We are proud and honored to work with such a fine staff at the Home Town Clipper ...
 

Cara Mitchell, Staff writer, Ad design

“Wish it…dream it…do it.”

I grew up hiking the woods and skiing the trails around Winter Park, Colorado. I went to college, on a music scholarship, at Colorado State University. While I sang in the university chorus, my choice of career focused in on journalism and the environment. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in technical journalism and natural resource interpretation. In 1995, my husband and I moved to Washington State, seeking new adventures. We became DuPont residents in 1999. I am blessed to be a mother of two bright and rambunctious boys. I’ve worked in the field of communications for 15 years, and am currently a reporter and ad designer for the Clipper. When spare time allows, you’ll find me in the garden, or out walking or hiking. I love to quilt, sing, cook on occasion, and read, especially to my kids.

Kim Roedl, Staff writer

My name is Kim Roedl. I am an Army wife and mother. I have been a print journalist for 10 years. These days, my passion is writing for the Clipper. I love to volunteer, play with my kids, and spend as much time with my husband as I can, shop and make new friends. The quote that basically sums up everything for me was made by Oprah Winfrey: " I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint-and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you."

Cathy Palmer, Ad Design

As the ad designer, I bring to the Clipper more than 20 years of graphic design and advertising experience. The "artsy" stuff carries on into my hobbies -- quilting, sewing, photography, and music. I was born in Detroit but grew up in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, and a few places in-between. I ended up in Washington 'cause I was just sick and tired of all those sunny southern California days. (Oh, did I mention I was sick of the smog, the traffic, and the congestion too?) Words to live by: They've finally come up with the perfect office computer. If it makes a mistake, it blames another computer. (Milton Berle)

Dawn Mahaffey, Layout and Production, Ad Design

I was born and raised in Tacoma, the youngest of four children. My family moved to southern Arizona when I was 14, where I graduated high school and went on to work as a truck driver. Over the years, I’ve lived in several western states, where I’ve had the opportunity to work in several other trades as well – as a heavy equipment operator and logger; I’ve cut firewood, built buses, been a food server and a vocational trainer for people with disabilities, among other things. I moved back home to Washington in 1990, and in 2000, I finally decided to go to college and graduated two years later from Pierce College with an Associates Degree in Digital Design. I’ve worked as a graphic designer in the newspaper publishing business since that time and was thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Home Town Clipper staff in the fall of 2007. I live with my two dogs – a Weimariner/German Shorthair Pointer mix, an 18-year-old Cairn terrier – and a huge orange cat, all of which are rescued. I hope one day to live and retire in New Zealand.

Hi, ya'll. You might expect me to say this (although this truly isn't my normal greeting) as I'm originally from Springfield, Missouri, which is in the southwest corner of the state. I'm a staff writer at the Clipper. My husband and I moved to this area from Cincinnati several years ago, where I worked in the financial services industry writing and editing fun things like prospectuses, annual reports, and marketing literature. We're blessed to have a lively son and daughter, which means that a lot of my free time is taken up with PTA events, birthday parties, and acting as a chauffeur to school and extracurricular events. Just to make sure that there are no dull moments in between those times, we have two rather large, messy, lovable dogs. If I were planning a perfect day, I'd spend it reading, taking a walk, and tap-dancing followed by playing Cranium with friends and family on the deck. There's a quote by Albert Einstein on our refrigerator that helps me keep a positive attitude: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

I’m originally from California, where I met my husband, O.J. of 17 years but now we call DuPont, Washington -our home. He’s a Special Forces SFC in the Army soon to retire. My life as a military spouse and mother of two school age girls, Eden (10) and Olivia (6) is never a dull moment. Their activities and interests keep us all busy and plugged into our community. I enjoy leading their Girl Scout troops, assisting with their youth group activities on Ft. Lewis and helping out in the classroom at Chloe Clark. I also am a substitute teacher on occasion at the school. Volunteer leadership is my passion. I get great satisfaction from investing in my community. Currently, I have broadened my horizons in writing human-interest stories about DuPont residents for the Hometown Clipper. I know lots of great people here and have many stories to share. Sharing about our residents is so exciting for me. For me, I enjoy reading, working out, gardening, getting sun and serving our community. As of March, I was appointed to the City Council of DuPont, Washington for the Councilmember position #2. This is particularly exciting for my family and me, as we believe this is a natural progression of community involvement for me to be a representative for our city and as for the family and military resident voice. In order to keep it all in balance, I rely on the bible in the New Testament to keep me in focus, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24.