We’re starting a newspaper. In 2026. As thousands of publications close across the country, a group of creative smart alecks got together and questioned the narrative claiming print is dead. 

Call it an experiment in hope … with a lot of blind optimism thrown in. 

How did it happen? After the local newspaper closed in December 2025 and I found myself unemployed right before Christmas, I started looking around for options. 

First, I connected with Ryan Berry, owner of Berry Digital Solutions, LLC, to see if he had any writing opportunities. During that meeting, we talked about the future of Logan County news and the huge gap this closing would leave. 

In my research, I read it’s called a “news desert.” The more looked into it, the more I realized what we would lose — local stories about residents and businesses and organizations, sports reports, obituaries, even advertising opportunities. A newspaper serves as a community record, and that seems like something worth keeping. 

Two days later, entrepreneur Rob Nicholson messaged me about the situation. We had both performed in the live radio drama production of It’s a Wonderful Life at the Holland Theatre earlier that month. 

After I explained what happened, as I understood it, he responded, “Maybe a new generation can help save local news.” 

Maybe, I thought, we can. So I made a few phone calls and sent a few texts with the idea of figuring out what we could do. 

On the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, we conducted the first meeting that would, eventually, lead to the creation of the Logan County Chronicle. Besides Ryan and Rob, several members of the previous newspaper’s staff were there along with Ben Vollrath, president of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, and Bellefontaine councilmember Nick Davis. 

As we sat in a circle at The Photo Booth on Main Street in Bellefontaine, doubts were high that it would ever work out. At least, at the beginning. 

Two hours later, though, we all felt significantly more optimistic. Rob and Ryan saw an opportunity and decided to continue the conversation on their own. 

The collaboration worked out perfectly — as co-founders/owners, Ryan would bring his expertise in digital media while Rob would contribute his lifelong love of the printed page. 

Over the next several months, the meetings, discussions and presentations continued and, all the while, several of us wondered if this would really work. Then, the ideas that, at first, were simply floating through the air started getting nailed to a wall. 

We had a location: 870 E. Sandusky Ave., Suite B, Bellefontaine. 

We had an LLC: Chronicle Media. 

We had a name: The Logan County Chronicle. 

We had equipment and white boards for planning editions. 

We had a staff, many from that previously established newspaper, including the editor Mandy Loehr, office administrator April Redmond, advertising director Jim Strzalka, and part-time reporters (known in the business as “stringers”) Tom Stephens, Nikki Burkhamer and yours truly. 

Our writing staff also includes newcomers Preston Shields covering sports and Nita Wilkinson taking charge of the faith section. Hopefully, more creatives will be added as the Chronicle grows. 

And now, it's here. We have a paper. Besides sports, faith and local news, you’ll find sections devoted to nature, automotive, business, entertainment, health and, of course, the various Logan County communities. 

Oh, and before you ask, yes, we have classifieds, crossword puzzles, comics and obituaries. In addition, we’re bringing you Q&A forums with “Ask the Mechanic” and “Ask the Nurse” columns. 

Beginning June 5, the weekly print edition of the Chronicle will be delivered — yes, delivered* — each Friday to our subscribers. Subscriptions will be $17.99 a month for the print copy plus digital access. 

Each week will emphasize a different part of Logan County. Here’s how that will be laid out: 

Week One — West Liberty and parts south of Bellefontaine; contact: Nikki Burkhamer. 

Week Two — Bellefontaine; contact: Tom Stephens. 

Week Three — Indian Lake and parts north of Bellefontaine; contact: Sharyn Kopf. 

Week Four will have a unique focus each month. For instance, the last week of June will center around the United States of America’s 250th anniversary and local fireworks/Fourth of July celebrations. 

As for the newspaper deliveries, we’re working with the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities to create jobs for the youth and adults in their program. This is especially important to Rob, as he runs a healthcare service called Safe and Secure and has a history as a newspaper delivery boy, which he remembers fondly. 

Besides print and digital, we're also including videos. Many articles will have QR code links to short reels of the story, which will be uploaded to the Pulse, our video-sharing platform. 

That’s the gist of the Logan County Chronicle, and we’re excited to see where it goes! 

“I’ve spent nearly two decades of my life as a reporter and now editor,” Mandy said. “I love the connections and relationships I’ve been able to form through telling people’s stories and earning their trust over time.” 

Nita called writing “her happy place.” She said working for a newspaper is a dream come true, and added, “As a faith writer, I love digging into God’s Word and sharing that with others. It’s a joy and a blessing.” 

It’s a dream come true for Nikki as well. “I’m rooted in the Logan County area and covering stories from my community is not something I take lightly. I hope this newspaper grows with the integrity of those who are building it.” 

“Local news is incredibly important to our communities,” Rob stated. “We need individuals from Logan County telling the stories of Logan County. And we need to talk about what’s happening nationally, as it affects individuals here.” 

Ryan remembers leaving that initial December meeting with the feeling there might be a solution, and they could figure it out. They could reinvent a multi-100-year-old industry into something valuable to people today. 

He continued, “We’re really approaching the newspaper and the news in a different way. The reason I feel newspapers are dying is people are reading the news late. We want to flip the script. Instead of giving you the news a week late, we want to tell you what hasn’t happened yet, or what you need to be thinking about a week ahead.” 

It’s this idea that will inform editions of the Chronicle. The plan is to do things differently, to include digital and video while hanging on to the print version.  

“Having that printed paper is incredibly important to the community,” Rob admitted. “The stories we tell capture moments in time that people keep forever. And our community needs that.” 

Mandy has a similar take on the importance of printed media.  

“In this digital age, with everything at our fingertips, we can feel a little lost and overwhelmed. Local journalism can help cut through some of the weeds, informing and building up our community. It might be through bringing an important issue to light, or by inspiring others through sharing a personal triumph over hardship.” 

In conclusion, Mandy stated what we’re all feeling at the Chronicle: 

“We feel privileged to share this space with you. We’re so thankful you’re checking out our first edition and look forward to chronicling our Logan County community.” 

After all is said and done, this is your newspaper. Which means we want to hear from you! Your stories, your ideas, your thoughts—send to [email protected]. 

And if you’d like to hear more about the Chronicle story from Rob and Ryan in a video on the Pulse, click play on the video at the top of this article.. 

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this first edition of the Logan County Chronicle!