Under New Management

There has been a changing of the guard here at The Courier. Former Publisher Anthony "A.J." Etherington has accepted a new posting with a newspaper out of county. His last official day here was Friday.

The sceptre of responsiblity has been passed on to Chris McDaniel, who arrived in the area in early April to take on the role of news reporter.

The Courier Staff wishes A.J. the best of luck at his new posting, and is confident he will be successful in his ongoing journalism career.

Etherington accepted the post as publisher at The Courier in April 2018 after moving to the area about three years earlier with his wife, Jewel, and five kids: Jaden, Toni, Patrick, Ella and Maria.

Being born in Hardin, Mont., Etherington's family "bounced around" in his early life between California, Idaho and North Dakota before they settled in Helena.

He graduated from Capital High School in 2005, and immediately joined the Marine Corps. He became a military intelligence analyst and Arabic linguist before serving two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

Following nine years of Marine Corps serivce, and receiving a meritourious service medal,Etherinton was honorably discharged and returned home to Helena and worked in various positions before taking on a full-time National Guard recruiter job in Glasgow.

McDaniel is a long time newspaper veteran, and has reported for six newspapers in six counties in three states.

His most recent gig was as arts editor for the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader in Washington State.

McDaniel has earned several accolades for his journalism, including best news article 2012 and best investigative article 2014 from the Arizona Newspaper Association; and second place feature page design 2019 and second place news headline 2019 from the Washington Newspaper Association.

McDaniel is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. He graduated from Peninsula College in 2020 with a bachelors degree in applied business management.

McDaniel is pleased to reside in Montana, a coming home of sorts for him as his grandfather worked the open pit mine in Butte, Mont., and his father graduated from Butte High School in 1968.