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THE FRONT ROW with TREVAN PIXLEY: Six months, and counting at The Bee

| August 7, 2022 1:15 AM

The last six months in Sandpoint have taught me a lot of things.

I learned quickly that Lewiston has nothing on Sandpoint regarding winters.

Having moved up here in mid-February, I was greeted right away by the brutal winters this area has to offer.

THERE WERE several nights where I'd make the drive home to Cocolalla from Sandpoint that I'd get stuck before even reaching my driveway.

That's when I realized that a two-wheel drive jeep may get you from point A to point B in Lewiston, but that isn't going to fly in Sandpoint, lesson learned.

Once the snow started to melt and the sun started to shine, I realized why Mark Wahlberg and other celebrities come up here to hide, it's gorgeous.

The scenery on my drive to work is unmatched and will single-handedly change my mood.

Also, the locals, and avid readers of the Bonner County Daily Bee have been some of the nicest people I've ever met.

Granted, Lewiston wasn't New York City; you didn't have a bunch of people yelling at you from across the street, or people getting out of their cars in road rage fits. But hospitality was different there.

WHILE WORKING at the Lewiston Tribune, it was always a mystery if anyone was reading the pieces that I'd put out every day. So it was hard to tell if I was doing the community a service or a disservice.

Over here, in Sandpoint, people know you and will always come up to say hello.

My favorite moment here, so far, was my second week in Sandpoint. Me and my girlfriend were going out to the bars to get acquainted with the area.

When I had sat down, the bartender immediately asked me, "Aren't you the new sports guy from the Daily Bee?"

I was caught off guard for a second before I remembered an introductory article was put out before I officially started that included a photo of me.

He began to welcome me to the area and offered both me and my girlfriend a free drink. We sat and talked about sports for a good hour and a half before Arianna began to yawn in boredom, so I had to wrap it up.

This was not a normal occurrence, but it still happens every now and again.

SPENDING TIME as the sports editor at the Bee has been a grind, but has also allowed me to tell incredible stories.

Getting to come to work every day and be able to hear stories about athletes accomplishing spectacular feats has been nothing short of amazing.

I've enjoyed my time here getting to know not only the sports, the coaches, and the area, but also the community.

Whether that's the person at the gas station who I talk to everyday after work about my day, or going to my favorite place to get a drink; Pour Authority, and chatting with the staff about sports for hours on end (mostly without Arianna, so she doesn't die of boredom). Sandpoint, the area and Sandpoint residents have been nothing short of amazing and I can't thank you enough for all the hospitality over the last six months.

Trevan Pixley is the sports writer for the Bonner County Daily Bee. You can reach him by email at tpixley@bonnercountydailybee.com. Follow him on Twitter @TreebTalks.