Community group takes up effort to buy Weekly News

The process to create community ownership of the La Conner Weekly News is moving forward following the Sept. 25 community meeting that drew more than 60 interested people.

A small group from that meeting gathered Oct. 3 at the La Conner Swinomish Library to start the next steps of organization and fundraising. Andrew Ashmore has been spearheading the community effort, and he expects more people will offer to help or serve in some capacity.

He said the meeting focused on creating an interim board of directors to formalize articles of incorporation and represent the IRS-designated 501(c)3 organization that could accept funds to purchase the newspaper from publisher Ken Stern. Stern has said he'll close the newspaper on Dec. 18 if no buyer can formalize a deal with him before then.

The group came to consensus on a name: La Conner Community News. Ashmore said more prospective board members are available and willing to help but couldn't meet Oct. 3.

Ashmore said there's still a lot of interest in making a community purchase happen, but it's not yet time to ask for money.

"Once the articles of incorporation are filed, then it's appropriate to ask for money," he said. "We have to have a vehicle for people to donate money."