When the Columbia Ledger, Donegal Ledger and Elizabethtown Chronicle closed in February, the community outcry was great.
But residents of the Columbia, Marietta and Mount Joy areas can rest easy now. A new incarnation of the community papers is about to get its start.
The Columbia Register, the newest publication by On-Line Publishers Inc., is slated to publish its first edition May 21.
After a deal to purchase the three newspapers fell through, Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz and former Columbia Ledger editor Barry Ford appeared on television to say they wanted to keep the Columbia Ledger open because the community needed it. The newspaper had, in one form or another, been published for more than 100 years.
"It was a very compassionate appeal," On-Line Publishers president Donna Anderson said.
After the television plea, Lutz, Anderson and members of the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce met to discuss the possibility of launching a new community newspaper.
Having a local community newspaper, Anderson said, is "so different from the daily papers. It gets back to the old-fashioned news of the townspeople and news of the town."
Anderson said she spoke with Ford about the letters and e-mails he had received from people who said that whatever it took to get a community paper back again they would do because they "really, really want a paper."
Anderson said the Columbia Register will need the "total support of the community and the business community" in order to thrive, especially in today's economy.
"Not only myself, but the whole community is excited about having a local newspaper again," Lutz said.
"The local newspaper is important to residents. Folks look to the local news to find out what's happening in the borough, information that is important to the school district and parents," Lutz said.
When the district honors the students of the month, Lutz said, the children look for their pictures in the community paper and their parents want to save copies for mementos.
"Everyone is excited to see that come back again," Lutz said. "The business folk also are excited to advertise to local people about their restaurants and Market House."
Lutz said the Columbia Register will be a "very vital community service. I wish them the best of luck."
Anderson said the Columbia Register has been on the "fast track" to open in time to get graduation pictures published.
"We realized how important school news is, so we wanted it to happen by graduation," Anderson said. "Having kids' graduation pictures in the community news is vitally important."
The Columbia Register will cover Columbia, Mount Joy and Marietta boroughs; East Donegal Township; and Columbia and Donegal school districts, she said. It will be housed in the offices of On-Line Publishers, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia.
In addition to the print edition, the Columbia Register will have an online presence. However, not all news will be incorporated into the online edition, Anderson said. The Web site will evolve, though, as people post pictures, she said.
The senior editor for the new paper is Chris McCarthy, formerly of the Elizabethtown Chronicle. Ford is editor, and Kerry Meyers, who worked with both newspapers, is the sales representative.
"It's a nice way to help three members of the community who had been laid off and get them back to work," Anderson said.
Ford said he has been out distributing subscription cards and found a lot of interest in Columbia.
"People realized what they missed when the Columbia Ledger closed," Ford said. "The town really needed (the Columbia Register)."
Anyone wishing to subscribe, Anderson said, should visit www.columbiaregister.com.
On-Line Publishers Inc. also publishes (((b))) magazine, BusinessWoman, Caregiver Solutions, BusinessWoman Resource Directory, 50plus Directories, 50plus Living, 50plus Senior News and LIFE-Changing Dimensions.
E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com