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Newsmakers - October 2014

TONY FARKAS - Madisonville Meteor
Tony Farkas has been named editor and publisher of the Madisonville Meteor. He comes to Madisonville from Columbus, Nebraska, where he was editor and general manager of the Schuyler Sun, a 1,500-circulation weekly. Other newspaper positions he has held include editor, news editor, copy editor and even production director in his almost 20 years at the Clovis New Journal in New Mexico.

DAVID HAYDON - The Sealy News
David Haydon recently became the newest reporter of The Sealy News. Haydon, 24, grew up in Hempstead, but has spent the last six years in Houston. He began his journalism career working at the University of Houston's student-run newspaper, The Daily Cougar. Haydon also spent a year interning for the Houston Chronicle. After graduating from UH in 2012, he freelanced in Houston as a writer, copy editor and photographer.

GINA KELLY - Brownfield News
The Brownfield News recently welcomed Gina Kelly as a staff writer. Kelly is a lifetime resident of Terry County and brings with her a wealth of experience. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University. She spent many years working for Brownfield ISD as the Director of Parent Education. Her responsibilities include covering Brownfield ISD Board meetings and other school issues.

GLORIA NEEL - Houston County Courier
Gloria Neel joined the Houston County Courier team as a reporter. Neel is a native Texan, born in Baytown and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from Franklin High School and Sam Houston State University, with a degree in education. With her husband, Robert, they both currently teach part-time at the Angelina College Career and Technology Center in Crockett.

ROBERT NEEL - Houston County Courier
Along with his wife, Gloria Neel, Robert Neel was recently hired as a reporter for the Houston County Courier. Robert is a graduate of Latexo High School and Texas A&M University, with a degree in engineering. Neel has deep roots in Houston County. He retired from TxDOT in 2002 after putting in nearly 30 years as an engineer for the agency. "Both Robert and Gloria are excellent writers and are a great additon to the Courier," Lynda Jones, editor-in-chief, said.

FRANK RODASKY - The Fort Stockton Pioneer
The Fort Stockton Pioneer hired Frank Rodasky as managing editor. Rodasky moves into the editorial position after five months as a reporter with the Pioneer. His professional background includes employment with a small weekly newspaper in Colfax, California and as part of the staff for West Texas A&M University's campus publication, The Prairie. He earned his Bachelor's of Science in Mass Communications/Print Media from West Texas A&M and a Master's of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.

SASHA VON OLDERSHAUSEN - The Presidio International/Big Bend Sentinel
Sasha von Oldershausen has joined the team at The Presidio International and Big Bend Sentinel as the newspapers' Presidio-based reporter and its digital news presence, bigbendnow.com. She hails from New York City and holds a Master's degree in journalism from New York University and received her B.A. from Northwestern University. She has worked for The Real Deal magazine, and has written for New York Magazine, The Huffington Post and Mic, among others.