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By Gretchen Wehmhoff

Did you hear the one about the newspaper publisher who announced that she was seeking a new owner, then went silent?

Yes, that one is familiar.

Actually, the comment is real, but the silence had everything to do with health reasons, so let’s get back to some optimism here.

Yes, it is time to start creating an opening for new ownership of The Skagway News, but that does not need to be a negative concept.

Since my announcement I have received a number of serious inquiries, and as these next few months go by, I anticipate more interest. I am optimistic that in some form, the SN will still be here in 2025 and hopefully beyond – ideally in the formats that Skagway residents and SN readers around the country will enjoy.

I will continue to produce the paper as long as I can to accommodate a new plan. I’m not sure what that plan looks like, because I don’t want to keep a narrow vision of the possibilities.

The new plan may be a current publisher, an energetic journalist, a group of Skagwegians who form a non-profit organization for the press or some other idea that I haven’t thought of. That is progress. Change can be progress.

I do know that the number one decision maker will be how a new owner will support the people of Skagway as both a community paper and a paper that brings in statewide news that impacts the area.

Over the past two years I have utilized the non-profit news group, Alaska Beacon, to supplement statewide news of interest to Skagway. This issue includes a story about Seward receiving a grant to develop power for cruise ships at dock to help reduce air quality and increase sustainability. Skagway has been exploring this issue for years in talks with local and regional businesses. Nationally, Seward was the smallest port to receive the grant, and its success will most likely give Skagway a more relevant and local model to study.

Thanks to local photographers and journalists, the paper continues to bring visual highlights. In this issue both Jaime Bricker and Jeff Brady share photos of our local stars – Jan Wrentmore who recently received a Life-time Achievement Award from the Alaska Travel Industry Association and our local school sports stars at Skagway School.

Local columnist Katherine Moseley discusses life after “Pawlitics” in her monthly, and inspiring column, Paw Prints – and who doesn’t love pet pictures?

One of my favorites is our new Skagway School column “Community Corner.” The column, provided by fourth and fifth-grade writers, gives us a monthly look at local heroes and ideas. Coordinating with the children of Skagway is important as so many Skagwegians have been children in this community. What these students learn, explore and share is good for our future.

So, I’m rolling up my sleeves to do this right. I know Skagway wants the same.

Gretchen Wehmhoff is the publisher of The Skagway News

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Change can be progress as The Skagway News looks to the future - The Skagway News.