The Headliners Foundation of Texas presented Daily News Editor Michael A. Smith with the Charles E. Green Award for Opinion Writing.
“Each year the foundation recognizes the best — the journalists who report and write outstanding stories, take riveting photos and design content for impact and accessibility — with the Charles E. Green Award,” according to the organization.
Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported in Texas newspapers and published in the December 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
ALEXANDRA MONTOYA
Marlin Democrat, Rosebud News
MARLIN – Alexandra Montoya has been promoted to the managing editor position for Texas Local Media’s Marlin Democrat and Rosebud News weekly newspapers.
“We have been looking for ways to build up the paper,” Group Publisher Tim Timmons said. “Alex has a long track record with this company and her work has been outstanding.”
(Obituaries published in the December 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger)
JOHN GRAVOIS
DALLAS – John Gravois, a man whose passion for journalism shaped both the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s political coverage and the reporters who worked for him, died on Nov. 11. He was 67.
Colleagues remembered Gravois for his passion for the craft and ability to make the people around him better.
Rules are available online for the 2025 Texas Better Newspaper Contest, which opens for entries Jan. 19.
For a second year, the contest will allow online content to be submitted as entries in writing and photography categories. In addition, the rules specify AI generated or AI modified/enhanced content is not eligible for submission.
The contest opens for entries on Jan. 19 on the ACES contest platform, the online system used for the past three years. Entries submitted should have been published during the 2025 calendar year. Deadline for entries is Feb. 13.
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.