After more than a century serving the Hi-Line, the Havre Weekly Chronicle has officially shut down, marking the end of a long-standing source of local news for the community.
But while the paper is gone, local journalism in Havre isn’t disappearing… it’s evolving.
The Blaine County Journal is now expanding its coverage into Hill County, launching a new section called the Havre Weekly Record to continue delivering local news to the area.
Madison Collier reports - watch the video here:
“We’re continuing on the paper in a way,” said Keri Hanson, co-owner of the Blaine County Journal. “It’ll be one paper, but it will have two sections… one for Blaine County and one for Hill County… our subscribers will get more bang for your buck.”
The new format combines coverage into a single publication, splitting content between the two counties.
For the Blaine County Journal, taking on additional coverage is both an opportunity and a challenge.
“It’s going to be a little bit of a struggle for a while,” Hanson said, noting the need to hire additional reporters and advertising staff to support the expanded coverage area.
Despite those challenges, the goal is clear: rebuild consistent, community-focused reporting in Havre.
“We want to get back into the schools… get sports back in there… city and county government… there’s always things happening in Havre and we just want to make sure that’s covered,” Hanson said.
With a small staff, the Journal says it will also rely heavily on community involvement to help maintain that level of coverage.
“We can’t be everywhere all the time,” Hanson said. “Unless someone tells us something is happening, we can’t cover it… we do need help doing that.”
Even with continued coverage, the closure of any local paper can still leave a gap.
“Just a sense of community,” Hanson said. “Not everybody is on social media… people still like to have that paper in their hands.”
For many readers, especially in rural areas, a printed newspaper remains more than just a source of information; it’s a record of daily life, a way to stay connected outside of social media, and something tangible to keep.
The Blaine County Journal says maintaining that connection is a key part of stepping into this role.
