The American Cancer Society, Austin Metro Market awarded Austin Community Newspapers with the Spirit of Hope crystal award for promotion/education of Relay for Life.

Each paper did survivor stories leading up to the events in each of their areas and contributed approximately $100,000 of advertising space, donations and staff time. ACN group includes the Lake Travis View, The Bastrop Advertiser, North Lake Travis Log, Westlake Picayune, Pflugerville Pflag and The Smithville Times.

--

An Austin American-Statesman features writer and a features copy editor will receive national awards from the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors at a meeting in New Orleans.

The winners, in the circulation division 175,001 to 300,000, are Denise Gamino and Ponch Garcia. Gamino won first place in the short feature category for her 456-word story in August 2003 titled "Buss top." Garcia won second place in headline writing for a portfolio of headlines in 2003.

--

James Bae has joined the staff of The Big Bend Sentinel and The Presidio International as a reporter. Bae was born in Tokyo and raised in Los Angeles. He came to Marfa in May as a Chinati Foundation intern and joined the newspaper staff in July.

--

Stephen Beasley has been named publisher of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Beasley most recently was general manager of the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News and previously was advertising director at the Avalanche-Journal.

Beasley replaced Mark Nusbaum who became publisher of The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal. Nusbaum had been the publisher for five years before returning to the newspaper where he previously was executive editor.

--

Margarette Chasteen has been named general manager of the Friendswood Journal and Pearland Journal.

Judy Zavalla, who had served as general manager of the Journals, remains as editor, focusing on expanding coverage of both newspapers.

--

The Dallas Morning News made three management changes.

Laura Bloom Gordon has been promoted from managing editor of new product development for the News and its free tabloid daily Quick to senior vice president/marketing. She will continue as publisher of Quick.

The title for Bob Mong, previously president and editor, was changed to editor so he can focus specifically on the editorial product of the paper.

Jason Kays was promoted from vice president of advertising marketing to vice president/circulation.

--

Charlie Collins is the new reporter for The Grapeland Messenger covering local news and events. She previously worked on a freelance basis.

--

The Madisonville Meteor announced a change in the top post.

Harry Darby transferred to sister newspaper The Alpine Avalanche. Harry and his fiancee, Corbett, married on Oct. 3 and moved to Alpine after the wedding. In fall 2003 Darby was named editor and publisher of The Meteor.

Clay Morgan is the new publisher. He came from the managing editor post of The Boerne Star and previously was editor and general manager at The Navasota Examiner starting in December 2002.

--

Vernon Forsyth is the new circulation manager for The Herald-Coaster in Rosenberg. Before joining the staff he was home delivery manager for the Shawnee News-Star in Chandler, Okla.

--

Jimmy Galvan has joined the Stephenville Empire-Tribune as managing editor. Galvan has more than 19 years of experience in community journalism and has served as managing editor for newspapers in Pasadena, Sealy and Cleveland.

--

The Galveston County Daily News said good-bye to two longtime reporters and welcome back to a third and promoted two pressmen.

Alicia Gooden, who covered mainland communities for almost five years, has taken a job with the Wenatchee (Wash.) World. Ted Streuli has taken a job with the Oklahoma City Journal Record.

Marty Schiaden, who left the News in 1999, returned. He has worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in North Carolina and Florida and most recently was a reporter for the Virgin Islands Daily News.

David Kirby was named press foreman, and John Rodriguez was named assistant press foreman. Kirby has been with News since 1981 and most recently was assistant foreman. Rodriguez has been with the News since 1988 and moved up from number three pressman.

--

Donna Harding is the new bookkeeper at the Colorado County Citizen. She came back to Granite Publications after working for The Sealy News in the past.

--

Lee Leschper, classified advertising manager at the Amarillo Globe-News since 1998, has been named regional advertising director for Alaska newspapers owned by Morris Publishing Group and its parent company, Morris Communications. He will serve concurrently as advertising director of the Juneau Empire.

--

Milt Morin has assumed the title of publisher emeritus of the Daily Court Review in Houston after passing the reins to his daughter Sarah Morin, chief executive officer and publisher, and Tom Morin, chief operating officer. Milt Morin served as a past TPA board member and has remained active with the association’s legislative efforts at the State Capitol.

--

Bill Offill has been promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Houston Chronicle. He had been vice president for circulation, packaging and distribution since 2002 and joined the Chronicle in 1987 as an advertising account executive. Offill currently serves on the board of directors for the Circulation Federation of the Newspaper Association of America and the Readers are Leaders Foundation.

--

Elizabeth Page returned to the staff at the Taylor Daily Press and The Hutto News to write features and news items from Hutto. She worked for the Press for more than a year before taking time off to care for her mother.

Also joining the Press staff is Patti Slavych, the new graphic artist. She most recently worked for Westward Communications, publisher of The Courier in Conroe.

--

The Star Group announced two editor changes.

Tom Beesley has been named managing editor of the Crowley Star. Affiliated with The Star Group since January, Beesley had been managing editor of the Joshua Star. He replaces longtime Crowley news editor Joy E. Cressler, who declined to accept re-assignment within the company and tendered her resignation.

Aleshia Claunch is taking over the Joshua Star as managing editor. Claunch comes to The Star Group after graduating from Angelo State University with a major in journalism. She worked on the school newspaper and for the San Angelo Standard-Times.

--

Texas Southern University in Houston received one of its largest donations ever from an individual when Tavis Smiley, National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service host, gave $1 million to boost the university’s communications school.

The money, which came on the same day officials dedicated a center in Smiley’s name, will endow a faculty chair and create new student scholarships.

University officials also hope the new $5.4 million Tavis Smiley Center for Media Studies will help diversify the nation’s media by graduating more black journalists.

--

Dolph Tillotson, publisher of The Galveston County Daily News, was elected president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association at The Greenbrier in West Virgina during SNPA’s annual convention.

Tillotson succeeds Jonathan Segal, president of the Community Newspapers Division of Freedom Communications, who was elected chairman of the SNPA board of directors.

SNPA Foundation board of trustees also elected chairman: Lissa Walls Vahldiek, chief operating officer, Southern Newspapers Inc.

--

Chasity Tomkivits is a student working as a part-time receptionist and general office assistant at The Navasota Examiner. She is the daughter of ad composer Sharon Kroll and will earn class credit at Navasota High School in addition to her paycheck.