41 years and counting! That’s what we’re doing this week at The Times.
We aren’t making a big deal out of it because it’s one of those in-between type anniversaries.
Our first edition appeared on the newsstands on June 27, 1974. It was a tabloid format that was delivered by mail and distributed on newsstands on Thursdays. That first issue had 16 pages. Many of those editions in the early years had eight to 12 pages.
The Times cost 15 cents for those early editions. Through the years, we eventually raised the per copy cost to one dollar.
I was one of the original partners in the business including Bob Lightfoot and Arthur Hewitt. Lightfoot, who also owned the Lake Havasu City Herald, later sold his shares to Hewitt. I acquired all of the remaining shares from Hewitt’s widow after he died in 1989.
We formed Western States Publishers, Inc. in February, 1974. That functions as our main company and publishes a variety of publications. They include The Fountain Hills Times, the Fountain Hills/Verde Communities Telephone Directory, Let’s Go, Fountain Hills Community Guide, HOME in the Northeast Valley and the Northeast Valley Dining Guide.
All of our publications are being reviewed at the present time including the addition of at least one more publication.
We actually considered dropping The Times back in 1981. After losing money for seven years, we were facing the economic reality that we couldn’t continue unless we made some changes.
We cut our expenses and I started calling on firms “over the hill” in Scottsdale and Mesa to advertise.
The plan worked as The Times showed its first profit in 1982. Revenues increased every year until 2009 when the recession began and we had a drop in residents and businesses in town.
I’ve been fortunate to have a devoted staff. Mike Scharnow joined us in 1983 and became editor in 1994.
Business Manager Kip Kirkendoll has been with me for 31 years. Reporter Bob Burns joined The Times in 1988. Reporters Ryan Winslett and Barb Charzuk both joined The Times in 2005.
Advertising sales are handled by my son, Brent, and John Gibson. Brent went to work at The Times in 1994 after being a member of Fountain Hills High School’s first graduating class. John joined The Times staff in 2007.
Duke Kirkendoll, son of Kip, is a technology specialist, a production artist and sells advertising. He has been with The Times for 18 years. Tangie Prieskorn is a graphic artist. She worked for us from 1999 to 2007 and came back to the staff in 2014.
Tammie Ott is our legal, classified and circulation manager.
Linda McThrall worked for us as a reporter from 1979 to 1982. She rejoined the staff in 2005 and is editor of our Let’s Go and specialty publications.
Home delivery people are Julaine and Arden Kolstad, John Barcz, Ray Giaquinto, Dave Rice and Jim Nelson.
Looking back over the 41 years, I am most proud of our fair coverage. We still take editorial stances on issues. Both sides of important issues are given in our stories. We make our conclusions for the editorials based on what we feel is best for the community as a whole.
We cover anything that happens in the community from club and organization news, entertainment, sports, religion and our Fountain Spouts cover personal items.
Our newspaper has been very business friendly. We run stories on new and existing businesses, we cover activities of the Chamber of Commerce and we create advertising that brings them customers.
The company’s policies on letters to the editor have drawn many comments over the years. Some of you feel we run too many negative letters from the same people. We feel the letters section is an open forum that demonstrates people’s interest in town issues and this newspaper.
If the letter is not libelous or some personal complaint about a business, neighbor or relative, it most likely will run.
Many people ask me, “How is The Times doing?”
They hear how poorly the large dailies are doing and they think all newspapers are doing poorly. According to the National Newspaper Association, community newspapers remain strong with good readership.
We are current with our bills and we should show a slight profit at the end of our fiscal year on June 30.
We are conducting a series of subscription drives throughout the end of the calendar year. Our goal is to gain 1,000 new subscribers by the end of the calendar year. I think we can make it.
Well, that’s it for this week. Happy 41 to the staff and our family of readers.
