David Richards, who spent his first two years of college at St. Mary’s University in Winona and who has been managing editor of a twice-weekly newspaper in California the past four years, is the new managing editor at the Austin Daily Herald.

He started work today.

Richards was born and raised in California and has had a love for the Midwest ever since visiting relatives here in high school.

It’s the small-town festivals, the warm people, the summer fireflies, the green grass and yes, the chill of the winter air that he enjoys most.

He graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has spent the past nine years as sports editor, associate editor and managing editor at three different publications, one in Oregon and two in California.

For the past four years, he has been managing editor at the Sierra Star in Oakhurst, Calif. and has moved to Austin to be closer to relatives and to further his career in journalism.

He enjoys hiking, sports, cooking, movies and music and looks forward to being a part of Austin and its surrounding communities.