About Us

Since 1908, Whidbey News-Times has been covering North and Central Whidbey Island. From Greenbank to Deception Pass, we keep up with issues facing each community, its people and its events. The paper is based in Oak Harbor where the Navy, schools and business are hot topics. In Coupeville Island County's seat environment, development and tourism get plenty of attention. On North Whidbey Island, people often discuss traffic and state parks. All over Whidbey Island, environmental issues, county government and politics come into play. Readers can be assured the Whidbey News-Times will be there reporting.

Your Community News Team

	Publisher Marcia Van Dyke 360-675-6611 ext. 1050	Marcia Van Dyke is an outgoing and energetic leader with a natural talent to bring people together and spark enthusiasm everywhere she goes. She began her newspaper career selling advertising for the Skagit Valley Herald in 1989. She was promoted to major accounts advertising consultant for the Skagit Valley Herald and sales manager for sister paper, the Anacortes American. In 1992 Van Dyke joined Sound Publishing as advertising sales manager for the Whidbey-News Times, returning to the Skagit Valley Herald four years later to manage their advertising sales department. Van Dyke accepted her first publisher's job with the Journal of the San Juans then returned to the Whidbey News-Times and Northwest Navigator as publisher in 1989, and in 2008 Van Dyke added the job of publisher of the South Whidbey Record to her responsibilities. Van Dyke hold a degree in sociology from the University of Redlands in Southern California.
	Assistant editor Jessie Stensland 360.675.6611 ext. 5056	Jessie Stensland is the assistant editor of the Whidbey News-Times, which basically means she gets to sit at the big desk when the editor is out sick. She covers crime, cops, county and anything else that comes her way. She started working for the newspaper in 1997. She grew up in Minnesota, graduated from hoity-toity Carleton College with a degree in English and moved to Washington to get away from the cold and snow. Now she misses the cold and snow. She has a husband and two young children.
	Creative Services Manager Michelle Wolfensparger 360-675-6611 ext. 4054	Michelle joined the Whidbey News-Group family in September of 2009, when she and her family moved to Whidbey Island from Southern California. She has 23 years of graphics work experience since receiving a Mac SE30 hot off the production line and a mandate to "make an ad by 2 p.m. for the OC Business Journal." Fonts and graphics have been a passion ever since. She worked at a weekly newspaper and publishing company for seven years as assistant production manager before coming to the Whidbey News-Times initially as a marketing artist, becoming production manager in May 2010.
	Editor Jim Larsen 360-675-6611 ext. 5050
	Staff reporter Nathan Whalen 360-675-6611 ext. 5058	Nathan Whalen is a staff reporter and photographer for the Whidbey News-Times. He has covered a variety of beats including Central Whidbey, the schools and Island County since joining the News-Times in 2002. Prior to that, he was a reporter for the Marysville Globe and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota. He lives in Oak Harbor.
	Sports editor Jim Waller 360-675-6611 ext. 5060	Jim Waller began working as the sports editor in September of 2009. At that time he returned to the Whidbey News-Times after a 30-year break. He was also sports editor for the News-Times right out of the University of Washington in 1975 and held the post until 1978. He was an English and journalism teacher at Oak Harbor High School for 32 years, as well as varsity baseball coach for 30 years and an assistant basketball coach for 32. He is married to Sandee and they have three boys, Brett, Bryce and Brooks.
	Creative Artist Holly Rhinne 360-675-6611 ext. 4052	Holly has a great sense of humor. With 16+ years of design experience, her creativity spills over into everything she does. A Washington native, she relaxes to a diversity of music during her daily commute from Skagit County.
	Circulation Assistant, WNT, SWR & NW Navigator Diane Smothers 360-675-6611 ext. 6050	Diane is a veteran of Sound Publishing, accruing over 21 years of experience in various tasks. She has two children, five grandchildren, one handsome boyfriend, four dogs, and two cats. She has been an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for for over 5 years.
	Staff reporter Justin Burnett 360-675-6611 ext. 5054	Justin, 31, has been in newspapers for more than five years. He attended the University of Hawaii and graduated with a major in print journalism and a minor in history. He began his career working for a large alternative weekly in Honolulu, where he worked in sales so he could be close to the newsroom. He moved to Whidbey Island in late 2006 and has been covering community news for the past three years. He is married to a beautiful woman, and together they have one son, 9.
	Ad Services/Creative Artist Ginny Tomasko 360-675-6611 ext. 4056	Ginny is a graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle. She has been a working graphic designer in Skagit and Island Counties for most of her life, working for agencies, publications, in-house and freelance as a graphic designer and photographer. Creative, quality designs, flattering photography and high impact content will help our advertisers get noticed. She also spends her winter weekends skiing with her family and is a Mountain Host at Mount Baker Ski Area.
	Circulation Manager, WNT, SWR & NW Navigator Lynette Reeff 360-675-6611 ext. 6050	Outgoing and upbeat, Lynette has been with the company for 11 years, working her way through many jobs, artist, spec artist, ad services and finally circulation manager. She has been living with Russell for over 19 years and they have two children, as well as a dog, a cat, a school of fish and some humpies in the freezer. She is seeking bigfoot and is scared of bears.