AHOSKIE – When events occur in Bertie County, a familiar face will be there to cover them for this publication.

Jennipher Dickens, a 2002 graduate of Lawrence Academy, has been hired as a Staff Writer for the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald and Gates County Index. Her primary responsibly in her new job will be news coverage of Bertie County.

“Jennipher Dickens strengthens our newsroom in many ways,” Roanoke-Chowan Publication Editor Cal Bryant said. “She will be an asset in our coverage of Bertie County because she knows the people and the current events there.

“The chance to add a reporter with her experience in our region is something we relished,” he added.

Since graduating from Lawrence, Dickens has attended Beaufort County Community College, American Intercontinental University and Roanoke-Chowan Community College, working toward an Associate in Arts degree.

She plans on continuing her education part-time and one day hopes to obtain a degree in journalism.

Jennipher was formerly employed as a reporter for the Bertie Ledger-Advance where she covered the Windsor Board of Commissioners, the Bertie County Commissioners and the Bertie County Board of Education, all assignments she will continue in her new job.

She got her start writing as a sports stringer for the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald in 2004 and began working at the Bertie Ledger in 2005.

“Jennipher had worked with us previously as a stringer in our sports department, so we were aware of her natural abilities as a writer and reporter,” Publisher Jeff Findley said. “We are pleased to have her come aboard fulltime and help us provide the very best coverage possible to all of our readers.”

For her part, Dickens said she was glad to be continuing her coverage of Bertie County.

“I am excited about this opportunity and I look forward to continuing to work with the people in Bertie County,” she stated.

A native of Windsor, she still resides there with her infant son, Christopher.

She is the daughter of Kimberly Price and Bill Price of Windsor and Steve Dickens of Roanoke Rapids.