March 29, 2024

Hi, I’m Jamee!

Starting around the age of 10, I knew that someday I wanted to work at a newspaper. I grew up in Monroe, and with help from my mom, I started my own newspaper. It contained a running cover story on the O.J. Simpson trial, an editorial page with an advice column, a sports page and a picture you could color. I “sold” it to friends and at Grandma’s Kitchen, a former restaurant in Monroe.

Growing up, I was involved in a variety of activities, from dance and Girl Scouts to AAU basketball and 4-H. Starting my freshman year of high school, I worked on the school newspaper as a designer. During my time at the paper, I wrote stories, designed graphics, took photos and, by my senior year, had been named editor. The next year, I began classes at the University of Iowa with a journalism major and political science minor. I studied a variety of topics during my four years in Iowa City and also worked at the Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa's school newspaper.

After graduating, I started working at a local printing company as a graphic designer. Six years later I finally got the opportunity to work at a newspaper right next to my hometown.

Even before attending Iowa, I was a Hawkeye fan, but now it is almost a way of life. Luckily, I found a husband who is an Iowa fan, and after deciding on a September wedding, we had to check the schedule to make sure it didn’t conflict with the football game that weekend. We attend almost all home football games and have traveled to Michigan to the Big House and Spartan Stadium. Our first bowl game experience was at the 2009 Orange Bowl in Miami, where we watched a victorious Hawkeye team in sub-freezing temps.

I have two daughters who bring a lot of spunk into my life and keep me on my toes. As far as kids go, they couldn’t be more different. My oldest is a mini-me, showing me all of my own qualities, good and bad, whereas my youngest is her father and will most likely be responsible for our first broken bone. We also have a giant black lab named Homer and, yes, he is named after “The Simpsons” character, not the Greek author.

Other than writing and designing, I have a love for crafting. My mom has always been crafty and a very talented seamstress, and luckily some of that rubbed off on me. We made all of the decorations for my wedding and recovered more than one piece of furniture for my house. After having my first niece, I learned how to knit (which I have since forgot), but it started me on the path of kid’s accessories. My husband just shakes his head when I beam over the newest fabric I have purchased to make a blanket or materials come in the mail to create a new headband or hair clip. Hopefully I will have my own crafting room in the near future because it has started to take over what is suppose to be our dining area.

I have spent almost my entire life in this community and am excited to start at the Newton Daily News and be a part of this great organization bringing the news to the area.

Staff writer Jamee A. Pierson may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 6534, or at jpierson@newtondailynews.com.