Member News

Darcy Zander-Feinauer, who co-owns The Brillion News with her sisters, has retired from her full-time position after more than 34 years at the family company.

Zander-Feinauer, who served in a variety of roles during her tenure, was most recently the newspaper's layout editor. She will be succeeded by her daughter, Bailey Lindgren — the company’s first full-time fifth-generation employee, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was the first full-time fourth-generation employee. The Brillion News has been in the Zander family since 1899, when it was purchased by Otto Zander. 

Joel Patenaude has been named managing editor of The (Janesville) Gazette, replacing the recently departed Ann Fiore.

Patenaude has served as a Wisconsin-based correspondent since February for the online publications NetZero Insider and RTO Insider. He previously was associate editor of Madison Magazine.

Fiore departed last month following a career with The Gazette dating back to August 1995. During her tenure, Fiore served in several roles, including entertainment editor, chief copy editor and managing editor.

Bob Heisse, executive editor of River Valley Media Group in La Crosse, has donated $50,000 to endow a journalism scholarship for students at his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University. A Pennsylvania native, Heisse earned his bachelor’s degree from the school after receiving a scholarship himself as an undergraduate — something that helped inspire him to give back.

Heisse has led the River Valley Media Group newsrooms since September, when he succeeded Rusty Cunningham, who retired after more than 40 years with Lee Enterprises. Prior to his move to La Crosse, he served as executive editor of the Kenosha News.

Angie Maag, a southwestern Wisconsin native, has joined The Monroe Times as a reporter.

She earned her degree last month from UW-Madison, where she triple-majored in communication arts, psychology and journalism. While in college, Maag wrote for Bell Magazine, a student publication with a focus on equality and marginalized communities and genders. She also served as a reporter for Sconnie Sports Talk, writing about Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey, tennis and other sports.

The Press Times has added staff writer Lea Kopke to its newsroom.

Last year, Kopke, a senior at UW-Eau Claire, served as an intern for the newspaper and was the managing editor of The Spectator student newspaper. Her current position as staff writer is funded by the Microsoft Journalism Initiative.

Adams Publishing Group has named Randy Rickman regional president for APG Media of Southern Minnesota.

Rickman previously served as APG’s regional president for northern Wisconsin and publisher of the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram. He also was a member of the WNA Board of Directors. Prior to joining APG and the Leader-Telegram, Rickman served as publisher of the Kenosha News from June 2016 to November 2018.

Jeff Patterson, APG Central Division president and WNA Board member, will take over as regional president for APG's northern Wisconsin group.

Jay Stahl has joined the reporting staff of the Wausau Daily Herald as a summer intern.

A Wausau native, Stahl introduced himself to readers in a column. He will cover local business news as the newspaper’s "Streetwise" reporter. His focus will be on openings and closings, while also writing regular features on local businesses. Stahl is a senior at UW-Milwaukee and will graduate with his journalism degree in the fall. He has written for both The UWM Post and Media Milwaukee student news publications.

Sophia Voight will serve as a reporter for The Green Laker through an internship with the Ripon Commonwealth Press this summer.

Voight, a senior at UW-Oshkosh, will graduate in June with her bachelor’s degree in journalism. While in college, she has served as a reporter and news editor for the Advance-Titan student newspaper. Her work recently earned three awards in the 2020 WNA Foundation Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest, including second place for public affairs reporting.

Adams Publishing Group has named Madeline Westberg managing editor of The (Cottage Grove / Monona) Herald-Independent and McFarland Thistle.

Since October 2018, Westberg had served as associate editor of the Cambridge News & Deerfield Independent, another newspaper in APG’s southern Wisconsin group. Prior to her time with APG, she was a summer intern for Unified Newspaper Group and a news reporter UW-Madison's Badger Herald student newspaper.