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Star Herald hires Greg Hoogeveen as sports editor

Lead Summary

Local photographer Greg Hoogeveen has been hired as the new sports editor of the Rock County Star Herald newspaper.
He brings to the job over 10 years of photography and creative experience through Digitell Studio, which captures local sporting events in photographs that are shared online for sale.
“I really enjoy sharing the photos with students and their families,” he said. “The name ‘Digitell’ comes from ‘digitally telling a story,’ and I see working with the Star Herald as a progression of that.”
Hoogeveen graduated from Luverne High School in 1988 and has a communications degree from Augustana College, Sioux Falls.
He’s the son of Ray and Joann Hoogeveen, Luverne, and his children are Tayler, 24, and Gaven, 20.
Hoogeveen comes to the Star Herald most recently from the Luverne School District, where he worked nights in the custodial department.
“I thought that might be a good job move, but after being on the job, I knew it wasn’t for me,” he said. “I love being involved with people, and that was a lot of lonely nights in empty school hallways.”
Earlier this year he left a four-year stint with Atlas of Rock County where he managed the Redeemed Remnants thrift store for the Luverne nonprofit.
“I loved my work there, I loved who I worked with, and I enjoyed feeling like I was making a difference,” he said.
“In the last few months there were some business changes in the organization, and I felt it was a good time to tackle something else.”
He said he was drawn to the Star Herald’s help-wanted ad for a sports reporter when the position first opened two years ago, but the timing wasn’t right.
Now, he said he’s looking forward to all the “people” connections that come with working as a sports reporter and photographer.
“I just think this is going to be a good fit,” he said last week when he started contacting coaches for the Star Herald Winter Sports Preview.
Star Herald managing editor Lori Sorenson agreed.
“Greg grew up here and has all the local connections with schools and families that make community newspapers successful,” she said.
“We’ve been patient and thoughtful about how we wanted to fill our sports position at the paper, and we can’t help but feel Greg’s the one we’ve been waiting for.”
John Rittenhouse left the Star Herald during the pandemic after more than 30 years at the paper, and the position hasn’t had a solid full-time person since then.
“We’ve been grateful for our contributing sports writers and photographers in the community, and I think our readers have enjoyed seeing all the local names in the bylines,” Sorenson said.
“But our high school athletes and our readers need a go-to sports editor in place, and it will be nice for our news team to focus more on news again.”
Hoogeveen can be reached at sportseditor@star-herald.com or 507-920-2534.

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