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Newsmakers

Promotions, appointments, other staff changes at Texas newspapers.

John Carson
Seminole Sentinel
SEMINOLE – John Carson is the new managing editor for the Seminole Sentinel.
Publisher Christy Hawkins announced the appointment.
A 35-year veteran in newspapers, Carson came to the Sentinel from the Hereford Brand, where he had been managing editor for four years.
A University of Georgia graduate, Carson has worked at a variety of publications throughout his career from dailies to twice-weeklies to weeklies.
Following a 10-year stint with dailies in Georgia and West Virginia, Carson teamed with his father to produce a regional football publication for five years before moving into community journalism. His father was the late Johnny Richard Carson, Sr., a University of Georgia two-sport All-American and four-sport letterman who played in the NFL for seven years and was a scout for the NFL for 40 years.
During his career, Carson has won numerous press association awards in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas and West Virginia for news writing, feature writing, serious and humorous columns, sports writing, photography, special sections and layout and design.
In addition, he has won several state and regional Association Press Managing Editor Awards and been nationally recognized on more than six occasions for editorial excellence.
In addition to covering a variety of news beats and other stories, Carson’s primary coverage focus will be on sports.
 
Ben Marmolejo-Najera
The Henderson News
HENDERSON – Ben Marmolejo-Najera recently joined The Henderson News staff as graphic artist.
A native of New Boston, Marmolejo-Najera has been in the newspaper business for 15 years, starting as sports editor and reporter for the Bowie County Tribune in New Boston. In later years, he worked for the Longview News-Journal as a graphic artist and content coordinator for Charm  Magazine. He has also served as editor and graphic artist for the Steel Country Bee and several East Texas magazines. Most recently he was a graphic artist for the Kilgore News Herald and design director for KNH’s ETcetera Magazine.
 
Andrew Burnes
Kaufman Herald
KAUFMAN – Andrew Burnes has joined the Kaufman Herald as managing editor.
Publisher Monica Lewis announced the appointment.
A native of Leonard, Burnes is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce Honors College Program. He was editor of the university’s student publication, The East Texan, for five consecutive semesters, winning numerous awards in collegiate press groups.
Since graduating in 2016, he has worked for The Leonard Graphic, The Henderson News and The Terrell Tribune, where his grandfather Jim Raynes was editor for more than 30 years, retiring in 1998.
 
David Morel
Gatehouse Media
LUBBOCK - David Morel has joined Gatehouse Media as regional director of distribution for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News.
Group Publisher Robert Granfeldt announced the appointment.
In his new position, Morel said he plans to improve customer service, make operations more efficient and contribute to a culture of innovation.
He began his print media career in his hometown of Bakersfield, California. He spent 13 years at the Dallas Morning News, where he held various director-level positions in customer service, advertising and operations. He also served as a vice president for a distribution company in California, and most recently for a manufacturing company in Mississippi.
Morel has been a speaker at various industry conferences in both the United States and Canada.
 
Alan Dale
Baytown Sun
BAYTOWN – Alan Dale is the new sports editor of the Baytown Sun, replacing Michael Pineda, who was promoted to assistant managing editor.
With almost 20 years experience, Dale has covered sports in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Montana and most recently in the Kansas City area. In addition to sports, he has worked on the news side as managing editor and news editor. As a high school and college student, he worked for the Arizona Republic and a University of Arizona sports magazine, as well as a Greek magazine.
 
Felicia Frazar
Seguin Gazette
SEGUIN – Seguin native and long-time Seguin Gazette employee Felicia Frazar has taken over the newsroom as managing editor, replacing Chris Lykins, who returned to the new Braunfels Herald-Zeitung as executive editor for both newspapers.
The changes were announced by Elizabeth Engelhardt, general manager of the Seguin Gazette.
Frazar, assistant editor for the past six months, has been with the Gazette since 2003, starting as part-time staff photographer covering sports. In 2009, she accepted a job as staff writer and staff photographer. In the 10 years since, she has served as senior staff writer, news editor and, eventually, assistant editor.
Over the years Frazar has earned several state honors for news coverage, features stories, photography, team effort and community service.
In addition to running day-to-day operations, Frazar plans to continue writing stories for both the newspaper and print magazine, as well as taking photos.
 
Joe Gonzales
Levelland News-Press
LEVELLAND – Joe Gonzales has returned to the staff of the Levelland News-Press as sports editor.
Publisher Stephen Henry announced the appointment.
Gonzales began his writing career with the News-Press in August 2004 while a student at South Plains College. In May 2005, he was named sports editor of the Lamb County Leader-News in Littlefield, a sister publication to the News-Press. Gonzales has been an active member of the Littlefield community, serving on the Littlefield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and coaching soccer with the Littlefield Soccer Association.
Gonzales has been co-editor of the Leader-News for the past five years and says he is excited to again be focused on covering sports.
The News-Press provides coverage of the eight high schools in Hockley and Cochran County with the help of area coaches and photo submissions from freelance photographers.