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Paxton acquires four more Arkansas newspapers APA Convention registration packet
ARKANSAS
PRESS
Ar kansas
Publisher Weekly
Vol. 14 | No. 23 | Thursday, June 6, 2019
ASSOCIATION
Serving Press and State Since 1873
“Golden 50” honorees to mark milestones at annual APA Honors Banquet Newspaper industry veterans with a combined 200-plus years of experience will be honored by the Arkansas Press Association for careers spanning more than 50 years each at the 2019 APA Convention later this month in Hot Springs.
Arnett is a Brinkley native. She is married to Jeff Arnett has three sons. Arnett said she’s not going anywhere any time soon: “As long as Beth needs me, I’ll be here.”
This year’s “Golden 50” Service Award recipients include a long-time editor at state’s largest newspaper and three others who have each worked for the same newspapers their entire careers. They are: Glenda Arnett of the Monroe County Herald; Danny Cook of the Warren Eagle Democrat; Frank Fellone, an independent journalist who spent most of his career at the Arkansas DemocratGazette, and Larry Miller of the Petit Jean Country Headlight. “Arkansas’s newspapers are thriving because of people dedicated to quality journalism like Glenda Arnett, Danny Cook, Frank Fellone and Larry Miller,” said APA Executive Director Ashley Wimberley. “Each one should be commended for their exemplary service, and they all continue to benefit the communities they serve. I hope all APA members will join us on June 28 as we honor their legacies and their commitment to our industry.” The four “Golden 50” recipients will be honored at an awards banquet during the convention. The banquet is Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Hot Springs in Hot Springs. For tickets or for convention registration information, visit ArkansasPress.org or call (501) 374-1500. Here’s more information on each of the four “Golden 50” honorees:
Glenda Arnett with her husband Jessie.
Glenda Arnett was just a few weeks out of high school in the summer of 1967 when she started a full-time job at the local newspaper in Brinkley. Since then, she’s been a linotype operator, photographer and the reporter who called around to community members asking for recaps on the previous weekend’s events. She called those recaps “the locals” and said learning about the goings-on in small Monroe County communities is one of the highlights of her years of service. “I enjoy my work and I really don’t want to stay at home,” Arnett said. “I’ve done this for so long, I guess it’s in my blood. They say newspaper work gets in your blood.”
Danny Cook
The owner of the Warren Eagle-Democrat, Danny Cook started at the newspaper right before his 18th birthday in August 1968 in a role he described as “at the very bottom.” He worked with hot type at the beginning of his career, then became production manager when the newspaper transitioned to offset printing.
Beth Taylor, who operates the newspaper along with her son, Hayden, said Arnett is the publication’s MVP, and she shouldn’t be thinking about retirement.
As he gained responsibilities at the newspaper, he took over day-to-day operations at the newspaper and eventually purchased it from former owner Bob Newton in 1998.
“She is the heart and the sunshine of the newspaper,” Taylor said. “We love her and are so glad she stayed with us. Our retirement plan for her is never.”
Cook suffered some serious health setbacks in 2018 that left him sidelined from work. In an interview late last year, he said his year in and out of hospitals