Sad does not even begin to describe how I feel about the loss of Paul McCarthy

Shane, I want to thank you for sharing these posts. You so eloquently described Paul and what he means to so many.

Paul and I communicated regularly but days could go by before we did. Given our schedules and understanding what our passion meant to us, we accepted that is par for the course. We also knew that if one of us needed to reach out, we could and that there would be a response within minutes.

Paul is the only one who really understood what it means to be an independent journalist and to do so where we live. While I have briefly mentioned this on MendocinoSportsPlus, there were many conversations we had privately. Deeper, meaningful, encouraging exchanges on days when the harshness and corruption of speaking the truth in Humboldt and Mendocino bores into you like the damp chill of  the Humboldt fog . You feel alone. Both of us have reported on the East Coast and now the West Coast. Both of us had to fund what we do and we should not have to do that but  it is the cost of having integrity.

Paul's loss to independent journalism in this area is irreplaceable. Paul shared my posts and was there for me in a way no one else has in Humboldt. His words about my blog and me mean a lot because I respect him as a man and a journalist.

Paul exemplified what it means to be a local news reporter and someone who knew and  cared about his community and who lived and did what he loved 24/7.

Right now the sadness is overwhelming because I lost more than a colleague. I lost my friend.

Paul, the best way I can honor you is to keep doing what I do every day. God bless you.