It is sad and difficult to experience loss, whether that be family, friends or even the suspension of a business that we’ve depended on. Recently we got word that The Observer newspaper will cease printing on July 1, bringing the end of an era that started in 1896.

The Observer has been the source of local news for generations, and the public has come to depend on it — for news, sports, events, and so on. I know and have known a good number of the employees who have worked at the newspaper. They all took their jobs seriously and worked hard to get the paper out for readers. Keeping the community informed has been and continues to be The Observer’s mission. We’re going to miss not having a printed publication.

As I get older, I’m drawn more to reading the obituaries first, but I’ve always appreciated learning more about our area, its residents and history through local stories. The reporters help keep a watchful eye on local government, and their news stories help keep the public informed about what’s going on. What is going to fill that void for residents who don’t read the local news online?

The local paper has always been there for us, keeping us in the know about almost every facet of our life, whether that’s been Eastern Oregon University or high school sports, festivals and events that are occurring in every town in our region, events like the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, Crazy Days, car shows, the fair. Or when a tragic event occurs, The Observer is there to let us know what happened. We will miss receiving the paper throughout the week and reading about these events and the news that comes from them.

The internet, social media and the pandemic changed much in the way we get our news and how we shop. But the reality is that social media is not a reliable news source, and it’s not going to make up for the loss we’ll feel with the suspension of The Observer in print.

I would encourage the readers and the community to continue to subscribe and be open-minded to the new change that is coming with a regional paper. I will miss receiving and reading The Observer in print, and I believe the community will too.

A big “thank you” to all those who have worked at The Observer over the years. Your efforts and your newspaper made a difference.

John Howard

La Grande

Former small-business owner and former Union County commissioner