GENTRY — On Aug. 4, this newspaper will merge with the Decatur Herald and the Gravette News Herald to form a combined edition named Westside Eagle Observer.

The new weekly newspaper - which will be located on Main Street in Gravette - will combine the existing staff members into one operation,with no staffing reduction. The Gentry office will close in late June.

Dodie Evans, who has been at the Gravette News Herald for more than five decades, will be editor emeritus.

Randy Moll, who is managing editor at the Gentry Courier-Journal and Decatur Herald, will be managing editor.

Janelle Jessen will remain in her role as Decatur reporter.

Susan Holland, who is the news clerk for the Gravette News Herald, will remain in that position.

The price for an annual subscription will remain the same, with in-county price at $25 and out-of-county price at $31.

Kent Marts, publisher and editor of the newspapers, said the decision to merge the operations into one product has been a difficult one.

“I love weekly newspapers and the roles they play in their communities,” Marts said. “But the economic realities of our times forced this change. By merging thepapers into one entity we are able to control costs, keep the staff in place and maintain our commitment to having these journalists cover their communities just as they do now.” Moll lives in Gentry, Jessen lives in Decatur and Evans and Holland live in Gravette.

“In making this decision, one of the things I kept thinking about is what mymother wants and needs, and what the people who live in these communities need,” Marts said.

His mother, Patricia Guthary Marts, grew up in Gentry and subscribes to the newspaper.

The staff understands that the communities aredistinct towns with their own personalities and passions, Marts said; the staff will work to cover each town just as they do now.

“Change is not easy,” Marts said, “but as we’ve all seen in the past couple of years, the economy has forced many changes. One thing that we are going to work hard to not change is the excellent local coverage these towns are used to and deserve.”

“We remain committed to providing the same news coverage for our local communities as we have in the past,” Moll said. “We pledge ourselves to work hard to make the Westside Eagle Observer a truly local newspaper which well represents the communities we serve.”

News, Pages 1 on 05/26/2010