Morgan Pilcher of Sigourney. Photo submitted.

The News-Review and Keota Eagle are pleased to welcome Morgan Pilcher of Sigourney as our Office Assistant and Regional Editor, who is starting her duties this week.

“I was excited to learn I got the job while I was home from the interview,” Pilcher said.  “It was a bit of shock to be offered so quickly and begin this week.”

 Pilcher originally hails from Ottumwa, where she attended high school and graduated from Indian Hills in 2016. Since December of 2014, she has worked at Cambridge Investment Research in their Registration and Licensing department. Pilcher learned about the opportunity with Mid-America Publishing here in Keokuk County through a friend and was encouraged to apply.

“I like how close to home this position would be and want to learn more about the local communities to be more involved,” Pilcher said.

As Regional Editor, Pilcher will mainly report and edit for The Keota Eagle to cover Keota and Harper, Keota Community Schools and city news important to residents. Though Pilcher does not have newswriting experience, her time with Cambridge proves invaluable as a writer and an editor.

“I feel I am organized and I’m a careful reader,” Pilcher said. “At Cambridge, I’m known as a “Grammar Nazi” because I like to look over and double check everything. If someone doesn’t know how to word a sentence, I’ll correct them.”

However, Pilcher will spend a majority of her time in The News-Review office in Sigourney answering phones, working with customers and other office duties to support both papers. She will have office hours in Keota on Wednesdays as well.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and spreading my wings out a bit,” Pilcher said. “I don’t know a whole lot about Keota, so it will be exciting to learn more about the community and all the events they hold. I’m eager to learn new things with this position.”

Currently, Pilcher lives in Sigourney with her partner Michael Wilson and his daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, bowling, golf and spending time with her family.

 “Morgan is very organized and comes from a business background which we feel will be a perfect fit for our office in addition to her writing abilities and passion for the industry,” Amie Van Patten, Regional Manager said. “She will be a great fit for the community of Keota because she is personable and easily to get along with. Morgan is from the Sigourney area, so she wants those ties to the Keokuk County community and we are happy to have her on board.”