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Terry Dean, Editor
Local Businessman David Crawford was the high bidder who purchased the building and property during an onsite auction held Wednesday, Nov. 28. At this point, Crawford, owner of Model Tees, indicated they will possibly use it as an extension of their current operation.
The Herald has been in existence at its current location since 1938 and the building was here before that time. Because of technology, the computer age and the way printing and publishing of newspapers has changed over the years, the Herald no longer needs the space it has in the past to produce its weekly product. Management feels that the move to a smaller facility will be more efficient and cost effective for all concerned.
The Herald staff is composed of Vickie Priscilla Evans Robinson who now serves as advertising manager for the Herald. She began working for the Herald in 1986 for the Shaw family, former owners of the Herald, as a general worker.
When News Publishing Company became the new owners in 1988, she became the office manager, bookkeeper and did data entry, legal and classified advertising. She also worked as a page builder and the editor’s right hand.
In 1994, she was promoted to advertising manager and has worked for five editors including Mrs. Melrose Shaw, Paul Dale, Kerry Yencer, Kathy Roe and Terry Dean.
Robinson was on staff when the Herald received the Alabama Press Association’s Most Improved Paper Award in 1989, the Best Original Display Ad Award in 1991 and the Best Special Section Award in 1996.
She is a native of Cherokee County, a 1972 graduate of Cherokee County High School and a 1988 graduate of Gadsden State Community College.
Terry Dean, who is now editor of the Cherokee County Herald, began his duties with the newspaper in July of 1988 as a general assignment reporter and photographer and also performed data entry duties including obituaries, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.
A graduate of Auburn University, Dean, a native of Etowah County, began his writing career with The Auburn Plainsman, the campus newspaper and also completed his internship at The Sand Mountain Reporter, a tri-weekly newspaper in Albertville, Ala.
In addition to police and fire news, along with county government and feature stories, he gained additional experience, under the leadership of three former editors, in headline writing, newspaper design and layout.
In 2006, Dean was promoted to assistant editor and he was named as the editor in late 2008 when Kathy Roe, former editor, announced her retirement.
He is now responsible for all editorial content and photos that go into the paper along with what is posted on the Herald’s website.
Dean is an active member and Deacon at Centre First Baptist Church where he sings in the church choir and is also a member of the Centre Lions Club.
Brenda Burger began working with the Herald May 15, 2006 as office manager and classified and legal ads salesperson. She generates affidavits for legal ads and posts them to the Alabama Press Website, posts all obituaries to the website and types them in for the regular paper as well, performs customer service and anything that falls in between.
Burger lived most of her life in Smyrna, Ga. and worked for the Cobb Bounty Court System for 20 years. She and her husband, Buzz, moved to Leesburg in 2001 to care for her mother and they opened a restaurant called Nanny’s
She lost her husband, Buzz, ths past August. They have three children, Dena Ison (Chuck), Kathryn Kilgore (Shawn) and Josh Burger and four grandchildren, Morgan Ison, Chase Ison, Bailey Kilgore and Mack Kilgore.
Burger is a member of East Centre Baptist Church and an active volunteer at Celebrate Recovery.
“I love my job and feel so blessed to work with all the News Publishing staff,” said Burger.
Shannon Fagan has been The Herald’s sports editor since Feb. 2008. A 2000 graduate of Jacksonville State University, Fagan began his writing career in 1997 as a stringer for The Anniston Star and The Gadsden Times. He became the prep sports writer for The Star in 2003 and held that position through 2007.
Since coming on board as sports editor of The Herald, Fagan has earned several Alabama Sportswriters Association awards recognizing his work in covering Cherokee County area athletics.
Fagan said he enjoys working in the small-town community setting, where athletics are part of its lifeblood.
“I couldn’t ask for a better environment to work,” Fagan said. “The Cherokee County area prides itself on sports, and there’s good reason for that. Our teams are consistently competitive on a statewide level. In the four years I’ve been here, I’ve been blessed to cover several great championship moments and players who have gone on to the next level. I appreciate the opportunity I’ve been given to tell those success stories and look forward to telling many more.”
Laure Clemons joined the Cherokee County Herald staff in December 2008 as layout editor. Since then Clemons has succeeded in giving the Herald an up-to-date look, utilizing 15 years of experience as a graphic designer. She has created specialized logos for local feature writers, including Gary’s Grading Gallery, Family Farms, and Neighborhood Spotlight, and developed a photo page style that readers look forward to.
Clemons has also contributed to the Herald’s editorial content with a popular monthly column and feature articles on Cherokee County happenings.
Clemons is the Herald’s only part-time employee. “When I’m not working at the Herald I’m working for the non-profit organization I founded and enjoying my family and home on Little River Canyon,” Clemons reported. “My job at the Herald gives me time for all of that, and I’m grateful to be filling the purpose God has for me.”
Clemons is the executive director of Extended Family, a support system for families of prisoners. She has been happily married to Jerry Clemons for 17 years. The Clemons have three grown daughters and one “beautiful and charming” grandson, born Dec. 6.
Herald staff look forward to serving customers at their new location. They expect to be in the new office by Jan. 1, 2013.
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