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Portfolio



I have been a journalist for nearly 30 years. In that time I have covered topics that include city and state government and politics, schools and education, agriculture, the arts and more.

I have met some of the most fascinating people and have been honored to tell their stories. Some of those stories will forever stay with me.

I have earned hundreds of state and national awards. Those that I hold in highest esteem were first place from the Kansas Press Association for investigative reporting, the Americanism award for journalism from the American Legion, second place among all papers in Kansas for newspaper redesign, third place among all of the state for Journalist of the Year, and the 2023 Sweepstakes winner for all papers in the 1,200 to 1,500 circulation category.

Here us a small sampling of my work published in the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle, the Dickinson News-Times and the Fort Riley Post:





Central Kansas Free Fair 2022





I have covered 4-H fairs for several years. In 2022, because DCNT is a weekly paper, I decided rather than running a few stories and results every week for a month or more, we would do one big special section. This earned second place in the Kansas Press Association Award of Excellence, special section category


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May is National Beef Month





Cattle is big business in Kansas. To celebrate National Beef Month I spoke with three area ranchers who are keeping their family traditions and heritage alive with their ranching operations.


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SANTA PLAYS HIS ROLE IN MILITARY READINESS





The important role of Santa Claus is not lost on our military leaders, or the "Big Red One" himself


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HIGGIN'S BOAT OPERATOR RECALLS NORMANDY





I will never forget the way Frank Devita described the horror he felt as he lowered the ramp on a Higgins boat. It is stories like this that need to be told and it is my honor to tell them. The same day this story published, I told the story of another hero. This one earned the Distinguished Service Cross. His story is at the top of the page.


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Historic Names





Before the Fort Riley Post shuttered its operation, I wrote a weekly article that looked at the names behind the streets and buildings on post. Streets and buildings were named for people who had some connection to the post or the Big Red One


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A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE GOES A LONG WAY





One of the things I loved about working on Fort Riley was the inspiration I got from the Soldiers who worked there. I wrote this story shortly after having what would be the first of two knee surgeries. Being around other women like Staff Sgt. Ronnie Frazee, not only made for a great story but she also reminds me that I should never simply give up.


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TRUCK HENGE





Each week at the Fort Riley Post we would run a travel article. Most of the Soldiers and their families would only be in Kansas for a few years. We wanted them to see that there were some fun and interesting places they could go see while here. I really enjoyed writing these articles and Truckhenge was one of the many fun adventures I went on.


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ABILENE MURAL





I suppose it would not be surprising to see that I support artists! I always appreciated a chance to write about local artists.


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ARMY CHAPLAINCY CORPS SHORTAGES





The responsibility of looking after the spiritual health of the American Soldier falls to a shrinking number of chaplains. The Army Chaplaincy Corps has been struggling to recruit new members. This article covered a visit by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Karen Meeker to Fort Riley where she spoke to members of the Chaplaincy Corps about recruitment. This article earned first place in the Kansas Press Association Award of Excellence/Religion coverage


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