By Kris Leonhardt

In elementary school, my friends and I could not wait until we were old enough to participate in what was called “Little Olympics.”

If I am remembering correctly, the event brought together fourth graders from three different school districts to participate in track and field events.

When my friends and I found out about Little Olympics, we couldn’t wait to get signed up for the four-person relay race.

Sheila, Nancy, Jane and I practiced every recess leading up to the event.

We even had a strategy. Being the weakest runner, I was to start.

The remainder of them thought that they would be able to make up the difference on the ground I lost, so each runner would get progressively faster.

Well, that’s not the way it all panned out as the baton was passed in the actual race, but that’s a story for a different time on rising to the occasion. 

I’m going to use the same analogy, as I pass the baton to our new Stevens Point editor.

Mike Warren has a three-decade-long history in broadcast and newspaper journalism.

I am excited to see him take over in this position and cannot think of a better individual to take on the role.

I know that as I pass the Gazette on to him, he will do what he can to improve what I have established.

I know the publication is in good hands and couldn’t ask for a better person to take on the role.

Jacob Heid will remain on staff as the sports editor, and Katelyn Voorhies as staff photographer.

They will be further assisted by a handful of contributors.

I will still be around to help on some historical society projects and other projects as needed, but my focus moving forward will be on the Green Bay/Kewaunee County communities.

I have enjoyed my time in Portage County, getting to know the community better and building what I hope will be long-term relationships.

About the new editor

Warren is a 1991 graduate of Marshfield Senior High School.

In August 1992, he began his broadcast career at WDLB-AM 1450 as an announcer, a board operator and commercial producer.

In July 1993, Warren moved over to the news department, where he worked under news director Thom Gerretsen and with part-time reporter/anchor Marilyn Hansotia.

He took over as news director upon Gerretsen’s departure in May 1999.

After brief stints with Main Street Marshfield and a local community bank from 2006-08, Mike rejoined the WDLB staff as its news director in October 2008 until the station was sold in 2021.

He also worked as a part-time sports reporter, covering play-by-play assignments of local and high school sports teams and was an occasional host of the WDLB “Insight” talk program.

Warren began a newspaper freelancing career in 2017 and was hired by Multi Media Channels in 2022 as the Wood County editor.