10 members judge Arkansas ad entries

DECATUR — Ten TPA members gathered Feb. 16 to judge the Arkansas Press Association’s advertising contest at the Wise County Messsenger.

TPA wishes to thank the volunteers Roy Robinson, Bob Buckel, Lisa Davis, Loydale Schmid, Jon McMahan, Mark Henry, Tina Moore, Joe Thompson, Mark Jordan and Todd Griffith; and Messenger publisher Roy Eaton for providing the judging space.

TPA also will judge APA’s editorial/news contest from 1-4 p.m. May 10 and/or 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 11 in Austin. A limited number of hotel rooms are available free Thursday, May 10, to any member who agrees to judge both days.

To sign up contact Pauline Word at 800-749-4793.

Court reverses libel ruling from murder case

AUSTIN — The Texas 3rd Court of Appeals reversed a ruling in a libel lawsuit brought by a former Bastrop district attorney against the Smithville Times, one of its reporters and Cox Newspapers Inc., the Austin American-Statesman reported.

No malice was present in the reporting of the Stacey Stites murder investigation, according to the courts opinion. Former Bastrop DA Charles Penick filed the suit Aug. 22, 2002, saying that the Times had libeled him in 13 articles.

Plains adds 2 weeklies

KNOX CITY — Plains Press Inc. and Jeff Jordan recently acquired the Castro County News and Eden Echo. Chris Bradford was publisher in Castro County and Kathy Amos, was publisher in Eden.

Plains Press Inc. also has the Morton Tribune, Knox County News and Newcastle Post.