The Skagway News will transition to new owners over the next two months.  Pattie and Tommy Wells are taking over the paper as experienced and enthusiastic newspaper publishers while current owner, Gretchen Wehmhoff, retires from The Skagway News after five and a half years.

A 30-year newspaper industry veteran, Tommy will serve as publisher and editor of the paper and The Skaquay Alaskan. Pattie will handle the accounting and circulation.

The couple first moved to Alaska in 1998 when Tommy was named the Bering Strait Record editor. After the Record closed, Tommy worked for Nancy McGuire at the Nome Nugget for several years before returning to Texas for the educational needs of their daughter.  

Several years later, they purchased the Seward Phoenix-LOG in Seward and operated until merging it with the Seward Journal. Tommy later worked with the Homer Tribune.

While working at the Nome Nugget in 2001, Wells was one of about a dozen Alaskans chosen to attend the inauguration of Chukotkan Gov. Roman Abramovch in Anadyr, Russia.

The Wells own three other community publications.

A native of Pasadena, Texas, Wells attended high school and college in Ranger, Texas, before serving in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Manitowoc (LST-1180) and the U.S.S. Boulder (LST-1190). A former beat writer for the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys and now-defunct World League of American Football’s San Antonio Riders, Tommy began his newspaper career in high school by serving as sports editor for the local paper, the Ranger Times. He later served as publisher of the Quad City Messenger in Palo Pinto County, Texas, before leaving to serve as editor at daily newspapers in Kansas and North Dakota. He served as managing editor for the Russell Daily News in the late 1990s before leaving to work in Alaska.

“I look forward to working with everyone in Skagway,” said Wells. “My wife and I are excited to become a part of the community and give the area a newspaper it can be proud to call its own.”

Pattie has more than 20 years of experience in the newspaper business. Most recently, she served as production/office manager of the couple’s small chain of papers. 

The couple will split their time in Skagway  as they help meet the medical needs of their son who suffered paralysis from an accident.

Wehmhoff will prepare the 2025 Skaguay Alaskan visitors guide and continue as editor as the Wells move into their new roles.  

Tommy is available at newzboy3@gmail.com.