Journalists Across the State Step Up to Save Holdrege Newspaper

It was surprising news when Holdrege Citizen Publisher Bob King announced he was printing the newspaper’s last edition on Thursday, September 4.

It was the talk of the town over the weekend as many residents were sad to lose their local newspaper and wondered where they would be able to print legal notices.

Journalists across the state noticed as well, and they teamed up to ensure that Holdrege residents stay informed with a community newspaper.

“The Nebraska Press Association came out the following Monday and convinced me that we need to continue,” King said. 

The Citizen is now back on in print, and it could soon be sold to a new owner, ensuring that Phelps County has a reliable source of printed local news.

“This isn’t just about saving a newspaper,” said Dennis DeRossett, executive director of the Nebraska Press Association. “It’s about supporting a community. Study after study shows what happens when a community loses its local paper – and none of it is good. Local newspapers are the heartbeat of their towns, keeping people informed, connected, and engaged. When that goes away, the whole community feels the loss.” 

After King announced his decision to cease publication, the Nebraska Press Association contacted him to explain options that would enable him to continue publishing while seeking a buyer, rather than to cease publication.

It was a ray of hope after King decided to cease publication because he didn’t see a way to continue with his declining staff and revenues.

This fall, Tunney Price, The Citizen’s editor of 50 years, was suddenly forced into retirement for medical reasons. At about the same time, long-time employee Linda Bowers left for a new job. The printing press was causing problems with the quality of the newspaper, and advertising revenue was down.

But, after talking to the NPA, King decided to keep publishing as they offered manpower to help him.

“They also stressed that if we continued printing for a while, we could sell it,” King said. “That was good because it will allow us to see a return on the hard work my father and I put into the newspaper.”

Dwight King, Bob’s dad, purchased the newspaper in 1957. Bob King has served as The Citizen’s publisher since 2000 and has worked at the newspaper since 1973. 

NPA’s small staff of four stepped in to help produce ads, stories and legal notices that first week. 

“It was a true team effort,” DeRossett said.

The Citizen is now being printed each week with help from Syndicate Publishing and the Hastings Tribune. King said stories and ads are collected in Holdrege and sent to Syndicate’s Gothenburg newspaper staff for design on Wednesdays. The finished newspaper is then sent to the Hastings Tribune for printing on Thursdays.

DeRossett said this arrangement is temporary, and he gave a special thanks to Colten Venteicher with Syndicate Publishing in Gothenburg, Cozad, and Minden; Darran Fowler of the Hastings Tribune; and Cody Gerlach of the Valley Voice News in Cambridge for helping. 

King said he greatly appreciates the help. But he is looking forward to retiring so he can travel more. He hopes to sell the newspaper by the end of the year. King said there are three interested buyers from Nebraska and one from Kansas. 

“I’d like to see somebody take over the newspaper who places an emphasis on local news, who likes to glorify the accomplishments of our youth, whether it’s athletics or 4-H, and publish the local obituaries and report the local news,” King said.

DeRossett said the Holdrege Citizen continues for now due to the dedication of newspaper professionals across the state.

“Equally moving has been the outpouring of support from Holdrege citizens,” he said. “People shared memories online, mourned the loss of a 140-year-old institution, and reminded us just how deeply a local newspaper shapes the soul of a town.”

DeRossett stressed that the survival of a community newspaper isn’t just up to the journalists who write, photograph, edit and print the paper.

“It takes all of us – local businesses choosing to advertise, readers subscribing, and neighbors picking up a copy every week,” DeRossett said. “If the story of the Holdrege Citizen teaches us anything, it’s this: we’re better together. We need each other. And, we shouldn’t wait until something is gone to realize what it meant to us.”

The Citizen office at 418 Garfield remains open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Fridays. News tips can be sent to holdregecitizennews@gmail.com, and camera-ready ads can be sent to holdregecitizenads@gmail.com. News tips can also be called in at 308-995-4441.