May 25, 2018 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Longtime Greene County Messenger newspaper editor Steve Barrett has been hired to work as the county government’s new communications director.

Barrett, who spent the past 14 years as editor for the weekly publication and worked as a reporter for several years before that, was hired Thursday by Greene County’s salary board and will begin his new role Tuesday.

“It’s been an absolute joy and a blast,” Barrett said of his time at the Messenger. “I just had fun and enjoyed writing the stories and knowing the people. I think that experience will help out with my new endeavor.”

The position, which will pay an annual salary of $38,409 and made possible by the recent departure of the county’s website manager, was created to help county officials to inform the community of various government issues not typically covered by the media. It also will allow JoAnne Marshall, who served in a communications and tourism role for the county, to work strictly as the county’s tourism director.

“We really are hoping to tell our story better,” Commissioner Archie Trader said.

County chief clerk Jeff Marshall said in the age of social media where rumors can spread quickly online, it’s important for the county to be able to disseminate information, even about mundane government issues involving grants or bridge projects.

“We looked at our media footprint and wanted to be able to put out our own information,” Marshall said. “That public info is important to get out there.”

He said Barrett’s ties to the area and his media background made him a natural choice for the position.

“We had a lot of good applicants. It was very hard to narrow the group down and come to a consensus,” Marshall said. “His knowledge of the area and his excitement led us to him.”

Barrett, whose last day at the newspaper is today, called it “emotional and surreal” to paginate his final edition as editor. Ogden Newspapers in Wheeling, W.Va., which owns the Greene County Messenger, has not announced who will replace Barrett as editor.

“I’m excited about the possibilities and potential we have to better promote Greene County and focus on the positive aspects every day,” Barrett said.

Also during the meeting, the salary board accepted the resignation of Kira Sisk as drug and alcohol director. Sisk had been working as director since July 2016.