A veteran of both the military and the news business has taken the helm at The Newberry Observer.

New Publisher Denny Koenders was born in South Dakota, and has worked in the newspaper industry for 44 years. He has served at papers in New Mexico, Alabama, Montana, Iowa and North Carolina.

Koenders will make his home and headquarters in Newberry, but will also oversee operations at sister papers in Winnsboro, Pickens, Easley, Powdersville and Union.

“I want to make sure the community of Newberry feel and understand the local newspaper belongs to them,“ said Koenders.

Koenders adds, he wants the public to know they are free to come to The Observer at any time to express their thoughts and opinions openly.

“Every organization needs to feel free to bring issues and their goals to us for us to assist in making Newberry a place to raise their families,“ said Koenders.

Another driving principle for the new publisher is making sure The Observer has excellent local content.

Koenders points out the paper has a number of employees, most of whom make their homes in the county with their families.

This gives the paper’s staff, from the pressroom to the newsroom, a vested interest in the community, he says.

Throughout his newspaper career, Koenders has been an avid supporter of chambers of commerce, and has served on chamber boards in Alabama and as chamber president.

He adds his life and his history have been formed in communities the size of Newberry.

Koenders is also a long-time member of the Rotary Club and was in two centennial celebrations and the State of South Dakota Bicentennial committee.

He has also served as an ambassador for several towns similar in size to Newberry.

Also, having served in the Vietnam War, Koenders is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and served a junior vice-commander and Vietnam veteran coordinator for the state of South Dakota.

Koenders and his wife, Karen, have six children and seven grandchildren.