Snapshot of History
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Mount Ayr Record-News building in April 2005.
BY MIKE AVITT
Jack and Helen Terry had owned the Lamoni Chronicle since 1950 and published the Kellerton Globe for almost three years.
In 1966 it was time to raise the stakes and buy a county seat newspaper, the Mount Ayr Record-News.
The Terrys took possession April 1, 1966 from Frank and Iona Spurrier. Iona stayed on as news editor. Jack and Helen Terry sold the Lamoni Chronicle in 1967.
But, there was one more paper to be bought, and in May 1972, Helen bought the Diagonal Reporter from Harold and Mildred Turnbull.
Harold started working at the Reporter in 1922, then bought the paper in 1937. Helen sold the newspaper to David Pugh and Donna Haight about 1979.
In 1978, the Mount Ayr Record-News began to be printed at Printcraft, Inc., located in Lamoni.
I believe the local papers went together and had the printing house built in a central location. This facility was used for about 35 years.
My understanding is the Record-News is currently printed in Creston.
In April 1980, H. Alan Smith joined the Record-News staff.
Alan and his wife Valle had attended college at Graceland in Lamoni, so the Terrys and the Smith had that Lamoni connection. On October 2, 1980, Alan published his first “Thoughts and Other Things,” in the Record-News.
Alan Smith bought half interest in Paragon Publishing, Inc. on November 12, 1981.
Paragon Publishing is the company that owns the Record-News.
On September 1, 1982, Alan Smith became publisher of the Record-News and on October 7, 1982, he completed the purchase of the Mount Ayr Record-News.
In September 1988, the Record-News moved into its current location.
This building, pictured here, was built in 1977 and was first occupied by Bill Warin and Verd Bailey as a law office in December 1977.
The next occupant was Production Credit Association who held their Open House on February 1, 1980. Production Credit Association also had offices in Creston and Winterset. The office here was closed in early January of 1985.
This week’s photo was taken in April 2005 with Alan Smith’s PT Cruiser out front.
More next week.
