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CEDAR CITY — The Iron County Today newspaper said its final goodbyes after 15 years of publication on Feb. 22. A few days later, community members banded together to save what many call a local treasure.
"For nearly two decades, this newspaper has been committed to being both a source of journalism and joy in this community and we have enjoyed being a part of your lives," the paper's then-owner and publisher R. Gail Stahle, whose grandfather started the Davis County Clipper, wrote in a letter to readers on Feb. 16. He said the costs to print the paper had become too great.
Following the announcement, longtime Cedar City resident and local business owner Mike Green said he knew he had to do something to save the local paper.
I love seeing good, local stories and the joy it brings to people's lives to know what is happening in their backyard.
–Mike Green, local investor
"A few days after the last issue was published, I met with individuals at the paper to negotiate some debts to see what it would take to keep the paper running, got some key employees back on board, and wrote a check to keep it open," Green explained. "I know that I speak for many by saying that this is an investment in the community."
Since writing that check, Green said that many businesses and community members have stepped up to invest in the paper, which reached about 18,000 homes with free delivery each week. He said the goal is to keep the paper community-owned and community-run.
"Our plan is that no one person can own more than 10% of the paper," Green said. "If you live in Iron County and you or your business is willing to put in an investment, you can own stock in the paper."
Green explained there are five ways community members and those who see value in small-town publications can not only invest in the paper, but have a say in what goes in it. Those five ways include donating directly to the paper, joining the "Insider's club" which requires a monthly subscription, becoming an owner, purchasing advertising space, and contributing content to be published.
Managing editor Corey Baumgartner acknowledged that people today have a constant flow of news and information at their fingertips, and that newspapers seem to be a thing of the past. That said, Baumgartner, who began as an unpaid freelancer and has been with the paper the last four years, said Iron County Today is so much more than just a newspaper or even a news source, but is a way to connect and inspire the community.
"I believe we have survived because we put out a paper that changes people's lives by not just informing them, but inspiring them as well," he said.
Offering 'temporal and spiritual' news
Like most local papers and news sources, Iron County Today features school, government and community happenings, has regular columnists who submit personal essays and has sections for birth announcements and obituaries. There is one section, however, that Baumgartner says keeps many readers coming back. That section is the faith section.
"Before I became the editor, I was writing a weekly column titled, 'The rut less traveled,' where I would write about life challenges and how to get out of ruts or avoid them altogether," Baumgartner said. "I then started to write one called 'God's Porch,' which was more of a spiritual version of the other column where I asked readers what they would say to God if they were on his porch."
Baumgartner said that as time went on, community members read his columns, and a faith section emerged with many individuals from a variety of faith backgrounds contributing content.
"Cedar City is full of a lot of great people from many different religions, and the faith section brings us together," Baumgartner said. "I think a lot of people have appreciated having not just the temporal news, but the spiritual news, if you will. … I think it's one of the most important parts of our paper."
Green agreed, adding his love and appreciation for the community at large that he says has banded together to keep their voices heard, their stories shared and their values strong. He encouraged those near and far who value news and stories at a local level to read the paper and find a way to keep it alive for many more years to come.
"I love seeing good, local stories and the joy it brings to people's lives to know what is happening in their backyard," Green said. "Those who invest in the paper will see a return in the community that it will build and the good that will come as a result. This is truly an investment in the community."
Weekly publication of Iron County Today will resume April 5, and the paper is accepting publicly submitted articles, donations and subscribers at Ironcountytoday.com.
