Local group saves Winner newspaper from shutting down

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Days before the 114-year-old Winner newspaper was expected to close down, the local development corporation purchased the paper, ensuring the community’s local news would continue.

“The paper is gonna continue as it has in the past, ” longtime editor Dan Bechtold told KELOLAND News.

The Winner Advocate was bought by the South Central Development Corporation in Tripp County. The now-former owner, Charley Najacht, gave a 30-day notice that if they couldn’t sell the paper by August 28, it’d be forced to close down.

Mike Scott, the organization’s executive director, said they had been working with Najacht for nearly a year trying to facilitate a buyer with no luck.

“Our development corporation was definitely not wanting to get in the newspaper business, but at the same time we realize the importance of having a local newspaper with everything from events, activities, obituaries, all the local news,” Scott said. “We felt that we would give it a shot and see if we can keep the paper running.”

The idea of the paper shutting down and leaving a news desert for local newspaper legals, classifieds and city meetings, was stressful for those living in the county, Scott said.

“The people in the community, especially the older part of our community, really were very happy to see the paper is gonna stick around,” he said.

Apart from continuing to inform the public, Scott said one of the reasons the development corporation bought the newspaper was to recognize Bechtold’s efforts throughout the years. The longtime editor is 77 years old and has worked for the Advocate for 54 years, attending sporting events and government meetings, taking photos and sharing the stories of Winner.

“Without Dan (Bechtold), the paper wouldn’t work; I mean, he does it all,” Scott said. “That was another big part of our board’s decision, as much as we didn’t wanna lose the paper, we wanted to make sure Dan stayed active in the community as long as Dan wants to because he’s given so much to this community.”

The paper does have an office manager and a few part-time employees, but Bechtold is writing most of the content for the weekly newspaper himself.

Scott said readers may notice some changes to the paper in the future, but right now they are focusing on trying to keep it running and printing on a weekly schedule.

“We are very happy the paper is not closing and the community is very happy,” Bechtold said.

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