Changing of the guard at the Sentinel

On Tuesday, new reporter Caleb Vierkant arrived on the afternoon jet from his hometown of Bullard, Texas.

Home-schooled until college, he attended Texas A&M in College Station. He earned two bachelor's degrees there, double-majoring in history and journalism with minors in English and military studies. After graduating in May 2017, he went to work for his hometown paper, the Jacksonville Progress.

He worked there until July 6, when he accepted a job with the Wrangell Sentinel. Vierkant had visited Alaska once in his youth on a family cruise, but the transition this week will be a new experience for him.

"It seemed like an interesting place to come to,'' he said. "Looking forward to figuring out how life works up here.''

He is accompanied by his dog, Sky, a three-year old "fat dingo.'' In his spare time Vierkant likes to read and write, watch movies and explore with his dog.

After four years at the Sentinel's desk, Dan Rudy will be heading back to school to pursue his master's degree in journalism, at Columbia Journalism School in Manhattan. He reportedly had an enjoyable time living and working in Wrangell, an experience unlike any he had previously encountered.

"I am enormously grateful to all the friends, neighbors and acquaintances here who have made this such a rich and interesting chapter. If possible, it's one that bears repeating,'' he said.

Rudy will be going into greater detail about his time on the island during next Tuesday's "Talk on the Rock'' segment aired on KSTK.

There will be an open house this Friday from 3-5 p.m. to say goodbye to Rudy and welcome Vierkant at the Sentinel office with refreshments to be served. Petersburg Pilot staff, including publishers Anne and Ron Loesch, will also be in attendance.