SPRINGVILLE — Refusing to go quietly into the night, the dedicated producers of the Springville Independent News celebrate each edition of their newspaper and each baby step forward: the first obituary, the first legal notice.
With each batch of 1,200 copies, they're that much closer to being "real," a paper recognized by the Utah Press Association as a newspaper of record.
It's been five months since former Daily Herald/Springville Herald writer Christi Babbitt; her husband, Ray; former Daily Herald editor Robb Hicken; and former Deseret News photographer Jason Olson formed the RCJ Corp. and officially started the weekly publication, a publication trying to prove the public in Springville and Mapleton wants more than Internet or television news.
Babbitt is the editor. Hicken is the publisher. Olson is the creative director and web designer. Babbitt's mother, Pat Conover, writes up a weekly police report, and four local writers provide weekly columns and stories. Freelance photographer Jennifer Grigg contributes photos.
The local high school and junior high journalism classes send in material along with the local elementary schools.
The little upstart paper is making inroads.
Local businessman and realtor Bill Brown has offered the news staff office space.
Where Babbitt was originally light on news, now she's having to work to stuff in everything she needs to print.
The tiny veteran staff is already selling more than half of the papers they print, so the U.S. Postal Service is ready to give it a bulk-mailing permit.
"We first started talking about this in February (2011) when the Daily Herald closed the south county papers. It was more or less just a thought, but the more we talked about it, the more excited we became," said Hicken. "I put up some cash; Christi put up some cash. We haven't had to draw from our startup money, so we're technically in the black. We're not making any money yet, but we never thought we'd get rich with this. To us, it's more community pride, community service. Newspapers play such an integral role in our society."
Babbitt calls it a project of passion, one that compels her to dedicate her days and late nights to putting the paper together thus far without financial compensation.
So far, the paper has 675 subscribers and sells between 400 and 500 papers on newsstands each week. The percentage of advertising is picking up as well, Hicken said.
"There's really a niche that we are trying to fill with highly localized news," Babbitt said. "Our whole focus is what Robb calls being hyperlocal, meaning we are giving them the news of their friends and neighbors. People say you can get everything on the Internet now, but you're not going to get things like wedding, Eagle Scout and missionary announcements, City Council stories, local business features. Our news isn't available anywhere else."
"Niche publications are very strong," said Hicken, who has extensive experience in journalism. "They do very well, and this has always been a rich area for readers."
Olson said there's a role for a community newspaper that's vital. "It's the little news that's important in the community," he said. "I obviously think the paper has a good chance at succeeding."
Babbitt said that when the parent company of the Daily Herald closed down the south county newspapers, including the paper her parents had run for many years, she was devastated. Her grandfather, Harrison Conover, bought the Springville Herald in 1940 and it had been a family concern until its demise.
"I couldn't imagine life not having a weekly newspaper," Babbitt said. "And it's been amazing. My phone just rang off the hook that first couple of weeks. We had ads, we were getting subscribers, and what's funny is we were getting thank you notes with the checks."
So what began as a light-hearted email exchange between Babbitt and Hicken about what the future held turned into an idea that took root.
They approached Olson and Grigg and Conover. Babbitt's father, Martin Conover, died just weeks after the Springville Herald was shut down, and his wife was thrilled to see his legacy live again.
"We were as nervous to tell her about this as when Ray and I told her we were engaged," Babbitt recalled.
They introduced themselves in the Art City Days Guide, 13,000 copies of a magazine distributed to households all across their circulation area. Their first newspaper printed June 9 at the local Liberty Press.
Today, the little crew works around the clock gathering ads, stories and producing the 12-page 12-by-17-inch paper. Hicken even delivers sample papers to doorsteps on the weeks he has extras.
"The Internet is fine, but there's something about getting a picture printed in the paper," Babbitt said. "You need that. People want that."
Former Springville Mayor Delora Bertelsen said she was delighted when she learned Hicken and Babbitt were starting a new paper.
She was among the first to subscribe.
"I'm a proponent of the newspaper. It's become the city's mainstay," Bertelsen said. "I think that a local newspaper with all the news and even the conflicts is very important to the community."
Bertelsen said she even cuts out the subscription forms and passes them out to friends and family.
She's praying for the Springville Independent News to not only succeed but thrive.
Rod Oldroyd, human resource manager for Springville City, saw a shocked reaction when the Springville Herald was stopped.
"People called us here at City Hall to see what we were going to do about it," Oldroyd said. "It left a void. For the first time in decades, there was no weekly newspaper on Thursdays."
Oldroyd said the city has a newsletter, but it's not the same. "I was excited when Christi came to me with this idea," he said. "I thought she could do it."
Babbitt is optimistic and determined. "The intent is to be here to stay," she said.
"It can be done," Hicken said. "You have to be frugal and willing to work hard."
Readers can subscribe to the Springville Independent News by calling 801-251-NEWS (6397) or on the website, springvilleindependentnews.com.
Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with 35 years experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com.
Email: haddoc@desnews.com