Meet the Publisher/Managing Editor
Sue Detar, Publisher/Managing Editor. Sue started the newspaper in the fall of 2003 to merge two of passions - writing and her community. The Daniel Island News is Sue’s first publishing and editing adventure.
“I saw some really great papers in other small communities and wanted to bring a community paper to my own neighborhood,” Sue said.
Sue and her husband Todd moved to Daniel Island in 1997 with their then two children, before the I-526 interchange to the island was built. At the time, there were only about 50 people living on Daniel Island and it was hard to find someone for her children to play with. Their third child, born in 1998, was one of the first children to be born on Daniel Island. Today, there are so many children, businesses, churches and friends on the island that a community newspaper serves as an excellent avenue for communication.
A 1988 graduate of Lafayette College with a degree in Government & Law and Russian Studies, Sue is also a 1991 graduate of Temple University School of Law. Prior to starting the paper, she taught political science at Charleston Southern University. Sue’s legal experience is in construction and engineering law and in general business.
The paper has two mottos: (1) The Daniel Island News - Promoting the Power of Community; and (2) The Daniel Island News – That’s My Paper!
Both mottos fit Sue’s vision for the paper: “I encourage our readers to contribute stories and photos to the paper because The Daniel Island News is the community’s paper.”
You can reach Sue at 843.345.1563 or at sdetar@thedanielislandnews.com.
Meet the design staff
Cindy Ensminger, Creative Director. Cindy is originally from Myrtle Beach, SC and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from USC in 1984.
Her previous experience as a graphic designer includes six years at The Summerville Journal Scene, two years at The Post and Courier and three years at Pelican Companies.
Cindy resides in Goose Creek with her son Corbin, 17 and daughter Chapin, 14, both students at Bishop England High School.
Meet the General Manager/Advertising Director
Jason Propst has joined the staff of the Daniel Island News as the general manager and advertising director. A veteran newspaper professional, Propst was the general manager for the Gannett-owned News Record and Sentinel, a weekly paper outside of Asheville, N.C. Prior to taking the helm of the News Record and Sentinel, he was an advertising sales manager with the daily Asheville Citizen-Times.
Propst will oversee the advertising and business operations of The Daniel Island News. A Georgia Bulldog football fan, he will also contribute by covering high school football.
Propst is enjoying working with the community. "I have already met so many wonderful people that have made me feel right at home. We have a wonderful team here at the paper and I am excited to be a part of it. My goal is to put out the absolute best product we can each and every week because we owe that to our readers and our advertisers."
Jason can be reached at jason@thedanielislandnews.com or at 843-557-9571.
Meet the sales staff
Tony Sylvester, Sales Executive, has lived in Charleston all his life. He graduated from Francis Marion with a B.S. in Business Administration. He spent most of his working career as a golf professional in Wescott before moving into the sales field. He, his fiancee Rachel, and their dog Hunley (yes, named after THAT Hunley), live on John's Island. Tony can be reached at tony@thedanielislandnews.com or at 843-324-8312.
Ronda Schilling, Sales Executive, is an active resident in the Daniel Island community, serving on the City of Charleston Recreation Commission organizing the first kids triathlon, and being active at The Daniel Island School, where her two children attend. Ronda has a bachelors of science degree, having worked as a respiratory therapist for 10 years and is a commissioned oil artist. Ronda and her husband Bob enjoy boating, running and the healthy Daniel Island lifestyle. Ronda can be reached at ronda@thedanielislandnews.com or at 843-330-1981.
Meet the writers
Tom Ratzloff, News and Feature Writer. Tom is a native Minnesotan who has spent more than 25 years as a journalist. He and his wife, Mary Durben, published The Old Times Newspaper, a four-state regional antiques publication, for 14 years. After selling the paper in late 2004, he is excited to have the opportunity to write for The Daniel Island News.
"To me, journalism is a ringside seat on life and there are countless important stories to be told about life on the island," he said.
You can contact Tom at (843) 597-2798 or via e-mail at: tom@thedanielislandnews.com
Elizabeth Bush, News and Features Writer. Beth graduated from Appalachian State University in 1989 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Communication Arts (and a concentration in Broadcast Journalism). After graduating, she worked at WCTI-TV 12 News in New Bern, North Carolina, as a Weekend News Anchor/Reporter and Producer. While at WCTI-TV, Elizabeth also served as Bureau Chief for the station’s Jacksonville office, covering a variety of stories about the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, military deployments to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm, and more. In addition, she traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to report on the marines’ involvement in the Haitian Relief Effort.
In 1994, Elizabeth transitioned into the field of public relations and took a position as Communications Specialist for Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, PA. After several years as a “stay-at-home” mom, she recently rekindled her journalism career as a freelance writer for The Daniel Island News. She lives on Daniel Island with her husband, Jeff, and their two children, Allyson and Cameron.
You can contact Beth at (843) 670-8830 or via e-mail at: beth@thedanielislandnews.com
Meet the Classifieds and Circulation Manager
Kristina Evans has many roles here at The Daniel Island News. She is responsible for classified ad sales and laying out the classified pages. She assists in the graphic design department and contributes photographs. She is also in charge of billing, circulation, distribution, and subscriptions. She has has been with the paper since January 2007. Kristina is in school pursuing a degree in Graphic Design. She has experience in photography, website design, and graphic design, as well as accounting and office management. You can also contact her for any billing questions.
Contact Kristina at kristina@thedanielislandnews.com or 856-1999.