Meet The Press

AMANDA ZIMMER, owner/publisher

I am the publisher here at the Local Press.
I gained my first experience in the printing industry working after school in a print shop in Vulcan. After attaining my Printing Management Technologies diploma from SAIT I joined the staff of the Local Press full time. I’ve been here since 1999!
In my personal life, I’m married to Craig Zimmer, who is a long-time Claresholm resident, and current Town of Claresholm Councillor. We have a daughter, Hailyn who is grown and on her own now working as a registered dental assistant.
I am involved in many other organizations within our community, such as the Claresholm & District Chamber of Commerce, Welcoming Claresholm Committee, Summer Games Planning Committee; and I am also on the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association board as a director, and the CA McLean Bursary Committee. 

I love living in a small community and being a part of the connection people have to each other through our newspaper. I truly believe the newspaper is the hub of our community and love to see people reading and sharing it! 

BRANDY MCLEAN,
Account Manager

Growing up in Claresholm I developed a love for the Claresholm Local Press at a young age, it started before I could even read. Every Wednesday, I would eagerly check to see if someone I knew was in the paper. As I grew older, my passion for reading the news grew stronger.

In March of 2004 the Local Press took a gamble hiring me, a 19 year old girl, to work their front desk/accounts receivables. From there my love of reading the paper evolved to working there. In 2009, my husband, Jace and I had our first child Ty; in 2011 we welcomed our second Jordi into the world and that is when I made the hard decision to leave the paper to be a full time mom.
As my daughter was about to start school, I began looking for work and was excited to return to the Local Press in 2015 in ad sales. Since then our office has seen a few changes, I can still be found doing sales but also look after the front desk and account receivables. I am proud to work for the newspaper that has served our community for so many years.
Our spare time is spent chasing our children around, Ty plays hockey, football and baseball and Jordi loves figure skating, volleyball and softball. When we have a free moment we try to sneak some camping and taking in the great outdoors.

ROB VOGT, editor

I started working at the Local Press in September of 2001. Originally recruited as the reporter, I have been editor since May, 2004. A graduate of the University of Alberta, as well as Lethbridge College’s print journalism program.
I believe I have found my niche at the Local Press. The opportunity to share people’s lives, tell their stories, and contribute to recording the history of this community are all blessings I count every day.
Working in a community newspaper makes me accountable to the readers because we all live side by side.
I also take pride in knowing what I do matters to the community. For many people, the Local Press is their sole source for local news, sports, and human interest stories about their friends, family, and neighbours. That means no two days are the same. Every day offers the chance to learn something new and meet someone with an interesting story to tell.
Born and raised in Southern Alberta, I appreciate the value of hard work and commitment, something I learned from my parents on the family farm north of Coaldale.
In my spare time, I play basketball, volleyball, and slow pitch; read; work on the Great Canadian Novel; spend time with my family; and regularly post to my blog RobVogt80s.

TREVOR McDAVID, graphic design

I’m the newest member of the Claresholm Local Press team, having just started full time in October 2022.  I enjoy being creative, and helping bring a client’s vision into reality and a smile to their face. I love being outdoors, bbq, and spending time with family.

I look forward to working with you in the future!