AHOSKIE – Amanda VanDerBroek has joined the editorial staff of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald as a general assignment reporter.

The New York native, who comes to the Roanoke-Chowan area by way of Charlotte, has been assigned Northampton County government, schools and law enforcement as her primary coverage area in addition to her regular general assignment duties.

“We hope everyone in the local area will join us in welcoming Amanda to northeastern North Carolina,” Jeff Findley, publisher of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, said. “We strongly feel that Amanda will lend her talents to our publications as we continue to strive to maintain our position as the leading source of information people turn to for local news, features and sports in Bertie, Gates, Hertford and Northampton counties.”

VanDerBroek was born in Sodus, a rural town located on the shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York.

Growing up in the village of Sodus Point at her grandparent’s house, VanDerBroek was taught the importance of family and community. She was raised by her mother, Eileen, along with the help of her maternal grandparents and other extended family members.

VanDerBroek’s grandparents were strong believers in community service, so from the time she could walk she was volunteering right along with her family.

Her grandmother, Joyce, who was a writer herself, instilled the love of reading and writing in her granddaughter.

“Some of the fondest memories I have of my grandmother is when we would visit the library,” VanDerBroek said.

VanDerBroek attended the State University of New York at Oswego were she majored in journalism. She served on the college newspaper, the Oswegonian, as a writer and an editor. To finish up her curriculum she took an internship with the Charlotte Weekly, which brought her to North Carolina.

“I am very excited to be working for the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald,” she said. “And I’m looking forward to servicing the community through the stories I write.”

In her spare time, VanDerBroek likes to read, write, travel and talk on the phone to her family and friends back in New York.

Her addition to the News-Herald staff brings about a few changes in primary coverage areas.

Thadd White, who previously covered Northampton County, is now responsible for the Hertford County “beat.” That, in turn, moves Curly Morris’ primary news and features concentration from Hertford County to Gates County.

Cal Bryant will continue to cover Bertie County.