Welcome to my ever-evolving clips file!
You'll see work from a long time ago — and a few months ago. That's how it goes when you've been a professional journalist for a long time. For example, the Into the Light feature was published in 2024. The three full issues of Linkage, where I was executive editor, are from 2022 through late 2024.
The 2014 Drake Magazine clip — From Paris to Prineville — is an example of my freelance outdoor magazine writing. Most of my magazine freelancing focuses on fishing (usually fly fishing), conservation, the environment and travel. Paris to Prineville shows that an outdoor story is really about people exploring new worlds and new experiences.
The newspaper clips — columns, features and an investigative package — were published from 2004 to 2009. I spent 17 years in daily newspapers as a reporter, investigate reporter, city editor and outdoors columnist. So, these clips represent my career arc from newspaper reporter, city editor and columnist to the world of magazines.
What do I do now? All of these things!
Happy reading,
Chester
Linkage 019 “Hot Rod”
“Hot Rod” was the theme for Linkage 019, and, as was typical for this magazine, we took new look at the topic. You would expect to see a conventional Model T hot rod on the cover of a hot rod issue, but we showed a hot-rodded Porsche 356 by Emory. One of our goals was to never, ever be boring. You can find my regular end-of-the-book column — called Taillights — on page 160.
Linkage 018 “Someday”
I started Linkage magazine in 2020 and I was executive editor through January of 2025. I was responsible for the concept of each issue, dreaming up stories and features, doing first reads of each story, sourcing images and graphics and proofing each issue. This issue, “Someday” also has one of my own stories, “Into the Light.”
Into the Light
This story is about students in a Portland Public Schools program for kids who dropped out of a regular high school. Many of these kids came from low-income families. This school’s auto technology program was the only complete auto tech program in Portland Public Schools. The teacher is a gem — a Mr. Holland kind of mentor. I was executive editor of Linkage, and I also liked to do special stories for the magazine. Once a reporter, always a reporter.
Linkage 008 “1963-1964”
Each issue of Linkage had a theme. Not all of the stories and columns fit the theme in each issue, but most did. In this issue, we explored all the landmark events that happened in the car world from 1963 through 1964.
From Paris to Prinveville
A romantic trip to Paris somehow ends up on Central Oregon’s trout-filled Crooked River.
For the Evil Blackberry, Redemption
Blackberry vines are the curse of the Pacific Northwest — but the berries are a tasty reward after braving sharp thorns.
Low ‘N Slow
I did quite a bit of food writing — which was a little stretch as an outdoor reporter/columnist, but I read some food books (mostly Ruth Reichl’s books and New York Times restaurant reviews) to study up on the form. I quickly learned that this is one topic where you write about what you know and love.
When Decks Go Bad
I was working as a senior reporter/columnist for The Olympian and Tacoma News-Tribune newspapers, and the AP wire started running a string of bad deck collapses all over the United States. I worked as a carpenter before going to the University of Oregon for my degree, and I decided to do a little enterprise on WHY these decks were breaking down — and WHAT homeowners should do to prevent a collapse.
Imagine Mount St. Helens as a New National Park
This story started out as an outdoors enterprise piece on rumors that Mount St. Helens was in line to become a national park. While I was doing my reporting, a ranger (who didn’t want to be named) told me that a very popular visitor center at Mount St. Helens was being closed for lack of funds, while, at the same time, a very fancy headquarters building was opening.
Schools of chum salmon charge through town
Every fall, millions of chum salmon roar into South Puget Sound and charge up big rivers and little creeks to spawn. At Kennedy Creek, which is just a short drive from Olympia, Washington, the onslaught of chums gives anglers a good look at a wonderful fish. Sometimes the chum salmon swim between anglers’ legs.
Harsh winds turn back clock for one angler
You may be an expert fly caster — with decades of practice — but raging winds will make you look like a beginner all over again. Nothing is more boring than a regular fishing column that serves up angling success each week. Failure is a part of every angler’s day — even for expert anglers.
Time in the Backyard Reveals Slew of Minute Critters
This column is about the marvels — and terrors — in your own summer backyard.
Dead Zones in Hood Canal: Will South Sound be Next?
I was an investigative reporter for about five years, and then I became city editor. When I went back to writing (as outdoor columnist and senior reporter), I surprised my bosses with a lot of investigative stuff from the outdoors world. This was the first day of a three-day series on water quality in Puget Sound. I did all the stories and elements for this day. I think we did a good job of explaining a complex topic — and why the reader should care.
Ravenous Cutthroats on the Prowl
If you think about it, even the best fly anglers make hundreds of casts for each fish hooked, landed and released. That’s why each fish hooked is so exciting. Every once in a while, it’s really terrific to hook a good fish when other anglers are watching.
Mexico Adventure Proves Knowledge is an Angler’s Best Friend
This column is about fishing in Mexico — and meeting the best angler I’ve ever seen. He didn’t have a rod or reel, but he caught huge fish.