The Pawnee Republican, the oldest continuously operating weekly newspaper in Nebraska, has been a cornerstone of Pawnee County for over 157 years. However, the paper now faces the threat of closure, reflecting a broader trend of struggling community newspapers across the state. Since 2023, several Nebraska newspapers have shut down or merged, leaving nine counties without a local publication. Pawnee County residents are determined to avoid this fate.
To preserve their newspaper, the community has established the Sunrise Publications Journalism Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to financially supporting the paper. Under this initiative, ownership of the Pawnee Republican will transfer to the trust, ensuring its survival. The trust plans to sustain the publication through tax-deductible donations and sponsorships, leveraging local and regional philanthropy.
Ron and Bev Puhalla, who owned the paper from 1990 until selling it in 2019, came out of retirement in October 2023 to prevent its closure. Now eager to return to retirement, they are working with the trust to secure the paper’s future. The trust is currently seeking a director to manage the newspaper and its two staff members — an assistant editor and an office manager. Resumes are being accepted at sunrisepublicationsjournalism@ gmail.com.
