Member News

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.

Sports reporter Jerell Rushin has left USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to join The Tuscaloosa News.

Rushin had covered sports for the news network since October 2019. Based in Oshkosh, he primarily wrote for the Oshkosh Northwestern and The (Fond du Lac) Reporter. In his new role, he will cover Alabama sports recruiting for the USA TODAY Network and high school sports for The News. The move also takes him closer to his hometown of Atlanta.

College senior and Medford native Shawna Konieczny has joined The Star News as a reporting intern.

Konieczny is currently attending Boston's Emerson College, studying screenwriting, film and books. While at Emerson, she has served as a staff writer for The Berkeley Beacon student newspaper, where her work has included stories on books, movies and TV, among other topics.

Publisher Paul Fanlund on Monday announced several staffing changes at The Cap Times.

After two years as opinion editor, Jessie Opoien is moving back to a reporting role, joining Briana Reilly in covering the Wisconsin State Capitol. Taking over as opinion editor will be Steven Elbow, who has been a reporter with The Cap Times since 1999. 

In additional moves, Fanlund noted that higher education reporter Yvonne Kim has left the newspaper to move out of state. As they look to fill her position, The Cap Times newsroom will be bolstered by two interns this summer, Cam Cieszki and Addison Lathers, both UW students.