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Local publisher to combine two county papers into the Benton County Herald
Summary
Star Publications will merge the Sauk Rapids Herald and the Benton County News into the Benton County Herald on Dec. 1 with the first issue Dec. 6; circulation will expand into Foley, Gilman and Oak Park ZIPs and the Foley office will close, with no staff reductions announced.
Natasha Barber, who said she represents Star Publications, told Benton County commissioners that the Sauk Rapids Herald and Benton County News will combine into a single publication called the Benton County Herald beginning Dec. 1, with the first issue on Dec. 6.
Barber said distribution will expand beyond Sauk Rapids and Rice to include Foley, Gilman and Oak Park ZIP codes and that the Foley office will close while the newsroom will remain intact in Sauk Rapids. "We will be extending [the paper] to Foley, Gilman, and Oak Park ZIP codes," Barber told the board, adding the company plans to continue local reporting and preserve jobs: "No changes to the team."
Barber said the move is a business decision intended to sustain print journalism in the county and that the publisher will notify city and school leaders directly. Commissioners thanked her for the announcement.
Next steps: publisher will distribute a letter to residents and make calls to local leaders; commissioners and staff noted the importance of continuing local coverage.
