Journal welcomes new staffers

The Ritzville Adams County Journal’s staff roster includes a pair of new names. Katelin Davidson of St. Paul, Ore., joined the staff on Nov. 14, as the newspaper’s news editor. Janis Rountree of Lind assumed the customer service role in mid-September.

The staffing changes are a result of adjustments in the roles of General Manager Lavonne Saunders and former News Editor Jennifer Larsen.

Larsen stepped down as editor on Sept. 9, but will continue to serve as the newspaper’s webmaster and assist with special editorial projects and archiving.

Saunders, part of The Journal’s team for 22 years, will be retiring on Jan. 27. While stepping down from her full time role, Saunders will continue to work part-time for The Journal handling bookkeeping tasks. Over the years she has mastered many of the newspaper’s operational functions, designing advertisements, preparing job printing for customers, writing articles, developing film, typesetting and bookkeeping.

Davidson is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelors Degree in journalism.

She was born and raised in St. Paul, Ore. Her family operates a farm there, where she grew up developing a strong work ethic.

The Davidsons grow strawberries, blueberries, green beans, wheat and ryegrass seed.

Since a young age she has been a volunteer member of the St. Paul Rodeo, a well known Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event that will mark its 77th year on the Fourth of July weekend in 2012.

Growing up she recalls always writing, which led her to pursue a degree in journalism.

“I had a pen and paper in the tractor,” she said.

Davidson looks forward to writing new personality features and bringing additional agriculture coverage to The Journal.

Rountree is a 1995 graduate of Lind High School and is the daughter of Steve and Sue Sackmann. She and her husband, Buck, have two children, Sage and Willow.

She is currently working in The Journal’s front office and learning the various tasks Saunders has handled for several years.

Rountree and her family moved to Lind from Spokane, seeking the rural lifestyle she grew up with.

“I wanted to raise my family in small town living,” she said. “I wanted my kids to have the same opportunities I had.”

Rountree has studied at Eastern Washington University and Spokane Falls Community College. Among other things she has a background in photography. She will provide support to The Journal’s newsroom as a photographer and a writer. She has already tackled photo and writing assignments.

“This is an opportunity where I can be a voice for Lind,” she said.