Battle Born Media announced Aug. 1 that it has appointed Barbara Ellestad as Editor of Mesquite Local News effective immediately.Barb

“We are proud to have Barbara join our staff at Mesquite Local News,” said Kirk Kern, chief operating officer of Battle Born Media. “She brings a wealth of knowledge about the local community, issues and organizations to our company. We look forward to tapping her experience in news reporting to enhance the excellent staff we already have in place.”

By joining the MLN team, Ellestad returns to her roots in journalism, having begun with the newspaper as a reporter in 2007 and continuing intermittently through 2011. She created the pioneering and highly successful Mesquite Citizen Journal online-only newspaper in July 2011 and served as its Editor and Publisher until a family crisis caused her to close the business in March 2014.

“It’s quite interesting how life sometimes brings you full circle,” Ellestad commented about her appointment. “I began as a novice reporter with the Mesquite Local News under its then-owners Morris Workman and Cindi Delaney. And now I’m honored to return to the place where I started.

“I’m also proud to be a part of the excellent staff at the MLN. I look forward to working closely with Stephanie Frehner, Burton Weast, Teri Nehrenz and Lou Martin and continue bringing the latest news, information and commentary to the Mesquite community.”

Because Ellestad is a member of the Virgin Valley Water District Board of Directors, she will not be reporting about the Water Board, Kern said. “Our other reporters will continue coverage of the water district issues without any input from her.”

Said Ellestad, “I recognize the importance of drawing a line between my responsibilities to the water district ratepayers and my duties as the MLN Editor. I will not be reporting on any current Water Board activities. In fact, that was one of the conditions of my employment with Battle Born Media.

“After a year and a half of being absent from the news business following my husband’s death, I look forward to getting back to reporting on issues and events important to the Mesquite community. I’ll bring with me some of the popular monthly features we developed on the Mesquite Citizen Journal along with my experience building a vibrant online web presence.”

Ellestad and her husband Scott moved to Mesquite in 2001 from Montana, where they lived for eight years after they both retired from U.S. Air Force active duty. After her retirement, she taught in the Montana State University Department of Computer Science for five years as an Adjunct Professor. After moving to Mesquite, Ellestad taught for University of Phoenix in its online school for five years.

She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Information Systems Management and a second Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management (magna cum laude) from Park College Parkville, Missouri.

In addition to serving as vice president of the VVWD Board of Directors, Ellestad serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Mesquite Arts Foundation and the Mesquite Opportunities Regional Fund.

Battle Born Media is a Nevada-based corporation that, in addition to the Mesquite Local News, owns The Ely Times, Mineral County Independent-News, Lincoln County Record, The Eureka Sentinel and the Sparks Tribune.