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Minden Press-Herald (view source)
Revision as of 22:23, December 21, 2019
, 22:23, December 21, 2019→Emergence of The Press-Herald
==Emergence of ''The Press-Herald''==
==Emergence of ''The Press-Herald''==
In January 1953, ''The Webster News'' was renamed ''The Webster Review.'' In October 1954, ''The Webster Review'' and the ''Minden Herald'' were consolidated into a single publication issued on Thursday in competition with ''The Minden Press'' on Monday. This change came at the same time that Major Louis dePingre (1928–2007), a native of Leesville in Vern Parish and a [[Louisiana State University]] graduate, was hired as editor of the latest ''Minden Herald.''
In January 1953, ''The Webster News'' was renamed ''The Webster Review.'' In October 1954, ''The Webster Review'' and the ''Minden Herald'' were consolidated into a single publication issued on Thursday in competition with ''The Minden Press'' on Monday. This change came at the same time that Major Louis dePingre (1928–2007), a native of Leesville in Vern Parish and a [[Louisiana State University]] graduate, was hired as editor of the latest ''Minden Herald.''
In December 1955, Webster Newspapers Corporation was formed under the direction of [[Tom Colten]], a [[Detroit]], native, who moved to Minden from Bogalusa in Washington Parish, here he had been business manager of ''The Bogalusa Daily News.'' After Webster Newspapers purchased ''The Minden Press'' from Harper and ''The Minden Herald'' from Mrs. Spiva, it combined the newspapers under the ''Minden Press-Herald'' name. DePingre was named editor of both the ''Minden Press'' (Monday) and the ''Minden Herald'' (Thursday). Colten served as publisher of both papers beginning with the January 1956 issues. In 1962, he bought out his business partner in the business, Charles Nutter.<ref name=agan/>
In December 1955, Webster Newspapers Corporation was formed under the direction of [[Tom Colten]], a [[Detroit]], native, who moved to Minden from Bogalusa in Washington Parish, here he had been business manager of ''The Bogalusa Daily News.'' After Webster Newspapers purchased ''The Minden Press'' from Harper and ''The Minden Herald'' from Mrs. Spiva, it combined the newspapers under the ''Minden Press-Herald'' name. DePingre was named editor of both the ''Minden Press'' (Monday) and the ''Minden Herald'' (Thursday). Colten served as publisher of both papers beginning with the January 1956 issues. In 1962, he bought out his business partner in the business, Charles Nutter.<ref name=agan/>
On January 17, 1969, publisher Richard Hill announced that ''The Press-Herald'' would convert three days later from hot metal to offset printing.<ref>"Press-Herald Goes Offset on Monday," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 17, 1969, p. 1.</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 20, 1969, p. 1.</ref>A few weeks later, Hill resigned as publisher and was succeeded by Tom Kelly, a native of Winn Parish. For the preceding seven years he had published ''The Ruston Daily Leader'' and was previously the managing editor of the ''Jennings Daily News'' in Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana.<ref>"Tom Kelly Named Publisher," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>
On January 17, 1969, publisher Richard Hill announced that ''The Press-Herald'' would convert three days later from hot metal to offset printing.<ref>"Press-Herald Goes Offset on Monday," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 17, 1969, p. 1.</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 20, 1969, p. 1.</ref>A few weeks later, Hill resigned as publisher and was succeeded by Tom Kelly, a native of Winn Parish. For the preceding seven years he had published ''The Ruston Daily Leader'' and was previously the managing editor of the ''Jennings Daily News'' in Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana.<ref>"Tom Kelly Named Publisher," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>
In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual Freedom of Information Award for the year 1988 in recognition of the editorial staff's achievement in preventing the City of Minden from closing its meetings or restricting records from public access. The late 1980s had been a time of intense investigations into activities of the mayor, [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], who was recalled from office in January 1989. He was subsequently convicted in the 26th Judicial Court of felony theft.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 16, 1989, p. 1.</ref> In the summer of 1988, Byars had ordered municipal employees not to meet with the news media without first consulting him.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Mayor orders city employees not to meet with news media," ''The Minden Press-Herald,'' July 24, 1988, p. 1.</ref>
In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual Freedom of Information Award for the year 1988 in recognition of the editorial staff's achievement in preventing the City of Minden from closing its meetings or restricting records from public access. The late 1980s had been a time of intense investigations into activities of the mayor, [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], who was recalled from office in January 1989. He was subsequently convicted in the 26th Judicial Court of felony theft.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 16, 1989, p. 1.</ref> In the summer of 1988, Byars had ordered municipal employees not to meet with the news media without first consulting him.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Mayor orders city employees not to meet with news media," ''The Minden Press-Herald,'' July 24, 1988, p. 1.</ref>
==Specht Newspapers, Inc.==
==Specht Newspapers, Inc.==
In 1965, Colten sold the newspapers to Richard Hill. Colten became the executive director of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]] and was elected the next year as mayor, serving two consecutive four-year terms. While Colten had hoped to establish a daily newspaper, that goal was not achieved until July 18, 1966, when the current ''Minden Press-Herald'' made its debut. The ''Press-Herald'' was sold to Specht Newspapers, Inc. It publishes the newspaper at 203 Gleason Street in Minden, the site of a former grocery store, along with ''The Bossier Press-Tribune'' in [[Bossier City]].<ref name=agan/> Chipley Newspapers of [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], [[Florida]], is a subsidiary of Specht Newspapers.<ref>[https://intranet.freedom.com/freedom_admin/images/pdf/Pensacola%20News%20Journal_Florida.pdf]</ref>
In 1965, Colten sold the newspapers to Richard Hill. Colten became the executive director of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]] and was elected the next year as mayor, serving two consecutive four-year terms. While Colten had hoped to establish a daily newspaper, that goal was not achieved until July 18, 1966, when the current ''Minden Press-Herald'' made its debut. The ''Press-Herald'' was sold to Specht Newspapers, Inc. It publishes the newspaper at 203 Gleason Street in Minden, the site of a former grocery store, along with ''The Bossier Press-Tribune'' in [[Bossier City]].<ref name=agan/> Chipley Newspapers of [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], [[Florida]], is a subsidiary of Specht Newspapers.<ref>[https://intranet.freedom.com/freedom_admin/images/pdf/Pensacola%20News%20Journal_Florida.pdf]</ref>
Specht Newspapers was headed by David Arthur Specht, Sr. (1945-2011, a native of [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. A son of the late Arthur and Mary Specht, David Specht moved to Minden in 1968 and became the advertising manager and soon thereafter the publisher<ref name=spechtassumes>"Specht Assumes Management of 'Press-Herald'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 28, 1969, p. 1</ref> of ''The Minden Press-Herald." He later became the owner. Specht thereafter spent several years publishing newspapers in [[Alabama]], [[Kentucky]], and [[Florida]], before he founded Specht Newspapers, Inc., in 1983.<ref name=specht>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=david-specht&pid=150316655|title=David A. Specht, Sr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=April 18, 2011}}</ref>
Specht Newspapers was headed by David Arthur Specht, Sr. (1945-2011, a native of [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. A son of the late Arthur and Mary Specht, David Specht moved to Minden in 1968 and became the advertising manager and soon thereafter the publisher<ref name=spechtassumes>"Specht Assumes Management of 'Press-Herald'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 28, 1969, p. 1</ref> of ''The Minden Press-Herald." He later became the owner. Specht thereafter spent several years publishing newspapers in [[Alabama]], [[Kentucky]], and [[Florida]], before he founded Specht Newspapers, Inc., in 1983.<ref name=specht>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=david-specht&pid=150316655|title=David A. Specht, Sr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=April 18, 2011}}</ref>
Specht also owned Webster Printing Company in Minden. He died at the age of sixty-five after a lengthy illness. Specht was survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Mulford of Minden; a son, David A. Specht, Jr., of Minden, the current president of Specht Newspapers, Inc., and his wife, Tina Specht; two grandsons, Zachary and Joshua Specht; sister, Melanie Montgomery of [[Tallahassee]], Florida, and brother, William Specht of Shreveport.<ref name=specht/>
Specht also owned Webster Printing Company in Minden. He died at the age of sixty-five after a lengthy illness. Specht was survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Mulford of Minden; a son, David A. Specht, Jr., of Minden, the current president of Specht Newspapers, Inc., and his wife, Tina Specht; two grandsons, Zachary and Joshua Specht; sister, Melanie Montgomery of [[Tallahassee]], Florida, and brother, William Specht of Shreveport.<ref name=specht/>
After five months as publisher, Tom Kelly returned in August 1969 to ''The Ruston Daily Leader.''<ref name=spechtassumes/> In 2014, he was publishing the monthly ''The Piney Woods Journal'' in in Winn Parish with a focus on the timber industry.
After five months as publisher, Tom Kelly returned in August 1969 to ''The Ruston Daily Leader.''<ref name=spechtassumes/> In 2014, he was publishing the monthly ''The Piney Woods Journal'' in in Winn Parish with a focus on the timber industry.
==Divisions of the ''Press-Herald''==
==Divisions of ''The Press-Herald''==
*Local News
*Local News
*The 318 Mix - A weekly entertainment section.
*The 318 Mix - A weekly entertainment section.
The ''Press-Herald's'' online version can be found at www.press-herald.com.
The online version can be found at www.press-herald.com.
==Current and former ''Press-Herald'' staffers==
==Current and former staffers==
'''Current'''
'''Current'''
* '''Gregg Parks''', Publisher; former sports editor
* '''Gregg Parks''', Publisher; former sports editor
'''Former'''
'''Former'''
* '''John Agan''' (born 1958) is the former author of "Echoes of the Past", a periodic column on local and state [[history]], much of it from the 19th century. He is a [[professor]] at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City and the official Webster Parish historian.
* '''John Agan''' (born 1958) is the former author of The Press-Herald's "Echoes of the Past", a periodic column on local and state [[history]], much of it from the 19th century. He is a [[professor]] at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City and the official Webster Parish historian.
*'''Juanita Murphy Agan''' (1923–2008) wrote a periodic column "Cameos", which focuses on "older times" of [[Americana]]. She was the mother of John Agan.
*'''Juanita Murphy Agan''' (1923–2008) wrote a periodic column "Cameos", which focuses on "older times" of [[Americana]]. She was the mother of John Agan.
*'''Josh Beavers''' (born c. 1979), former publisher and editor, resigned 2014.<ref>"My Time Here Has Ended", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 18, 2014</ref> A native of Claiborne Parish, Beavers was born to Dwight Alan Beavers (1948–2008) and the former Sheila McKenzie; in 2013, he was named vice president of Specht Newspapers, Inc.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 9, 2013.</ref>
*'''Josh Beavers''' (born c. 1979), former publisher and editor, resigned 2014.<ref>"My Time Here Has Ended", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 18, 2014</ref> A native of Claiborne Parish, Beavers was born to Dwight Alan Beavers (1948–2008) and the former Sheila McKenzie; in 2013, he was named vice president of Specht Newspapers, Inc.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 9, 2013.</ref>