Ronald Slechta and his wife Helen own the News. They first purchased The Kalona News in 1992. Ronald Slechta is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Journalism in 1966, and has worked at newspapers in Denison, Boone and Tama in Iowa and as publisher of the Red River Valley Times in Moorhead, MN. Slechta is a member of the board of directors of the Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kalona Optimist Club, serving as past president of both organizations. Helen is business manager and member of Board of Directors of the Kalona Historical Society for the past 27 years. They and two children and six grand children. Daughter Beryl Marner also assist in the bookkeeping end of the business.
JJ Peters joined The News in September as news editor. Originally from Cedar Rapids, he graduated from high school in 2018 and attended Kirkwood Community College before completing a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2023. He is the founder of Sports Town Network and previously worked at KCII Radio for a year as Assistant News/Sports Director. In his spare time, JJ is a content creator, avid sports fan, and enjoys running.
Paul Bowker covers local news and sports. He also is an Olympics writer and editor, and children's book author. Follow him on Twitter: @bowkerpaul
Colette Yoder is the office manager for The News. She is usually the first person you see when you walk in our B Avenue office. Her responsibilities include classified and legal advertising, obituaries and subscriptions. She has been at The News for 14 years. Prior to that, she worked with her mom and dad at Ellen’s Sewing Center where the Kalona Brewing Company is now located. In addition to the sewing shop, the family held flea markets and craft shows in the building. Colette grew up in Kalona and graduated from Iowa Mennonite School. She attended business college in Mason City. She has three boys. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing.
Eli is a Kalona native where he graduated from Hillcrest Academy. He recently earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Eastern Mennonite University. During his time at EMU he also studied digital communications and was part of the school’s newspaper, The Weather Vane. Outside of work, Eli finds joy in being outside through activities like disc golf, pickleball and flying his drone. He also enjoys all things sports and is involved in coaching middle school baseball and basketball at Hillcrest Academy.
