Harrisonville resident Julie Hicks is the newest member of the Cass County Democrat Missourian.</p><p>Hicks started April 30 as the general sales assistant for the newspaper, taking over for Hanna Samuelson, who was promoted to account executive.</p><p>Last month, account executive Kristi Feiss was promoted to advertising manager of the Democrat Missourian, taking the role from Pat Larson, who announced her retirement in March.</p><p>Hicks, a long-time subscriber of the Democrat Missourian, said she was excited to start a new work chapter of her life.</p><p>&#x201C;It&#x2019;s great to be here. It&#x2019;s interesting to see what you read on Friday and see how it all gets put together,&#x201D; she said. &#x201C;It gives you a whole new perspective.&#x201D;</p><p>Hicks has worked in other administrative roles for previous employers and said her new job at the newspaper combines two of her interests.</p><p>&#x201C;I&#x2019;ve always had an interest in reading and writing and it really seems like a natural fit for me,&#x201D; Hicks said.</p><p>Democrat Missourian Publisher John Beaudoin was thrilled to have Hicks join the team.</p><p>&#x201C;Julie joins a staff with almost 70 years of newspaper experience,&#x201D; Beaudoin said. &#x201C;It is always good to be back to full staff and serving the community the best way we can.&#x201D;</p><p>Hicks moved to Harrisonville from St. Louis in 2001 and has worked as a local school bus driver, in administrative roles for several churches and still works the front desk at the Harrisonville Community Center.</p><p>In her spare time, Hicks gets creative in the kitchen as the owner of All You Need are Cupcakes, a baking and decorating business.