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  Home Page » News » Donors Bayfield Show Support For Local Newspaper

Donors, Bayfield show support for local newspaper

by Dale Rodebaugh
Herald Staff Writer The last rites intended to mark the demise of the Pine River Times last Friday turned out to be premature as the Bayfield community rallied to provide financial support, allowing the 24-year-old weekly newspaper to publish this week and next Friday.

"A donor who must remain anonymous paid my printing bill last week, which was to be our last edition, as well as the next two weeks," publisher Melanie Mazur said Wednesday. "Beyond that, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed." Although the long-term forecast is "unsettled," Mazur has received inquiries from two parties who, she said, appear "fairly interested" in buying the 1,800-circulation newspaper. She characterized a couple of other inquiries as simple inquisitiveness.

"I can't say whom I've talked to," said Mazur, who a week ago announced that lack of funding was forcing her to close the newspaper.

The community outpouring of financial and moral support has been overwhelming, Mazur said.

Angels have showered her with small monetary donations, including one who gave her $150 to pay her La Plata Electric Association bill. Still others bought cut-rate annual subscriptions for $15, half the going price.

Pine River Valley Bank is working with her on late mortgage payments, and First National Bank of Durango is covering her payroll checks, Mazur said.

Mazur wants to keep the next editions of the newspaper at their usual 10 pages in spite of a spate of ads. At 10 pages, the editions will be stuffed full, she said.

daler@durangoherald.com'>daler@durangoherald.com

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