The Columbia County News-Times Publisher Stephen Wade announced several staff changes today that are long on connections to Columbia County.
“A staff that grew up in or lives in Columbia County is important to keep in touch with the fastest-growing county in the area,” Wade said.
Wade, who also serves as the general manager of The Augusta Chronicle and the Chronicle Media group, to which the News-Times belongs, stressed the need for the newspaper and Web site to be focused on Columbia County specifically: “We are dedicating the necessary resources to serve this vital community.”
Abbigail Lennon, reporter and editor, will be overseeing coverage of both the print and digital edition of The News-Times. Lennon was the editor of The Calhoun Times, a semiweekly in Calhoun, Ga., after graduating from Georgia Southern University.
“I come from a family of small-business owners and animal lovers in Columbus, Ga., as well as right here in Columbia County” Lennon said. “I enjoy attending community events and look forward to serving our readers in Columbia County.”
Chris Gay will continue covering sports. Gay is an 18-year veteran writer who started as a sports reporter for The Augusta Chronicle in its Columbia County bureau, covering Greenbrier High School’s early dominance in baseball.
Damon Cline will oversee the business report. He has covered area business news for 11 years and has been a resident of Columbia County since 2000.
Travis Highfield will cover Fort Gordon and other issues related to the growth of Columbia County. Highfield is a graduate of Evans High School and Augusta State University.
Megan Guetter, Heather Johnson and Brooke Hillis will continue helping Columbia County businesses grow with their suite of advertising and marketing solutions. All three live with their families and children in Columbia County.
Sherry Sanders has assumed a new role and will be working to bring events to the county. She and her husband live in Columbia County. He works for a small business in the county, and their daughter graduated from Lakeside High School.
Copy editor Jacquelyn Pabon designs and edits each edition. Pabon grew up in Columbia County and is a graduate of Greenbrier High School and Augusta State.
