FLANDREAU, S.D. (KELO) — Employees at four South Dakota newspapers could be back in business later this week.
Almost two weeks ago, The Brookings Register, Huron Daily Plainsman, Redfield Press and Moody County Enterprise shut down abruptly after their parent company ceased operations.
On Friday afternoon, the papers announced plans were in the works for a new owner.
The headline for The Redfield Press on Friday was ‘We are Back!’
“It’s a little overwhelming to be honest with you. It happened rather quickly, but we all are very excited,” Redfield Press general manager Kayla Jessen said.
Jessen says the paper’s next issue will be printed and available as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.
“We’re really thankful for the opportunity to be back and serving our community again because everyone was kind of in upheaval for a week and a half. They were not knowing what they were going to do. It’s a big deal not to have a local newspaper to publish those important events in the community,” Jessen said.
Another newspaper that will be publishing again this week is the Moody County Enterprise. One local says the information they put out is important for the community.
“It’s our connection with some of the other people we don’t see day in and day out,” Flandreau resident Mark Ponwith said. “For me, it’s a connection with the school. I have two great-grandchildren that go to school there, and it keeps me abreast of what they’re doing and what’s going on.”
Editor Carleen Wild says the Enterprise’s next edition will be on newsstands on Thursday and delivered on Friday.
“This is a 150-year-old publication, and it’s great to see that continue,” Wild said.
Wild hopes the paper’s brief closure can spark more support of local news.
“Maybe a silver lining to come out of all of this is for people to really realize this is a valuable resource. How can they better support it?” Wild said.
Support that will keep people more informed.
The Huron Daily Plainsman also says its next issue will be available on Wednesday, and The Brookings Register posted on Facebook on Friday that it could be back in print in the next week.
To read each newspaper’s article on their re-openings, click the links below:
