The News Wheel Automotive Writing Staff
At The News Wheel, we are fortunate to have an excellent automotive writing staff onboard. A rare breed, they delight in new engine specs, concept cars, new car tech… and might even drool at the prospect of a car show. Meet some of our hard-working writers who burn the midnight oil to discover the latest and greatest auto news just for you. Yep, you. Visit our Contact page for information on where to direct your query.
Editorial Team:
Senior Editor
Aaron Widmar is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a 1995 Saturn SC-2 (knock on wood). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing. Articles by Aaron | Contact Aaron
Senior Editor
Kyle S. Johnson lives in Cincinnati, a city known by many as “the Cincinnati of Southwest Ohio.” He enjoys professional wrestling, Halloween, and also other things. He has been writing for a while, and he plans to continue to write well into the future. Articles by Kyle | Contact Kyle
Senior Editor
Kimiko Kidd is a native Daytonian. She graduated from Wright State University with degrees in environmental science and sociology. She loves her trusty old Honda Civic but dreams of owning a 1974 Ford Falcon XB with a custom paint job and a vintage Kawasaki Z1000. In her free time, Kimiko can be found watercolor-painting, baking muffins, collecting rocks, playing old-school Nintendo games, writing her novel, sewing stuffed animals, and cosplaying as her favorite Mad Max characters. Articles by Kimiko | Contact Kimiko
Editor
Kurt Verlin was born in France and lives in the United States. Throughout his life, he was always told French was the language of romance but it was English he fell in love with. He likes cats, music, cars, 30 Rock, Formula 1, and pretending to be a race car driver in simulators; but most of all, he just likes to write about it all. Articles by Kurt | Contact Kurt
Editor
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. Articles by DeAnn | Contact DeAnn
Editor
Caleb Cook is a recently transplanted Hoosier living in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. Articles by Caleb | Contact Caleb
Contributing Writers
In addition to our staff, we are fortunate to have auto experts from across the country (and the world!) who contribute to our headlines.
Contributing Writer
Catherine Hiles (she/her) is a native Brit living and working in Dayton, Ohio. Cat has written about a variety of subjects, including finance, cars, and parenting. She is a frequent contributor to Dayton Mom Collective, The Penny Hoarder, and WDW Magazine. Cat lives with her husband, their two kids, and their energetic pitbull mix. She counts running, lifting weights, walking, and reading among her hobbies. Articles by Cat
Contributing Writer
Timothy Moore takes his leadership inspiration from Michael Scott, his writing inspiration from Mark Twain, and his dancing inspiration from every drunk white guy at a wedding. When Tim is not writing about cars and money, he’s working on his novel or reading someone else’s, geeking out over strategy board games, hiking with his pooches, or channeling his inner Linda Belcher over beers with his friends. Articles by Timothy
Contributing Writer
Rain Blanken-Turner is an author who specializes in covering art, travel, and the automotive industry. With three kids and a lot of road trips ahead of her, she is always excited to review the latest models and check out classic car shows with the kiddos. Rain has written for The New York Times, Barnes & Noble, and Running Press. Articles by Rain
Contributing Writer
Caitlin Moran, a born-and-raised Jersey girl, somehow found herself in Edinburgh, Scotland. When she’s not spending her days trying to remember which side of the road to drive on, Caitlin enjoys getting down and nerdy with English. She continues to combine her love of writing with her love of cars for The News Wheel, while also learning more about the European car market — including the fact that the Seat brand is pronounced “se-at” not “seat” as you might think. Articles by Caitlin
Contributing Writer
Madison Eblen has been living in Dayton, Ohio basically her whole life, except for the first nine months of her life when she lived in New Jersey, where she was born. Along with being an avid reader and writer for as long as she can remember, Madison also enjoys hiking, baking, and traveling, among other generic pastimes. She hopes to teach for a couple of years with plans to relocate back to the Northeast. Articles by Madison
Contributing Writer
Sarah Mahan currently lives in the Bicycle Capital of the Midwest, Xenia, Ohio, with her band director husband and three darling daughters. She loves all things French and the written word. Sarah writes professionally for the automotive industry. While her forte in cars focuses on new vehicle technology and family-friendly features, she is developing a love for all things fast, maybe in an attempt to get to know her wild side. Articles by Sarah
Contributing Writer
Shannon Benton does not enjoy writing “About Me” blurbs. However, she does enjoy writing about cars and car-related subjects, which is what really counts. She is an avid reader whose favorite pastime is curling up in an oversized chair with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and a soup bowl-size mug of hot chocolate or salted caramel Chai tea latte. In addition to reading and writing (not so much arithmetic), Shannon has enjoyed dancing. She currently lives and performs in Dayton, Ohio. Articles by Shannon
Contributing Writer
Matt Chinn is more than just a name that, when said quickly, sounds like an adjective used to describe someone who is well-coordinated in their attire. He is a writer who has covered the automotive industry throughout his professional career with a talented team of fellow writers. Born and raised in Ohio, Matt has a deep-rooted passion for sports in the ‘Buckeye State,’ and has an active lifestyle himself, which shines through in his writing. Articles by Matt
Contributing Writer
Meg Thomson is a writer, photographer, blogger, and activist. When she isn’t writing, Meg can be found immersing herself in television scripts, adopting and playing with animals, or updating lists of her dream travel destinations (the list never ends). Meg believes writing is power, and equality is essential. She is determined to make a difference in the world, one word at a time. Articles by Meg
Contributing Writer
Zachary Berry enjoys traveling from place to place, as he was born in Oklahoma City and has also lived in Albuquerque and Orlando (such is the life of a military brat). When he’s not putting his nose to the grindstone, Zachary enjoys watching and critiquing movies and television. Articles by Zachary
Contributing Writer
Rebecca Bernard, a Dayton native, got her start blogging at the curiously named Harlac’s Tongue while studying abroad. She admits to only driving a trusty old Ford Focus named Eugene, but aspires to own the perfect car for navigating Ohio’s hot summers and winter snow. On any given weekend, you can find her with her camera at area festivals and car shows, shopping at flea markets, or taking an adventure on the open road. Articles by Rebecca
Contributing Writer
Amanda Drago lives in West Chester, Ohio with her wonderful family, which includes her adorable dog, Coco. Amanda recently graduated from Miami University with degrees in both marketing and creative writing. However, if she was ever forced to change career paths, she imagines that she would train dogs for movies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, and watching Netflix. She also has a special place in her heart for theatre and purchases tickets to as many shows as she can. Articles by Amanda
Contributing Writer
Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. Articles by Whitney
All automotive stories here at The News Wheel are edited and fact-checked before they are posted, and each writer is hand-selected to write for us. If you’re interested in contributing to The News Wheel, contact us.