Iron County Today newspaper to print its final issue next week, publisher announces (2024)

CEDAR CITY — Iron County Today, the Cedar City-based community newspaper published weekly since 2008, is shutting down operations, its publisher has announced.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that February 22nd will be the last issue of your community newspaper, Iron County Today,” owner and publisher R. Gail Stahle wrote in an open letter to readers in the publication’s penultimate issue, which was distributed on Wednesday.

“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,” Stahle added in his front-page statement, which was headlined, “Iron County Today newspaper saying farewell.”

Stahle cited “the increased cost of print and distribution along with continuing evolution of digital media” as the reason for the “heartbreaking” move.

Contacted via telephone by Cedar City News for further comment, Stahle said of Iron County Today, “I’m not sure how much it’s going to be missed, but it’s going to be missed. It’s a been a very fine publication.”

“It’s gotten a little bit hairy as far as trying to make ends meet sometimes,” Stahle added. “But they just raised my printing cost by 20% a few weeks ago. This really made it difficult for us.”

In his open letter to readers, Stahle noted that newspapers have been in his blood for over 85 years.

Stahle is a third-generation newspaperman, his grandfather having started the Davis County Clipper back in 1891. But in December 2020, after being in print for 129 years, the Clipper was shut down, reportedly for similar financial reasons.

Iron County Today, with a circulation of 18,000, has been delivered free each week to homes throughout Iron County, in addition to being available for pickup at newsstands at selected businesses and other locations. Additionally, some 50 or so paid subscribers receive it in the mail.

At the Iron County Today offices at 389 N. 100 West on Wednesday afternoon, the mood was noticeably subdued as the handful of employees worked to answer phone calls and emails from readers and advertisers.

“I’ve already cried three times today,” said longtime sales representative Patti Bostick, who said she’d been busy fielding calls and emails from the newspaper’s advertising clients.

Office manager Rosie Sevier, who has only been with the company for about three months, said she’ll miss the daily interactions with her coworkers.

“They have some stellar people here that are amazing,” she said. “I have never worked with people that were so incredibly committed and just love the community. Hats off to all of them.”

Managing editor Corey Baumgartner, whose weekly column on the editorial page of Wednesday’s issue bore the all-too-literal headline, “Stop the presses!” reflected on his 10-year career at the paper.

Baumgartner started out taking photos and submitting them as an unpaid freelancer. After that, he became a delivery driver, then a writer and columnist, before being named managing editor almost exactly four years ago.

“It gave people something to look forward to each week,” Baumgartner said of Iron County Today. “Whether it was the sports, or the showcase, or something elaborate, or just the calendar of events to find out what was coming up, or what they could do.”

Iron County Today and its staff have won numerous awards over the years, including four straight annual first-place awards for general excellence in the Utah Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, from 2017-2020.

Baumgartner spoke of the paper’s impending demise, saying that it feels almost like losing a friend or a family member.

“It’s just a sad and difficult thing,” he said. “We’re definitely going to feel it … because we’ve cared so much about the community. That’s why we kept it going, because we all care so much about it. And we’ve literally given blood, sweat and tears to make sure that we not just filled the pages, but made sure that we were helping inspire the community and, and making a difference.”

“Even though it’s sad to be saying goodbye, I think we can hold our heads high, knowing that we made that kind of a difference in the community,” he added. “And I hope that people will recognize that.”

After the final issue is printed on Wednesday, Feb. 22, the office employees will continue to work until the end of the month, Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner expressed his appreciation to the newspaper’s readers and advertisers for their ongoing support over the years. He also gave a shout-out to the carriers, mostly youngsters, who have delivered papers week in and week out, rain or shine.

“One of the most difficult things is that we have to say goodbye to the kids and the delivery drivers,” he said. “I’ve always heard from more than one source that people who deliver newspapers, who take on that kind of commitment, go on to do great things with their life because of the discipline and commitment they make. We’ve got a lot of carriers out there who are going to make a difference in this community.”

As for Baumgartner himself, he said he’s not certain of his plans yet, but added, “I’m going to keep writing and taking photos. In fact, maybe this is the time to get back to my own personal website. And maybe that’ll be the place where people can still read my stuff if they want to.”

Although Iron County Today’s demise leaves the community without a regular print newspaper, readers can still turn to online news outlet Cedar City News for the latest news, features, sports, obituaries and other content, seven days a week.

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