R-C announces staff changes

Sharlene Irete has been named people editor at The Record-Courier, replacing Jo Rafferty who left to work at the Coos Bay World in Oregon.

Irete came to work for the newspaper in the business and education beats in October 2005. She is a 2003 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, and a 19-year resident of the Gardnerville Ranchos.

Irete was recognized by the Nevada Press Association with an award for best interpretive story for her coverage of Don Bently's bio-fuel project.

"Moving Sharlene to the people desk was a no-brainer for me," Editor Kurt Hildebrand said. "She knows the territory and is very easy to talk to."

Irete is the Record-Courier's fifth people editor in the past 30 years.

Replacing Irete on the business and education beat is 2000 Douglas High School graduate and former R-C intern Scott Neuffer. Neuffer grew up in Gardnerville, played soccer and skied for Douglas High.

He has an English degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

"Even in high school, I loved to write and wrote for the Record Courier as an intern," he said.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Neuffer said he and his friends worked as street musicians.

"I played guitar and sang bad lyrics, coaxing large tips from foreigners," he said.

"Scott is a strong writer who grew up in the Valley," Hildebrand said. "I couldn't ask for a better replacement for Sharlene."