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The Zephyrhills News is the oldest business in the city. The debut issue of "Your Hometown Newspaper" was published Oct. 5, 1911, and was called The Zephyrhills Colonist.
The News has been published every Thursday or Friday for 89 years despite 12 different owners, heat waves, hurricanes and the Great Depression.
Zephyrhills Colonist Building 1911
Gibson’s printing equipment arrived before the plant was completed - only the floor slab was in place. The first several months of the Zephyrhills Colonist were written, composed and printed outside. The equipment was covered with canvas each night, while staff members took turns standing guard until the roof and walls were built.
The Colonist became the Zephyrhills News in the 1920s under owner Sam Lovett who sold the paper to a coalition of Zephyrhills businessmen in 1930. The principal owner was Dr. Bernard A. Thomas, a local dentist. When Thomas died, ownership went to Walter Gall, a prominent Zephyrhills businessman. Gall sold the News in l948 to Howard Berg, who published the paper just two years before selling it to George Johnson, formerly of The Lakeland Ledger and owner of papers in Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida.
Johnson died shortly after purchasing the paper and his widow sold the publication back to the Gibson family.
In 1955, George Wickstrom purchased the paper. Wickstrom came to Zephyrhills from Rock Island, Illinois. He brought extensive experience, gained working at daily newspapers, to this community. He also taught college journalism and wrote several books.
George Wickstrom’s son, Bernie Wickstrom, later became editor-in-chief. Bernie, who inherited ownership of the paper from his father, is the most remembered editor in the current community. The stage on the north side of Lake Zephyr in Zephyr Park is named in his honor.
Bernie Wickstrom sold the paper to The New York Times Company on December 15, 1978. He remained an editor of the Zephyrhills News until he passed away on September 10, 1987.
The New York Times sold the paper to Asterisk Publishing Company in February 1984. Republic Newspapers purchased the News in 1988. In January 2003 the publication was purchased by Barry Scripps of Orlando and currently operates under the legal name of Scripps Zephyrhills News LLC.
The newspaper was initially located where First Baptist Church now stands. The original building served the staff well until growth forced a move in 1926. In 1947 the News moved to a location on Sixth Avenue, between Sixth Street and Highway 301. Another move came March 18, 1955, when the News moved to Fifth Avenue where there is currently a children’s consignment shop. The News moved next door into its current plant at 38333 Fifth Avenue February 22, 1959.
Before the 1950s the News was an eight-page publication. Four pages carried local news and the remainder carried syndicated material. It was during the second move that the newspaper expanded significantly.
Though there have been many changes in location, ownership, editors and technology; The Zephyrhills News has been an information source to the community from the city’s birth.
As the "City of Pure Water" moves into the future, the Zephyrhills News staff is committed to continuing the tradition of providing dedicated service and accurate news to the people of Zephyrhills.
Linda Wood, Business Manager
Erica Simons, Staff Reporter
Cole Bellamy, Staff Writer
Lauren Cook, Sports Correspondent
Dave Walters, Sports Correspondent
Suzanne Gross, Account Executive
Krista Black, Office Assistant/Account Executive
Nancy King, Graphic Arts, Production & Web Master