Our Team
Cori Koenig, editor
A Montanan through and through, Cori has lived in Madison County intermittently since 1994. She spent her high school years in the beautiful Upper Ruby and graduated as a Sheridan Panther. She has been passionate about building community since her college days at Montana State University and believes there is no better place than a vibrant community paper. Cori is currently raising two little darlings with her husband and getting outside as much as possible.
1) Why do you love journalism? I love being helping our communities share the stories that are important to their lives. Whether it's local government in action, a recent school board decision that affects their family, a natural resource story or a touching human interest piece, all of these stories are interwoven into the fabric of the day to day lives of our neighbors and friends. Connection and understanding are very important to me.
2) What are three of your favorite thing? My family, yoga (better yet, yoga on my paddle board) and sunshine on my shoulders.
3) Favorite quote? “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”― George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons
Jolene Palmer, reporter
A born and bred Cheesehead, Jolene Palmer moved to Big Sky in 2008 after graduating from journalism school. In Big Sky she found her love for the mountains, as well as her first reporter gig at the Lone Peak Lookout and Bozeman Daily Chronicle. She eventually took on another job, but found her way back to the Lookout when it was revived by the publishers of The Madisonian, working as reporter and eventually editor until her son James was born. Now, she’s enjoying Montana life in Ennis with her husband, toddler, vizsla Mabel, and rescue cat Scotch. Oh, and some chickens.
1) Why do you love journalism? I appreciate the opportunity to be creative while also providing a useful service to my community. Meeting people and sharing their stories is a favorite aspect of this career for me.
2) What are three of your favorite things? Cheese, cheesy murder mysteries, and rock hounding.
3) Favorite quote? This changes often for me! I’m currently on a Star Wars kick and surviving a pandemic, so here’s the latest. “In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.” - Jedi Master Yoda
Keely Larson, staff reporter, customer service, social media
Born and raised, and still living in Montana, Keely Larson let her love of history drive her to graduate from Montana State Univeristy with degrees in history and religious studies. After an internship with the Lone Peak Lookout in Big Sky, writing and reporting felt like the next step forward. Using the skills she learned while in school and on the job, she continued to write for the Lookout, as well as The Madisonian and Dance Spirit Magazine. She lives up in Big Sky with her boyfriend, teaches a variety of dance classes in Bozeman and can never have enough pairs of socks.
1) Why do you love journalism? I find great value in seeing any and all sides of a story and opening others' minds to the idea that one explanation may not always be the perfect fit. Additionally, I love bringing history into my stories, whether it's through family lines or decisions with longevity.
2) What are three of your favorite things? Dancing, making pierogies with my boyfriend and prosecco.
3) Favorite quote? "We have, as human beings, a storytelling problem. We're a bit too quick to come up with explanations for things we don't really have an explanation for." Malcolm Gladwell
Susanne Hill, publisher
1) Why do you love journalism? I love being a part of building community - the verb. I love knowing that the stories we publish build cohesion and trust and remind us all that we have a stake in one another as human beings. I love knowing we use our platform to passionately serve ALL of our readers. And, that the journalists who come work with our team do so because they love affecting the human condition by providing facts and truths and the tools necessary for their readers to assimilate into their own version of better living. When all of this comes together with advertising to then drive commerce within each of our wonderful communities, the work feels pretty amazing.
2) What are three of your favorite things? Cheesy Hallmark movies, fast cars and loyal friends. And horses. And ice cream and good chocolate. And loud belly laughs…
3) Favorite quote? “Vulnerability is not about fear and grief and disappointment. It’s the birthplace of everything we’re hungry for.” Brené Brown
Erin Leonard, publisher
1) Why do you love journalism? I am a sixth generation Montanan and fell into publishing newspapers by chance. A graphic designer by trade, I was asked to work at my local newspaper, The Madisonian, in January of 2012. I fell in love with the business and soon, along with my co-worker Susanne Hill, was lucky enough to purchase The Madisonian by the end of 2012. Since then, Susanne and I have had the pleasure of reviving the Lone Peak Lookout. When not obsessing over the papers, I obsess over my two kids Harper and Jack, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
2) What are three of your favorite things? Live music, outside, hot dogs.
3) Favorite quote? "Decide what to be and go be it." Avett Brothers
