I have worked at Areawide Media for a total of three years. Working in the media industry wasn't my initial plan as I have a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary English Education, but I wouldn't change the path I have taken. I graduated college in 2007 from Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Ark.

I enjoy writing news articles to keep the public informed about what is going on in our rural communities and working with a close knit group of colleagues who enjoy the trade as well. Meeting new people every day and hearing interesting stories, learning more and more about the area I grew up in every day, is another perk of my job.

I'm a lifelong Fulton County resident who started with Areawide about 32 years ago. My first job was designing display and grocery store ads, at a time when Robert Clay owned over 20 grocery stores. The ads were built on the old headliner machine. I was promoted to Composing and Fast Print manager in 1998, and was later promoted to Sales Manager in 2010.

I have worked at Areawide for seven years, including in composing as a graphic designer before becoming the full time Sharp County reporter in 2009, where I enjoyed working in the community where I grew up and spent the majority of my life.

In 2013, I took over the editor position and still cover events in Sharp and Fulton Counties and produce our three newspapers and Avenues magazine. I love the challenges and rewards that come with working for a small hometown newspaper. I have lived in the Sharp and Fulton County area my entire life and grown to love the people who live here, given their many quirks. While attending college at ASU, I was hired at Areawide Media as a graphic designer and was finally able to get paid for doing what I love. Soon after, my former editor pulled me into the News department where I have been since.

Debbie has worked for Areawide Media for 17 years. She began as a typesetter and later moved to graphic design. She worked in composing building ads for many years and still builds ads when needed. She also sets legals for the newspaper. Debbie also assists Janie Flynn, Areawide Publisher, in the business office. She is also in charge of graphic design for Fast Print and photographs home tours for Avenues magazine and paginates pages for the magazine. Debbie’s multi functional job allows her flexibility to work in both graphics and the business office.