Background of the Mountaineer Progress Newspaper

We’re the Mountaineer Progress Newspaper

Sharing 50 Years of Success

The Mountaineer Progress Newspaper has a 50-Year legacy with the communities of Phelan/Pinon Hills / Wrightwood / West Cajon Valley.

In 1961 the original founder, Tom Pinard, quietly celebrated the first edition sitting in a backroom in the village of Wrightwood.  Supporters plunked down a nickel that evening for the first paper, four pages filled with 20 columns of news and a few ads.  This was the start that formed the connecting links between the three communities of Pinon Hills, Phelan and Wrightwood.
The Mountaineer Progress publishes the only newspaper that fully covers the Tri-Communities. The newspapers relationship with the communities is a special one. The paper is the first choice with local residents making it the most read newspaper in the area.
We look to maintain an ongoing channel of communication with community members and regional leaders, forging an open and honest relationship.
We deeply respect and appreciate the contributing writers and value their embodied work we publish for them. We not only appreciate the talents of our writers we support the growth of our writers and hope they want to continue writing because they feel good about their work. It’s through their work that makes up the essence of the Mountaineer Progress Newspaper. Our contributing writings make us the best-circulated newspaper in the Tri-Community.
The Mountaineer Progress receives support from many sources. Community leaders assist the newspaper  by collecting details on community events. Amateur photographers submit work on interesting subjects.  We appreciate their support and encourage their contributions to the Mountaineer Progress.
Our supporting and administrative staff is more important than ever. We depend on their talents in performing the critical routine functions of the newspaper.  In partnership with our contributing writers, they are the backbone of the Mountaineer Progress.

The Mountaineer Progress’ new slogan is:

Seven days of news in one paper. 
There’s nothing more valuable than knowledge.

Are you missing what’s important? 
Join the community & subscribe to your local newspaper.

We look forward to many years of providing the community with an excellent, interesting and essential source of local news.

About our Staff

STEVEN W. RINEK, PUBLISHER: email steve@mtprogress.net
Steve has been the publisher and owner of the Mountaineer Progress since 1998. Steve has over 35 years of newspaper experience. His expertise comes from marketing director with the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register and the Brehm Communications.

VICTORIA RINEK, MANAGING EDITOR: email vickyr@mtprogress.net
Vicky has been a writer and managing editor at the Mountaineer Progress since 1998.

ANJELA BOYD, ASSISTANT EDITOR, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST/PHOTOGRAPHER: email aboyd@mtprogress.net
Anjela has been an associate at the Mountaineer Progress since 2008. She received her MBA in Marketing from California State University San Bernardino in March 2009 and has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 2006.

AL MORRISSETTE, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST: email almset@yahoo.com
Al's columns appears in The Mountaineer Progress opinion
page and his news correspondence on Thursdays.
He has been a Mountaineer Progress columnist since 1998.
Al serves as a director for the Phelan/Pinon Hills Community Service District.

MICHAEL PALECKI, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST: email mpalecki@mtprogress.net
Michael's columns appears in The Mountaineer Progress opinion
page and his news correspondence on Thursdays.
He has been a Mountaineer Progress columnist since 2000.
Michael was the 2008 honorary mayor of Pinon Hills. He is an accomplished artist and sculptor.

JOHN CROMSHOW, CONTRIBUTING COLUMINST: email jcromshow@yahoo.com
John has been an opinion columnist with the Mountaineer Progress since 1996.
He is also a retired teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

EILEEN MAREK, COMMUNITY COLUMNIST: email newsroom@mtprogress.net
Eileen's columns generally appear in The Mountaineer Progress
feature page and her news correspondence on Thursdays. Eileen is also a novelist and associate editor. She has been a Mountaineer Progress columnist since 2003.

SHARON ZAROGOZA, HISTORIAN: email sharonz@mtprogress.net
Sharon's columns (30 Years') appears in The Mountaineer Progress
once a month on Thursdays. She has been a Mountaineer Progress columnist since 1997.
Her hobbies include collecting old photos. If you would like to share your old photos with Sharon you can email them to her and she will include them in her next article.