I don't want to become the second St. Louis television personality to get all schmaltzy in a week, but I can't let the calendar flip over to 2007 without saying something.

This was my first full year as a reporter in St. Louis and I will remember it as one of the most rewarding years I've spent in television news.

We built the News 4 Investigates unit up from nothing into the standard for investigative reporting in St. Louis... In May, News 4 at 10 became the market's most watched newscast... In November, it became the most watched late newscast in the country... News 4 won the Emmy award for overall news excellence... and N4I won the Emmy award for political reporting.

Of course, we don't do what we do for awards and honors. We do it because we live to serve the community.

It's been a pleasure getting to know you over the past year. I look forward to building on our relationship in 2007 and promise to continue producing stories you'll find interesting, informative and enlightening.

Happy New Year.