GATESVILLE – Debbie Day has succeeded her husband, the late Marshall Day, as publisher of The Gatesville Messenger.

“I am honored to have been Marshall’s wife and I am honored to carry on Marshall’s legacy,” Day said. “He taught me this business and I will run the newspaper just like he did – nothing will change.”

Marshall and Debbie Day were married in 1991 while he was publisher of the Jackson County Herald-Tribune in Edna.

They met in Granbury when he worked for the Hood County News and she worked at the Granbury Chamber of Commerce.

GONZALES – Kevin Wright has assumed duties as publisher of the Gonzales Inquirer. 

Wright, who came to Gonzales from Ureka Springs, Arkansas, got his start in newspapers in 1982 with Jim Chionsini, who, at that time, had a newspaper in Ulysses, Kansas. 

From there, Wright went on to publish newspapers in New Mexico and Colorado before moving to California to work for Auto Trader magazine. 

“We’re excited to have Kevin here as part of the Gonzales Inquirer,” General Manager Brandi Chionsini said. 

MARIE HALL WHITEHEAD

RUSK – Marie Hall Whitehead, 88, former owner of the Cherokeean Herald newspaper and radio stations KTLU-AM and KWRW-FM in Rusk and the widow of state Rep. Emmett H. Whitehead, died Nov. 26 at her home in Rusk.

Over a 66-year period, Mrs. Whitehead and her late husband utilized the print and broadcast media platform they built to support causes benefiting Rusk and Cherokee County. 

Time to think about a donation to the annual silent auction benefiting the Texas Newspaper Foundation.

Items will be on view and bidding will be open during the annual Midwinter Conference Trade Show in Frisco Thursday evening, Jan. 19, and Friday morning, Jan. 20.The auction closes at 11:45 a.m. Friday.

Q: I need campaign finance reports for a couple of contested local races, but I am under the impression that I may not get access to those in time to write a story before the election. What all do campaigns have to keep track of? Is there a way to get this type of information while it’s still extra relevant?

Every year, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) collects data on recycled newsprint. Texas law requires that newspaper publishers submit their report for 2016 to the TCEQ by Jan. 31, 2017. 

More information about the reporting requirement is available in the Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 361.430.

Texas Press Association members will vote on a proposed bylaws change regarding membership rules at the Midwinter Conference in January.

After much discussion over many months, TPA Board Chairman Randy Mankin instructed the executive committee to review the association’s bylaws regarding membership and report back to the board. The executive committee subsequently proposed an amendment that would relax existing membership rules and give newspaper companies the flexibility to make business decisions that might otherwise prevent them from being members of TPA.

Register now for the Texas Press 2017 Midwinter Conference Jan. 19-21 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel Convention Center & Spa – when a full weekend of programs and activities is in store.

Public notices in newspapers remain a key element of government transparency and accountability, according to an influential legislative committee assigned to study the issue.

The Joint Interim Committee on Advertising Public Notices recommended that newspapers remain the cornerstone of public notice in Texas and called for a “more is better” approach to informing the public.

 The Nov. 1 committee report was the product of an Aug. 18 hearing into the question of whether newspapers are still an appropriate home for public notices.

Retired journalism professor David McHam of Houston was inducted into the Garner-Webb University Gallery of Distinguished Alumni during 2016 homecoming activities at the campus in Boiling Springs, N.C.

McHamm retired in 2015 after teaching journalism in Texas colleges for a record 54 years.