News Briefs

President calls for committees

TPA President Roy Robinson has issued a call for members to sign up and serve on the 2008-09 committees.

Letters with sign-up sheets and descriptions will be mailed to all TPA member newspapers soon. Publishers and their staff members are encouraged to sign up and participate. Members also can e-mail the volunteer’s name and newspaper.

Robinson has set up eight committees this year and named committee chairs. The 2008-09 committees are:

• Better Newspaper Contest Committee Russel Skiles, Lamesa Press Reporter, Chairman

• Convention Planning Committee Midwinter Convention, Bob Brincefield, Brownwood Bulletin, Chairman; Summer Convention, Terry Collier, Fredericksburg Standard/Radio Post, Chairman

• Journalism Education Committee Rochelle Stidham, Stephenville Empire-Tribune, Chair

• Legislative Committee Jerry Tidwell, Hood County News, Chairman

• Legislative Grassroots Action Team Marshall Day, Gatesville Messenger, Chairman

• Newspaper in Education Committee  Cathy Collier, Fredericksburg Standard/Radio Post, Chair

• Postal Action Committee  Danny Reneau, Silsbee Bee, Chairman

• Workshop Committee  Hank Hargrave, Normangee Star, Chairman

Blackburn buys Floydada

FLOYDADA — Christopher Blackburn and Blackburn Media Group Inc. purchased the Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon, Blanco Offsett Printing and The Post Dispatch.

Long-time Hesperian-Beacon editor Alice Gilroy and her husband Lennie will relocate to Austin to be near her parents. Her father Kenneth Towery won the 1955 Pulitzer for local reporting at the Cuero Record.

Blackburn also acquired The Post Dispatch, which was owned by Texas Media Enterprises, Wesley W. Burnett, manager.

The sales were handled by Rollie Hyde of W.B. Grimes and Co.

Blackburn also owns The Childress Index, Hall County Herald, Knox County News, and The Hollis (Okla.) News.

Blanco Offset Printing also is now under ownership of Blackburn. Jim Huggins will remain as the manager.

Burnett purchases Rockwall

ROCKWALL — Wesley W. Burnett and Texas Media Enterprises, LLC. acquired The Rockwall County News from MET Publishing, Inc. The  weekly was represented by Rollie Hyde of W.B. Grimes and Co. Earlier, Burnett sold The Post Dispatch to Blackburn Media Group Inc.

Stamford ceases publication

STAMFORD — The Stamford American ceased publication after the June 5 issue. Lewis and Becky Alambar had owned the newspaper since May 1993. The couple also owns the Hamlin Herald.

Dallas to start another free ‘quick-read’ paper

DALLAS — The Dallas Morning News plans to launch home delivery Aug. 27 of Briefing, a free newspaper aimed at non-subscribers who want a “quick-read” newspaper.

The publication is aimed primarily at busy dual-income families with children who are not current subscribers of The News. About 200,000 copies of Briefing will be distributed Wednesdays through Saturdays.

In 2003 The News introduced another “quick read” free tabloid daily Quick to serve younger readers.

2 more launch e-versions

 The Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post and The Brackett News joined the growing list of weeklies offering an e-version by subscription on their respective Web sites.