Newsmakers

Staff additions, promotions and other changes at Texas newspapers as reported in the July 2022 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

WYNDI VEIGEL
The Dublin Citizen
DUBLIN – Wyndi Veigel has joined the staff of The Dublin Citizen as content editor.
Managing Editor Paul Gaudette made the announcement, noting Veigel is “an accomplished journalist with a diverse background and skillset.”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a community newspaper professional such as Wyndi Veigel join us in our work,” Citizen Publisher Brett Wesner said.
Veigel comes from the Hamilton Herald-News, where she had been news editor since September 2021.
A native of Borger, Veigel earned an associate’s degree at Frank Phillips College before going to Angelo State University for a year. She transferred to Texas A&M University—Commerce, where she earned a bachelor degree in news/editorial journalism in 2007.
Her first position was with The Farmersville Times, where she worked for 13 years, eventually becoming news editor of both The Farmersville Times and Princeton Herald.
In 2019, she became editor of the Marshall News-Messenger, where she covered the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the community and businesses as well as breaking stories and controversies.
She said a desire to be closer to friends and family in West Texas prompted her to leave Marshall.
Veigel holds numerous awards from the North and East Texas Press Association, the Texas Press Association and West Texas Press Association. Among her honors are three photographer of the year awards and a journalist of the year plaque.
She also has a 2020 Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Freedom of Information Award related to the Marshall News-Messenger’s coverage of the lack of information provided by nursing homes to families during the COVID pandemic, an issue that ultimately resulted in legislation to improve transparency.
She is currently secretary/treasurer for NETPA and has held several board positions with NETPA and TPA.

BARBARA AUDET
Coastal Bend Publishing
THREE RIVERS – Barbara Audet has joined Coastal Bend Publishing as editor of the Karnes Countywide in Karnes City and The Progress in Three Rivers.
Most recently a test center manager in San Antonio for the education company Pearson, Audet has significant training and experience in community journalism.
A graduate of The Ohio State University with a master of arts degree in public affairs journalism, she taught journalism, photojournalism, television documentary production and news reporting at Ithaca College in Upstate New York, Auburn University and Western Illinois University.
Kevin J. Keller, content director for Coastal Bend Publishing, said Audet is a great asset to the publications and he looks forward to her contributions.

COURTNEY PEDERSEN
The Beaumont Enterprise
BEAUMONT – The Beaumont Enterprise has brought on a new reporter who will be covering a newly created subject area for the newspaper.
Courtney Pedersen, who joined the Enterprise in early June, will cover the environment and relevant regulations enacted by the state and federal governments.
Pedersen hails from Kalamazoo County, Michigan. She graduated Central Michigan University this year with a degree in journalism, a minor in legal studies and a certificate in creative writing. 
She honed her skills through internships at Public Media Network, the Michigan News Group, and WCMU public radio. She also worked for her student newspaper as summer editor-in-chief, associate editor, managing editor and investigative editor. 

VANDELINE VAN EPPS
Gonzales Inquirer
GONZALES – Vandeline (Vandy) Van Epps has joined the staff of the Gonzales Inquirer as reporter.
A native of Washington state, she has been living in Texas since moving to Pleasanton as a high school student.
A 2017 graduate of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Van Epps has been in the journalism field for more than five years, starting as an intern at Local Community News in San Antonio and as a reporter in Port Lavaca.
“I covered a lot during my career; covering high school sports, city council meetings, commissioners court, local events and so much more,” Van Epps said. 
“I am looking forward to covering historical Gonzales and Gonzales County; my minor was in history and the best way to learn history is your local newspaper.”