MARSHALL DAY

GATESVILLE – Texas newspaper veteran Marshall Day, a past president of the Texas Press Association, died Oct. 25 in Gatesville, where he was publisher of the Gatesville Messenger for 21 years.

Celebration of life services were held Oct. 28 in Gatesville.

Texoma names Rodriguez senior group publisher

SHERMAN – Following a series of recent changes at the company that publishes the Herald Democrat, including re-branding it as Texoma Marketing and Media Group, the company’s general manager Nate Rodriguez was promoted to senior group publisher.

Texoma Marketing and Media Group publishes the daily Herald Democrat in Sherman and the Van Alstyne Leader, Anna-Melissa Tribune and Prosper Press weekly newspapers.

STEPHEN FARRIS

GROESBECK – Stephen Farris is the new general manager of the Groesbeck Journal.

Farris previously served as the sports editor for both The Mexia News and Groesbeck Journal. He will balance both positions until a replacement can be found to take over the sports department.

He brings with him 15 years of experience in the newspaper business, beginning as a route carrier for the Corsicana Daily Sun in 2001, then as a reporter in 2004. He became the Daily Sun’s full-time photographer in 2005.

Carol Lee Robinson

Funeral services for Carol Lee Robinson were held Oct. 20 at the Greenwood Community Church in Greenwood Village, Colo. Mrs. Robinson, the wife of former TPA president Roy Robinson, died Oct. 17 after a five-year struggle with dementia and accompanying diseases.

Carol Lee Peter was born Jan. 11, 1938, in rural Sherman County, Kan., to Philip Peter and Fern Johnson Peter. She attended a country school through the eighth grade and graduated in 1955 from Sherman Community High School in Goodland, Kan.

(Editor's Note: Ed henninger will be featured at the 2017 Texas Press Midwinter Conference and Trade Show Jan. 19-21 with more on this topic, including examples from a Texas newspaper.)

FRANKLIN, Tennessee — The Public Notice Resource Center’s premier public notice conference packed the room on the first day of the National Newspaper Association’s annual convention.

The nonprofit Public Notice Resource Center provides information about the civic value of public notices in local newspapers.

Franklin, Tennessee was the site of the most recent convention of the National Newspaper Association. On the first full morning of the convention, the NNA has a long tradition of calling the roll of the states, and it was my thrill to carry in the Texas flag. Throughout the next two days, the flags of all 50 states lined the sides of the ballroom.

The roll call follows an Honor Guard, the Presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ASK AN ATTORNEY:

Q: “How do the new FAA rules on the use of drones affect Texas newspapers? I thought we had a state law that pretty much prohibits use of drones for media photography.”

A: The journalism world celebrated this summer when the Federal Aviation Administration enacted its long-awaited drone rules, clearing the way for the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones) for newsgathering.

James Harold ‘Jim’ Cunningham

Memorial services were held Aug. 26 for journalist and former newspaper publisher James Harold “Jim” Cunningham, 72, of Moulton.

Cunningham died Aug. 21 at San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he was airlifted for treatment following a three-vehicle collision July 21.

Laura Elder

GALVESTON – Laura Elder has been named managing editor of The Galveston County Daily News.

In her new role, Elder will directly supervise the newspaper’s reporters and assist the editor in planning and managing special news projects such as investigative and enterprise articles. She will continue editing Coast Monthly magazine, the newspaper’s business pages, its League City and Clear Lake Connection publications and continue to report and write Biz Buzz.

One item that distinguishes professional magicians from amateurs is the use of scripts. This is not to say that the professional will always recite – word for word – the same thing in each performance; however, the professional will always know what he or she is going to say.

The professional, whether a magician or a writer, will economize where possible and augment where necessary, and will know the appropriate time to do either.