possibilities of 2012, and let me waste no time rushing to assure you that we’ll be serving you just as well in 2112.