KYLE – With the retirement of long-time publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton, Something More Newspapers has acquired Barton Publications, publishers of the Hays Free Press in Kyle and News Dispatch in Dripping Springs.
Something More Newspapers is owned and operated by Tania French and her two daughters Ashley Kontnier and Schelly Bartels. The company also owns the Port Lavaca Wave.
French worked for the Port Lavaca Wave for 18 years — 11 of them as a publisher — before launching Something More Media in 2018 with Kontnier and Bartels. She is currently publisher of the Port Lavaca Wave.
KYLE – After 38 years in the newspaper business and serving as publisher for the Hays Free Press / News-Dispatch for more than two decades, Cyndy Slovak-Barton retired to take over other family ventures.
Obituaries published in the February 2022 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
GLADEWATER – Award-winning journalist and journalism educator Suzanne Bardwell, wife of TPA President Jim Bardwell, died Jan. 7 following a traffic accident in Longview.
Memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 14, at 11 a.m. (tentative) at the First Christian Church of Longview. The family will receive friends for visitation Thursday, Jan. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater.
Graveside services are set at noon Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Hamilton Beeman Cemetery in Corsicana.
A busy spring schedule is planned in preparation for this summer’s Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show in San Marcos.
The Texas Better Newspaper Contest opens for entries Feb. 1 and nominations for the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame, as well as TPA awards, are due in March. All awards presentations will be part of the 2022 TPA Convention and Trade Show July 28 - 30 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel, Conference Center & Spa.
Industry news published in the January edition of the Texas Press Messenger
HOUSTON – Nancy Meyer, a veteran newspaper leader and president of the Miami Herald, is the new publisher of the Houston Chronicle.
Hearst Corp., the Chronicle’s New York-based parent company, made the announcement. Meyer, the first female publisher of the Chronicle, succeeds John McKeon, who announced in August his plan to retire after more than 40 years in the newspaper business.
DENTON – With 48 years of work in circulation, print production and advertising, Shawn Reneau retired from the Denton Record-Chronicle in December.
The newspaper hosted a retirement reception to help him celebrate. “Shawn has shown passion for what he does for the 48 years he has worked for the Denton Record-Chronicle,” Publisher Bill Patterson said in an article announcing Reneau’s retirement. “He’s accepted new responsibilities and challenges, embraced them and excelled. I appreciate all the dedicated service to our company, and we’ll certainly miss him.”
FRIENDSWOOD – Jim Foreman has taken over as publisher and owner of the Reporter News in Friendswood and Pearland.
A friend of the late Laura and Randy Emmons, who published the newspaper for 30 years, Foreman is a teacher and web developer.
In a recent column, he credited Reporter News Editor Kathy Hickey and the Emmons’ son Branden with keeping the newspaper operating after Laura Emmons’ death in September.
Foreman said he first met the Emmons when he was helping them set up a website for the newspaper some 10 years ago and continued to work with them.
New appointments, promotions and other staff changes at Texas newspapers.