Nelson joins Express as general manager/editor
The new year is bringing new management to the Red Oak Express offices.
On Dec. 31, Tess Nelson of rural Bethesda joined the Red Oak Express offices as the new general manager/editor.
“The New Year is meant for positive changes so it’s only fitting I kick off 2019 with a new company, Landmark Community Newspapers, which includes the Red Oak Express and the Glenwood Opinion Tribune, in my new position,” Nelson said.
She added she is excited to get to know the people and places in and around Red Oak and Glenwood, and she looks forward to continuing to help provide the community with a reliable, unbiased local newspaper. She previously worked at the Valley News in Shenandoah for many years.
“For the past 13 years, I was a writer and editor at The Valley News as well as the Essex Independent, and about four years ago, I added the Sidney Argus-Herald to my list of responsibilities. Although I took journalism classes in college and worked at the college newspaper, it wasn’t until I started at The Valley News that I came to admire local journalism and the newspaper business,” said Nelson.
When not in the office, Nelson said she’s more than likely at home, a third-generation family farm in rural Bethesda owned by her and her husband, Bryan. The couple also have an 8-year-old son, Colt, an orange tabby, named Yellow and a blue heeler/Catahoula cross pup, named Hair Dryer.
Bryan is a salesman for Vetter Equipment in Shenandoah and has a cow-calf operation and row crops. Colt is in the second grade at Essex Community Schools and is involved in soccer, Clover Kids, t-ball, swimming, and recently starting taking guitar lessons. are members of the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Essex Community Club and Essex Booster Club. I am also involved with the Page-Fremont County Relay For Life and am the co-founder and Board President of Holly’s Hope, a non-profit organization in Page, Fremont and Montgomery County for victims of domestic violence, at swihollyshope.com. Nelson lived in a variety of places before settling down outside of Bethesda.
“I grew up in rural Farragut on a farm. I was in sports, 4-H and FFA. I then continued my education at Peru State College where I felt my calling was in secondary English education; however, upon spending time in a classroom, I changed my mind. I lived in southeast Nebraska and northwest Wisconsin for several years before moving back to Iowa in 2005, where I began my news career with The Valley News,” commented Nelson.
Nelson added the Red Oak Express has a long history of being a reputable newspaper and as it begins a new year she fully looks forward to doing all she can to continue that tradition.
“My door is always open,” Nelson said.