Christner accepts editor’s role at Wauneta paper

    Change ahead finds Sheri Hink-Wagner preparing to turn over the Wauneta Breeze editorial responsibilities to Christi Christner, according to Co-Publisher Lori Pankonin.
    Hink-Wagner has accepted a full-time teaching position at the college in McCook, starting this fall. While putting out the newspaper in Wauneta, she also taught an evening sociology class at the Mid Plains Community College Imperial campus.
    Christner, who has worked at The Imperial Republican since January, is no stranger to Wauneta as she served as a Breeze intern while attending Wauneta-Palisade High School.
    Connection to Wauneta wasn’t new to Hink-Wagner either when she joined the Breeze staff more than five years ago.
    Years ago, Hink-Wagner volunteered at the local nursing home when her mother, Elaine Hink, was administrator, utilizing the swimming pool for afternoon entertainment.      
    She was on staff at the Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) in Lincoln when Pankonin served on the NCF board of directors. Upon learning Hink-Wagner had a desire to move back to western Nebraska, Pankonin saw her as a good fit with Johnson Publications.
    “We’re losing a gem,” said Breeze Co-Publisher Lori Pankonin.  
Christner to take charge
    “It is absolutely amazing being back in my hometown,” Christner said.
    “I am excited to have the opportunity to give back to this community that has invested both its time and support, which ultimately helped shape me into who I am today,” she added.
    At The Imperial Republican, Christner writes news and feature stories, as well as being involved in newspaper production with page layout. She takes a humorous approach to life experiences in a personal column that runs in the Republican titled “Making Memories, Living Life.”
    Christner, who lives in Hamlet, will transition to Wauneta in July and will work with Hink-Wagner for a month before she moves on to her position with the college.
    Hink-Wagner and her husband, Brad, have three children, Ty, Leo and Lana. They will continue to live in Imperial.