KPA news bureau gets new director

Dana Ehlschide, former McLean County News managing-editor, is the new face behind the KPA news bureau director’s desk.

Ehlschide began her duties in Frankfort June 17. As news bureau director, Ehlschide is responsible for covering the Kentucky General Assembly when in session, handling story assignments in Frankfort for KPA newspapers and serving as editor of The Kentucky Press.

She replaces part-time news bureau staff members Patrick Avery and Mark Vanderhoff who covered the General Assembly this year.

Ehlschide, a 1994 graduate of Murray State University, began her journalism career serving as the sole reporter/photographer for the Leaders News in Muhlenberg County. She then moved to Calhoun where she took over the role as managing-editor until February.

“I’m looking forward to my work at KPA and helping member newspapers across the state cover news in Frankfort,” Ehlschide said. “As the editor of a western Kentucky weekly newspaper, it was always a comfort to know that I could rely on the news bureau to provide me a link to news happening in Frankfort that was important to McLean County readers. I hope I can continue to provide newspapers with that same type of comfort.”

David Thompson, KPA executive Director, said he was happy to have someone familiar with KPA as well as someone with good writing and lay-out skills on board.

“The typical, most frequent user of the bureau is a weekly newspaper,” Thompson said. “We are fortunate to get someone with a strong weekly background because she can relate to their needs and deadlines.”

The news bureau director’s position was created 10 years ago. It was designed to give newspapers from across the state someone to contact to cover news for them in the state’s capital. When it began the bureau covered stories only as requested, but later began covering the legislative sessions.

Ehlschide and her husband Johnathon have relocated from Central City to Lawrenceburg.