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206:. Jonathan announced in November 2014, after being re-elected to his third term in the Montana House of Representatives, that he would be finishing the rest of his term that year but would be stepping down from his position to take over the newspaper. McNiven and his wife became the fourth owners of the paper.
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has received awards from the
Montana Newspaper Association's annual "Better Newspaper Contest" for both its news content and its advertising work. In 2023, Jonathan McNiven and Elisa Schlosser won Best Marketing Campaign; Schlosser won the Best Ad to Sell or Promote Merchandise Black and White award;
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During these years, the newspaper regularly employed up to seven correspondents who wrote news stories from their respective areas of the county. The cost of a subscription was $ 18 per year for customers who resided in the county, $ 26 from other areas of
Montana, and $ 30 for any other part of the
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The McNivens also have added many auxiliary functions to coincide with the newspaper, like Dig It Days, an annual non-profit event held at MetraPark during the fair to support young adults entering into the local construction industry. In
September 2019, Jonathan and his son, Anderson aired the
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Schlosser won second place for the Best
Graphic and the Best Ad to Sell or Promote Services Black and White award. McNiven won second place for Best Website. Evelyn Pyburn won second place for Best Headline Writing and third for Best Editorial. Michael Marino won third place for Best Headline
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The McNivens have introduced several features into the paper during their ownership, including a reader photo contest in 2018, the Best of
Yellowstone County Awards in 2019, and in 2022, a section dedicated to new business listings and civil legal matters called "On the Record -- Civil Action
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In
January 2021, Yellowstone County News filed suit against Roundup High School for allegedly denying the publication access to a sporting event while allowing other media outlets to attend and cover the event, which the newspaper claimed violated their First Amendment rights.
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indicated the sale was finalized. The
Oberlies immediately hired a manager and an editor, and moved the operation into an office in the Heights section of Billings, Montana. They operated the weekly newspaper for five years.
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The first edition of YCN was published
Thursday, October 20, 1977 by Dave and Jan Willms, who ran the paper out of their home in Ballantine, Montana for eleven years before selling it to Dale and Beccy Oberly in 1988.
156:, was searching for a place to start their second newspaper. In a 2023 interview, Beccy recalled seeing the farewell announcement in YCN, and saying to her husband, "We should buy this one."
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In May 2017, YCN was awarded the contract for legal advertising from the City of
Billings, and the publication was recognized as the Publication of Record for Yellowstone County.
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YCN also set up agreements with
Shepherd, Huntley Project and Custer Schools to have their respective yearbook class produce a weekly newspaper while under Robison’s ownership.
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Amid the COVID pandemic, in October 2020, staff members worked from home and YCN moved into its current office location on the corner of Nahmis and Northern Ave. in Huntley.
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YCN was reportedly on the brink of extinction in 1988. After advertising the publication for sale for several weeks, it announced the final edition would be coming soon.
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area, which includes Billings, Laurel, Shepherd, Huntley, Worden, Ballantine, and Pompey's Pillar. It is currently owned and operated by Jonathan and Tana McNiven.
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In June 1994, Pete and Rebecca Tescher-Robison purchased the Yellowstone County News from the Oberlies and moved the office back to the Worden, Montana area.
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Writing. David Crisp took third place for Best Column Writing. And, the Yellowstone County News Staff won second place for the Best Niche Publication.
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Since 2014, the paper has retained two reporters on its staff. Evelyn Pyburn, a long-time journalist who also owns the
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Main office of Yellowstone County News, located at 130 Northern Avenue in Huntley, Montana. Pictured in August 2022.
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At the same time, a couple described as “veterans of Montana media,” Dale and Rebecca (Beccy) Oberly of the
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in September 1988, shortly after finalizing their purchase of the publication from its founders.
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In October 2014, former Republican lawmaker, Jonathan McNiven and his wife Tana purchased the
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rights of YCN. The judge further denied the newspaper's motion for a preliminary injunction.
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first-ever YCN Sports broadcast of a Huntley Project v. Shepherd High School football game.
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The paper won the bid for the Yellowstone County legal publications in the late 1990s.
578:"Judge tosses newspaper lawsuit, rules school district didn't violate First Amendment"
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McNiven won the Best Breaking News Photo, Best Digital Presentation and Best Video.
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552:"Small media group challenges getting booted from covering rival's sports events"
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Judge Randal Spaulding ruled that same month that the school did not violate the
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Michael J. Marino, Evelyn Pyburn, Justin Choriki, David Crisp, Krayton Kerns
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Staff, YCN (April 15, 2022). "Michael Marino Joins YCN Reporting Team".
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Marino, Michael (October 6, 2023). "Yellowstone County News Turns 47".
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Dale and Rebecca Oberly are pictured here as they take a look at the
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Staff (June 3, 1994). "Robisons purchase Yellowstone County News".
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507:"Better Newspaper Contest | Montana Newspaper Association"
489:"Families invited to inaugural Yellowstone Dig It Days"
471:"Yellowstone County News wins City legal ad contract"
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171:On September 21, 1988, the front page headline of
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533:"YCN Takes 13 Awards in Newspaper Contest"
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576:Ehrlick, Darrell (January 6, 2021).
550:Ehrlick, Darrell (January 6, 2021).
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277:"About | Yellowstone County News"
436:Lutey, Tom (November 20, 2014).
380:. September 21, 1988. p. 1.
350:. September 21, 1988. p. 1.
335:. September 21, 1988. p. 1.
602:Newspapers published in Montana
477:. May 12, 2017. pp. 1, 11.
622:1977 establishments in Montana
607:Newspapers established in 1977
346:"Meet Dale and Beccy Oberly".
320:. October 20, 1977. p. 1.
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511:Montana Newspaper Association
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331:"Heights news office opens".
299:"Masthead/Staff/Contributors"
617:Yellowstone County, Montana
125:Yellowstone County, Montana
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50:Jonathan and Tana McNiven
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537:Big Sky Business Journal
211:Big Sky Business Journal
16:Montana weekly newspaper
475:Yellowstone County News
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112:Yellowstone County News
20:Yellowstone County News
391:"YCN Correspondents".
376:"YCN has new owners".
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612:Mass media in Montana
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100:yellowstonecountynews
58:Dave and Jan Willms
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154:Big Timber Pioneer
513:. August 12, 2023
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263:References
55:Founder(s)
223:Report."
184:1994-2014
145:1988-1994
136:1977-1988
119:based in
47:Owner(s)
561:May 29,
283:May 28,
247:Lawsuit
131:History
95:Website
87:Founded
63:Editor
563:2023
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102:.com
37:Type
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
