The Western News adds two new staffers

The Western News is welcoming two new faces to its editorial department this week.

Caleb M. Soptelean, 46, returned to Montana from Viriginia last week to take the editor’s chair at The News. Bethany Rolfson, 22, joined the staff as a reporter in June.

No stranger to northwest Montana, Soptelean worked as a reporter at the Bigfork Eagle beginning in 2013. In 2014, Soptelean went to Virginia, where he was a reporter for the Valley Banner in Elkton. His coverage included city and county government, business, religion and feature writing, and was occasionally picked up by the Daily News-Record in Harrisonberg, Va., a sister paper. He enjoys writing hard news, government and court reporting, as well as stories on religion.

Soptelean’s resume of Montana papers also includes time at the Daily Inter Lake (The Western News, Inter Lake and Bigfork Eagle are all owned by Hagadone Montana Publishing) and the Bitterroot Star in Stevensville, where he worked while attending the University of Montana. Soptelean graduated from Ottawa University in Phoenix in 2005.

Soptelean was born and raised in rural eastern Ohio. He has two daughters, ages 9 and 13.

He has spent about 18 years in journalism, beginning the late 1980s, when photojournalists still used dark rooms. The industry has continued to careen into the future with the rise of internet and technology, and Libby is no exception, although Soptelean hopes to carry on the print journalism in its traditional tenor.

“It’s had to adapt because of technology, for better or for worse; probably a bit of both,” Soptelean said.

Despite the fast-moving changes across the journalism industry, Soptelean said local, community journalism remains the foundation of community insight.

“It’s highly relevant to the community, especially in remote places like Libby,” he said.

Soptelean is looking forward to hiking and photography in the Kootenai Valley.

Rolfson joined The News staff in June and has since covered everything between the Idaho border and Happy’s Roadhouse Inn, including entertainment, education, business, local government and health care.

Rolfson is a native of Watford City, N.D., which has a population of about 3,200. She’s the daughter of a farmer and a retired dental hygienist, and the youngest of six children.

Rolfson is engaged to Sauvik Chakraborty, who she met in North Dakota.

Rolfson graduated in May from Minot State University with a bachelor’s degree in writing and authored her own short stories growing up. She said living in Bakken-oil country made her want to pursue journalism.

“People often know the surface level of topics. I want to write to help them know the complete story,” Rolfson said. “I’ve learned that people are very resiliant here. I’ve met people who have had their struggles but still have a smile on their face while trying to make their community a better place. That’s what Libby is all about.”

Rolfson is looking forward to covering local news in a thoughtful way that allows readers to better engage their community.

Soptelean and Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at csoptelean@thewesternnews.com and reporter@thewesternnews.com.