Bissell named Kerrville Daily Times publisher

KERRVILLE – Shelly Bissell is the new publisher of The Kerrville Daily Times.

Leonard Woolsey, president of Southern Newspapers Inc., which owns The Kerrville Daily Times as well as nearby papers in New Braunfels and Seguin, welcomed Bissell to her new role.

“I am thrilled to have Shelly Bissell join us in Kerrville — she exemplifies the best in a community leader and publisher,” Woolsey said. “I have no doubt she will continue the remarkable story of a local newspaper and community consistently coming together for the good of all. Once you meet Shelly, I am confident you know instantly she is the right person for Kerrville and The Times.”

“It already feels like home,” Bissell said. “I love everything about the town.”

Bissell said throughout her career she has always prioritized making connections.

“Building true connections with the community, and with the different community members, has driven my entire career,” she said. “Local reporting is very important to our quality of life as citizens. We’re a trusted resource that acts with integrity as we report things that matter. The world is full of ‘resources,’ but none are going to be as dependable as your local newspaper.”

Bissell said that part of what binds the newspaper to the community is that the people who work there participate fully in it. She will be no exception.

“I’m going to join some civic organizations, the chamber, volunteer, really immerse myself in the community,” she said. “I will be very visible. You will see me.”

Bissell and her husband, Kelly, recently celebrated their 36th anniversary. Kelly Bissell is an artist who works with wood as a medium, and the opportunity to have access to more and different types of wood, alongside the Hill Country’s robust art community, is exciting, she said.

John Wells, the departing publisher who is returning to Alabama to be closer to his own family, thanked the community for its support during his tenure and wished Bissell the best.

“Serving as the publisher of The Kerrville Daily Times has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a strong and resilient community,” Wells said. “I’m incredibly proud of the direction the newspaper is heading, and I have full confidence that Shelly will continue building on that momentum. I wish her nothing but the very best as she leads The Kerrville Daily Times into its next chapter and continues its upward trajectory.”