A Tribute to A Friend and Colleague

I learned today of the death of my friend and longtime colleague Joan Haines.

A reporter at the Bozeman Chronicle for many years Joan followed her own path even if it strayed from that suggested by her editors. As the Chronicle’s features editor, I butted heads with her on more than one occasion.

I well remember meeting with Joan and our managing editor in the Chronicle conference room concerning a story she didn’t want to cover. Joan sat down, placed a tape recorder on the table, looked at the two of us sitting across from her, and announced she had better stories to write.

And she did.

Origi...