La Conner Weekly News has a new owner

La Conner has been home to a weekly newspaper since the 1870s and we are happy to assure our readers that La Conner Weekly News has many more years of life left with an infusion of new energy.

Starting with this issue, the masthead on page two has a new name on top – Ken Stern is now at the publisher’s desk.

After 10½ years running a mom & mom and then a grandma & grandma business, Sandy Stokes and Cindy Vest will now spend less time at their keyboards and more time with their husbands and on their boats.

Last week a new limited liability corporation, La Conner News Publishing Company, was formed with Stern at the helm. Stokes and Vest sold the newspaper’s assets to the new company.

The new publisher comes from Cincinnati and brings the business experience to keep the newspaper healthy. He plans to expand its digital reach of La Conner News and launch the publication into a growth spurt.

Stern holds two masters degrees, one in resource development from Michigan State University and the second in English from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In March, Stern visited La Conner and was captivated by the historic waterfront town. “La Conner is a wonderful town, located in a beautiful spot,” he said. “And it has no traffic lights!”

Stern’s background is in the agricultural food production economy. Just before coming here he managed Cultivate! Ohio Valley, a farm advocacy program in the Cincinnati tri-state area which included Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

In coming weeks, Stern hopes to meet readers face-to-face and he welcomes suggestions and on how better to serve you, our loyal readers and advertisers.