I see that Minnesota-based Adams Publishing Group is buying the Yellowstone Newspaper chain, which has owned the Miles City Star since 1965.

https://montanafreepress....ers-chain/

It will be interesting to see if this results in any changes at the Star.

That's a tough business to be in, but at least the Star has KATL Radio, office supplies, and commercial printing to help out.

I am wondering if they will sell off what assets there are or actually invest in it and hire a few people. If they do the latter, I'll ask for my first raise since I started doing Stardust 23 years ago.

Ouch. 23 years without a raise is a loooooong time, Amorette. But given the state of the newspaper industry, I would not be hopeful.

I guess in 25 years we can read about your raise. 🤠

Well for the second Saturday in a row, the Miles City Star did not arrive. Not only do we not get whatever local news they deem important, we get the public meeting notices after the fact. I wonder if the cost is worth getting regurgitated news from the AP and other sources which were available a week ago.
I have never had success with the on-line edition since it is always dropping me or not letting me log in. I have called and even gone up to the Star office, they usually try to fix it, but like everything else, they do not have much control over it.
I would like to support the local paper, but is does not even have much local news or advertising in it anymore.
The on-line feature does not work for older individuals who do not use computers, but would like to keep up with local issues.
I guess I will have to find another source of paper to line the bird cage.

Yep, we've missed the last 2 Saturday papers. Guess I'll call Monday and get it on Tuesday or Wednesday. I may not get the email version, but can go to the web page, click on the e tab, and get the email version.

We don't seem to get the physical papers in the mail on time. Last week we got both of them Thursday. I have taken to the on-line edition for comics and Dear Abby. What is funny, I have a hard deadline to get stuff submitted but they don't seem to have one for getting it printed and in the mail.

As a longtime mail subscriber to the Star I'm glad to see other people getting to know my pain. Misery loves company, you know. I always figured it was erratic delivery on the part of the USPS as much as anything.

I got the bill for my Mom's subscription to the MC Star. The cost is 39.95 for a 13 week subscription. That breaks down to a $3.95 "Statement Fee" and the balance of $36.00 averages to $1.38 per issue. That would not be so bad, except the local news is usually after the fact and the rest is just regurgitated stuff that you probably read on the internet or heard on a radio or TV newscast.

I am weighing whether it is worth it at this point. The paper statement penalty is especially irritating since there was no warning.

Oh, by the way, they still have a place for "carrier tip". Who are they going to give that to since I am sure all of their carriers were fired with the takeover.

My only dilemma is that I will have to find another source of bird cage liner.

Decisions, decisions....

My statement said:

Deduct the $3.95 "Statement Fee" from the amount due when you sign up for EZPay or paperless renewals. Simply complete the form on the back of this notice...

But, yeah, it's hard to see what has become of the Star.

And this is what I received in email today. They can't even spell Miles City correctly. For shame!

From: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 7:46 AM
To: dave
Subject: Miles City Star Delivery Delay Number 16655

Because of production issues, today's edition of the Mile City Star has been delayed. Delivery should be expected the afternoon of August 31st, 2023.

Carrier tip? They fired all the carriers the end of April. They have hired a reporter so we'll see if he reports. I still do my history bit and that has its fans.

Curious on your history pieces, Amorette. I would subscribe if I thought it would be worth the price of a Star subscription.

My memories of the history pieces of the Star were from living in MC back in the 70s. I think they were called Stardust? Most of them were like, "50 years ago today, Mr.and Mrs. Homer Dirtfarmer came to town from Broadus to have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Townes Countryclubber."

If the quality of your reporting has improved that, please let us know.

Gunnar, Amorette writes an extended history column for the Star and there was a time when her articles were consolidated into a year-end book that was sold in local stores. She also writes the Stardust column that you love so much.

Both of those are features of the newspaper that I enjoy reading and they keep me subscribing to the paper.

I do both the Stardust -- which you learn to appreciate as you grow older both for seeing what your grandparents were up to and for the bits of history I throw in about the greater world at the time -- and my weekly column. I haven't gathered my columns together in years. I keep starting to edit them and then I write another and I can't keep up. Maybe when I retire.

Just cancelled my subscription to the Star. Since Aug 30, the price has raised another $9.00 for three month and there is the issue of electronic statements. I signed up for them, but just like the e-addition, they have no record of that. The paper is often late and therefore the local news about meetings and gatherings is no longer useful. Sad, but I cannot support a business that is half full of stale canned news and I cannot even check the obituaries to see if I am still alive.
I believe that the intent of Adams Publishing is to run these papers into the ground and take a big tax loss when they have taken their last breath. Kind of like Atlantic Richfield did when it purchased the Anaconda Company in the late 70s.