A letter from the publisher: Thank you for being part of our story

Some days sharply remind me why this work matters.

Wednesday was one of those days.

Wednesday morning, more than a half-dozen members of our community walked through our doors for Coffee with the Editor and our Local News Day open house. They asked thoughtful questions, shared candid feedback, and engaged in meaningful conversations about what local journalism means and what it should continue to be.

Most importantly, they reminded us of something fundamental. This has never just been about news. It has always been about connection.

Let me ask you a simple question.

Can you name the industries mentioned in the United States Constitution? Farming? No. Manufacturing? Not that one either. Construction? Guess again.

In fact, there is only one.

The Press.

In just 45 words, the First Amendment established something extraordinary: the idea that a free and independent press is essential to a functioning democracy. It was not an afterthought. It was not optional. It was foundational. And frankly, it changed the world.

That speaks to the noble nature of the work. Not because of the institution itself, but because of who it serves.

You.

Local journalism exists on behalf of the communities it covers. It informs. It asks questions. It preserves the record. It connects people to what matters most in their daily lives. It reflects who we are, and over time, it defines how we will be remembered.

For 60 years, the Bonner County Daily Bee has had the privilege of serving this community. Through times of growth and challenge, moments of celebration and hardship, we have been here, documenting, reporting, and preserving the story of this place and the people who call it home.

Every story we publish becomes part of that story.

The milestones. The setbacks. The achievements. The everyday moments that might otherwise be lost to time. Long after today’s headlines fade, the record remains. Families look back on it. Communities rely on it. It becomes the living history of this place.

But that story does not belong to us alone.

It belongs to the students discovering new opportunities. To the local businesses that power our economy. To the carriers who ensure the paper arrives each morning. To the families, neighbors, and leaders who shape this region every day.

And it belongs to you, the readers who have stayed connected, who have valued this work, and who have supported local journalism across generations.

Local News Day allowed us to step back and reflect on that shared responsibility. It allowed us to open our doors, to listen, and to reconnect with the people we serve. What we heard was clear. Local journalism matters. It matters in times of crisis. It matters in moments of progress. And it matters in the everyday rhythm of community life.

We are grateful for that reminder. And we are grateful for you.

Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your engagement. Thank you for more than a century of support.

Most of all, thank you for being part of the story.

Because in the end, this has never just been about the pages we print or the stories we publish. It has always been about the community we serve and the history we are building together.

We look forward to continuing that work with you.

Clint Schroeder 

President and Executive Publisher 

Hagadone Media Group