The Huntsville Item will move into the new year continuing its efforts for quality local news with Dennis Garrison as publisher.

Garrison will assume his new role effective today.

Terry Connor, vice president/division manager for Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.’s Gulf Coast Division, made the announcement Thursday morning.

Garrison replaces Rex Maynor who accepted the position of vice president of sales and marketing for the Gulf Coast and Bluegrass divisions of CNHI in October.

Maynor continued to serve as publisher of The Item in addition to overseeing his new duties.

Garrison said he was happy to ac-cept the publisher’s position.

“I’m very pleased with the appointment,” Garrison said. “I’ve got some new plans and ideas for the newspaper and it’s going to be a fun and exciting time.”

A Missouri native, Garrison began his work with newspapers as a pressman in 1974 at the Lamar Daily Democrat in Lamar, Mo.

“Working in a small newspaper setting, I learned all aspects of the newspaper business,” Garrison said. “In 1975, I became editor and publisher for the Lamar Daily Democrat along with two small weeklies nearby.”

In 1979, Garrison joined the advertising sales team at the Pittsburg Morning Sun in Pittsburg, Kan., that gave him a new interest in sales.

“I was asked to go and serve as the advertising manager at the Newton Kansan in Newton, Kan., in 1983 and I stayed there for 19 years,” Garrison said. “I love advertising and sales. I really just love the newspaper business as a whole because I get to meet a lot of interesting people.

“I guess the old saying is true — “the ink’s in your blood.’ And that’s pretty much me. I loved the business and stayed with it.”

Garrison and his wife, Karen, who is director of communications at Spring Independent School District, moved to Huntsville in 2002 when he took the position of advertising director at The Item.

“Living in Huntsville has been a great experience for me,” Garrison said. “The people here are fantastic and we just love the community.”

Garrison and Karen enjoy spending time with their two sons — Brandon and Alexander.

Garrison, also an active community member, is a member of the Huntsville Church of Christ and the Huntsville/Walker County Chamber of Commerce Preferred Partners Networking Group.

“It’s great to work with people in the community,” Garrison said. “When people are in need and I am able to help them out through the newspaper, it’s more of a one-on-one experience.”

Connor said he is confident that Garrison will guide The Item toward further success.

“I am pleased to have someone with Dennis’ experience to lead The Item in the future,” Connor said. “I am confident the newspaper will continue to grow and provide outstanding customer service to both our readers and advertisers under his leadership.”

Garrison said he has new challenges and goals for The Item.

“I definitely want to continue to improve the paper’s local coverage,” Garrison said. “I also want to enhance The Item’s Web site, itemonline.com. We’re going to work on packaging the newspaper product and Web site together in order to give readers the entire local news experience they deserve.”

As Garrison steps into his new position, Maynor will continue his relationship with The Item through his new job.

Maynor said Garrison is a perfect match for the position.

“I feel certain that Dennis, with more than 30 years of experience, will do well in his new capacity,” Maynor said. “He is the best candidate we could have for the job. Because of his years in Huntsville and his knowledge of the newspaper business, I feel very comfortable that The Item is left in good hands.”

Maynor, who became responsible for sales and marketing of 23 newspapers in Texas, Kentucky and Mississippi on Oct. 1, said he will continue to work out of The Item’s Huntsville office.

“My transition has been tough but also fun,” Maynor said. “I look forward to continuing my work with Dennis and The Item.”

Connor said he is proud of what Maynor has accomplished at The Item and looks forward to his continued work with CNHI.

“Rex has provided outstanding leadership and moved The Item to new heights during his tenure as publisher,” Connor said. “In his new role with our company, he will continue to play a major role in the continued success of all our newspapers, including The Item.”

Garrison said he is fortunate to have a strong foundation from which to build.

“Rex came to The Item and changed the focus of our newspaper to be more local news-oriented and with his leadership we have done just that,” Garrison said. “As I take over, I have a good base to build upon.

“We’re going to make some really nice changes and improvements that will be beneficial to all our readers.”

Today, Garrison leads The Item in turning the page toward the future.

“I’m really excited about this,” Garrison said. “By initiating these new ideas — improving local news coverage, utilizing our Web site and offering our readers new and different things — we can become the number one news source for the people in Huntsville and Walker County.

“That’s my focus and the newspaper’s focus for 2008.”