TWIN FALLS TIMES-NEWS
Times-News Editor Autumn Agar left to become editor of another Lee Enterprises newspaper, The Southern in Carbondale, Ill. Matt Christensen has been named the new editor; he is returning to the paper after starting his journalism career there in 2005 as a features and natural resource reporter. Most recently, Christensen has served as the editor of the Montana Standard in Butte since 2013.
Nathan Brown has joined the Times-News as political reporter, covering the Idaho Legislature and Magic Valley local government.
IDAHO STATESMAN
Bill Dentzer is the new Idaho Statesman reporter responsible for covering Idaho government, politics and Legislature. Dentzer, 51, was a government reporter from 1985 to 1998 for Gannett Newspapers/The Journal News in New York, where he was city government reporter and political columnist covering the city of Yonkers, and covered the New York governor’s office and state Legislature in Albany. Since 1998 he’s been a mayoral press secretary and held senior public relations and corporate communications positions for companies including UBS investment bank and The Associated Press.
Dentzer replaces former longtime Idaho Statesman political reporter and columnist Dan Popkey, who left last summer to become press secretary for Idaho GOP Congressman Raul Labrador.
Erin Fenner is the Statesman’s new morning breaking news reporter. A graduate of the University of Idaho, she comes to the Statesman from the Craig Daily Press in Colorado.
MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS
Michael-Shawn Dugar has been named sports editor, replacing Ben Handel, who took a day job with a local contractor. Dugar, a May 2014 graduate of the Murrow School at Washington State University, was formerly arts and entertainment reporter and Sunday layout editor. Dominique Wald, a December 2014 graduate of the Murrow School at WSU, will replace Dugar as Sunday editor/A&E reporter.
Gary Breedlove, a freelance photographer in the Willamette Valley, has joined the staff as a halftime photographer mainly covering prep and college sports. He replaces Dean Hare, an eight-year veteran at the paper who has taken a position with WSU Communications.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE
Jim McKiernan is the new publisher of the Bonner County Daily Bee, Bonner Ferry Herald and the Priest River Times, replacing longtime publisher David Keyes, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.
McKiernan has nearly 18 years of newspaper experience, including having owned and operated his own newspapers as well as served as a publisher and advertising director. He also is an award-winning photographer.
