CALLICOON – Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III is pleased to announce the promotion of Staff Writer Alex Kielar, 26, to the position of Assistant Editor. 

Kielar joined the Democrat team in March 2023 as a staff writer and has covered the Towns of Delaware and Callicoon as well as the Sullivan County Legislature, SUNY Sullivan and assisting in covering sports throughout the county. 

Kielar has also assisted in writing feature stories for the newspaper’s 50-plus special sections produced yearly. 

“Alex brings a commitment to local journalism that is inspiring,” Stabbert said. “He will assist Editor Derek Kirk in the day-to-day operation of the newspaper, including scheduling the largest news team in Sullivan County.

“Alex will also be keeping an eye on local politics, government and hard news stories,” Stabbert added.

Born in Scranton, PA, Kielar grew up in Honesdale where he attended high school and graduated in 2016. Kielar discovered his passion for writing while working on essay assignments in school and realized that he had a real gift with the keyboard.

Earning his Associate’s Degree in Sports Management from Lackawanna College in 2021, Kielar also has a knack and passion for sports. He has covered baseball, football, basketball and softball games throughout the county as well as cross country and track, 5K races, skiing and the Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tournament. 

From 2020 to 2023, Kielar served as a freelance beat writer for Pinstriped Prospects, where he covered the New York Yankees’ Triple-A team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. He also wrote various sports articles for websites such as Prime Time Sports Talk and Third Down Thursdays from 2018 through 2024. 

“I have been tremendously grateful to report on the latest ongoings in Sullivan County and its sports teams as a Staff Writer,” said Kielar, “and I am excited to continue to do so in my new role.”

“Alex has performed exceptionally well during his time at the paper, making his advancement in our newsroom no surprise,” Editor Derek Kirk said. “I am confident our readers will continue to benefit greatly from Alex’s dedication, knowledge and skills in this role.”