This column is the last one I'll write as editor of The Roanoke Times, and I do so with a somewhat heavy heart.

A wonderful new job will soon take me and my family to Washington, D.C. But as our departure looms, a profound sense of sadness grows as we contemplate moving from a region blessed with breathtaking beauty, a sterling quality of life and, most importantly, good and decent people whose rock-solid values infuse life here with the fundamental virtues of living in a caring community.

This area's list of positive attributes is long, but if you'll permit me to remove temporarily the yoke of journalistic neutrality -- not to mention humility -- I'd like to put one more major bragging point on that list: The Roanoke Times.

Yes, that is your daily newspaper, or, more accurately, this region's leading newsgathering enterprise, in print and online at roanoke.com.

In most communities, it's good sport to moan and groan about the local newspaper rather than celebrate it. People like to complain about flaws in news coverage, criticize any perceived bias, cringe when the newspaper raises uncomfortable issues and lash out when they read about controversial problems.

During the past eight years, I've discussed such matters with many of you.

But what some of you may not realize is how fortunate it is to have an excellent local newspaper. Trust me, I look at newspapers nationwide, and, pound-for-pound, The Roanoke Times ranks at the top of the class.

That's because, I believe, this newspaper has consistently kept its focus on telling important stories to help readers understand our complicated world.

At the Times, the journalism has always come first as we seek to inform, understand, explain, educate and entertain. No doubt, we've made mistakes and sometimes fallen short -- we're a human enterprise, after all -- but we have not wavered in our mission to inform readers and help them become better citizens.

Sadly, though, many other newspapers across the country these days are forsaking their obligations to their communities as some harsh winds of change buffet the industry.

This newspaper has, quite wisely, embraced those changes and, along the way, become a leader in the digital news revolution and online journalism. You may not realize it, but The Roanoke Times stands on the cutting edge of the newspaper industry and has become nationally recognized for its online achievements, as you see when you visit roanoke.com.

That's another feather in the cap for Southwest Virginia.

The key to our success is clear: It is the people who work here.

They bring passion and talent to their jobs, whether chasing down a story, running the press, building roanoke.com, selling advertisements or delivering newspapers in the dark of night. They care deeply about our readers, this region and its future, and that means this enterprise is in good hands.

It has been an honor to work with these folks, and I'll miss them when I leave.