Real.Good.News.
“Blue Ribbon News shines the spotlight on people, places and events that impact our community in a positive way. We believe that if we tell your story – big or small – it can truly make a difference, and more ‘good’ will follow.” ~ Dawn Redig, Owner/Publisher & Managing Editor
IN PRINT
For 13 years we’ve been shining the spotlight on the people, places, and events that have a positive impact in our community. As Rockwall County’s #1 source for good news, our print edition publishes 8x/year and delivers free to 17,500 homes and businesses and is available for pick-up (while supplies last!) at the Rockwall Chamber, County Library, YMCA, and various businesses around town. Meals on Wheels delivers copies to area homebound seniors along with their meals. Discover even more features and events in our digital publication at blueribbonnews.com and follow our #RockwallLIVE facebook broadcasts as we cover hometown happenings.
Our Blue Ribbon News team comprises professional journalists, contributing writers, guest columnists, social media managers, marketing experts – and readers like YOU. We don’t just cover this community. This is where we live, work, learn, play, and pray. SUBMIT YOUR GOOD NEWS & EVENTS by emailing editor@blueribbonnews.com.
CELEBRATING MORE THAN A DECADE IN PRINT!
Owner/publisher and managing editor Dawn Redig launched blueribbonnews.com in 2011 after covering this area for several years at the Dallas Morning News. Our full color print pub followed in 2012, supported by local advertisers. Dawn serves on the Board of Directors for Meals on Wheels and the Executive Board of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Rockwall County. She is former member of the JER Chilton YMCA board, and founding member of Rockwall Professional Women’s Alliance. Blue Ribbon News is a proud member of the Rockwall Chamber and earned the Chamber Award for ‘Best Practices in Community Involvement’.
Additional copies of the print edition may be available by calling 214-342-8000. Due to high demand, there is a $5 charge to cover postage when requesting copies by mail.
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Learn more about who we are and why we do what we do, here: https://blueribbonnews.com/contact/
View our latest print edition here:
We’ve been publishing since 2012. View past print editions here.
Annual Subscription
Those who live outside our delivery area may request an annual subscription for $48. Simply email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com or call 214-342-8000 to request a subscription, and/or mail your check to: Blue Ribbon News, PO Box 967, Rockwall, TX 75087.
ONLINE
Our digital publication reaches tens of thousands of readers throughout the Dallas metroplex and beyond. BlueRibbonNews.com is updated daily with hometown news, entertainment, and events – going way beyond what you see highlighted in our print edition, making us Rockwall County’s number one source for positive community news and events.
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Subscribe to our FREE E-NEWSLETTER here.
READER SUBMISSIONS
We want your news! Blue Ribbon News encourages reader submissions. Simply email your news, events and story ideas to editor@BlueRibbonNews.com and we’ll spread the word!
ABOUT US
Our Blue Ribbon News and BRN Media team comprises professional journalists, contributing writers, guest columnists, social media managers and marketing experts.
Want to more about why we do what we do? Read this letter from our managing editor, Dawn Redig.
Blue Ribbon News Publisher/Managing Editor Dawn Redig has over 35 years experience in print and broadcast journalism. She is a former Dallas Morning News editor, reporter and columnist. She wrote for The Beaumont Enterprise, The Orange Leader, KBMT-TV Channel 12, Hall Publications/Nintendo/NFL Playoff, CBS Radio, and Lamar University/University Press.
Dawn serves on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County and the Children’s Advocacy Center for Rockwall County. She is active in the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a charter member of the Rockwall Professional Women’s Alliance.
Dawn and her husband have a daughter pursuing her PhD at University of Texas at Dallas, a son who recently earned his Masters in Accounting at SMU, and a house full of pets. Connect with her at editor@BlueRibbonNews.com or call 214-342-8000, ext 1122.
He’s not your average Joe; he’s our Lead Designer and Layout Editor! Joe does a little web work, a little social media, and a whole lot of creative! When he’s not building ads, designing digital signs, posters, flyers, or social media art, he’s laying out pages for press. He loves spending time with this wife and two kids, and his Lab named Savannah.
For more than ten years, Amy Sidebottom has served as Designer and Layout Editor Extraordinaire. You name it, she’s done it – from ad creation and copy writing to layout of our publication. She came to us from the Dallas Morning News and assists us with layout and ad creation.
Melanie Mayfield is our Senior Writer/Reporter with a talent and passion for sharing good news and feature stories about our community, our neighbors, and our local businesses. She has an extensive journalism and marketing background combined with a beautiful way of shining the spotlight on the people, places and events that make Rockwall County so special.
Brendan Brooke is our new guy on the block, although he’s been in Heath his whole life – except for all that time he spent earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Arkansas. As our communications and marketing assistant, he’s awesome with video production and editing, multimedia event management, social media and all things BRN Media!
Samantha Redig works part-time as an communications and PR, assisting with social media and marketing services. She is earning her doctorate at University of Texas at Dallas.
And yes, she is the amazingly talented daughter of our Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Dawn Redig and our BRN Media Services Marketing Director Richard Redig.
Design Editors Billy Quinton of QBall Design and Julie Fowler of Fowler Designs are awesome artists who have contributed to the creative design and layout of our Blue Ribbon News print publication. We thank them for helping us get the pub started!
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Blue Ribbon News contributing writer/guest columnist Patti Richter works as journalist, writing news and feature stories for many Christian publications. She and her husband Jim recently moved from Heath to be closer to her grandchildren. Her faith columns and local ministry articles are very popular among Blue Ribbon News readers. Email Patti at PattiRichter@BlueRibbonNews.com.
Sally Kilgore is another one of our gifted guest columnists. Sally is a former resident of Rowlett, and a recent transplant, across the lake, to Fate, TX. She is married to her long time flame, Chris Kilgore. When not writing, gardening, filling in at the local flower shop or hanging out with grandkids, Sally devotes her time to serving Bob Kilgore, a generously sized, Tuxedo cat with panache. Follow Sally and Bob’s adventures in her column, Kukka (Finnish for bloom or flower) on our website!
Former Rockwall County Judge Jerry Hogan contributes a weekly Letter to the Editor in his guest column he calls ‘A Broad View of Things of Interest‘. His opinion pieces spark conversation and thoughtful consideration. He can be reached at jerryhogan@sbcglobal.net or 214-394-4033.
Blue Ribbon News guest cooking/recipe columnist Melissa Tate of Rockwall is a freelance food writer and owner of Photo-Wagon mobile photo booth. She also helps her husband run their family farm, Tate Farms, and event center, Summerfield at Tate Farms. They are currently managing the Smirl Chapel Relocation & Preservation Project. Find Melissa on Facebook or Instagram at @melissatatetx to follow the adventures. Look for her Cooking with Ease columns on Blue Ribbon News!
In her column called The Rose Table, Blue Ribbon News guest columnist Katie-Rose Watson writes about party planning and shares themed recipes. She often covers Rockwall on therosetable.com, from the Farmers Market to Founder’s Day Festival. The Rose Table has over 200,000 fans on Facebook (fb.com/therosetable), millions of video views, and can be found on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Pinterest @therosetable.com ~ and here on Blue Ribbon News!
Erin Kincaid pens our Life Lessons column. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Rockwall Heath Counseling. She holds a host of degrees in Psychology, Christian Counseling, Anthropology and is working toward her PhD in Clinical Counseling. Erin lives in Rockwall with her husband and son.
We also feature a monthly column with timely tips penned by our Rockwall County Master Gardeners. Not only are do they provide expert advice to help with your landscaping, but they are talented photographers and writers, too – doing a beautiful job of showcasing the flowers, plants, trees and shrubs they are so passionate about.
Our Universe Today is written by Blue Ribbon News guest columnist, Max Corneau, aka AstroDad, of Rockwall. Max retired from the U.S. Army in 2009 as a Lieutenant Colonel, Senior Space Operations Officer and Master Aviator. He amassed over 3,200 hours as a pilot of Special Electronic Mission Airplanes. Since 2004 he has been a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, is a Master of Astronomical Outreach through the Astronomcial League and built his own astronomical observatory. His amazing images can be seen at AstroDad.com.
John Adams has called Rockwall home since 1985 where he owned a local business from 1988 to 2010. He is currently bi-vocational in telecom sales and Associate Pastor/Worship at Poetry Baptist Church. He also writes a blog that posts regularly at written4u.com and consists of funny and inspirational stories from life experiences. His ‘Inspirations by John Adams’ column is featured online at BlueRibbonNews.com and has been featured in our print edition.
Throughout the years, we’ve also welcomed a host of other guest columnists writing on various topics, and their writing can also be found under our Guest Columns tab at BlueRibbonNews.com.
BRN Media, publisher of Blue Ribbon News, is a multi-platform, full-service creative agency offering advertising and marketing services, social media management, and website development to both small and large businesses.