The Alpine Avalanche announced two staff changes. Talitha Jo Raby was hired as staff writer and Ann-Mary Rodriguez was named bookkeeper. Raby is an Alpine native and Rodriguez formerly worked for the Sul Ross State University Police Department.

The Amarillo Globe News announced one staff departure and one promotion. Dennis Spies retired as managing editor after 35 years service. He began as a reporter in 1966. One of his most memorable experiences was helping the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal produce an eight-page special edition after a May 11, 1970 tornado devastated the town. Dorsey Wilmarth was named managing editor. He joined the Globe News in 1986 as news editor and was promoted to assistant managing editor in 1988. His other stints have included copy desk at the Waco Tribune Herald and layout editor for the Houston Chronicle.

Gary Bradford returned to the Belton Journal as editor. He edited the weekly from 1997-98.

The Cleveland Advocate said goodbye to one publisher and welcomed another. Diana Lobner left the Advocate after 18 years as publisher to pursue other interests. Susan Lyles succeeded her as publisher. She comes from past stints at the Grand Prairie Daily News, Wichita Fall Times Record News, Teague Chronicle and most recently with Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. dailies in Huntsville and Palestine.

Tony M. Floyd joined the Henderson Daily News as editor. He was editor of the Jacksonville Daily Progress from 1998-2000 and was business editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph from 1990-96. He also was city editor from 1986-90 at the Texarkana Gazette.

Hearst Corp. announced that Victor F. Ganzi will succeed San Antonio native Frank A. Bennack Jr. as president and chief executive officer when Bennack retires in June after 40 years service. Under Bennack’s leadership, Hearst acquired 10 newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. Ganzi began at Hearst in 1990 and served as executive vice president since 1997.

Barbara Gartman joined The Monitor in Mabank as reporter to replace Mary Rainwater who accepted a position with the Palestine Herald-Press. Gartman worked 11 years at the Cedar Creek Pilot in Gun Barrel City until staff cutbacks in August.

The Huntsville Item made two new staff appointments. Kelly Smith is the new features editor of The Huntsville Item. She replaced Cheryl Joy Allman who accepted a position with Sam Houston State University. Smith had been a reporter at the Deer Park Broadcaster/Progress and before that a photographer at the Pasadena Citizen. Carole Snow took over as the new education reporter. She came from the Toccoa (Ga.) Record where she was a general assignments reporter and features writer.

The Naples Monitor hired a new employee and promoted another. Sheryl Moseley was promoted to advertising director. She started in August. Holly Huddleston Kumrow was hired as a part-time production assistant.

Margaret Palermo joined the Uvalde Leader-News as general assignments reporter. She replaced Heather Bonnett who relocated to Houston. Palermo was a reporter for the Laredo Morning Times in 1966-73 and worked for a television station and the school district there.

The San Benito News went through managerial adjustments last month. Martha McClain resigned as managing editor and four-year News veteran Ray Quiroga succeeded her. Office manager Luisa Maria Juarez and advertising director Carlos Martinez were named co-general managers. Both have worked at the News for about 20 years.

Carlos Sanchez became the new editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald. He has worked for the Washington Post and Fort Worth Star-Telegram and most recently was state editor for the Austin American-Statesman. Sanchez replaced Bob Lott who retired after 22 years.

LaDeanne Smith retired from the Houston County Courier after 25 years service including serving as general manager and editor. She also worked at the Palestine Herald Press.

David Sullens was named publisher and editor of The Navasota Examiner. He has served as editor of dailies in Galveston and Paris and was publisher in New Braunfels and Van Alstyne. He also edited a daily in Meridian, Miss.

The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors named a new board for 2001-02. Carolina Garcia, managing editor of the San Antonio Express-News, is the new president, and Carroll Wilson, editor of the Wichita Falls Times Record News, is first vice president. Bob Moore, managing editor of the El Paso Times, is second vice president and, Walter Johns, assistant managing editor of the Houston Chronicle, is acting secretary. Terri Burke, editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, is treasurer. Johns and Burke were appointed by Garcia following the departures of Lawrence Young, formerly of the Arlington Morning News, and Laurie Kilbourn, formerly of the Valley Morning Star in Harlingen. Burke also will serve as co-contest chairwoman.

Texas Daily Newspaper Association named new officers and directors for 2002. The new board will take office Jan. 1.Greg Shrader, publisher of the Kerrville Daily Times, becomes president and Wesley R. Turner, president and publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, becomes vice president.Donnis Baggett, publisher and editor of The Bryan/College Station Eagle, was elected treasurer and Fred B. Hartman, vice president of operations for Hartman Newspapers, became board chairman.Shrader was appointed Times publisher in 1995 when Southern Newspapers Inc. purchased the daily. He came from The Galveston County Daily News and has worked at the Houston Chronicle and Abilene Reporter-News. New directors on the TDNA board are Jack D. Pate, president and publisher of the San Angelo Standard-Times, and Larry L. Rose, president and publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Existing TDNA directors are Rollie Hyde, publisher of the Plainview Daily Herald, Larry Mayo, publisher of the Palestine Herald Press, Roy McQueen, publisher of the Snyder Daily News, Robert W. Mong Jr., publisher and general manager of The Dallas Morning News, Mack Quintana, president and publisher of the El Paso Times, and W. Lawrence Walker Jr., publisher of the San Antonio Express-News.

The Valley Morning Star in Harlingen promoted Lucio Castillo to managing editor for news and sports and Randy Davidson to managing editor for opinion and community.

The Zapata County News announced two staff changes.Quinta Beltrán was promoted to features and news reporter. She has been photographer and editorial assistant since January. Debbie Gomez came on board as part-time photographer and editorial assistant.