Newsmakers

Promotions, new hires and other employee changes reported at Texas Newspapers and published in the August 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

DAVID BARBER

Van Zandt Newspapers, LLC

CANTON – David Barber has been named editor of the Canton Herald, Wills Point Chronicle and Van Zandt News.

The announcement was made by John Buzzetta, president of Van Zandt Newspapers, LLC, which publishes the newspapers.

“David is the most senior employee at the company,” Buzzetta said, adding that Barber joined the papers in 1982. He worked as a sales representative for the papers for several decades before turning into a full-time senior writer.

He has also covered sports, with particular attention to coverage of the Van Vandals, a football team he has loved and followed for decades. Barber will begin his 43rd overall season of covering the Vandal football team this upcoming season. He has covered 477 Vandal football games, missing only two games due to a bout with COVID in 2021.

He is a  graduate of Van High School, Tyler Junior College and North Texas State University (now known as the University of North Texas).

“David is one of the most dedicated journalists I have been fortunate to meet,” Buzzetta said. “He is thorough, objective and compassionate.” He also said Barber’s knowledge of Canton and Van Zandt County is invaluable to the newspapers and its readers.

Barber and his wife, Angie, have one daughter, Jillian, 21, who recently graduated from LeTourneau University in Longview.

PETE VASQUEZ

Alice Echo News Journal

ALICE – Pete Vasquez is the new editor of the Alice Echo News Journal, succeeding Sarah N. Reyna.

Vasquez has done freelance sports writing for the newspaper for more than a year. His media career began in the mid-1980s at the local AM-FM radio station.

“This opportunity is a good fit for my background of more than five decades in broadcasting,” Vasquez said. “As the baton is passed into my hands I am reflecting on the enormity of what has transpired as a freelance sports writer during tenure . . . I intend to continue the high standard of news, sports and trend coverage that Alice and the immediate area is known for. I love what they do here at the AENJ and I am so excited for us to continue to grow.”

ASHLEY BARNER

Bosque County Record-Tribune

CLIFTON – Ashley Barner has returned to the managing editor role at Bosque County Record-Tribune.

She succeeds Nathan Diebenow.

For two years, Barner served as managing editor for the Meridian Tribune and Clifton Record before the two newspapers were merged into the Bosque County Record-Tribune in July.

“I believe moving to a combined weekly edition of the paper will improve the quality of news we deliver each week,” Barner said.

ABENEZER YONAS

Colorado County Citizen

COLUMBUS – Abenezer Yonas has joined the staff of The Colorado County Citizen as a managing editor.

“We are very pleased to have Abey join our staff here in Columbus,” said I-10 Area Editor Jimmy Galvan. “I believe that Abey will be a strong asset to the staff and the community in Colorado County. I believe his experience will be a strong benefit for the Citizen and the county as well.”

Yonas will be replacing Trenton Whiting, who is leaving the Citizen to accept a position with a Victoria television station. Galvan said Whiting was “truly an asset to the staff and the community, and we only wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Yonas, 24, graduated from Alief Kerr High School in 2018 and is a 2022 graduate from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. He worked previously as a general assignment reporter for The Sealy News.

Former managing editor Whiting expressed his happiness with the hire as the two journalists both attended UH, where they initially met before their respective graduations. “I’m honestly extremely relieved to know that I’ll be leaving this county’s news in such capable hands,” Whiting said.

ALEX MILLER

The Eagle

BRYAN - Alex Miller is the new full-time Texas A&M sports reporter for The Eagle in Bryan.

Miller has worked as a reporter at The Eagle for more than four years and has helped cover Texas A&M Athletics in different capacities since 2016.

A native of College Station, Miller’s interest in journalism dates back to high school when he wrote for the College Station High School students newspaper. As a freshman at Texas A&M, he covered his first A&M football game for the Battalion, the A&M student newspaper. It was a road trip to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

According to Miller, since then he has had “the chance to pitch in with A&M sports coverage in different capacities as a college intern at both The Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express-News.” He has also been co-host of The Eagle’s My Aggie Nation podcast. 

He joined the staff of The Eagle as a full-time reporter after graduating from Texas A&M in 2020. 

“I believe my news reporting skills will add depth and connection with my stories. How do higher education, local and state government issues affect athletics? These are questions I hope to answer and include in my coverage,” Miller wrote in a column announcing his new assignment.