The Dublin Citizen is improving thanks to the addition of Content Editor Wyndi Veigel, who started in her new position Monday.
“Wyndi is an accomplished journalist with a diverse background and skillset,” said Managing Editor Paul Gaudette. “Her addition will allow the Citizen to bolster our content and offer better service to the community and readers in a variety of ways.”
Veigel grew up in the small Texas panhandle town of Borger, where she graduated from high school in 2000. Following that graduation, Veigel attained her Associates Degree from Frank Phillips College.
She took one year at Angelo State before transferring to Texas A&M University - Commerce, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in News/Editorial Journalism with a double major in English Literature in 2007.
Veigel said she came by her love of news and reporting from a young age.
“I come from a family of newspaper readers, and that really encouraged me in this direction,” Veigel said. “Communities are often underserved and in need of journalists not afraid to bring the truth into light. I believe every person has a story to tell and as history keepers, that is our job.”
Veigel got her first newspaper job at The Farmersville Times and stayed with that publication for 13 years, working her way up to the position of news editor for both The Farmersville Times and Princeton Herald.
In 2019, she accepted position of editor at The Marshall News-Messenger, a six-day-a-week daily paper near the Louisiana border.
Although she enjoyed the work, she decided she needed a change of scenery following a busy two years covering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the community and businesses as well as many breaking stories and controversies.
“Honestly, I wanted to be closer to family and friends,” she said.
Through associations with the North and East Texas Press Association, she had met the staff of the Hamilton Herald-News, who offered her the job of news editor. She started there in September 2021.
Veigel was grateful for the position and fell in love with the Hamilton community but travel time and gas costs were high.
“With the rise in gas prices and already living in Dublin, I decided to apply when I heard there was a position available,” Veigel said.
She also said that she really enjoys being in the Dublin community.
“I love that no matter where you go, no matter whether it’s a city or county event, it’s a community event.” Veigel said. “I adore the care citizens give to each other. I also love the color green and think that leprechauns are really awesome!”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a community newspaper professional such as Wyndi Veigel join us in our work,” Citizen Publisher Brett Wesner said. “Her reputation in Texas is stellar, and I couldn’t be happier that she has chosen to join our incredible staff. The Dublin Citizen is regularly recognized as one of the best newspapers in the state, and this will only reinforce our work.”
Veigel holds numerous awards from the North and East Texas Press Association (including three photographer of the year awards and a journalist of the year plaque), Teas Press Association and West Texas Press Association. She also has a 2020 Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Freedom of Information Award related to the News-Messenger’s coverage of the lack of information provided by nursing homes to families during the COVID pandemic that ultimately resulted in legislation to improve transparency. She is currently secretary/
She is currently secretary/ treasurer for NETPA and has served several board positions on NETPA and TPA. She formerly served as publicity chairperson, photographer and fundraising coordinator for Farmersville Volunteer FD and has gone through several citizen academies for law enforcement and fire departments, served on library boards, chambers of commerce and the Hamilton Historic Main Street.