A Post is Gone in a Scroll: Faulk County Record Continues Legacy of Weaving a Community Together

Inside the Faulk County Record office, the punchy, vibrant red building on 8th Avenue, the one where owner/publisher/editor Jennifer Miller finds herself almost every day of the week, is filled with rows of shelving. 

Binders, books, sheets of colored paper. Propped up against the wall are signs. Don’t forget to be awesome and THAT’LL BE FUN. Miller has been here before the sun came up. She’ll probably still be here by the time it goes down. There are sixteen pages to fill this week. 

She kinda has a knack for making it look easy. It’s not. But to her, it’s worth it. 

“When I bought the paper, I told myself one thing: We cannot let the Faulkton newspaper go away. Without it, people would have no way of keeping up with their own community’s news. That’s the only way our stories get told, and if we lose that, we lose a piece of who we are.”

What Does it Take to Keep a Small Town Newspaper Alive, Anyway?

Wednesdays are the hardest. Miller gets up at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Delivery day. She’s been getting up well before dawn every Wednesday for almost five years to make sure the newspaper gets out. It’s the only way she can get the papers labeled, delivered, and ready for the post office on time. 

“It might sound crazy, but it’s what it takes to keep a small-town newspaper alive,” she said. 

In the inky black darkness of night, she’s piecing together a small town newspaper, one with a legacy that kicked off in 1882. At least, that’s what it looks like. But she’s also weaving together moments. Joyful moments, mournful moments. Moments that knit a community like Faulkton together. Keep it humming. Remind folks that the people they read about are, well… neighbors and friends. Real people. 

“Without local newspapers, milestones like a 100th birthday or a 60th wedding anniversary might pass by unnoticed. When we run those stories and advertise card showers, people send in letters, cards, and well-wishes. That recognition means the world to families, and it keeps our community connected in a way Facebook never will,” she said.  

Facebook is Great! But a Post is Gone in a Scroll

Miller is sitting at her desk, wearing a burgundy sweatshirt that reads L🤍CAL NEWS. Despite financial struggles, the ever-rising costs of printing a newspaper, and competition from social media that can cause even the biggest news empires to shudder, she emphasizes the importance of what local newspapers do: Preserve local history. 

It’s the community milestones. The ones that give adults, kids, teens, and tweens a sense of pride when they see their name and photos in print. 

Despite the glitz and glam, that seductive, visual intoxication of TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, the Faulk County Record can still make your cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. I made the paper! 

“Social media might break a story faster, but what we do in print is different. We keep the memories on paper. A Facebook post is gone in a scroll, but a newspaper clipping ends up in a scrapbook, a memory box, or pinned on the fridge. That’s what lasts,” she said. “One of the best moments for me was hearing my son’s teammates whisper, ‘Is your mom going to put our picture in the paper again?’ The kids love seeing themselves in print, and you can see the pride on their faces. That’s what warms my heart and makes all the long nights and early mornings worth it.”

Each issue is a buck twenty-five. And on its sixteen pages, you’ll see an oral history of Faulkton begin to unfold. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Touchdowns. Life beginning. Life ending. 

Memories. Worth waking up for every Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. Worth a lot, actually. 

“Every year the costs go up: Printing, postage, supplies. I absolutely hate raising prices on my subscribers, but if I don’t, I can’t make a living. It’s just like any other small business; We’re all trying to stay afloat. The difference is, if a local paper disappears, the whole town loses something irreplaceable,” she said. 

What’s the Point of a Newspaper, Anyway?

Jody and Jim Moritz owned and operated the Faulk County Record from 1977 to 2015, when they retired.

That’s when Dan and Val Ramsdell took over. Val had worked for the Moritz’s for years before buying the paper, who then sold it to Miller.

Much like Miller, it was the local flavor, the home runs, the card showers, the hometown happenings, that kept the Moritz’s going.

“The local newspaper is important in a place like Faulk County. The news is local: things that happen at the courthouse, the school, local churches, and local organizations like the arts council and historical society,” said Jody. “A local newspaper creates a living history. A community newspaper keeps the community connected, informed, and engaged in what is happening.”

Want to Become Part of the Faulkton Business Community?

October is National Women’s Small Business Month. National Newspaper Week held rank October 5th - 11th. For Faulkton Area Economic Development Corporation (FAEDC), both bring special meaning to a place like Faulkton, where “local” is more than just a trending hashtag. It’s the lifeline that connects the community. And FAEDC is proud to support all of our small business owners, including the Faulk County Record. 

Do you dream of opening a shop on Main Street? Are you a budding CEO or She-E-O who’s been inspired to pursue your passion? 

Take this as your sign to get in touch, drop us a line. We’d love to introduce you to a variety of business resources and financing options to get you on the right track.