The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas elected new board members in January. Newspaper staffers serving FOIFT include vice president Randy Sanders, editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, and new directors Libby Averyt, editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Steve Jetton, assistant managing editor the Houston Chronicle, Timothy Kelly, editor The Beaumont Enterprise, Pete Slover, reporter The Dallas Morning News and Gary Hardee, publisher the Arlington Star-Telegram.

The Gatesville Messenger was once again honored as the Texas Weekly Newspaper of the Year by the Texas Department of the American Legion. The award is presented in recognition of the newspaper’s contributions to the public understanding of the goals and objectives of the American Legion. The award was presented at the Texas District Mid-Winter Conference in Austin.

Len Hayward, a former sports reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has been named sports editor of the Abilene Reporter-Telegram. He replaced Randy Rosetta, who recently left to become sports editor of Opelika-Auburn (Ala.) News. Hayward began his newspaper career as a sports reporter for the Odessa American, where he worked from 1994-96

The Houston Chronicle announced several staff changes and promotions.

John Wilburn has been named managing editor. Wilburn, who had filled the position on an interim basis since last August, joined the Chronicle in October 2002 as assistant managing editor to supervise the Sunday editions. His 28-year career includes stints at magazines including founding editor of San Antonio Light’s Viva Magazine, in 1985, editor of The Dallas Morning News’ Dallas Life and in 1989 founding editor of the Houston Press.

Joining as deputy managing editor/ news is Jennifer Sizemore, who most recently was assistant managing editor at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer where she worked nearly seven years.

Wendy Benjaminson, who for three years oversaw city and suburban coverage as metropolitan editor, becomes assistant managing editor/Sunday, and Veronica Flores, who joined the newspaper in October 2002 as assistant national editor, becomes city editor. Benjaminson and Flores filled those positions, respectively, on an interim basis since September.

Duties for assistant managing editors Steve Jetton and Ernie Williamson have changed. Jetton, who was appointed an assistant managing editor in fall 1998, will become assistant managing editor/city and state. Williamson has been an assistant managing editor since 1998 and will become assistant managing editor/news.

Charlotte Lynch is the new publisher of The Orange Leader. She brings nearly 11 years of experience in the newspaper business. She served as advertising director and interim publisher at sister Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. newspapers and was promoted to regional advertising director for the Northwest Iowa Division of CNHI.

Kenneth Miller received the Texas Farm Bureau 2003 Media Awards Excellence of Journalism for a market with a population under 50,000 during the TFB Leadership Conference on Jan. 27 in College Station. Miller, the editor of the Hamilton Herald-News, was nominated by Hamilton County. Covering numerous agricultural events over the past 20 years, Miller has supplied in-depth coverage of various 4-H events.

Sydney M. Powell joined The Angleton Times as reporter/photographer. She has a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and most recently worked in the high-tech industry.

Mindy Ratliff is the new editor of The Olney Enterprise. She succeeds Jeremy Corley, who departed Jan. 30 after two and a half years as editor to join the staff at the Bryan-College Station Eagle. Ratliff previously served as an editorial assistant at the Breckenridge American and most recently was a copy editor at the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Christina Ryrholm is the new publisher and ad director at the Bandera Bulletin. Philip Billnitzer remains as editor. Former publisher Frank Shubert transferred to the Boerne Star as the advertising manager.

Kenneth Wood, a contract freelance columnist for The (McAllen) Monitor, was arraigned Feb. 6 and charged with sexual assault stemming from a report in October 2003 by a woman who said Wood sexually assaulted her during a counseling session. Wood is a pastoral counselor. The Monitor suspended publication of Woods’ weekly religion column until the matter is resolved.