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Clinton County issues proclamation honoring Renova Record after 154 years
Summary
Commissioners read and entered a proclamation recognizing the Renova Record’s 154 years of service and invited former owners to accept; speakers reflected on the challenges facing small‑town print journalism and thanked staff and readers.
At the Jan. 15 meeting, the Clinton County Board of Commissioners adopted Proclamation No. 1 of 2026 recognizing the Renova Record for 154 years of service to Renova and western Clinton County, the proclamation states.
Commissioner Harding read the proclamation, which notes the Record’s founding (first issue published 12/21/1871), its evolution under several names and its announced cessation of publication effective Dec. 31, 2025. The board moved, seconded and approved entering the proclamation into the official record.
Former owners Ron Bridal, John Lopez and Michael Frank were invited to accept the proclamation and made brief remarks. Michael Frank thanked the commissioners and reflected on the broader difficulties facing print journalism in small towns: “This is kind of unfortunate and a commentary on … print media today, particularly in small towns,” he said. Speakers also singled out longtime employees for praise; the presenter named Lynn Gadlock as an example of exemplary local journalism.
The commissioners applauded the newspaper’s decades of community coverage of local government, schools and civic events and entered the proclamation into the public record.
What’s next: The proclamation will be entered into the county record as part of the Jan. 15 meeting minutes, and the board invited the former owners to speak and be photographed with commissioners.
