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LCR welcomes new editor, Shelby Atkison

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We are so excited to welcome Shelby Atkison to our team at the Laclede County Record.

Shelby has been named our new managing editor taking the place of Fines Massey who is leaving to work full-time at his comic book store, Massey’s Comics, in Lebanon. 

Shelby is serving a three-year term on the board of the Ozarks Press Association and previously held the position of editor at the Marshfield Mail. Though she joined the newsprint world in August 2020, journalism has been a part of her life since her teen years.

“My news career has brought me nothing but happiness and blessings, but being offered the opportunity to be Laclede County’s editor is up there with my greatest honors,” she said. “I am so excited to be a part of this community.”

Shelby currently resides in Conway and graduated from Marshfield High School in 2012. She then went on to receive her degree in advertising and public relations from Drury University. She describes herself as an adventure seeker who loves to travel and has a passion for nature, music and sports. In her free time, she enjoys attending events, fishing, camping, hiking and spending time with the animals at her family’s farm in Conway.

“One thing you’ll find about me is that I love animals! I’m a modern day Eliza Thornberry,” she laughed. “I have Texas Longhorn cattle and three dogs; a standard poodle, a Lhasa Apso and a Lhasapoo. Those are my babies.”

Prior to her newspaper career, Shelby was a news anchor and reporter at KTTS radio station in Springfield where she provided breaking news reports, severe weather updates and go patrol traffic reports. She also underwent Storm Spotter training with the National Weather Service. 

“I’m looking forward to diving into the local entertainment industry and seeing what the Laclede County area has to offer,” she exclaimed. “I’ve already met with Randy Rowe with the Office of Emergency Management, and I’m very excited for the things we have coming up.”

Before her news career, she worked as an office manager and marketing specialist. However, journalism has never really been a new subject for her. She also has 10-plus years of broadcasting experience with Marshfield Web TV.

Shelby has worked in numerous positions at O’Reilly Family Event Center, gaining experience in events, promotions and public relations. She also hosted, scripted and produced a sports show during her time at Drury.

“I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t networking, interviewing folks and telling stories in one way or another,” she added. “I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to advance my news career here and look forward to growing with this newspaper. Thank you all so much for having me!”

In the next few weeks, I will be introducing Shelby to community leaders and helping to integrate her into our community.  We invite you to contact Shelby if you have story ideas or news tips for her team.  

Contact Shelby Atkison with your news or feature story ideas or just to say hello by searching @newsbyshelby on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or by emailing editor@laclederecord.com.