LA CONNER — La Conner and Shelter Bay residents are on a mission to keep the La Conner Weekly News from shutting down in December.
The La Conner Weekly News is a independent newspaper that publishes each Wednesday. It has been published weekly since 1879 — the longest continuously-published weekly paper in the state.
Owner, publisher and editor Ken Stern bought the newspaper in 2017.
Stern has been looking to sell for the past two years in order tor retire. He recently announced that he plans to cease publication on Dec. 18.
Shelter Bay residents Aven Wright-McIntosh and Andrew Ashmore sent out a call last week to community members interested in working to keep the publication going.
On Wednesday evening, about 60 met at the La Conner Civic Garden Club to formulate a plan.
“Do people here want to save the newspaper?” Ashmore asked those at the meeting.
Stern, who gave a presentation on the newspaper’s details and finances, said he would prefer to sell to a local buyer and have the paper remain in La Conner.
He said the newspaper is profitable, and that since he bought the newspaper, the number of subscribers has grown from 775 to about 900.
Ashmore pitched the idea of creating a 501©3 to form an independent nonprofit newspaper. Other areas such as Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula have already done so.
The group would need to submit paperwork, recruit a board, and raise enough money through donations or grants before the December deadline.
But many passionate residents raised their hands on Wednesday to volunteer to be on the board, do research or help with paperwork.
“People are ready to step up,” said Wright-McIntosh.
Meeting participants filled out a worksheet provided by Wright-McIntosh and Ashmore, which will help the group form teams based on the skills and interests of those involved.
The group plans to begin filing paperwork and taking other steps this week.
