Andrea Hansen Abler, editor of the Campbellsport News and Kewaskum Statesman, announced last week that she was leaving the two eastern Wisconsin newspapers. Her last day was Friday, Oct. 8. She had been with the Campbellsport paper for more than 17 years and with the Statesman for the last six years. Both newspapers are published by Multi Media Channels.

In a farewell column to readers, Abler noted she would continue to help the newspapers on a part-time basis until her replacement has been found. She also recalled the most memorable events she had covered during her tenure with the newspapers and encouraged readers to be patient and help however they can during the transition period following her departure.

Mitchell Keller has been named editor of the Dodge County Pionier. He fills the role vacated by Karen Rouse, who remains with the Pionier as a contributor. He also will continue to serve as sports editor for the newspaper.

Keller graduated in 2012 from UW-Milwaukee with a degree in journalism and film. He went on to serve as a programming intern for the Milwaukee Film Festival, a production intern for NFL Films, director of media and communications for the Melbourne Aces, a professional baseball team in the Australian Baseball League, and a correspondent for Major League Baseball. He has been a member of the Pionier news staff since October 2018 and previously worked in sales for its sister papers, the Campbellsport News and Kewaskum Statesman. 

Jim Babbitt, a retired prosecutor and former Barron County judge, has joined The Chetek Alert as contributing editor. He fills the role vacated by Carl Cooley, who is now news director for the WJMC, WKFX and WAQE radio stations in Rice Lake. 

As contributing editor, Babbitt will write weekly feature stories for The Alert. A 1977 UW-Milwaukee graduate, Babbitt studied mass communication and wrote for the UWM Post student newspaper during his undergraduate years. He went on to earn his law degree from UW-Madison in 1979.

George Althoff, former newspaper publisher and past president of the WNA Foundation, has been named executive director of the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce.

Althoff served as WNA Foundation president in 2009, during his 14-year run as a publisher for Lee Enterprises. During his newspaper career, Althoff led the Winona (Minn.) Daily News, the Baraboo News Republic, Portage Daily Register, the Juneau County Star-Times in Mauston, and Wisconsin Dells Events. Following his time in newspapers, he worked as communications director for three state agencies.

Michael Stumpf, publisher of several weekly newspapers in western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota, has taken over as sole owner of the publications.

They include The (Durand) Courier-Wedge, the Buffalo County News in Mondovi, and the Tri-County Area Times, serving Augusta and Osseo. In Minnesota, Stumpf also publishes The Wabasha County Herald, The Plainview News and The St. Charles Press & Lewiston Journal.