Steve VanGunda has joined the staff of The Natchez Democrat as a photographer.

VanGunda is a native of Bartlesville, Okla., and a graduate of DeweyHigh School in Dewey, Okla.

He was in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years and lived in Germany for a year and a half and in Jackson for eight years.

VanGunda was working as a freelance photographer in Oklahoma, and did some work for the Tulsa World. He was also employed at a human resources representative for Cherokee Casino.

VanGunda has relatives in town, including his uncle Dr. Chuck Borum.