-NEIL O. NELSON
Banner editor Neil O. N elson’s career has come full circle. He started working for the Banner when he was a junior in high school; he returned to the paper in the spring of 1999.
The veteran weekly editor has worked at papers across North Dakota and at locations in Minnesota, Wyoming and Arizona. His only daily newspaper experience was with The Arizona Republic at
Phoenix, where he covered Northern Arizona University sports for the Republic, the southwest’s major daily newspaper.
In North Dakota, he’s worked for papers at Hatton, Grafton, Langdon, Rolla, New Town, Watford City, Garrison, Hettinger and Finley. Nelson has received numerous awards for layout and design, feature reporting, editorials and overall general excellence with news editor Michelle McLean.
His two daughters, Tena and Cassie, live in Valley City and he’s married to Barb Abentroth Nelson.
His parents were Orlando and Floris Nelson, who lived in Hillsboro for 10
years, 1962-1972.
-RUTH JOHNSON
Ruth Johnson started working at the Hillsboro Banner on July 1, 1984 as typesetter. Later on bookkeeping was added to her duties. Her duties are now various which include writing a weekly recipe column. She is author of a recipe book “Ruth’s Recipes”, a collection of her favorites published weekly in the Hillsboro Banner.
She is married to Jim Johnson and they live in Blanchard, ND. They are parents of five children and currently grandparents to seven. She is also church secretary at St. John Lutheran Church, Hillsboro.
-MICHELLE McLEAN
Michelle McLean’s tenure at the Hillsboro Banner has two chapters:
Fresh from college, Michelle Vettel worked as a reporter and photographer for the paper starting in January 1986. She was on staff until her marriage to Mark McLean in September 1987. She then moved to Hazen for six years, started a family and quit writing.
When she returned to her hometown of Hillsboro in 1993, McLean signed on again at the Banner. She worked as a freelance writer/photographer, eventually adding other responsibilities. By 1997, she had become associate editor, filling in occasionally as interim editor when the chief post of the newspaper changed hands that summer and again in 1999. Today she is the paper’s news editor.
McLean has won top prizes for her news and government reporting, editorials and personal column as well as sharing the general excellence awards with editor Neil Nelson.
McLean writes a weekly column that reflects on her life in growing up on a farm with six brother and sisters and now as a parent of three teenage children. A 1985 graduate of the University of North Dakota, McLean holds a degree in journalism. Her first job in the newspaper business was as a summer intern at the Traill County Tribune. She worked there during the summers of 1982-1984.
McLean is involved in the Hillsboro community serving on the Hillsboro School H509 Scholarship Committee, the Traill County Historical Society, the HMC building project steering committee and the St. Rose of Lima pastoral council.
-Gail Mooney
Gail Mooney is a trained graphic artist and professional photographer that lives in Cummings with her family. Walter and Gail have been married for a bit more than 14 years and share two children - Katie and Ryan. Katie has recently graduated from NDSU, received a position in the library of NDSU and married her long-time beau, Derek. So, she’s had a swell year. Ryan is currently looking forward to finishing the 3rd grade so he can have his summer and computer time back. Ryan’s a real computer whiz-kid, so they’re thinking maybe it’s time to introduce him to swimming, t-ball & other little guy things.
Walt and Gail moved to Cummings in the winter of 95-96 (very, very cold winter!) That first year back she started up a budding photography studio while working part-time for the Traill County Economic Development Commission in Mayville, ND. In the second year a position came open at the Traill County Tribune for ad sales and layout that Gail accepted and worked with for the next 3-1/2 years while simultaneously growing the part-time studio business. The work with the Tribune tapped into the graphics background with the new computer design abilities - which ultimately has lead to an interest in web design and video streaming through the now full-time photography business.
When not at work, Gail is involved with community works through the Hillsboro Business Association and has taken a keen interest in local politics. A near successful run for County Commissioner has inspired futher interest in the region and it’s economic development and growth.
