O’Hagan joins NEWS team

Jeremiah O’Hagan The NEWS has another new face around the office.

Jeremiah O’Hagan, 27, joined the team as staff reporter last week.

Currently, O’Hagan is working on a Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in nonfiction from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts on Whidbey Island. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Western Washington University with a secondary education residency certification from Woodring College of Education in Bellingham.

While earning his teaching certification, O’Hagan taught English at Stanwood High School. After graduating in 2007, he continued teaching English at Mount Vernon High School before returning to Stanwood High for two years until last June.

O’Hagan has lived on Camano Island with his wife, Kari, for the past five years. Kari works for Windermere Realty in Arlington. He grew up in Smokey Point and attended Lakewood High School.

An active outdoorsman, O’Hagan enjoys fly-fishing and mountaineering. His adventures have taken him to numerous peaks throughout the region. Other interests include cooking, traveling and photography.

O’Hagan is excited to use his writing and photography skills as a professional journalist.

“I believe that in the end, all we have are stories,” he said. “To tell those stories is thrilling.”

He will cover the city of Stanwood, Island County news, the Sno-Isle Libraries system, local law enforcement and fire department news, as well as general assignments.

O’Hagan replaces Kristi Pihl who took a position with the Tri-City Herald newspaper. Pihl worked at the NEWS for one year.