When The Western News hired Bob Henline as a reporter in October 2014, Hagadone Montana Publishing, the newspaper’s owner, did not conduct background investigations on people applying for non-supervisory positions.

That practice was established in September 2016.

“After an incident at another newspaper not located in Montana, we made the decision to complete background checks on all potential new hires,” said Rick Weaver, regional publisher for Hagadone Montana Publishing. “We have completed pre-employment drug tests as well as checked driving records for a number of years but the background check goes into other areas.”

According to a corporate statement, Hagadone Montana Publishing “is committed to ensuring that our more than 100 employees are both professionally and ethically sound. We are dedicated to producing the finest products available while never compromising the safety or integrity of our customers, employees or the communities which we serve.”