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Weekly newspaper illustrates independents' strife

Dave and Gretchen Skoloda (photo courtesy of Lodestar Publications)

On the morning of Sept. 20, 1975, Gretchen Skoloda had a strange encounter at home.

"Someone literally knocked on our door and said, 'Do you want to buy the paper?'" Gretchen Skoloda said.

Gretchen and Dave Skoloda currently own Lodestar Publications and circulate two weekly newspapers: Onalaska Community Life and the Holmen Courier.  But in 1975, she ran a nursery school and he worked for the Milwaukee Journal.  The Skolodas lived in Lodi for about 5 years before Arnie Betz, absentee owner of the Lodi Enterprise, came to their door with a sales pitch. Three months later, the Skolodas bought it.

"It could be considered cause for observation in a mental institution," Gretchen Skoloda said.

Despite the "crazy" timeframe, during which the Skolodas researched and financed the Lodi Enterprise purchase, they think it was worth it. Even so, the Skolodas' experience offers a glimpse into the characteristics of independent newspapers.  With the recent mass newspaper mergers and related cost-cutting measures, the viability of independents is becoming increasingly doubtful.  Still, in an industry rapidly becoming more corporate, independent newspapers have some advantages to offer readers, reporters and the communities they serve.

Family-owned newspapers stick to fundamentals