LANETT — Chris Heaney has joined the newsroom of The Valley Times-News as a staff reporter. He will be filling the fourth reporter slot that has sat vacant for some time. Heaney began work in Lanett on May 16, and will move to the Valley area in the coming months.

Heaney, who is coming to the Greater Valley Area from Auburn, has previously worked for The Auburn Plainsman as a staff writer, social media assistant and campus reporter. He also interned at Alabama Magazine.

While getting his degree, Heaney gained experience covering a variety of stories and events for his college newspaper.

“We picked Chris to fill out our newsroom after an exhaustive search,” Steven Thomas, managing editor of The Valley Times-News, said. “He is skilled in a number of areas and will make an immediate and positive impact on our paper.”

Heaney is a recent graduate of Auburn University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

“I am extremely excited to work at The Times-News, and even more so to become a part of the community it serves,” Heaney said. “I hope I can continue the legacy of great journalism that this paper is known for.”

Heaney, a current resident of Auburn, will be moving to Chambers County this summer, commuting to the area in the interim.