Western Nebraska Observer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Western Nebraska Observer is a weekly newspaper covering Kimball, Nebraska and surrounding Banner County. It has a circulation of 1,500 copies and is currently owned by Gary and Sue Stevenson.[1] The newspaper is the town's oldest continuously owned business.[2]

History[]

Founded May 1, 1885[3][4] by Charles H. Randall, it was the first paper in Kimball,[4] founded when the town, then called Antelopeville, had only four buildings.[5] The first issue was cranked out on Randall's old army handpress.[5] Originally dubbed the Nebraska Observer, the name was changed to the Kimball Observer after the town's name was changed from Antelopeville to Kimball.[4] In the late 1800s it passed through a series of owners, including A. B. Beard, G. L. Carlyle, R. D. Wilson, and V. B. Cargill.[4][6] While the paper's name would change a number of times throughout the 20th century, the paper was first called the Western Nebraska Observer in 1886.[7]

The paper moved from hand press to linotype machine in November 1915,[8] and to offset printing in 1964.[9]

Robert J Pinkerton, publisher of the paper starting in December 1962,[2][10] was elected president of the Nebraska Press Association in 1972.[11] He had worked at the paper as an editor from 1958 forward,[11] and was a 1954 graduate of the University of Nebraska School of Journalism.[12] In 1995, while still publishing the paper, he was named master editor-publisher by the Nebraska Press Association, the highest honor awarded by that organization.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Western Nebraska Observer". Mondo Times.
  2. ^ a b "Paper bought by Pinkerton". Lincoln Journal Star. 2 December 1962.
  3. ^ "Kimball Newspaper Entering 67th Year". The Lincoln Star. 5 May 1951.
  4. ^ a b c d Shumway, Grant Lee (1921). History of Western Nebraska and Its People. Western Publishing & Engraving Company. p. 325.
  5. ^ a b "Kimball Observer Marks 63rd Year of Publishing". The Nebraska State Journal. 1 May 1948.
  6. ^ "[Untitled Item]". The Beattie Eagle. 9 April 1908.
  7. ^ "[Untitled Item]". The Nebraska State Journal. 5 October 1886.
  8. ^ "Nebraska Editors". Omaha Daily Bee. 4 November 1915.
  9. ^ "Nebraska's Fourth Estate". The Lincoln Star. 16 February 1964.
  10. ^ a b "Pinkerton named master editor-publisher". Lincoln Journal Star. 9 April 1995.
  11. ^ a b "Kimball Publisher Elected NPA Head". The Lincoln Star. 22 April 1972.
  12. ^ "Strange Object Sighted By Newsman". Lincoln Journal Star. 10 December 1957.
Retrieved from ""