A note to our readers

Every meaningful journey is built upon the vision of those who step up when an idea is still just a sketch on a notepad. As we look back on the founding of The Owen News, it is impossible not to recognize the individuals who helped turn a shared vision for local community journalism into a tangible reality. Today, we want to extend a sincere thank you to Nicole DeCriscio for her service to The Owen News.

From the very beginning, Nicole played a key role in laying the groundwork for this publication. Building something from scratch is no small feat. It requires countless hours, relentless effort, and an enduring belief in the importance of keeping our community connected and informed.

Nicole excelled at surrounding herself with individuals who shared that same vision: a commitment to local journalism that highlights the people, places, and events of Owen County, helping to fill the void and eliminate what had become a local news desert. She brought a journalistic passion and belief in the power of the press to that foundational work, helping us lay the groundwork for everything we have accomplished since.

As organizations grow and evolve, there come moments when paths shift. As part of this transition, the board has selected Tyler DeFord to step into the role of interim editor to guide our editorial operations.

Tyler will work alongside me as I continue serving the paper as senior correspondent and consultant, as well as fellow board members Aaron LaGrange, Jessica Brinson, Suzannah Couch, Caroline Riley, and Stefan Welsh, ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining our ongoing commitment to thorough local reporting. Every single member of our board lives right here in Owen County, deeply rooted in the area and fully dedicated to seeing our local communities thrive, connect, and continue to grow.

The story of The Owen News’ success is, above all, a story of community partnership and trust. Together, we have restored dedicated local reporting focused on our governmental boards and offices, schools, and community milestones. We have expanded our reach while continuing to build a steadily growing, engaged audience across Owen County. Most importantly, we have fostered deeper community connections by giving local events, civic groups, and everyday neighbors a dedicated voice.

Because of the hard work put into building this strong base, the future of The Owen News looks bright. We are especially excited that the newspaper will soon open its own dedicated office space on E. Franklin St., on the north side of the square in downtown Spencer, a physical home that will allow us to serve you even better.

We remain steadfast in our mission to deliver honest, thorough, and engaging coverage to our readers, and we are excited about these new initiatives and growth opportunities ahead.