Penny Wiegert
Editor
Observer employee since 1986
Penny has been on staff at The Observer since 1986 and editor since 2002. She and her husband Russell have four grown children. She is an active member of St. Mary Parish in Pecatonica where she is a lector and Eucharistic Minister.
Penny is an active member of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association and is Past President of the Catholic Press Association for the United States and Canada. In her spare time, she and her entire family enjoy participating in community theatre.
The Observer provides Penny with the opportunity to enjoy two passions … the Catholic faith and newspapering.
Amanda Hudson
News editor
Observer employee since 1993
Amanda came to The Observer from the communications department at an insurance company. She has a master’s degree from NIU in communications studies.
She is a member at Holy Family Parish in Rockford.
Never married, she has shared her home with her mother since just before she came to The Observer.
Amanda is a lay member of the Discalced Carmelite Order (OCDS) and belongs to a community that meets in Rockford.
Megan Peterson
Observer employee since 2021
Megan has a bachelor’s degree in writing and painting from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Along the way, she discovered an interest in graphic design.
During her later years there, she tutored students in writing and helped develop issues of Quercus, the school’s visual art and literary journal. She sharpened her editing skills on the editorial staff and was inspired by the sense of community the journal created among past and present students and faculty.
As it turned out, her experience with the journal previewed things she now likes about The Observer! She continues to contribute to her school’s journal as an alumna.
She is a member of St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park, where she is a lector.
During her free time, she loves being with her family, hiking, painting (and art of all kinds), and playing video games.
Jill Bonk
Accounting and Data Processing
Observer employee since 2002
In addition to her work for The Observer, Jill works with Hispanic Ministry as accountant and business manager.
She has two college age children.
They attend St. Mary/St. Patrick Parish in Durand/Irish Grove.
Gary Haughton
Production Manager, Web Administrator
Observer employee since 1997
Gary has been involved in newspaper production all of his adult life.
He is co-owner of a small weekly newspaper and also owns and operates a small printing company.
A life-long resident of Durand, he is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He has been involved in local politics and since 2005 has held the office of Durand Village President. He also held the office of Village Trustee for four terms (1983-1999).
He has three grown children and three grandchildren.
He’s an avid Bears and Cubs fan, enjoys Nascar racing and collects Coca-Cola memorabilia. He also enjoys photography, but admits that his busy schedule does not allow for as much camera time as he would like.
During the summer months he spends much of his free time driving his 1966 Chevelle SS-396 to car shows, cruise nights and day trips. He has owned the classic muscle car since 1971 and restored it to near original condition in 2008. He is a member of the Stateline Classics Car Club, Durand, and the Gentlemen Car Club, Loves Park..
Contributing writers
Sharon Boehlefeld
Lynne Conner
Patricia Szpekowski
John Tuttle
