Texas Press Association

By Kristen Tribe
Wise County Messenger

Sometimes we go find the news.

Other times, it finds us.

Last week Evan Ebel sped into Wise County, guns blazing, and brought a tragic story to our front door.

Although covering tragedy is nothing new at the Wise County Messenger, this time we did it with the national media looking over our shoulder.

The morning of March 21 started quietly, but by noon, we had covered a frenzied chase, a police shootout with a seemingly crazed gunman, and were exploring connections to murders in Colorado. By the next morning our work, primarily the photos by Joe Duty and Jimmy Alford, had appeared in publications, on websites and television broadcasts of at least 27 media outlets around the world. 

It was not a typical news day in Wise County.

By Russel Skiles, TPA President 2012-13
"Rambling," Texas Press Messenger

“Rats!” would be about the mildest term possible for my initial reaction to what happened yesterday afternoon.

This time, however, it had a far different meaning than it did a couple of weeks earlier.

The difference between cursing and laughing.

Let me explain.

Like many community newspapers, we’re fortunate to have a few customers who are almost waiting at the door when our mid-week edition comes off the press each Wednesday afternoon.

Most of the time they come in, buy a newspaper and chat a few seconds, then go on their way.

Then all is calm again in the office.

Such was not the case on these two occasions.

By Ed Sterling, TPA Member Services Director
"TPA Hotline," Texas Press Messenger

Q: I tape meetings to make sure my quotes are precise. The mayor and city council members of one of the towns I cover are put out with me because my coverage of city council meetings is verbatim. Now and then they wish they hadn’t said what they said. My last story must have been the last straw. Now city council is talking about passing an ordinance that bans the use of recording devices in open meetings. Is there a law that allows that?

A: Home rule cities may take actions authorized by the city charter and if not prohibited or trumped by state or federal law or the Texas Constitution. Here is your trump card: the Texas Open Meetings Act, Government Code Sec. 551.023, Recording of Meeting by Person in Attendance. The law says: (a) A person in attendance may record all or any part of an open meeting of a governmental body by means of a tape recorder, video camera, or other means of aural or visual reproduction. (b) A governmental body may adopt reasonable rules to maintain order at a meeting, including rules relating to: (1) the location of recording equipment; and
(2) the manner in which the recording is conducted. (c) A rule adopted under Subsection (b) may not prevent or unreasonably impair a person from exercising a right granted under Subsection (a).

Q: Local law enforcement has intercepted some counterfeit bills and we got to take pictures of a few samples of the phony cash. What’s the prohibition on publishing an image of money?

The Gorman Progress, owned and operated for many years by Joe Bennett and lastly by his son, Lonnie, was purchased by Eastland County Newspapers Inc. on Feb. 1.

The paper will continue to be published as a stand-alone weekly, as are ECN’s other holdings including the Cisco Press, Eastland Telegram, Ranger Times, Rising Star and Baird Farm & Ranch. It will be printed in the Eastland plant.

The Bennetts will continue to do commercial printing at their location.

H. V. and Gaynell O’Brien, publishers of ECN, have added the Progress to the group’s online site, making the Progress available worldwide.

The Texas Community Newspaper Association has adopted a new name, Texas Community Media Association.

“We will never change our focus on community journalism yet our new name shows that we understand that community information is now delivered in many forms, not just on newsprint,” said newly installed president, Kathleen Holton, editor of the Alvin Sun and veteran of community journalism.

In addition, the organization changed the scope of its revenue sourcing by changing from the Texas Classified Advertising Program to the Texas Advertising Program, which will allow more revenue sources than in previous years.

The organization is in its 50th year of operation representing hundreds of newspapers across the state. Members are required to publish no more than two times per week and may be either free or paid circulation. All changes were approved unanimously by both the board and membership.

Texas Press Association proclaimed two outstanding lawmakers, Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, “Friends of the First Amendment” at the TPA Legislative Conference on Feb. 25 in honor of their years of hard work and determination to protect and preserve free speech and government transparency.

In presenting the award, the association released the following statements:

“Sen. Ellis was elected to the Texas Senate in 1990. During his tenure, he has earned praise as a leader on economic development, education, civil rights, responsible environmental policy, tax cuts for the middle class, and criminal justice issues, having passed more than 500 bills.

“Sen. Ellis has been a champion of the First Amendment for years, assisting with passage of multiple public information bills and currently serving as the Chair of the Senate Open Government Committee. He also serves on the Senate committees for Natural Resources, State Affairs and Transportation.

Harry W. Small Sr.
(1942 — 2013)

Harry W. Small Sr., former pressman for the Weatherford Democrat, died March 4. He was 71.
Small was born Feb. 19, 1942, in Mineral Wells to Harvey and Mary Upshaw Small. He graduated from Dunbar High School in Mineral Wells. He married Mildred Poole at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church on June 28, 1961.
Small retired as a newspaper pressman for the Weatherford Democrat after 25 years. He was a member of the Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Small of Mineral Wells; three sons, Harry Small Jr. and his wife, Liz, of Mineral Wells, Darryl Small and wife, Kelly, of Watauga, and Ron Small and wife, Lynn, of Houston; two daughters, Regenia Cross and husband, Victor, of Mineral Wells, and Rhonda Mack and husband, Andrew, of Mineral Wells; one daughter-in-law, April Small; one brother, Amos Prince; and a host of other family and friends.