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Wick Communications
We are a family owned community news company with 28 newspapers and 18 specialty publications in 12 states.
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Argus Observer Publisher Emeritus Steve Krehl stands with current Publisher John Dillon at Krehl's retirement party and open house at the newspaper Wednesday.
Argus Observer Publisher Emeritus (center) and his wife, Rona (right), look at the cake celebrating Krehl's tenure at the Argus Observer at his retirement party/open house at the Argus Observer Wednesday.
By Pat Caldwell Argus Observer Ontario
The voice did it. The voice was Lou Major's and the place was El Centro Calif. The person on the other line was Rona Krehl. Major was calling to talk to Rona's husband, Steve, about a job in the great sovereign state of Louisiana. The job would mean change. Big change. Krehl and Rona and their family would have to move from a small town on the edge of the desert to a state defined by its biggest city - New Orleans - and a rich southern tradition. But it didn't matter. Rona Krehl was already smitten. Major's voice and kind sentiments were enough to sway Rona Krehl that moving away from El Centro and joining Wick Communications was a good idea. Fast-forward more than three decades later to Wednesday in Payette at Scotch Pines Golf Course. Rona and Steve Krehl sat at a table with members of the Argus Observer staff for a retirement luncheon. Major, now a member of the Wick Communication's Board of Directors, was on hand to bid Steve Krehl farewell into retirement. “I'm so glad that Lou could make it to the luncheon. And I was happy that Scotch Pines agreed to host this event,” Krehl said. Major talked about Krehl's early years with Wick Communications. Major discussed the battle Krehl helped the company wage against a local daily in Slidell, La. Major said he and Krehl's advertising team helped the Wick Communication paper outperform the local daily. Eventually the daily closed its door, paving the way for Wick Communications. “We really gave our all in that effort,” Krehl said of the time in Slidell. Teamwork paid off, he said. “It was a united effort. And the victory was so much sweeter when we realized that daily was going to close. We tried hard, stayed focused and were successful in large part because of Lou Major,” he said. The retirement luncheon was topped off with an Open House at the Argus Observer. More than 100 officials and others attended the Open House. “I think it was very successful,” Krehl said. Krehl did not spend a lot of time reflecting on the past. However, he said he feels good about his 30-plus year career in the newspaper business. “I was very lucky. I worked for Lou Major and for a great company like Wick Communications. Wick Communications really is one of those firms with a great future and I'm very pleased I was part of its success for so long,” Krehl said. Krehl was candid about his love of newspapers. “Of course I will miss the business. I loved being a newspaperman. But I will still be involved at the Argus in an advisory capacity,” he said.
John Dillon has been named publisher of the Argus Observer
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Dillon, 46, has served as advertising director of the Argus Observer since 2003 and has a long history in newspaper advertising, marketing and sales.
Dillon previously worked for 16 years in the advertising department at the Idaho Press-Tribune in Nampa-Caldwell. Dillon served as an account executive for nine years, and then moved into management roles, both as assistant advertising director and inside sales director.
Dillon said he is excited about the opportunity to put his experience and skills from the past 22 years to work as publisher at the Argus Observer.
“I am looking forward to this opportunity,” he said. “The staff at the Argus Observer is wonderful, and I am looking forward to the continued support the community has given the newspaper for years.”
A lifelong resident of southwest Idaho, Dillon was born in Caldwell, raised outside of Wilder near the Snake River, graduated from Greenleaf Friends Academy in Greenleaf, and attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho.
Dillon is very active in the Western Treasure Valley: past president — Ontario Kiwanis Club from 2006 — 2008, Ontario Festival of Trees Committee, Western Treasure Valley Chamber of Commerce Committee and is very active in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
He served on the board of directors for the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce from 1996 until his move to the Argus Observer, working on several chamber committees.
Dillon is a past Caldwell Kiwanis Club member and worked on the Canyon County March of Dimes Walk America campaign.
He has been an active volunteer in many community events.
Dillon replaces Steve Krehl, who retired as publisher from the Argus Observer earlier this month.
“John is a person that encourages employees to strive for excellence,” Argus Observer Editor Pat Caldwell said. “He understands, obviously, the marketing end of this business but he also boasts a fundamental knowledge of the news side. I’m personally very pleased he is the new publisher of this great newspaper, and I look forward to moving into the future with John at the helm.”
Argus publisher to retire
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Veteran newsman announced decision Thursday
By Argus Observer staff
Steve Krehl, the publisher of the Argus Observer newspaper since 1997 has retired from the position and will assume the title of publisher emeritus effective immediately.
Krehl, 66, announced his plans yesterday to the staff of the paper. He explained the move would enable him to focus on his own health issues, and those of his wife, Rona.
As publisher emeritus, he will continue to be involved with the newspaper and its community activities yet no longer have a day-to-day role in managing its operations. The company is starting a search to select a publisher.
“With the exception of a four- year stint in the U.S. Air Force, almost all of my entire working life has been devoted to newspapers. I will miss that daily deadline challenge and seeing the newspaper on so many local doorsteps,” Krehl said.
Krehl, a western Treasure Valley resident, said local newspapers continue to be a key element to the future of the community.
“When we published the Ontario sesquicentennial section, “Ontario, 125 Years” last fall, our staff was pleased with the outpouring of community praise for our 222-page effort. Few other local organizations have the impact on the quality of life that a newspaper does through its reporting of local government, high school sports, births and deaths,” he said.
Krehl arrived in the Ontario community after filling the role as publisher of the Wick Communications newspaper in Wasilla, Alaska. Prior to working in Wasilla, Krehl was publisher of the Wick Communications newspaper in Sierra Vista, Ariz., and advertising director in Slidell, La.
He worked for Wick Communications for 34 years.
Wick Communications is a family-owned community news company with 32 newspapers and 23 specialty publications in 13 states. The Argus Observer has been part of the Wick Company since the 1960s.
While publisher at the Argus Observer, Krehl has been active in numerous civic and community organizations.
Krehl is a member of the Help Them To Hope board of directors, a local organization that provides food and clothing for area residents during the Christmas holiday season.
He is also a member of the Snake River Correctional Institution Prison Advisory Committee and the Ontario Rotary Club. Krehl also served on the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Board of Directors from 2003 to 2004.
He served four years, from 1966 to 1970, in the U.S. Air Force.
Krehl, an avid golfer, said he is looking forward to hitting the links after he retires.
“I have three loves: my wife, Rona, the newspaper business and golfing. I will be able to spend time now with two of those loves — golfing and my wife. But I will miss the newspaper business,” he said.
Krehl said, despite the fact the newspaper business is in a state of change now, he believes there will always be a place for local papers.
“No one can match our reach in terms of local news. I’m proud that I was publisher of this newspaper, and I’m equally proud that I was a member of the Wick Communications family all these years. It was a privilege to serve with the Argus Observer family, and I will miss them very, very much,” he said.
Krehl also tipped his hat to former publisher Fran McLean.
“Fran built a really great business when he was the publisher of the Argus Observer. I was lucky enough to come to the publisher’s chair at the Argus after he retired and very grateful for his help and guidance during the past 12 years,” Krehl said.
Argus Observer Editor Pat Caldwell said Krehl’s guidance will be missed.
“Anytime an organization loses someone with more than 30 years of experience, it is a blow, especially when that person is the boss. I can only say that it was a honor to serve with Steve. I, and I know I speak for the rest of the Argus Observer family, wish him the very best,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell said there is no firm deadline on the selection of a new publisher.
“Wick Communications is actively searching for candidates,” he said.
Montrose Daily Press live streams graduations
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Chris Kennedy, the Press’ MIS/web producer, and Phil Ashley, the Press circulation director
The Montrose Daily Press streamed, live, the graduation ceremonies of the Class of 2009, Montrose High School. Chris Kennedy, the Press’ MIS/web producer, and Phil Ashley, the Press circulation director, brought the web cast to an international audience. Before the web cast was interrupted by a thunderstorm and moved inside into the Lloyd McMillan Memorial Gymnasium, more than 600 visitors were watching, including people from Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, India and elsewhere. The web cast was sponsored by the Underage Drinking/Drug Task Force. This organization also sponsored a similar graduation web cast from Olathe High School a week earlier.
Rio Rancho Observer sold to FIG Publications, LLC
Friday, 01 May 2009
Wick Communications has sold the Rio Rancho Observer and the Observer’s agreement to publish the newspaper serving Kirtland Air Force Base to FIG Publications, LLC, of Las Cruces, N.M.
The sale closed Friday, April 30.
John M. Mathew, CEO Wick Communications Co.
The Daily News of Bogalusa wins awards!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Daily News (Bogalusa, La.) staffers were all smiles on Saturday, April 25 after the newspaper was named Louisiana Newspaper of the Year at the 129th annual meeting of the Louisiana Press Association. Pictured (from left) former editor and publisher John H. Walker, special projects editor Marcelle Hanemann, graphics designer Kim Gerald, advertising sales supervisor Carol Case, lifestyle editor Bob Ann (Barbara) Breland, sports editor Jan Gibson and managing editor Jacob Brooks.
The Daily News of Bogalusa swept the competition at the 129th annual meeting of the Louisiana Press Association on April 25, being named Newspaper of the Year for work done in 2008.
The Daily News was awarded 12 first places, 11 seconds, 11 thirds and one honorable mention en route to being named as the recipient of both the Editorial Excellence and Advertising Excellence awards, and then being named Newspaper of the Year. The Daily News also earned a second in LPA’s online competition for its website, www.gobogalusa.com.
It was the second year in a row for Kim Gerald to win the Advertising General Excellence Award for her work as a graphics designer.
“I think the awards were the result of a small group of people believing they could make a positive impact on the communities they serve,” said former editor and publisher John H. Walker, who was transferred to a sister paper in LaPlace, La. on March 1.
“For more than three years, we worked to get everyone to develop the mindset of doing the right thing for the right reason and, fortunately for us, the judges agreed. We followed the belief of former editor and publisher (and current Wick board member) Lou Major, Sr. in that we worked to be “the newspaper that cares about the people.”
Sister papers The St. Tammany News and LaPlace L’Observateur were also recognized at the awards luncheon, with STN earning seven first place awards and 24 total awards and L’Observateur earning one first place and five total awards.
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