Enjoys the Hungry Horse News

I really enjoyed the recent special section celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Hungry Horse News. My Dad gave me a subscription to “the Horse” in 1972 while I was serving in the Air Force, because he knew I had a keen interest in printing and publishing.

He had his own subscription, because he had recently purchased land up the North Fork Road, and he wanted to learn as much as he could about Columbia Falls. 

I wrote Mel Ruder a letter, telling him how much I enjoyed the paper. I suggested he might want to try putting a little color on the front page. He took the time to write me back personally, thanking me for my letter and explaining that the press in Kalispell did not have enough printing units for adding color at that time. I wish I still had his letter.

I had a 35 year career in commercial printing, but I was always interested in newspaper printing as well. My parents moved to their new home in Montana in 1985, just about the time that the Kennedy family took over at “the Horse” and they installed a Goss Community newspaper press right there in Columbia Falls. 

I had many enjoyable hours visiting with Greg Sorenson, Ron Miller, Doug Dougherty and Jeff Chase in the print shop whenever I came out to Columbia Falls. They did a great job making the paper look good week after week, and the commercial printing they turned out was truly craftsman quality. We enjoyed sharing about the technology changes the paper and printing in general went through over the years.

Today’s paper continues to be first rate. I enjoy reading about the area where my Mom and Dad lived for over 20 years. Your scenery and wildlife pics are outstanding. 

The page layout and design looks really good, too. It has also been encouraging recently to see a high school student contributing photos and articles. I think the Hungry Horse News is an excellent small community paper.

I would also like to give a shout out to the crew that prints the paper in Kalispell today. I know that the Daily Inter Lake has a press with full-color towers. I know how difficult it can be to chase color and registration across eight to 12 pages, making the paper look good while the press is running. They do an outstanding job. I hope they see this — they are appreciated.

Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Ken Schwentker

Painesville, Ohio