Editors Note: Good bye 2025

First of all, 2025 was a great year with the East Texas Banner. I want to inform all our readers and followers that ETB is about to go through another transition. Transitioning is not always a bad thing. Sometimes, you must regroup and then double down on the work set out in front of you and we are as well. We loved seeing all of you at the Christmas parades this year and we hope you enjoy the gifts we threw to the crowds in Jasper, Newton and Kirbyville.

Your support helped us exceeded our expectations and goals in 2025 and we will continue to build upon that success, informing and supporting the communities in which we serve. If you read any of our articles, reports or ramblings in 2025, THANK YOU! Moving into 2026, I am hopeful and excited for the new year.  

What is ahead for the East Texas Banner?

NEW SITE: East Texas Banner is getting a much-needed facelift. We are rolling out a number of community (i.e. Community Calendar, Classifieds, Outdoors & Obituaries pages) requested sections that will hopefully help everyone in the community. Keep an eye out around mid-January.

NEW RADIO APP: If you are into Texas Country, Neches River Radio is growing. Downloadable now in the Apple App Store & Google Play Store. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we get that BUT we have a great team working with us to help build NRR into a regional powerhouse and that’s what we will be. Think about who would have thought when we took over ETB in 2023, that we would grow so fast. That’s the goal with NRR. Stability first, add listeners and pour the cooking grease to it! And help shine light on companies who choose to partner with us on our platform. (Shameless Plug: Ad Rates start at $1.50)

NEW COVERAGE REGION: We expanded in northern & western counties over the last quarter: Polk, Trinity, Angelina, San Augustine and Sabine. Our social media page, East Texas Daily continues to grow and is setting a ridiculous pace for those counties.

In closing, I would like to thank all the readers, followers, lovers and haters of what we are doing. Although not perfect we are working hard to build something that our communities are proud of. It’s for you and as someone who grew up here, I hope you are proud of what we’re creating. You are all appreciated and loved… and I have a special place in my heart for the haters.

Remember we are in this together, enjoy peace and let’s make 2026 a year of East Texas successes.