The annual TPA Silent Auction offers convention attendees a unique shopping experience and an opportunity to contribute to Texas Center for Community Journalism programs for new and mid-career community journalists.

The silent auction is part of the 2025 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 19-21 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. 

The trade show features dozens of booths where vendors from throughout the newspaper and printing industries display and demonstrate their products and services.

The 2025 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 19-21 will feature Texas Open Government Training as a bonus opening day event.

Convention headquarters is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center.

The training set for 1-4 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the hotel is free and is jointly sponsored by TPA and the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Speakers include Tom Williams of the FOIFT board and Haynes and Boone, and Tamara Smith of the Texas Attorney General’s office.

STEPHENVILLE – With the May workshop “Broadcast News for the Community Newspaper” filled, the Texas Center for Community Journalism is planning a second session on the same topic in early fall.

The June workshop filled within 24 hours of the opening of registration April 6.

“Demand for this skillset is high because community newspaper can no longer afford to not include video on their websites,” TCJ Director Austin Lewter said. 

FAIRFIELD – A new scholarship memorial fundraiser honoring the late Suzanne Bardwell was unveiled at the North and East Texas Press Association 98th annual convention.

The memorial was announced by NETPA Chair Lange Svehlak and Cher Thompson during the group’s annual banquet and scholarship benefit auction. The memorial is symbolized by a coffee mug encased in a glass case. The mug, from Suzanne Bardwell’s collection of journalism-related coffee ware, bears the slogan “First Amendment Warrior.” All in attendance were invited to contribute to the initial memorial.

CENTER – Moser Community Media’s Northeast Texas Publishing Group recently named Mississippi native William Carroll as the new publisher for The Light and Champion.

Carroll, who recently moved to Center after working in the Midwest, has more than a decade of experience working primarily as an editor for community newspapers throughout the country.

Carroll previously served as an editor for newspapers in Indiana, New England, Kentucky and Arkansas.

He also served for a year as the publisher for a small group of four newspapers in northwestern Oklahoma.

Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported in Texas newspapers.

Anthony Collins appointed editor of Lockhart Post-Register

LOCKHART – Anthony Collins is the new editor of the Lockhart Post-Register.

A Texas native and resident of Kingsbury, Collins is an experienced photographer with more than 30 years of professional work in the newspaper industry.

Beginning his career photographing college sporting events, he is now contracted to shoot more than 35 professional bull riding events in and around Texas.

Obituaries published in the May 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

DANIEL LEE TABOR

CLYDE –  Daniel “Danny” Lee Tabor, 62, of Clyde, passed away Wednesday, April 9, at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

He was born Aug. 8, 1962, in Abilene, to Don and Betty Joe (Patton) Tabor.  He was a 1980 graduate of Clyde High School and attended Cisco Junior College.

The Robert Burns Memorial Golf Classic returns to the Oakmont Country Club as the kickoff event for the 2025 Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show June 19-21 in Denton.

The Oakmont Country Club golf course is located minutes north of Lake Lewisville in Corinth. PGA Seniors Champion Don January served as golf course design consultant to Roger Packard, the course architect. They designed a course considered the best combination of natural beauty and challenging play in the area. The 170-acre country club was constructed in 1986.

Texas weather can be vicious. Nobody knows that better than Laurie Brown of the Canadian Record.

Analysis by DONNIS BAGGETT, Texas Press Association

Two years ago, the veteran editor and publisher covered the historic range fire that devastated a huge swath of the Texas Panhandle. Her coverage was timely and comprehensive, as usual, and her readers hung on every solidly reported word she posted on her website and social media sites. They did not read her stories in print, however, because the Canadian Record no longer had a print edition.

CORSICANA – The Corsicana Sun celebrated the newspaper’s 130th anniversary in March, publishing a commemorative edition published March 1.

The Daily Sun published its first edition on March 2, 1895. W.A. McKenna and Associates leased the plant of the Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light to publish the paper, and the Daily Sun began its life under the care of editor Major Henry Burton.

For its 130th anniversary edition, the staff shared archival photos and a historical timeline.