ELIZABETHTOWN — The Bladen Journal welcomed a new employee to its staff this week.

Jessica Edwards, a native of Southport who now resides in Elizabethtown, started Monday as the newspaper’s customer service rep after a week of training at The Robesonian in Lumberton.

Edwards replaces Lisa Taylor, who started a full-time job in Fayetteville in early June.

“I’m looking forward to meeting and working with the people here and helping them with their needs,” Edwards said. “I enjoy talking with people and hearing their stories and experiences.”

Edwards comes to the Bladen Journal after serving as a retail wireless consultant with U.S. Cellular in Elizabethtown. She also will be familiar with folks in the downtown Elizabethtown area after having served as a waitress and/or hostess for Giorgio’s and The Corner Cafe.

“We’re very lucky to have someone like Jessica at the front desk here,” said W. Curt Vincent, general manager and editor of the Bladen Journal. “She is enthusiastic, ambitious and very outgoing. I think she will be a tremendous asset to that position.”

Edwards also has interests that she hopes will take her career to new places.

“I do hope this will be a career for me — and that it may lead to a writing career at some point,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in journalism. I love to write, love to read and love to get to know peoples’ stories.”

Edwards has two children: Walter, 8, and Maddox, 2.

Edwards will be at her desk at the Bladen Journal from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. She can be reached for classified advertising, subscription renewals or new subscriptions, legal advertising and other questions by calling 910-862-4163. He email is jedwards@civitasmedia.com.

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Staff report