KERRVILLE – The Kerrville Daily Times has a new publisher with a small-town upbringing, a love of tight-knit communities and an appreciation for what the Texas Hill Country represents.
John Wells came to Kerrville from Bainbridge, Georgia, where he has served as publisher of The Post-Searchlight newspaper.
“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Wells said. “We really believe Kerrville is a special place. I live in a small town, grew up in a small town — that’s what we were looking for.”
In 2025, the Texas Press Messenger’s volume number rolls to 100 — 10 decades covering Texas newspapers as they dutifully served their communities through the milestones of the 20th Century and continuing challenges of the first two decades of the 21st Century.
As the anniversary year approaches and throughout 2025, the Messenger will showcase some of its coverage from past years.
1944
Bill Quinn publishes Army paper on presses taken from enemy
New hires, promotions and other employment news reported by Texas newspapers and published in the December 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
MARSHALL – Timothy Stuckey has joined the staff of The Marshall News Messenger as a staff reporter.
Stuckey, based in Longview, brings an extensive amount of experience in both photography and journalism, accompanied by his commitment to strong visual storytelling. He covers the schools beat for the newspaper.
By TONY FARKAS, Polk County Publishing Company
He was called a friend, a brother and even a mentor, but one of the highest compliments Greg Peak ever received was that he was a newspaper man, through and through.
Peak, who was a longtime associate of Alvin Holley, owner of Polk County Publishing Company Inc., died recently from complications of diabetes.
Final arrangements are pending.
Holley said Peak was a valuable employee for the company.
Obituaries published in the December 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
Keith Bridwell
BRIDGEPORT – Veteran newsman and former publisher of the Bridgeport Index Keith Harlan Bridwell, 79, died Sept. 29.
A native of Denton, he attended Decatur Baptist College, then continued his education at West Texas State University in Canyon.
The Texas Press Association board of directors has voted to increase membership dues.
Each year dues are calculated based on the average annual paid circulation as reported on the Statement of Ownership. The fee will increase from nine cents per subscriber to 10 cents per subscriber. In addition, the board set the minimum dues amount at $200.
Online only content now accepted in some categories
New rules for the 2024 Texas Better Newspaper Contest will allow online content to be submitted as entries in writing and photography categories. In addition, the new rules specify AI generated or AI modified/enhanced content is not eligible for submission.
After announcing closure of the Lindale News and Times, owner Jim Bardwell decided to turn over the newspaper’s intellectual properties to Rambler Texas Media, Texas’ original nonprofit, 501 (c) (3), paid circulation community newspaper.
John and Stacey Starkey built and ran Rambler Newspapers for 20 years, until changes in the industry forced them to seek a different business model. According to Stacey Starkey, Rambler Texas Media grew out of Rambler Newspapers, a weekly newspaper serving Irving, Coppell, and Grand Prairie in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported by Texas newspapers and reported in the November 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
JULIA CHILDS, ANNA GIBSON
The Post Dispatch
POST – Longtime Post Dispatch Editor Julia Childs has retired. Following in her footsteps as the new managing editor is Anna Gibson.
Arif Panju, (far left) managing attorney (Texas) Institute for Justice, and a member of the executive committee for the Freedom of Information Foundation board of directors, moderated a panel session on priorities for the 2025 Legislative session during the recent FOI annual state conference. Panelists were (seated, from left) First Amendment attorney Laura Prather, a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLC; First Amendment attorney Bill Aleshire; and Linda Pavlik, award-winning former investigative reporter representing the Texas League of Women Voters.