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Saturday, January 12, 2013 • Whidbey News-Times
Onetime intern returns to Whidbey as publisher
Sound Publishing has named Keven R. announcing that the Whidbey Island Naval Graves executive editor and publisher for the Air Station had been pulled from a long list of Whidbey Newspaper Group, which includes military installations to be closed. Among the highlights of his career, Graves The Whidbey News-Times, the Whidbey Examiner and the South Whidbey Record, said, was flying in a Blue Angels F/A-18 as well as the Crosswind, a monthly veterans jet and covering the lengthy trial of Darrin Hutchinson, convicted for the murders of publication. deputies William Heffernan Graves is succeeding and John Saxerud inside Kasia Pierzga in the role. the Island County Jail. Pierzga has accepted a pubHutchinson is serving a life lic relations position with the sentence without possibility Washington Department of for parole. Revenue in Olympia. While reporting for the “I have a real passion for News-Times, Graves covered newspapers, and while I’m a variety of beats, including excited about my new posiOak Harbor and Coupeville tion, it will be hard for me governments, Island County to leave Whidbey and the government, law enforcenewspaper industry behind,” ment, and NAS Whidbey, Pierzga said. “But Keven is business and, on occasion, a great fit for the Whidbey sports. community, and that makes “I was privileged to work me feel really good about the Keven R. Graves with great people at the transition.” Whidbey News-Times,” Lori Maxim, vice president Graves said. “Wallie Funk of Sound Publishing, said she appreciates the contributions Pierzga made to was instrumental in my career. Fred Obee taught me how to be a good editor. I was also the newspapers on Whidbey Island. “We will miss her enthusiasm and passion fortunate to work with the late Dorothy Neil for the newspaper industry,” Maxim said. and numerous other talented journalists and “And we wish her the best as she returns to WNT alumnus.” After leaving the Whidbey News-Times public relations.” Graves, 48, comes to Whidbey after 13 years as the assistant editor in 1994, Graves joined as editor and publisher of the Nisqually Valley with four others in starting The Coupeville News, a weekly newspaper in Yelm. He has a Examiner. He was editor and publisher when he left that newspaper in son, Liam, 17, who will com1999 to accept the job at the plete high school in Yelm and Nisqually Valley News. relocate to Whidbey Island Pierzga purchased the in June and attend college in Examiner in 2006, expandthe fall. ing its circulation and news “We are thrilled to have coverage. She sold the paper Keven take over the helm to Sound Publishing in June for the three Whidbey Island 2012, taking over as publisher papers,” Maxim said. “He for the Whidbey News Group brings a breadth of experishortly thereafter. ence, plus a commitment In addition to being a to community service, that seasoned journalist, Graves we’re confident will resonate brings a variety of other well in the community.” experience to his new posiThough the job is new, tion. Always with a focus on Graves has roots in Whidbey community, he understands Island dating back more than Kasia Pierzga the importance of promoting 30 years. local business through afford“I was on the newspaper staff at Anacortes High School, and we’d able and effective marketing and advertising. “Part of a newspaper’s responsibility is conbring the paper to Oak Harbor to be printed,” he said. “Owner-Publisher Wallie Funk tributing to a healthy sense of community,” became a mentor, encouraging me to pursue he said. “Sound Publishing’s Whidbey Island newspapers serve a vital role in supporting a newspaper career.” “This is kind of like returning home,” said local businesses and recording local history.” In addition to his new role as publishGraves. “My journalism career started at the Whidbey News-Times. I always hoped to er, Graves is current vice president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers return there someday.” “I’m glad that day has come,” he said. “I’m Association. He ascends to the presidency excited to rejoin Sound Publishing and work in October. He also serves on the WNPA Foundation Board of Directors. with the great staff.” “I’ve worked with Keven for some time on Graves earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Western Washington University the board, and I’m impressed with the capabilin 1987. He started his career as an intern ities he brings to the job, both on the business reporter at the Whidbey News-Times. He side and the news side,” Maxim said. Graves helped found the Yelm Lions Club was hired as a full-time reporter and remained with the newspaper for the next seven years. Midday Branch in 2001, serving as its presiDuring that time, Sound Publishing purchased dent for three years. He also has served the newspaper from Funk and co-owner John on boards for the Yelm Area Chamber of Webber and the paper went from weekly to Commerce, South Sound Reading Foundation and the United Way of Island County. biweekly. Graves will be relocating to Whidbey Island. In 1991, Graves wrote and produced an “Extra” edition of the Whidbey News-Times He starts in his new role on Feb. 11.