Kytonen returns to CNR

The County News Review is getting a new managing editor.

But the new person in charge of the newspaper is a familiar face.

Rachel Kytonen, who spent 20 years working for the County News Review and its predecessor, the Isanti County News, will return as the County News Review’s managing editor starting Thursday, May 16.

Kytonen served as managing editor of the Isanti County News and later the County News Review for 12 years before leaving in May of 2022 for a position in city government.

While at those two newspapers, Kytonen won numerous awards for her writing, editing and photography.

“I am excited to return to the County News Review and community journalism,” Kytonen said. “I would like to thank John Wagner and the great job he did the past two years as managing editor. I am glad that John [Wagner] will be staying on in the role as community editor.

“Together with sports reporter Trent Reynolds, John and I look forward to continuing to provide the area with quality journalism and writing stories that matter and make a difference within the communities we serve.”

Wagner, who served as the managing editor for the past two years, will assume the role of community editor. He will replace Nikki Hallman, who leaves to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing at Minnesota State-Mankato.