Girard officials in last ditch effort to prevent GateHouse Media from closing newspaper

GateHouse Media appears to be in the process of shutting down a third Kansas newspaper.

Fresh on the heels of the closing of two daily newspapers in Kansas City, Kan., and Derby, it looks like the weekly Girard Press may be on its last legs.

Rumors of the newspaper's closing have been circulating in Girard for the past few weeks. A meeting to discuss the newspaper's future, arranged by Stephen Wade, publisher for both the Pittsburg Morning Sun and the Press, will be held Thursday night. Speculation is that the meeting will serve as more of an effort to steer Girard advertising and readers toward the Morning Sun. GateHouse Media had already closed most of the newspaper's operation in Girard, shifting operations to Pittsburg.

The following letter was sent to Girard Area Chamber of Commerce members today by City Administrator Gary Emry:

There will be a public meeting with Steve Wade of the Pittsburg Sun to discuss the future of the Girard Press. The parent company of the Press is currently considering closing the paper. You are being invited to attend on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 6:30 at City Hall in the council chambers.

This is a very important meeting. For those serving in a leadership position within your organization/business that cannot attend, I strongly urge you to send a representative to speak on your behalf. After talking with Steve concerning this matter, it is apparent to me that a decision is near. I would stress to you that this isn’t a complaint/gripe session but a conversation to share positions from both the business and community perspective. This will quite possibly be our one shot to discuss this. As a matter of taking advantage of opportunity, I would come prepared to discuss various ideas or options you may have in your mind.

For those of you who represent boards or committees, my opinion is that it isn’t important to have your entire board there but it certainly is important that your leader(s) are in attendance to speak on behalf of the organization. Feel free to pass this information along to citizens you feel should be in attendance. I was told this meeting will be advertised in the Press and the Sun today and tomorrow.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Local readers continue to pay the price for GateHouse Media's brilliant idea of going deeply into debt to buy one newspaper after another. For now, it looks like the company's idea of saving money is to eliminate one newspaper after another.