A Legacy of Local News
At the end of May 2025, Strohm Newspapers, Inc., closed and ended publication of the Marshall Advocate and Casey-Westfield Reporter. My name is Dan Kibler. I worked at Strohm Newspapers for twelve years. I haven’t had anything to say publicly about the closure or any of the discussions which followed. I was not a part of those meetings or the decisions that were made.
I was asked to be a part of a new newspaper, but those plans were put on indefinite hold when the Courier announced its launch. Fortunately, Joey and Kelsey O’Rourke at JKO Media found work for me and I’ve been very happy doing so. Everyone I’ve worked with has been very welcoming and radio is truly a fascinating medium.
My experience with Strohm Newspapers taught me nearly everything I know about the newspaper business. Through that job, I met many wonderful people — both professionally and personally — and built friendships that made me feel truly at home here in Clark County.
I have great respect for what Gary Strohm accomplished. For 29 years, he ran a successful community newspaper that supported countless area organizations, both directly with financial contributions but also in the gift of free publicity. He attended meetings and events, interviewed legislators, and wrote many features about new businesses and local people. In addition to the Marshall, Martinsville, Casey, Westfield, West Union, West York and Hutsonville areas served by the Advocate and Reporter, for the majority of the time that I worked at Strohm Newspapers, we also published the West Vigo Times, which served the West Terre Haute community.
Whether you agreed with Gary Strohm or not, one has to stand in awe of the absolute mammoth task that was publishing and delivering four newspapers every week (two editions of the Advocate, one each edition of the Reporter and Times) – approximately 12,000 newspapers a week.
Why the Printed Word Still Matters
In the modern technological age why, of all things, invest in the printed page? Online sources exist, and many do collect their information from social media. Meanwhile, the weight of the printed word still holds undeniable value. We stake our reputation in ink. Granted, as humans, we will make mistakes and corrections will be printed.
One can post anything (within terms of service) they please on social media or other websites. Those posts can be edited or removed almost as easily. It’s a different thing when you’re delivering over a thousand printed copies all over Clark County and beyond.
And there are many who would gladly pay to get information which is relevant to them, without all of the social media drama. At one time, it might have been surprising to hear that one “doesn’t have Facebook.” These days, that is not the case.
The Role of the Newspaper
First and foremost the purpose of a newspaper is to inform the public about the activities of local government. As nice as it is to feature community, business, clubs, sports, and school events, all of these things go on with or without a newspaper to cover them.
Government, legislators, and local businesses all need newspapers. They provide the public record — the evidence that due process has been followed.
Government, in any sense of the word, is complicated. On the national stage, politics dominate headlines across countless media outlets — each with its own advertisers, investors, and priorities. Yet of the 535 members of Congress, only three represent us directly. The state level feels somewhat closer, but still distant.
Real government — the kind that affects our daily lives — begins at home. City councils, school boards, and county boards form the foundation. These local bodies hold the most direct power over our communities, yet they often operate with little public supervision. Few people attend their meetings unless something goes wrong.
From tax notices to budget filings, from public hearings to bids for services at the county jail, these actions must be recorded and shared with the public. Local government bodies rely on newspapers to ensure that citizens have been duly informed. New businesses must publish their assumed names. Attorneys must publish legal notices, particularly in estate matters. The local newspaper remains the one place where the public record and public access meet.
Due to regulations from the State of Illinois and the Illinois Press Association, The Post has to be in publication for 52 consecutive weeks before we can start publishing public and legal notices.
Our Promise to Clark County
In a digital age where algorithms decide what we see and who we hear, and artificial intelligence can fake reality in convincing detail, a physical record must exist. A printed newspaper stands as proof — tangible, permanent, and verifiable.
Yes, The Post will have a social media presence, but the purpose of our social media will be to invite readers back to thoughtful, verified, and locally-relevant reporting that matters. Where social media feeds amplify noise, division and misinformation, our presence will serve as a bridge back to genuine community connection that begins with integrity, shared purpose and earned trust.
The Post will exist as an alternative to endless scrolling, a spotlight on the life that’s happening right outside your door.
We invite you to join our team at The Post. Submit your article or photos on our website, by email or by mail to: Clark County Post, P.O. Box 158, Marshall, IL 62441.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Clark County community.
