Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
Rolla — Dave Roberts, longtime sports editor for the Phelps County Focus and former Rolla Daily News, will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame this month. Roberts currently covers St. James and Vienna high schools athletics for Warden Publishing’s newspapers and contributes stories to the Dixon Pilot.
Roberts began covering sports part-time for the Rolla Daily News working first for the Sowers family in the summer of 1978, and in 1980, at age 19, he became Missouri’s youngest daily sports editor. He remained at the News into 2016, and in 2017, he helped launch the Phelps County Focus, where he remained until 2025, along with serving as sports editor for its sister publication, the Salem News.
An award-winning journalist, Roberts was previously inducted into the Rolla High School Hall of Fame.
Richmond — Sharon Donat, general manager of the Richmond News, was recently named one of Ingram’s Magazine’s 50 Missourians You Should Know for 2026, an annual recognition highlighting leaders from industries and communities across the state. Dennis Boone, Ingram’s editorial director, said Donat was chosen specifically for her work in community journalism.
“Sharon stood out for the work she’s doing to fight the good fight with community print journalism, which still plays a role in smaller-town civic life,” Boone said of Donat.
Donat gave credit to staff members of the News, its sister publication, the Excelsior Springs Standard, and the publishing group’s printing plant for putting in the work each week to ensure the communities’ stories are told. She also said advertisers who continue to support local newspapers and readers deserve credit for keeping their local publications in operation.
“I appreciate the recognition, but I am even happier that it brings attention to the value of local newspapers and the communities they serve,” Donat said. “It means a great deal, especially because so much of the work in community journalism happens quietly.”
Donat moved to Excelsior Springs and joined the Standard in 2006 when she saw an ad for an account executive. Working on-and-off again for the newspapers over the years, she took the reins fully in 2022 and embraced her role in recording history for her communities.
Platte City — Damon Grosvenor is The Platte County Landmark’s new reporter, joining the newspaper’s staff last month. He is a Navy veteran and reservist, and he studied American history at Park University, graduating in 2024.
Grosvenor previously covered state politics for the Jefferson City News Tribune. Among the issues he tackled were the mid-decade redistricting fight in both the Capitol building and Missouri Supreme Court, as well as features on state employees and the fate of the Missouri State Capitol Commission.
Last year, Grosvenor deployed on a two-month public affairs mission. He returned to the north Kansas City area to continue his journalism work. As a member of The Landmark, he is able to craft stories for his hometown of Parkville and wider Platte County.
Washington — Christopher Parker has been named managing editor of the Washington Missourian. Parker has worked as a general assignment reporter and more recently as web editor since joining the newspaper in 2023.
Missourian Publisher Bill Miller Jr. said Parker’s rapid ascent at the newspaper is a testament to his talent and his hard work. “In a very short period of time Chris has become an integral member of our editorial team and our company,” Miller Jr. said. “He brings positive energy to our team which is reflected in his stories.”
Parker has been recognized professionally by multiple organizations, including the Missouri Press Foundation, which named him one of this year’s William E. James Outstanding Young Journalists, and the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, which selected Parker for its 2026 Class of Outstanding Young Professionals.
A native New Yorker, Parker is a 2022 graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned a degree in history and in the classics with a minor in journalism.
Chillicothe — Paul Sturm retired earlier this year after more than three decades covering the community and the surrounding area for the Constitution-Tribune (C-T).
In August 1995, Sturm joined the C-T as city editor, with some sports-coverage duties thrown in. He took over as sports editor in November 2001.
Over the years, Sturm came to be known for his passion and dedication to covering high school sports across Livingston and Linn counties.
