New editor for Sunny South News

This edition of the Sunny South News marks the final one with Kathy Bly as editor.

Bly, who has worked over 20 years with the News, will be wrapping up her newspaper career and moving on to a position with the Town of Coaldale.

“I decided after nearly 30 years in the newspaper business it was time to look for new challenges and experiences.”

This week Bly begins her new position as Community Services Co-ordinator in Coaldale.

“I have enjoyed being a newspaper reporter and photographer over the last three decades but now it is time for someone else to take over the helm of the News.”

It was her great-uncle Robert Rasmussen who shared his love of photography with her as one of her high school teachers that helped her on her career path. It was her uncle David Bly, well known in newspaper circles, who first planted the reporter seed in her when she was just a young girl. He invited her on a walk to discover things they could photograph after she got in trouble with her grandma and he found her crying up in a tree.

“I had done something she’d told me numerous times not to do and she was really mad, so I climbed up the tree and was trying to hide from everyone.”

Her uncle talked her down and off the went to photograph everything from her cat on a fence to the shadow created by the outhouse door chain.

“I still have the prints of all the photographs we took that day.”

Bly said it will be hard to end her career in the newspaper business but she is looking ahead to new adventures.

Stan Ashbee, previously a reporter/photographer at the Taber Times and Vauxhall Advance, will be taking over the editor’s position this week.

“Since I was young I have always wanted to be an editor for a newspaper and I am truly thankful for this fantastic opportunity,” said Ashbee.

He is also an entertainment freelance writer for several southern Alberta newspapers and magazines including the Lethbridge Herald, the Medicine Hat News and Lethbridge Living Magazine. He has also written for newspapers in Cochrane, Alta., Kelowna, B.C. and in Alaska.

Ashbee is also a singer/songwriter and has recorded two collections of original music and in the past has performed live throughout southern Alberta and B.C. as a solo artist, in a duo or trio and in a band. He has also organized three showcases of local musicians in Lethbridge for concerts entitled, “Acoustically Inclined.”

His writing is not limited to news, he has also self-published two collections of poetry.

As the proud father of two young children, Ashbee is looking forward to sharing the activities of the region with them.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Sunny South News but I realize I have some pretty big shoes to fill,” said Ashbee.

His educational background includes both Communication Studies and Broadcast Arts. He was also a certified hypnotherapist for several years.

He has also worked at Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo for the past three years in several capacities including stage manager, programming, operations and behind the scenes.

Ashbee is a fanboy who enjoys all things pop culture related. He has also worked as a roadie for Enmax Centre for several concerts and productions for years. Ashbee has also been a mobile DJ/host and radio host for many years, as well.

Born in Welland, Ont., which is close to Niagara Falls, he has travelled much of the U.S. and would say New Orleans, New York and San Francisco are three of his favourite destinations.

“I have lived in southern Alberta since the late 1980s, so the area has been home for quite some time,” said Ashbee.

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