Longtime Wisconsin journalist Ed Byrne dies at 74

Edward Byrne, a longtime Wisconsin journalist, died on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the age of 74. Most recently, he worked as a reporter for The Brillion News, where he covered local schools and government. He held the position for 13 before suffering a major stroke on April 1.

Prior to joining The Brillion News, Byrne served as a reporter an editor for Gannett newspapers in Wisconsin — including the Green Bay Press-Gazette and (Appleton) Post-Crescent — from 1996 to 2008.

George Stanley

George Stanley to step down as editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

George Stanley, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and regional editor of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, announced Tuesday he will retire at the end of the year after more than 43 years in journalism, the newspaper reports.

Stanley was named editor of the Journal Sentinel in 2015 after leading the newsroom as managing editor for 18 years. During his announcement to staff, Stanley said he made his decision after the Journal Sentinel’s parent company, Gannett, announced last month it would make additional cuts company-wide.

Reporter Neal Patten joins Waunakee Tribune

Neal Patten, a reporter and southwest Wisconsin native, has joined the Waunakee Tribune as a general assignment reporter. In addition to his work in Waunakee, he will cover a variety of topics for APG's newspapers in DeForest, Lodi and Poynette.

Prior to joining the Tribune, Patten spent three years with Unified Newspaper Group (now Wisconsin Media Group), where he worked as a reporter for the group's four newspapers and two magazines. He also has freelanced at publications including The (Janesville) Gazette, the (Dubuque, Iowa) Telegraph Herald and Tone Madison.

Longtime New Richmond News employee Vernice Evans dies at 101

Vernice Mae Evans, a longtime employee of the New Richmond News, died on Sunday, Nov. 20, at St. Croix Health Center in New Richmond. She was 101.

Evans held many roles over the course of her life and later joined the New Richmond News, where she worked for nearly 25 years as a receptionist, proofreader, columnist and assistant to the editor. She retired from the News at the age of 97.

‘Beast of Bray Road’ writer Linda S. Godfrey dies at 71

Linda S. Godfrey, who first reported on what became known as "The Beast of Bray Road," died on Nov. 27 at Agrace Hospital in Janesville. She was 71.

In 1991, Godfrey was a reporter for Walworth County Week, a weekly supplement to The (Janesville) Gazette, when she was assigned to cover alleged sightings of a purported humanoid wolf-like creature near Elkhorn. "The Beast of Bray Road" has since become a part of Wisconsin folklore and has been the subject of multiple books, documentaries and a 2005 horror film.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association