Inside Kentucky People and Papers

John Nelson, managing editor of The Advocate-Messenger for the past 10 years, has been named executive editor of the four Kentucky newspapers owned by Schurz Communications Inc. These newspapers include The Advocate-Messenger, The Interior Journal in Stanford, The Winchester Sun and The Jessamine Journal in Nicholasville.

In addition to his duties as managing editor in Danville, Nelson will be responsible for hiring, developing and supervising the editors in the group. He also will be involved in newsroom planning and procedures, staff recruiting, training and newsroom budgets, while focusing on readership and financial goals for all four papers.

Nelson served as 2004 president of the Kentucky Press Association and served two terms as president of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. As KPA president, he coordinated the state’s first public records audit, which involved four agencies in each of the state’s 120 counties, and spearheaded an effort to open juvenile courts and records in Kentucky. He has received the Bingham Freedom of Information Award and the Russ Metz Most Valuable Member Award

•••••

Whitney Hardin of Bloomfield recently joined the staff of the Spencer Magnet as a graphics designer and will work primarily with the advertising department of the weekly newspaper.

Hardin, 21, comes to the Magnet from Job News in Louisville where she designed employment ads for businesses across the country.

In December 2006, Hardin earned her associate's degree in graphic design from Louisville Tech.

•••••

Harrodsburg First, an organization dedicated to promoting Harrodsburg, has honored its local newspaper.

The Harrodsburg Herald recently received the award at a special breakfast.

The Outstanding Business Award was bestowed on the paper for its service to the community.

•••••

Vanessa Overholser has joined the editorial department of the Morehead News as a staff writer and photographer.

Overholser is a graduate of Rowan County Senior High School and Morehead State University.

She previously worked as a staff writer for The Daily Advocate in Greensville, Ohio.

•••••

Kelly Treon has joined the staff of the Business Courier as business manager.

Treon is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in business administration.

He has worked for three accounting firms with his last assignment

•••••

Jeff Hoots has been hired as a staff writer for the Bath County News Outlook.

Hoots is a graduate of the Adair County High School and Campbellsville University.

Hoots comes to Bath County from a position as a reporter with the Green River Sun.

•••••

The Special Projects Committee of the Pendleton County Historical & Genealogical Society has chosen Debbie Dennie as its outstanding person of the year.

Dennie serves as publisher and editor of the Falmouth Outlook.

Dennie and her staff at the newspaper have produced two pictorial history books of the county that include early family photos and historical photographs of Pendleton County.

•••••

Teddy Paynter has joined the Medical Leader as a staff writer.

Paynter, a Logan County W.Va, native, comes to the Medical Leader from the Williamson Daily News, where he served as editor of the daily publication for the past three years.

Paynter's experience spans more than 31 years. He began his career as a reporter for the Logan (WVa.) Banner where he was later named editor.

•••••

James Brown has been named editor of the Glasgow Daily Times.

Brown came to the Daily Times in May 2003 as a sports editor.

Brown and his wife, Allison, have two children, Ashlyn and Auggie.

The Daily Times also recently added Barrett Wright as a part-time sports writer and Will Spillman as a part-time photographer.

•••••

Stephanie Hornback started Nov. 26 as the news/photo editor at The Kentucky Standard in Bardstown.

She will cover school board, planning and zoning and industry and write weekly columns. She is also a member of the editorial board.

Hornback, 32, has had several positions with Landmark Community Newspapers Inc., The Kentucky Standard's parent company.

A native of LaRue County, Hornback has a B.A. in English and Allied Language Arts from Western Kentucky University.

•••••

The American Cancer Society has announced that the Murray Ledger & Times has been recognized with the Beacon of Hope Award for Media Excellence in Kentucky in the group's mid-south division.

The award recognizes both print and electronic media whose in-kind contributions amounted to $10,00 or more during the fiscal year.

The Ledger was also awarded second place Best Print Supporter (non-metro category) for its efforts on behalf of the group.

•••••

Managing Editor Rosalind Turner has left The Harrodsburg Herald to take a job as a communications liaison for the Kentucky Senate Democratic Leadership Office.

Debbie Jenkins Cook has been promoted to managing editor.

The Herald newsroom has also had two recent additions.

Scot Welshans replaced James Smith in the sports department.

Welshans, 23, is a 2007 graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

C.J. Ratliff, 25, replaces Paige Huston as a full-time reporter/photographer.

Ratliff started his college career as a journalism major and has worked at The Richmond Register and wrote for the Eastern Progress.