Schamber named editor of The Record

 

Last updated 7/25/2012 at Noon

The Record Newspaper welcomes Debby Schamber to the staff as editor. Schamber was raised in Kansas. She studied elementary and special education at Pittsburg State University and taught fourth grade briefly, in Kansas, but she didn’t like it.

“I have lived in Texas since 1983,” said Schamber. “I have four children. Jason, now 26, Jessica, was 21 when she died, Joshua 19 and Jordan 16. I just celebrated one year of marriage to Curtis Herrington on July 16. “

Her first newspaper job was at the Mid County Chronicle in Nederland. “It was a temporary job while the editor was out on maternity leave. The story which got me the job was about a bluebonnet garden in the shape Texas.”

“As that job was ending I saw an ad in the paper for a full time position at a local daily. When I called I was told it wasn’t available.”

Schamber told the editor she would call him every Tuesday until he had her job ready. “Within four weeks he called and told me to bring my portfolio. I was hired and worked there for nearly five years.”

During that time she earned awards such as Star Reporter of the Year for the Associated Press, Print Media Journalist of the Year for the State of Texas, and numerous awards from the Southeast Texas Press Clubs for photos, breaking news, features and columns.

“I prefer to write stories about crimes because of my need to help people,” said Schamber.

“The victims need to have a voice. It is because of this need that I write stories on cold cases, aggravated sexual assaults, murders and things that can be devastating events for all involved,” she said.

“One story in particular that makes me feel happy to be a journalist is the case of a missing teen. Her body was left in a field many years ago to be found by the property owner.

“I needed a story one day and asked an Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigator for some help. He gave me information on the case”.

As a result, a person with the Doe Network (a Web site that lists missing person cases) saw the story online and called the sheriff’s office because they felt they knew the identity of the girl from the description in Schamber’s article.

Eventually, with DNA tests, the body of the girl was identified and returned to her family. The out-of-state investigators would then work on getting the suspect charged with the crime.

“I am very happy to be working at the Record. I work with a great bunch of people who care about their jobs and work to put out a great newspaper we can be proud of.

“I still get excited to see my name in print by a story. It gives me a sense of satisfaction.”

 

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