2015. Where to I begin? My year, my work, reflects the big news I covered. Good and bad, from state champion teams to devastating fires. It was a year with big changes but I'll get to that later. I'll start from the beginning...

In January I covered a Vietnam veteran's graveside service in Winona. The veteran had no living relatives so Hoff Funeral Home called for community members to help honor the man for his service.

Veteran Burial 02Members of the Winona VFW serve as pallbearers for the graveside service for Vietnam veteran Richard Rhodes on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at St. Mary's Cemetery in Winona. Veteran BurialMore than 100 people attend the graveside service for Vietnam veteran Richard Rhodes on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at St. Mary's Cemetery in Winona.

A photo from the service was also an National Press Photographers Association monthly photo winner for Region 5 and they selected it to run in the May edition of NPPA's News Photographer magazine. It was an honor having a photo featured in the Opening Shots.

Veteran Burial 01More than 100 people attend the graveside service for Vietnam veteran Richard Rhodes on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at St. Mary's Cemetery in Winona. Rhodes, with no surviving family, was given full military honors in a short service.

February was that start of running weekly photo stories in the Winona Daily News on A3. My first story was of a team that doesn't get much coverage. The Winhawks' adapted floor hockey team was fun to shoot. They had some good athletes with one of players singing the National Anthem before the game.

WSHS Adapted Floor Hockey 02Winona junior goalie Dylan Kelso lays on the ground as head coach Rod Schwarz straps pads to his legs before a Big Nine Conference game against Owatonna on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at the Winona Middle School. WSHS Adapted Floor Hockey 04Winona senior Bryce Bosteter straps up his helmet before a Big Nine Conference game against Owatonna on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at the Winona Middle School. Bosteter sang the National Anthem before the game and entertained the crowd with jokes between periods. WSHS Adapted Floor Hockey 07Winona adapted floor hockey team members wait in line during a warm-up drill before a Big Nine Conference game against Owatonna on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at the Winona Middle School.

Also in February was the the third big fire in downtown Winona in 18 months. After a 1:30 a.m. call from a friend, I was at the scene all morning taking photos and video.

FireWinona and Goodview firefighters battle a fire at 151 E. Third St. in downtown Winona early Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, morning. FireWinona and Goodview firefighters battle a fire at 151 E. Third St. in downtown Winona early Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, morning. FireAn early morning fire damaged The Mason Jar bar at 151 E. Third St. in downtown Winona Friday, Feb. 6, 2015.

I shot my first state championship team as Ruchford-Peterson cruised to a Class A title in March. I covered the Trojans the past 3 or 4 years on their trips to state but always came up short of the championship. It was great to see them capture the title.

R-P Boys BasketballRushford-Peterson players, from left, Kyler Paulson, Jacob Merchlewitz, Alex Vix and Cole Kingsley celebrate after the final horn in the Trojans' 51-44 win over Maranatha Christian Academy in the MSHSL Class A Boys Basketball Tournament championship game Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. R-P Boys BasketballYoung Rushford-Peterson fans cheer for the Trojans during the MSHSL Class A Boys Basketball Tournament championship game against Maranatha Christian Academy on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

A big part of the first six months of the year was documenting progress on the new Interstate bridge in Winona. I can't wait to see it completed.

Bridge ConstructionProgress on the new interstate bridge Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Winona.

At the end of June I said goodbye to the Winona Daily News after almost five years as photo editor. It was strange leaving the paper I loved working at so much but the opportunity for new adventures was hard to turn down. Now, a staff photographer at the Post-Bulletin in Rochester, I am able get back at focusing on my photography and improving.

My first assignment with the P-B was an exciting one: a bomb scare in a downtown parking ramp. What a way to start!

Bomb SquadRochester police officers block access to the First Street Ramp after a possible pipe bomb was found Tuesday, June 30, 2015, in downtown Rochester.

In July I was given the opportunity to cover a day at Vikings Training Camp in Mankato.

Friday nights in the fall I found myself on the sidelines like usual but they were all new teams to me. I even got to shoot two football state champions with Grand Meadow and Caledonia.

Mayo v. Century FootballMayo and Century captains meet for the coin toss before a Big Southeast District game Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, at Century High School in Rochester. John Marshall vs. Century Football 02Century wide receiver Eric Philipps, right, catches a deep pass over John Marshall's Cazz Martin (4) during a Big Southeast game Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, in Rochester. Stewartville vs. Winona Football 02Stewartville running back Jordan Johnson (30) hurdles Winona's Jared Boelter (8) on a run during the Section 1AAAA championship game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in Stewartville.

Saw Craig Morgan perform at Harvest Jam Rochester too...

Harvest Jam 01Country singer Craig Morgan performs Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, during Harvest Jam at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester. Thousands of country music fans spent the day at the fairgrounds for the five band festival.

The first two veterans were buried November in the new Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston. Being there was special for the families.

Preston Cemetery 01Family of veterans Earl Hoff and Clarence Quanrud help raise the American flag for the first time Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn. Hoff and Quanrud are the first veterans to be buried at the new veterans cemetery. Preston Cemetery 04Eloise Hoff receives an American flag during the committal ceremony for her husband, Earl, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn.

I also shot my first Vikings game in November. Despite a 30-13 loss to the Packers, it was an eye-opening experience at TCF Bank Stadium and shooting with other great Minnesota photographers.

Vikings vs. PackersMinnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, November 22, 2015, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. Vikings vs. PackersMinnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, November 22, 2015, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. Vikings vs. PackersMinnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, November 22, 2015, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. Vikings vs. PackersMinnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, November 22, 2015, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis.

There were many other moments in the year that made 2015 pretty darn good. I wish I could share them all.

Here's to 2015 and an even better 2016!