Newspapers publish hurricane books

Two Texas newspapers have published books on the devastating 2005 hurricane season.

The Beaumont Enterprise’s “Rita Captured” is full of staff photographers’ images from Hurricane Rita’s deadly path across Southeast Texas Sept. 24 and her aftermath. The book is $29.95 plus tax; 409-833-3311 or www.malloftexas.com/ritacaptured/. A portion of the proceeds go to the United Way.

The Dallas Morning News’ “Eyes of the Storm” shows staff photos and stories about how Katrina and Rita delivered a powerful one-two punch. The book is $19.95 plus tax; at www.dallasnews.com/eyesofthestorm/.

Keaches sell family weekly

ROBSTOWN — American Consolidated Media Inc. has purchased the publishing assets of The Nueces County Record Star from Sam Fore Keach, Vicki J. Keach and W. Darrell Keach.

Sam Fore Keach will retire as editor and publisher. Vicki J. Keach will continue with her duties in the news and editorial operation and Darrell Keach will remain on an interim basis as general manager. No other personnel changes or staff reductions are planned.    

The newspaper had been in the same family for 80 years. Sam L. Fore Jr., a TPA past president, purchased the Robstown Record July 1, 1926. In 1989, it and The Western Star were combined into a single publication.

Jeremy Halbreich is CEO of Dallas-based American Consolidated Media.

New owners again in Marble Falls

MARBLE FALLS — Bar 30 Media has purchased the assets of Highland Lakes Newspapers Inc., including The Highlander and Burnet Bulletin.

The company is owned by Roy E. and Ellen Bode. Roy E. Bode will become publisher and editor and Ellen Bode will be associate publisher. Bode  was editor-in-chief of the Dallas Times Herald until the paper closed in 1991.

Dirks, Van Essen and Murray, a newspaper merger and acquisition firm in New Mexico, handled the transaction.

Next West Media bought the newspapers on Nov. 1 and cited health concerns as reasons for the sale just four months later.

Mansfield goes weekly

MANSFIELD — The semiweekly Mansfield News-Mirror Feb. 24 changed to weekly publication, printed on Fridays. According to the TPA database, only 61 newspapers publish semi- or triweekly in Texas while 377 newspapers publish weekly.

City honors S-T’s 100th anniversary

FORT WORTH — The city council honored the Fort Worth Star-Telegram with a plaque and a certificate Feb. 1 on the 100th anniversary of its founding.

Founded on Feb. 1, 1906, publisher Amon G. Carter Sr.’s original paper was the Fort Worth Star. Two years later, Carter and others bought the rival Fort Worth Telegram. The first edition of the merged Star-Telegram was published in 1909.

Knight Ridder bought the Star-Telegram in 1997.

Kirbyville, Paducah mark 100th anniversaries

Two Texas weeklies are celebrating 100-year anniversaries this year.

The Kirbyville Banner plans to chart its history through an ongoing series of “yesteryear” pages. The newspaper has been owned and published by Ed and Debbie Hoke for three years.

The Paducah Post marked its 100th birthday the week of Feb. 7. The Post assumed its name in May 1906. In 1928-29 it moved into a new brick building where it still is housed today. Jimmye Taylor took ownership in 1990.

San Antonio joins Internet network

SAN ANTONIO — Real Cities Network announced the addition of MySanAntonio.com to its national Web site network.

MySanAntonio.com is a partnership between the San Antonio Express-News and KENS-TV that reaches 1.29 million monthly unique visitors and nearly 40 percent of local adults in its market, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations and Media Audit.

TPA vendor snatches up Web competitors

TownNews.com, a TPA Trade Show vendor, has purchased ZWire, AdQuest and a national advertising network from PowerOne Media.

Scripps buys biz journals

CORPUS CHRISTI — Scripps BC Development Co., a subsidiary of E.W. Scripps Co., bought The Business Journal of Corpus Christi and The Business Times of the Rio Grande Valley.

Scripps is the parent company of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and president and publisher Patrick Birmingham also will be publisher of the journals but they will operate independently.

Kamen & Co. to create industry advisory council

BALDWIN, N.Y. — Kamen & Co. Group Services, a print & digital media valuation firm, has announced plans to establish a coalition of publishing business and accounting executives that will make recommendations on streamlining media companies and suggest how best to make them more competitive in today’s technological environment.

Kamen & Co Group Services is based in New York and has a second office in Tampa, Florida.