Julie Davis
jdavis@cherryroad.com

The Nebraska City News-Press celebrated its 170th anniversary and its position as the oldest paper in the state of Nebraska with two special events on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

CherryRoad Media’s Chief Operating Office Lee Bachlet visited the Nebraska City Rotary Club, and he was on hand for a community reception celebrating the paper’s anniversary at the Morton-James Public Library from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday night.

At the Rotary Club meeting, Bachlet discussed how CherryRoad Media came into existence in 2020 as the fulfillment of publisher Jeremy Gulban’s long-time fascination with news. The company currently owns more than 80 papers in 17 states and is the seventh largest media company in the United States, said Bachlet.

Bachlet himself has been involved in newspapers most of his life. He said he began his career as a youth carrier in 1976 and has held jobs in writing, editing, ad sales, and the business operations of newspapers around the country.

He said that a community’s history exists in the files of small-town newspapers, and that CherryRoad Media doesn’t want to see Nebraska City without a paper.

Bachlet ended his presentation with a request of the audience: Pick up the paper and see what kids of stories are in it. Business owners, consider supporting the paper and helping their businesses by advertising in the News-Press.

Bachlet’s visit was the first of several special events the Library will be hosting on behalf of the News-Press.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., reporter Julie Davis will present a brief history of the News-Press on the paper’s anniversary of publishing its first issue in the community, and the Kimmel Gallery will host a special “Nebraska City News-Press: Past, Present, and Future” exhibit in December.