On Tuesday, Greg Jayne, sports editor for The Columbian, announced on Twitter that the paper was hiring Candace Buckner to serve as its new Portland Trail Blazers beat writer. Buckner writes on her LinkedIn page that she is currently working on a book about high school basketball in Indiana. She most recently served as a high school sports columnist for the Kansas City Star. Buckner replaces Matt Calkins, who left to join the San Diego Union-Tribune back in July. Calkins joined The Columbian from the Riverside Press-Enterprise in September 2010, replacing Brian T. Smith. Smith joined the paper in August 2009, taking over for Brian Hendrickson, but left to cover the Utah Jazz for the Salt Lake Tribune. Hat tip: @LindsayMills -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter