Whitesboro’s oldest business has a new owner, and it’s a family with deep roots in Western Grayson County.

The Lewter family purchased the Whitesboro News-Record from Scott Wood. The acquisition was effective June 1.

Austin Lewter is a former longtime publisher of the News-Record. He and his wife Jennifer will oversee daily operations. Jessica Edwards will stay on board as the managing editor.

“We are thrilled to have Jessica with us.” Lewter said. “She does wonderful work. We are excited about future growth and new ideas.”

By MARY ELIZABETH DAVIS

Lamesa Press-Reporter

During more than four decades as a Lamesa Press-Reporter journalist, Russel Skiles has told the stories of a Holocaust survivor and the community-wide effort that brought a state prison to town.

But those are just a couple of the many stories which Skiles recalled as he retired July 19 as the newspaper’s publisher.

LAMESA – Joe Warren, a veteran journalist with a strong background in both news and marketing, has been named to the top position at the Lamesa Press-Reporter.

Warren replaces Russel Skiles, who retired as publisher after a 43-year career with the Press-Reporter.

Warren oversees all of the news, sales, administration, production and digital operations of the business. He also serves as group publisher for the other seven West Texas newspapers owned by Dalhart Texan Media LLC, with the home base in Lamesa.

COLUMBUS – Tressa Alley has been promoted to area publisher for the Colorado County Citizen and the Sealy News.

The appointment was announced by Daniel Philhower, president and CEO for Granite Media Partners.

Promotions, new hires and other employment news from Texas newspapers published in the August 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

MIRANDA OGLESBY

Northeast Texas Publishing, LP

MOUNT PLEASANT – Miranda Oglesby has been named the general manager for the Mount Pleasant Tribune, The Pittsburg Gazette and The Daingerfield Steel Country Bee.

Oglesby joined the Mount Pleasant Tribune as a reporter and page designer in 2018. She became the paper’s managing editor in 2019.

Obituaries published in the August 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger

BOBBY HORN JR.

LIVINGSTON – Former Cass County Sun Editor Bobby Horn Jr. died July 8. He was 53.

Horn was also a reporter, columnist and production worker for the Citizens Journal and was managing editor for a chain of weekly newspapers in the Houston area. He was also pastor for both the Douglassville United Methodist Church and Union Chapel United Methodist Church.

Analysis By MIKE HODGES and DONNIS BAGGETT, Texas Press Association

It’s a new day for public notices in Texas. And Texas newspapers remain central to the process — just as they have since the days of Sam Houston.

The 2023 Texas legislative session was one of the toughest ever for Texas newspapers, but it became one of our most successful.

Almost 12,000 bills and resolutions were filed in the session. TPA staff identified 190 pieces of legislation with the potential to affect newspapers positively or negatively — depending on the subject matter, the bill’s original language and amendments along the way.

We monitored those measures daily and took action as necessary. By session’s end we had taken positions for or against 30 bills.

The Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame grew to 64 outstanding Texas newspaper professionals with the induction of the 2023 Class of Honorees: Dave Campbell, Suzanne Bardwell and Larry Jackson.

Induction ceremonies were held at the recent TPA Convention and Trade Show.

In his keynote address at the luncheon, outgoing President Leonard Woolsey reminded members of the theme of his acceptance speech a year ago, “Time to Get Our Swagger Back,” pointing out that newspapers are leaders in the communities they serve.

Cutine: 2022 Texas Better Newspaper contest sweepstakes winners are (from left) Victoria Advocate in Division 2, Keith Kohn; Uvalde Leader-News in Division 3, Meghann Garcia; The Sentinel, Nacogdoches in Division 4, Rick Craig; Taylor Press in Division 5, Jason Hennington; Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post in Division 6, Ken Cooke; Gonzales Inquirer in Division 7, Lew Cohn; Pilot Point Post Signal in Division 8, Abigail Allen; and Vernon Daily Record in Division 9, Daniel and Michele Walker. The Walkers are also displaying the Division 10 sweepstakes for the Clarendon Enterprise.