Background of the Mountaineer Progress Newspaper
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We’re the Mountaineer Progress Newspaper
Sharing 52 Years of Success
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The Mountaineer Progress Newspaper has a 52-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.
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| Publisher |
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STEVEN W. RINEK, PUBLISHER:
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.
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| Editor |
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VICTORIA RINEK, MANAGING EDITOR:
Vicky has been the managing editor at the Mountaineer Progress since 1998.
She writes local feature stories and manages the website.
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| Photo Journalist |
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AL MORRISSETTE, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST:
Al's columns appears in The Mountaineer Progress opinion
page and his news correspondence covering the Tri-Community area.
He has been a Mountaineer Progress columnist since 1998.
Al serves as a director for the Phelan/Pinon Hills Community Service District.
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| Photo Journalist |
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MICHAEL PALECKI, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST:
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.
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| Photo Journalist |
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JOHN CROMSHOW, CONTRIBUTING COLUMINST:
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.
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| Photo Journalist |
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Sports Journalist, Jeff Cooper began his sports journalism career with the Mountaineer Progress in 2012.
He has covered a wide array of events for the Serrano Diamondbacks sports teams including Football, Basketball, Baseball, etc.
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| Photo Journalist |
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Sports Photo Journalist, Kerri Latham began her sports photo journalism career with the Mountaineer Progress in 2012.
She has covered a wide array of events for the Serrano Diamondbacks sports teams including Football, Basketball, Baseball, etc.
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| Photo Journalist |
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EILEEN MAREK, COMMUNITY COLUMNIST:
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.
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| Journalist |
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SHARON ZAROGOZA, HISTORIAN:
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.
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