NEWS takes Skagit as a partner; publisher retires
Dave Pinkham The Stanwood-Camano NEWS entered into a partnership with the Skagit Valley Herald (SVH) June 1 in which a new limited liability company (LLC) is now managing the NEWS.
The partners in Stanwood Camano Publishing, LLC, the new entity, are the Skagit Valley Publishing Company (SVPC), which has taken over management of the Stanwood-Camano paper, and former publisher Dave Pinkham, who retired yesterday. Pinkham is a silent partner in the new LLC.
The name of the weekly newspaper will remain Stanwood-Camano NEWS, and its staff is not changing.
Stedem Wood, publisher of the Skagit Valley Herald, said he wants the transition to be as smooth as possible. Wood said he anticipates getting to know the community and NEWS staffers better.
"Dave Pinkham has earned a reputation for journalistic excellence, serving the greater Stanwood and Camano community. I look forward to working with the team he has built and continuing that tradition," said Wood.
Business manager Patti Rydeen stays as local manager of the paper, along with the department heads: Kelly Ruhoff, managing editor; Brian Bretland, advertising manager; and Ruth Hoy, telephone book sales manager.
Pinkham said, "It's been a wonderful 24 years. I couldn't have had a better community to call home, raise a family and do business. I just want to thank everyone for making it possible." Please see Pinkham's parting words on Page 4.
Pinkham remains the landlord for the NEWS building.
The Skagit Valley Herald recently moved into a larger new building, including brand-new, stateof the-art presses, in south Mount Vernon. Printing of the NEWS will move to this new facility in the near future, and the NEWS's aging press units will be sold.
In addition to the daily Herald, SVPC owns the Anacortes American as well as other weeklies in Skagit County. It is affiliated with Pioneer Newspapers, a group of small dailies and weeklies in the Pacific Northwest.
Pinkham bought the Stanwood-Camano NEWS in 1985 from long-time publisher Cliff Danielson. The NEWS is 120 years old this year. The SVH has a 125-year history.
