Mica Banks joins The Paper as County Government Reporter

Just in time for the end of the summer municipal meeting hiatus and the start of the 2025 election season, The Paper has added experienced reporter Mica Banks to its reporting team.

As County Government Reporter, Banks will focus on covering the county commission, county departments, economic development, and tourism plus the town council and people and programs in Valdese.

“After my first conversation with Allen, Angela, and Bill, I knew this was a team I wanted to be part of,” Banks said. “What drew me in is that The Paper is all local news from cover to cover. Plus, I saw immediately that teamwork is a valuable part of this newsroom, and I love that.”

She joined the staff on Monday, July 28.

Her reporting for The Paper begins when the area is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, Valdese is preparing for municipal elections this fall and both Valdese and Burke County are undertaking major capital projects.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Mica to our newsroom. Her dedication to accuracy and balance, along with her ability to make complex topics accessible, will be a tremendous asset to our readers,” said Allen VanNoppen, publisher of The Paper. “She brings both curiosity and depth to every story she tells, always looking for the narrative that lies beneath the surface.”

Banks is a Georgia native who earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a focus on journalism from Georgia College & State University (2020). Mica has previously written for The Eatonton Messenger (Georgia) and Hickory Daily Record. While at the Hickory Daily Record, Mica earned several first place feature writing awards from the North Carolina Press Association.

“What I love most about journalism is the people I meet. I enjoy getting to know people in the community and learning their stories,” she said. “I am a firm believer that every person you meet is interesting and has a story to tell.”