Displaying a cake commemorating the 135th birthday of the Devil’s River News are Publisher/owner Randy Mankin and Editor Angie Bryant. Festival events celebrating the anniversary were held in downtown Sonora. (Devil’s River News photo)
SONORA – The Devil’s River News celebrated its 135th anniversary in October.
The milestone was celebrated Oct. 20 in downtown Sonora. The event included street vendors, hot dogs, cake, activities for the kids and a shoot out with the Devil’s River Gang.
Staff report from the Galveston Daily News
After more than a decade at the helm of The Daily News, Leonard Woolsey will retire from day-to-day duties as publisher Jan. 1, handing the reins of the state’s oldest newspaper to Michelle Robinson, general manager and chief revenue officer.
Robinson will be the first woman to serve as publisher of The Daily News in its 183-year history.
Woolsey will continue as president of Southern Newspapers Inc., the parent company of The Daily News.
From the Castro County News
DIMMITT — For the second time since 2011, Blackmon Publishing, Inc., has acquired the Castro County News.
Back in 2011, the Blackmons purchased The Castro County News from Chris Bradford. Bradford had purchased the newspaper previously from longtime owner Don Nelson. In 2013, the Blackmons sold The Castro County News to Brett Wesner, who remained the owner until selling it back to the Blackmons in late September.
Promotions, new hires and other employment news published in Texas Newspapers and reported in the November edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
Shaffer promoted to general manager for DeWitt County Publishing
CUERO – Kayla Lynn Shaffer has been promoted to general manager of DeWitt County Publishing.
Shaffer, a Cuero native, has worked for the Cuero Record and Yorktown View since 2024, starting as bookkeeper and taking on sales and marketing operations as well within a few months.
After contracting with new press, South Jetty changes print day
PORT ARANSAS - The South Jetty has a new press schedule and publication day for its print product.
The newspaper goes on newsstands late Thursday afternoon with subscribers receiving their papers in the mail on Fridays.
The South Jetty has been printed at the McAllen Monitor press since 2023. But that press no longer is an option. The Monitor’s ownership recently began outsourcing print operations to Reynosa, Mexico, just across the border from McAllen.
Obituaries published in the November 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
ROBERT BAKER
LOVELAND, COLORADO – Attorney and former owner of the Fort Stockton Pioneer Robert Walter Baker died Sept. 23. He was 83.
As a teenager and student at Fort Stockton High School, he worked as a disc jockey for the local radio station KFST.
He attended the University of Texas at El Paso where he earned a degree in journalism and served as editor of the school newspaper. He also met his wife future wife, Carol Jenness.
Reporting on a secret decision to spend public money on a Travis County official’s home security system and a series of editorials and news stories about questionable ethics by Odessa city leaders have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards.
The awards were presented by Executive Director Kelley Shannon at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas James Henry Faulk awards luncheon during the annual FOIFT Conference in Austin.
The 85th annual National Newspaper Week celebration, Oct. 5 - 11, is a time to reflect on and reinforce the vital role newspapers play in informing, empowering, and uniting communities.
Newspaper Association Managers sponsors the annual observation. Free promotional materials such as cartoons, articles, editorials and public service announcement graphics for use in both print and on social media are available for download at the NNW website, www.nationalnewspaperweek.com. The collection includes ideas for localizing the celebration.
Report for America is accepting newsroom applications through Oct. 20.
RFA is a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities.
RFA has placed more than 700 reporters into more than 450 newsrooms in all 50 states to fill critical news coverage gaps.
Through a two-year commitment Report for America helps host newsrooms by recruiting a local reporter to cover the beat specified as needing coverage.
The Northern Brazoria County Chamber of Commerce held a special ribbon cutting ceremony for The Alvin Sun, celebrating both the publication’s 135th anniversary and new location at 218 W. House Street.
By STEPHEN COLLINS, Managing Editor, The Alvin Sun
ALVIN - The surrounding communities in Northern Brazoria County came together to celebrate The Alvin Sun’s long history, Aug. 8 at the newspaper’s office.