Fredericksburg lost an important steward of the town’s history when Sherrie Geistweidt, an employee of Fredericksburg Publishing Company for just over 50 years, retired from her storied career.

Promotions, new hires and other employment news reported in Texas newspapers and published in the February 2026 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

UVIE BIKOMO

Beaumont Enterprise

Obituaries published in the February edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

ROGER COWLES

VIDOR —  Roger Cowles, 70, longtime editor, reporter and employee of the Port Arthur News, died Dec. 26.

The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) is accepting entries for its annual Golden Quill editorial writing contest. Deadline is Feb. 2, 2026.

All newspapers of less than daily frequency (published fewer than four days per week) are eligible to enter. Online-only newspapers must be considered community news sites. Syndicated columnists are not eligible.

It’s time to enter the Texas Better Newspaper Contest. The contest opens for entries on Jan. 19 on the ACES contest platform. Entries submitted should have been published during the 2025 calendar year. Deadline for entries is Feb. 13.

Rules, along with eligibility information, are available online at www.texaspress.com/better-newspaper-contest-0.

Texas newspaper journalists are encouraged to enter their best examples of objective hard-news stories to compete for a $5,000 award from the Center for Integrity in News Reporting.