Staff report
Two more Kentucky newspapers have become part of a disturbing trend in a state that once claimed local newspapers — daily and weekly — in every corner of it.
Two Northern Kentucky newspapers have announced they have suspended operations as of the end of August.
The Falmouth Outlook and its sister publication, the Bracken County News, have halted production at the same time, although a Facebook post said the papers “hope to be able to reopen in the near future.”
The Falmouth Outlook, located in Pendleton County, has been published since 1907 and the Bracken County News since 1927. The two leave a void in local news for their rural counties, now part of the growing news deserts in the state.
Trinity Southern Baptist Church Pastor Abram Crozier was saddened to hear the news about The Falmouth Outlook.
“The Outlook has helped tell the story of my life for as long as I can remember. From articles about my dad in his zoot suit, to me playing basketball, being part of The Way of the Cross, and then, over the last eight years, telling story after story of what God has done through Trinity.
“In my office, I have an entire wall covered with articles from the Outlook. When I look at it, I see more than newspaper clippings. I see a history of our church growing, serving, reaching people, and becoming more involved in the community we love.”
In a Facebook post by the Outlook, the suspension is attributed to “the rising cost of printing, postage and all other aspects of doing business, combined with money owed us that has yet to be paid.” The paper said this combination is “too much for this to be a sustainable operation.”
The post continued, “We hope, during the suspension, to create a plan to allow us to resume operations in a strong position. But for now, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Pendleton and Bracken counties communities.”
Neil Belcher is publisher of both papers.
Burton Cole is editor of the Falmouth Outlook and Vanessa Ferrell editor of the Bracken County News. Others involved in the publications are Sam McClanahan, sales and sports; Jessie Deckett, advertising and graphic designer; Amy Meyer, classified ad manager (Bracken); Nila Harris and D. Franklin, correspondents; Matt Sorrell, telephone sales; Jimmy Tate, delivery, and Susan Sorrell, janitorial.