WES SIDE STORY

Scanning the CK Reporter’s new-look pages, tallying your likes and dislikes, pros and cons, you’ve probably mulled through the articles (hopefully) wondering, “Who’s this Wesley character? And, where is Paul?”

As noted in his final column, Paul recently transferred within the company to work on our growing Web site, leaving behind a desk, chair and “beat” list for somebody to assume.

Yep, that somebody is me; Wesley Remmer, the newest education, health, transportation, environment, social services, growth and “other” reporter to land in Silverdale.

Growing up on Bainbridge Island, where I lived for 18 years before answering college’s call, my passion for Kitsap County is as old as I am. I learned one lesson during four years of undergrad work in Boulder, Co.: Seattle sports, drizzly Decembers and the floundering ferryboats of Puget Sound embody who I am because Kitsap County is my home.

While my Rocky Mountain high will last a lifetime, I’m glad to be back at sea level.

Other than spending time on the water, especially on satisfying summer days, I enjoy hiking, camping and most anything outdoors. A coffee drinker, night person and sports fanatic, I’m a pretty easy-going guy.

I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in May of last year, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. But after a summer’s work, I veered off highway 9-to-5 in search of something a little jazzier.

On a European backpacking tour that fall I visited places like London, Paris, the Swiss countryside, Venice, Rome and the Greek Isles, learning history, absorbing culture, shaking hands — a see-how-the-world-goes-round experience I’ll not soon forget.

But two months later, with empty pockets, I needed work.

That’s when I dialed Sound Publishing, hoping to snag a writing job. I was hired on by our sister paper, the Bremerton Patriot, and my journalism career began around Christmas ’07, a month after my American return.

Working as the sports and education reporter in Bremerton, I eased back into Kitsap County living while learning the ins and outs of the press. A young guy with little-to-no newspaper experience, I combined hard work with a good attitude, eager to learn, hoping to succeed.

Fortunately I survived 5-plus months on the Bremerton beat, thanks to the community and my coworkers.

Which brings me here, to the CK Reporter.

With the revamped format — the Patriot, too, has gone to tabloid style — I’ll remain in and around the Bremerton schools, continuing my work as a Patriot reporter.

Adding Central Kitsap to my news duties is a challenge I embrace openly, and as a community newspaper reporter, I’m here to serve you, CK. I plan to draw from my Bremerton experiences while listening to your suggestions to make the transition into CK a great one.

From one stretch of Highway 3 to another, I look forward to my time in Silverdale. See you around town.

Wesley Remmer can be reached at wremmer@centralkitsapreporter.com.