Newsmakers July 2015

Peyton Aufill  

The Canadian Record

Peyton Aufill is the new sports writer and cartoonist for The Canadian Record, taking over for Antonio Morales. Aufill grew up in Lubbock and attended Texas Tech University, earning his bachelor’s degree in art in 2012, with an emphasis in painting. He then moved to Canadian, where he has resided for the past two years, teaching and creating art. 

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to be able to share my art on a mass scale,” states Aufill. “Humor can be a very universal tool, and to be able to utilize it in an effort to bring a newfound appreciation to visual art, or new and different viewpoints to a situation can be very powerful.” 

 

Shelly Conlon

Waxahachie Daily Light

Shelly Conlon was promoted to managing editor of the Waxahachie Daily Light beginning July 20. Conlon joined the Daily Light news team in December 2013 following her graduation from the University of Texas - Arlington with a degree in communications/journalism. In July 2014, she was promoted to the position of digital news editor. Recently, she received awards for journalism excellence from the Texas Press Association, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association and Best of GateHouse News Awards. Conlon was also selected as a 2015 Rising Star by GateHouse Media

 

Antonio Morales 

The Graham Leader

Antonio Morales is the new sports editor at The Graham Leader. He graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting in May 2012. He spent two and a half years as sports editor in Canadian. 

“I learned how passionate small-town Texas residents can be about their local sports,” said Morales. “From what I’ve read and heard about the recent history of Graham sports, I can easily tell that all teams throughout the city receive the same type of commitment and involvement from their fans that I saw in Canadian, only at a larger scale.”

 

Alexandria Randolph 

Burnet Bulletin

Alexandria Randolph has become a fulltime reporter and photographer for the Burnet Bulletin. 

Randolph already worked for the newspaper’s parent, Highland Lakes Newspapers, covering Burnet County as a journalist based out of The Highlander for more than three years.

Randolph will also continue as the content manager for the weekly supplement, Lake Country Life, which is inserted into all three newspapers in Burnet, Marble Falls and Llano.

Randolph graduated from Texas A&M University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Journalism, and received the South Texas Press Association Third Place Journalist of the Year Award in 2014.

 

Tim Ritter 

The Canyon News 

Tim Ritter is the new managing editor for The Canyon News. Ritter, a 20-year newspaper industry veteran, spent the past 12 years working as a sports editor in Siloam Springs, Ark., and Claremore, Okla. He returns now to Canyon, where he started his journalism career in 1995. 

“It feels great to be back in Canyon, and surrounded by a lot of supportive family and friends,” said Ritter. “I always envisioned coming back to The Canyon News and running the newspaper. I owe a lot to former Canyon News publisher Brad Tooley for giving me the opportunity 20 years ago of learning the qualities of small-town journalism and letting me establish myself in this genuine community.”

 

Reagan Roehl

Taylor Press and The Hutto News

Reagan Roehl is the new sports editor for the Taylor Press and The Hutto News. Roehl is a San Antonio native and recent graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin. He has covered sports for the past six years, including a stint as sports editor for St. Edward’s school newspaper, Hilltop Views. He also worked in broadcast news, interning last summer for San Antonio’s FOX affiliate station.

“I have always prided myself in knowing every detail when it comes to my sports teams, but for the first time in my life, I am in a new community with new programs and face a bit of a learning curve,” said Roehl. “Hopefully I can get to know the locals and become an expert in no time.”

 

Ashley Rose 

Cleburne Times-Review

Ashley Rose is the new Cleburne Times-Review education reporter. In May, she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas with a minor in sociology and political science.

Rose wrote for UNT’s newspaper, the North Texas Daily, and interned at the Dallas Morning News.

“I chose the Times-Review because not only is it close to home, but it’s a small town,” Rose said. “You always have to start out small in the work field in order to appreciate what you have. [This will help me] grow as a writer and a person.”

 

Steve Schwartz 

Pilot Point Post-Signal

Steve Schwartz was named assistant editor of the Pilot Point Post-Signal.

Schwartz joined the Post-Signal as a reporter in December. He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2011. 

Schwartz previously worked as a reporter for the Iola Register in Kansas and design editor for Lone Star Outdoor News in Garland. He has also written for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Denton Record-Chronicle.

 

Flo West

Panola Watchman

Longtime Panola Watchman employee Flo West retired on July 17 after working on and off with Panola County newspapers since the 1970s. West first began working for The Panola Post in 1974. Throughout her years at both the Post and Watchman, West has worked in multiple departments. 

“When I worked for the Post, I was secretary, feature editor, proofer, plus many more, too numerous to mention,” she said. “Then when I worked at the Watchman the first time, I was a typesetter, proofer, page production, ad graphics designer, photographer and ad sales.” 

“To put it plain and simple,” she said, “there is not one department involved in the original production of the paper issues that I have not had some experience in, including sports coverage. It has been a very varied and interesting span of the last 40 years.”