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Community Builder Award

Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 3:00 pm David Davey, Master of David Elliott Lodge # 364, Omaha, presented Melba Craig and the staff of the Naples Monitor Newspaper with the prestigious Community Builders Award for their services and leadership in the local community.

The COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD is designed to enable a Lodge to recognize outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, to the local, state, or national government, to their Church or Synagogue, or humanity. Thus, the award is presented to individuals who, although they have not been initiated into Masonry, have followed the same precepts, ideals and standards that have been established for Masonic behavior. Lodges are encouraged to seek out the people who, year in and year out, quietly and without fanfare, show their devotion to their community and its people.

Every community has these individuals. This year's recipient is Melba Craig and staff of the Naples Monitor Newspaper. Even though Melba is the driving force behind the Monitor she says that it would be impossible to receive such an honor without recognizing those individuals that create "the rubber meeting the road" result at the paper. In that spirit David Elliott Lodge # 364 is giving credit where credit is due.

Community newspapers often have a deep-rooted history within their towns. Many have been around for generations, telling stories of the community’s growth, struggles, and triumphs. They create a thread that connects past, present, and future generations, giving residents a sense of belonging and continuity. The Naples Monitor is a legacy operation of the late Morris Craig and is a weekly newspaper that first appeared in 1886 and running to the present, which is recognized as the oldest business in Naples, Texas. Melba Craig and the staff stepped up after the death of Morris Craig to ensure that the Naples/Omaha area had a newspaper to represent the needs in the community.

The importance of local community newspapers is undeniable. Small town newspapers are an asset to the community because they provide a platform for local voices, foster community engagement, promote transparency, and support economic growth. They cover stories that matter most to the people of the community, from local politics and business to crime and entertainment. Community newspapers are still a crucial part of our local ecosystems. These small but powerful publications are crucial for the social and cultural fabric of our communities. Local media allows citizens to stay connected with what's happening in their community and share stories and pictures that may not be considered newsworthy in larger publications.

Just as national newspapers investigate and report on federal or state matters, community newspapers serve as watchdogs for local government. They report on town council meetings, zoning decisions, school board developments, and other civic matters, keeping residents informed and holding local officials accountable. This transparency builds a sense of trust and engagement within the community, ensuring that decision-makers are scrutinized and that public voices are heard.

Local newspapers are essential to support an informed, connected, and empowered population. Supporting them through subscriptions, readership, or advertising is an investment in your community. So, the next time you pick up a community newspaper, remember you’re holding a piece of local culture, history and identity, keeping you connected to what’s happening in your own backyard.

Small businesses depend on affordable advertising, and community newspapers offer just that. Advertising in a community paper reaches the right audience — local people likely to become loyal customers. Additionally, interviews with local entrepreneurs give small businesses visibility. This mutual support between the community paper and local businesses contributes to developing a thriving local economy.

After the ceremony, Master of the Lodge, David Davey invited the attendees into the Lodge Community Room for refreshments and time for socializing.