Did you hear the rumor about the mayor? What about the one with the police chief and the supervisor? Or the one about those well-known business owners and who they keep squirreled away in their attic?

We hear a lot of rumors in the news biz, much of which we cannot or will not report. We can’t run on hearsay alone. Like a court of law, we need evidence before presenting certain stories — a substantiation of claims, documented proof, someone official on the record. So when we first heard of dead bodies being dug up in the woods of Ulster Heights, we waited before reporting on it until we could gather all the facts. We called the police, we talked to some neighbors, but a key factor was missing: an official source to confirm what we were hearing.

Slowly, bits and pieces started trickling in. We received video of mostly unmarked cars along a stretch of Ulster Heights Road, a confirmation of boots on the ground. A state trooper pointed us in the direction of the FBI. An FBI press contact confirmed they had a case related to the Ulster heights area, but gave no additional details (except the number for another FBI press office). Meanwhile, the rumors turned into a story all their own, and other media outlets ran with them. “Residents say,” was the first official source cited. But what we heard from residents varied. One said a man was shot in the head, another described some backwoods excavation work by feds. Russian connections were made, with some suggesting multiple bodies dumped in those woods. There’s nothing wrong with reporting on what people witness, but when it morphs into speculation, that’s when we have to stop and take stock.

This is our approach. We gather as much information as we can before releasing the story. We contact anyone who may have a nugget to share, even when deep down we know the person we’re trying to reach won’t actually respond. But we still make the effort, do our due diligence, and hope those who hold the answers acquiesce. When they don’t, then we reassess. We consider whether we have enough to go on as is, and either go ahead with what we have, or hold it until we can get the answers readers want.

Of course, we consider the people behind the story as well. Those involving serious crimes, tragedies, or heartache can be especially difficult to navigate. Sometimes the families want their voices heard, other times they prefer to keep silent. For example, many readers have asked for updates on the investigation into Dan McAlpin’s death after he was killed by a state trooper last year during a mental health crisis. This is still an ongoing story, but many factors are at play, some involving the family, and some involving the state Attorney General’s Office, which is investigating the case. So, we monitor the status of the case, we bother the AG’s office every now and then for updates, and we keep the family’s wishes in mind.

We also must weigh a story against the time and manpower we have on hand. The Shawangunk Journal is currently working with one of smallest teams it’s had since the paper’s inception. While we continue to build an amazing team of freelance writers to cover town meetings and other local happenings, we currently have only one full-time reporter: the venerable Chris Rowley. He drafts anywhere from six to 12 stories each week, diving deep into everything from train derailments to fiber optics. Even the paper’s owners have been known to run out to snap photos of a fire or other events. No one stays idle in the newsroom.

It can be a lot for a small team, but we pull it off each week by weighing what we can accomplish within our limited timeframes. Sometimes that might mean we don’t immediately put out a story, even when we know other local news organizations will beat us to it. Other times it might mean working 12 hours straight to get everything done. Every week is a new adventure. But our focus always remains the same: to serve this community in every way we can. Whether it’s holding a story until all the facts are in or organizing a Town Hall-type event to help educate voters, we work to ensure this community is covered, informed, and well equipped with the facts needed to navigate life in the Hudson Valley.