Dewey, Opsahl join Observer staff

RIO RANCHO — Two new faces have joined the Rio Rancho Observer in recent weeks.

Larry Dewey has joined the staff as an advertising representative. Dewey, who was born and raised in the Midwest, has decades of experience in media sales marketing campaigns and events. He moved to Rio Rancho 10 years ago and “loves the community, the people, the view,” he said.

“The Observer is the traditional small-town newspaper capable of connecting people and commerce, a proud heritage,” Dewey said. “I like the connection of the paper and the opportunity to serve our business community. See you around town!”

In addition, Kevin Opsahl is the latest addition to the Observer newsroom as a general assignment reporter, focusing on city government and education.

He most recently covered education for the Albuquerque Journal and says he is looking forward to reporting on Rio Rancho, a community he says is like others he has covered in Western states.

Opsahl’s coverage at the Journal includes covering the allegations of wasteful spending at Western New Mexico University and localizing the local impacts the Trump Administration has had on education.

He is a graduate of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, where he was a staff writer and assistant news editor for the campus paper. His work took him to papers in Utah — where he earned the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sunshine Award — as well as the states of Washington and Oregon, winning an award for spot news reporting. In New Mexico, he reported for The Gallup Sun during the pandemic.

Opsahl said he became familiar with the Observer during his tenure at the Journal and “came to admire the keen eye the news staff had on balancing watchdog journalism with local events.”

“We are so excited to have Larry and Kevin on our staff,” Observer editor Tracy Goldizen said. “I am confident that their energy, their experience and their passion will continue to move the Observer in a positive direction.”

In addition, readers will see a familiar name in the sports section. With Taylor Hood moving over to the Journal, longtime sports editor Gary Herron, who retired in May, will be handling sports duties this spring as a freelance writer in tandem with Daniel Zuniga, who has freelanced for the Observer for a number of years.