Staff report

The Demopolis Times recently promoted Rick Couch to the position of News Editor.

Couch joined The Times in November 2004 as a general assignment reporter. In his new position, he will have a greater role in the paper’s day-to-day operations and coverage.

Managing Editor David Goodwin said the decision to promote Couch was a no-brainer.

“Rick has been this paper’s go-to guy since long before I joined the staff,” Goodwin said. “It seemed obvious that, after a year of dedicated reporting, we reward him for those efforts.”

Publisher Sheila Haydel credited Couch with easing her transition into the Demopolis community.

“Since my arrival here at The Times, Rick has been invaluable to me, with his knowledge of the people in the area,” she said. “Having someone of Rick’s character, dedication and leadership is an asset not only to this newspaper, but to the community as well.”

Couch is a native of Pennington and most of his family lives in the Black Belt region.

He received his degree in journalism from the University of South Alabama in 2003.

Couch has also written for the Mobile Press-Register, the Troy Messenger and the Greenville Advocate.