David Arkin was appointed managing editor of The Huntsville Item. He joined the staff in March. As managing editor he replaced Robbie Magness who left to become sports editor at The Beaumont Enterprise.

The Big Spring Herald announced three staff additions and one promotion.Carlos Gonzales returned after a three-year absence as circulation manager. He came from the Hobbs (N.M.) Sun. Christy Hernandez returned to the advertising department while the editorial department underwent two changes. Andreia Medlin was promoted to features editor. She joined the staff last November. Roger Cline joined the staff as city reporter. He has worked at The (McAllen) Monitor and other newspapers.

Hank Bond is the new publisher of the Sweetwater Reporter. He replaced Bill Morgan who transferred to publisher at sister newspaper the Jacksonville Daily Progress. Bond has 25 years experience and came from Donrey Media’s joint operating agreement newspapers the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun.

Paul Brown, a reporter for The Beaumont Enterprise, left the newspaper business to become the new transit planner for the city of Port Arthur. He also was a reporter for the Port Arthur News for many years and eventually became city editor there.

Michael Bryant is the new editor of The Keller Citizen. He came from the Arlington Star-Telegram and replaced Steve Paschal who moved to the Texas coast.

Linda Dennis, who first started working in the Texas Press Clipping Service in July 1977, left her longtime post Oct. 4 to accept a mail carrier position. She rejoined the clipping bureau in July 1979. TPA sold the bureau in 1999 to GeoTel Corp., which continues to operate it today.

Tate Dillard has joined the Martin County Messenger staff. He is a student at Texas Tech University majoring in communications.

Nancy Eilers is the new Carmine correspondent for the Fayette County Record. She replaced Alida Zwernemann, who died in August.

Rusty Hall is the new circulation director for The Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star. He came from a daily in Jacksonville, Ill.

Jennifer Lawhorn joined The Panola Watchman in Carthage. She brings eight years experience in advertising sales but will divide her time between the ad and editorial departments. She replaced Angela Rowe who left to spend more time with family.

Jacinto Leal joined the Taylor Daily Press pressroom. Before coming to the Press, Leal worked with his brother as a painter.

Tim Lott was appointed sports editor for the Austin American-Statesman after serving three years as Metro editor. He replaced David Humphrey, who left for a job as assistant sports editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The Lufkin Daily News announced three staff changes. Marc R. Masferrer was named managing editor to succeed Ernie Murray who moved into a new marketing position at the newspaper. City editor Andy Adams was promoted to assistant managing editor.

Bill Modisett, a veteran West Texas journalist, is the new editor of the Monahans News. His previous stints included jobs at the Midland Reporter-Telegram and San Angelo Standard-Times.

The National Federation of Press Women announced its annual award winners. The winners who also are TPA members include Anna Tinsley Williams, of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram third in newswriting; Bonnie Arnold, of The Mountain Sun in Kerrville first place in section editing and third place in section editing for lifestyle or entertainment; Sarah Cox, of the Waco Tribune Herald second place original graphics; and Carol Ferguson, of the Greenville Herald Banner for honorable mention for editorial.

Steve O’Brien is the new Brazos Living editor of the Waco Tribune Herald. He was a reporter for the past two years. He replaced Jana Collier who left for a position at the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News.

Colin Pope rejoined the Austin Business Journal as reporter covering health care, biotechnology and law. He came from an Austin-based dot com company.

Lee Qualls was appointed senior vice president/marketing for The Dallas Morning News. He joined the newspaper last year after 12 years with Coca Cola.

John Rainey, a journalist for five decades, received a resolution honoring his service from State Rep. Tom Ramsay at the Wood County Commissioners Court. Rainey works at the Wood County Democrat and has had a stint at Winnsboro News.

Rick Reynolds, publisher of The Troy (Ala.) Messenger since 1990 and vice president of Boone Newspapers of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has been named president of Granite Publications of Burnet effective Oct. 15. Granite operates 14 newspapers, including the Taylor Daily Press. Reynolds was sales manager of the 5,000 circulation weekly Herald-Democrat in Siloam Springs, Ark., before becoming general manager of the 4,000 circulation Malden Press-Merit and 2,000 circulation Bernie Post-Tribune, both weekly newspapers in Dunklin County, Mo. Reynolds joined Boone Newspapers Inc. in 1987 in advertising sales at the10,000 circulation daily Selma (Ala.) Times Journal. Reynolds fills the spot vacated by Mark Henry, who left Granite in June after three years as president.

Caris Thetford, managing editor of The Dublin Citizen, was named outstanding graduate for the Department of English and Languages at Tarleton State University. The commencement was Aug. 11.

Two TPA member newspapers took top honors at the Religion Newswriters Association convention in Boston. The Dallas Morning News was named the best religion section for large dailies for the sixth time in seven years and the Abilene Reporter-News won for small dailies.